- Recruiting and Interviewing
- Marketing, Estimating and Sales
- Employee Motivation
- Client Relations
- Time Management and Organization
- Cost Control and Profit Analysis
Learn more about Student Works timelines
Timeline
Training Timeline
Formal Business Training is in January. Our training is a compilation of years of experience. Past operators have indicated that the training they received at Student Works was far better than what they received at their current full-time career jobs - some at fortune 500 companies.
Over an intense three-day weekend training session you will be taught step-by-step how to manage your business.
Topics include:
Hands – On
Production Management & Profitability Training (April)
Now it’s time to get hands-on.
You will spend a weekend of practical training learning how to deliver a quality paint job to customers.
You will also learn the importance of cost control and how to maximize your profit.
One on One
One-on-One Training with your District Manager (DM), a very successful past Operator. Your DM works with you as a coach, mentor and motivator. DM’s main responsibilities are to;
- Continue to train YOU
- Hold you accountable to your GOALS
All of the business skills are reinforced in actual situations with your DM, helping you with recruiting and marketing plans. Your DM does your initial estimates with you and helps you in starting up your production.
The people who work closest with their DM are the ones who do the best. You are in business for Yourself but not by Yourself.
PreSeason Timeline
The preseason is an important time for you. The effort you put into your weekends now lays the foundation for your summer success. Focus totally on school during the week so you can free up your weekends.
Business Plan
At your business planning meeting with your District Manager (DM),
- you break down the next few months into weekly goals
- based on your schedule
- based upon the success you want to achieve
You have a clear idea of what you need to do each week in the preseason. The typical person averages 15-20 hours per week in the preseason, plus a full week of work during your reading break.
Goal #1 – Recruiting
The goal with preseason recruiting is to hire 8 to 12 of the best people, usually other students, you can find to paint for you. Accomplished through;
- networking,
- putting up posters,
- classified ads,
- internet advertising
You are looking for people with great attitudes. Painting experience is an asset but not essential.
Goal #2 – Hands On
Let as many home owners in your exclusive area know you are open for business by;
- dropping flyers
- personalized letters
- knocking on doors
- putting up lawn signs
- making phone calls
It’s a numbers game – How may leads can you get?
More leads = more estimates = more jobs = more $$$ in your pocket
Goal #3 – Sales
Do enough estimates so that at least 15-20 home owners give you the go ahead to paint during the summer months.
These preseason sales represent about 40% of your summer total. First, you estimate how much it will cost a client to have you paint their home (thoroughly taught at training and in the field with a District Manager). Second, you sit down with the client and:
- Outline that you offer the best painting value in the area
- Explain your personal commitment
- Try to sign the job using sales techniques you have learned.
The average Franchisee closes at a 52% booking rate with some upwards of 75%!
Goal #4 – Tracking
Access Simon (the Student Works database) weekly if not daily to track;
- recruiting,
- marketing,
- sales,
- production
- profitability statistics
Student Works are experts at helping students organize their time such that school is in no way affected. In fact, many students report better grades with the increased organization provided by the Student Works coach. It is around this time that you will pick up flyers, lawn signs, business cards and other advertising materials to market your business.
Summer Timeline
You will spend your time marketing, recruiting, doing estimates and supervising production. The Owner/Operator role is not to paint, but to manage the success of the overall business. In fact, an Operator painting is detrimental to his or her business.
Busy Day
A day at the busiest time of the summer:
- 7:00 wake up
- 7:30 paint store visit for daily supplies
- 8:30 visit crew #1, drop off supplies, set goals
- 9:30 visit crew #2, help painting technique
- 10:30 commercial market
- 11:30 paperwork, return calls, call DM
- 12:00 lunch
- 12:30 commercial estimate
- 2:00 collect cheque at Smith job, referrals
- 2:30 interview potential painter
- 3:30 visit crew #1, evaluate progress
- 4:30 visit crew 2, clean up, pickup cheque, referrals, reference letter
- 5:30 job site area market with crew
- 6:30 residential estimate
- 8:00 call clients, setup appointments
- 9:00 call crew chiefs, plan crew moves, determine supplies needed, plan tomorrow
Payroll and Services
Every two weeks you meet with your DM, hand in your payroll and have a Business Planning Meeting.
- depositing client cheques into account
- detailing your painters payments
- planning the next two weeks on-line
A week later your painters receive their direct deposits, your financial statements are generated and the profit that you pulled from payroll hits your account (the average person cashes their first profit cheque after four weeks of production or about $20,000 level of production).
All employee payrolls, taxes and bookkeeping services are contracted out. Student Works provides a phone answering service, arranges liability insurance coverage and worker's compensation coverage.
Student Works provides a Three Year Guarantee to all of your clients once the job is completed
Starting Your Own Business is a Stroke of Genius
