The Case Handyman Services Start-up process is highly interactive. ... is charged with monitoring and advising all stages of your... INTRODUCTION TO START-UP PROCESS
INTRODUCTION TO START-UP PROCESS General Information The Case Handyman Services Start-up process is highly interactive. Your start-up coach is charged with monitoring and advising all stages of your pre-opening and post-opening. He/She will serve as your point of contact with the different areas of support of Case Corporate. Case approaches each franchise-partner in a very individualized way. We will work with you to tailor a start-up process that fits with your existing business, your areas of expertise, your business plan, and your territory. This manual will serve as a guide and a place for you to keep the personalized documents and plans you develop with your start-up coach. As you receive information, and as you “do your homework” please use this guide to compile your documents. Form of Business You must have a business name to procure Federal ID numbers any required permits, back accounts, etc. Work with your accountant and/or attorney to form a business entity that works best with your situation. Federal ID Number You will need to procure a Federal ID number before business opening. Licensing and Permitting Handyman work typically involves less permitting and licensing than remodeling. However, licensing and permitting requirements are different in each state, and can even be different between counties or cities in a state. It is critical to research and understand any restrictions that pertain to your designated business area. In most jurisdictions, electrical and plumbing work is more regulated than general repair work. Permitting requirements, the requirement to have inspections, job permits posted on site, etc., are also very jurisdiction-specific. Be aware of requirements in your area. 1 Fictitious Names The purpose of the fictitious name is to allow franchise businesses to share the same franchise name within a state or within a city and yet allow the owners to operate their businesses as separate unrelated entities. To comply with this requirement you must select a fictitious name to register your new business for the purpose of state and local licenses, federal tax ID number and state tax ID numbers. Prior to contacting your state’s business affairs office to register your fictitious name you must submit the name to Case Corporate Headquarters for approval. It is required by Case that your fictitious name is structured using the following format: Since you are the owner of a Case Handyman Services Franchise, you are required to file for your business license under a fictitious name. The following are some suggestions: Case Handyman Services of Your Territory Name Here The fictitious name you choose if your territory is in Rochester, NY might be: New York Handyman Services, Inc. d.b.a. Case Handyman Services of Rochester If you wanted to use a combination of names of partners; Bill and Ed, and your territory is North Philadelphia, PA you might use: Billed, Inc. d.b.a. Case Handyman Services of North Philadelphia You may want to establish a limited liability corporation, and your territory is in Springfield, MA, you might use: Handyman Technologies, LLC t/a Case Handyman Services of Springfield The d.b.a. is an abbreviation for “doing business as”. Your local area may require using the phrase “trading as” or T/A or t/a instead of d.b.a. They both imply the same meaning. Acquiring your fictitious name will allow for a chain of related things to occur. Once you have the fictitious name, you can apply for your Federal Tax ID and State Tax ID number. Once you have those ID numbers you can open a commercial checking account for your Case Handyman Business. After the bank account is established, you will be able to open trade accounts with vendors and suppliers. Of course, once the trade accounts are set up it becomes very easy to purchase materials to resell to your clients and generate revenue! Office Space This your driver, until you get an address you cannot move forward. Your office requirement will depend on your existing business space, our growth plans, etc. Determine occupancy needs by reviewing number of employees; ideal location will be based on anticipated service area, major roads, proximity to lumber yards, Home Depot. 2 Often in looking for smaller spaces, the best way to identify locations is to drive the area and make notes from vacancy signs. Be certain that your attorney reviews the lease prior to execution. Target an area Determine amount of space needed... square footage. Contact a Realtor to begin to evaluate space. Visit the office facilities to establish which space meets the needs of the business. Questions to ask when assessing space Cost per square footage? Term of lease agreement? When can you take occupancy? Security deposit requirements? Occupancy restrictions? Signage restriction? Leasehold improvement allowances? Any restrictions on LHI? Will office be painted/cleaned before occupancy? Who pays for repair/maintenance of systems (i.e. heating/cooling)? Pass-through expenses? Utilities, taxes, maintenance, upkeep? Parking Restrictions for trucks or # of trucks? Rent escalation clauses? Permits required to operate out of space? Systems Phone lines. Contact local phone Company. Determine timing/cost to do install. Get a good phone number (e.g. 703.803.CASE) Determine if you want/need ISDN line for E-mail... timing/cost from phone company. Phone Equipment Price out from several phone equipment companies. Timing/Cost to install phone system. Timing/Cost to pull wires for computer drops. Check references. 3 Computers Timing/Costing for computer system, if necessary (i.e. network). Timing/Costing for equipment, if necessary servers/additional machines. Confirm that Phone Equipment company will put lines. Security Price out 2 or 3 systems/check references on monitoring. Timing for install. Equipment/Furniture (Determine budget for office equipment / furniture / supplies) Desk Chairs Conference Area Plants Copy machine Small refrigerator Fax Machine Microwave Printer Once you sign a lease and get an address: Immediately: Order business stationary/business cards. Trucks Lease one-ton truck(s). Review and understand agreement. Check to see what you will need for acquisition of vans security deposit, mileage, an first/last month’s payment truck lettering. Signage Graphic Standards for vans/truck. (See Marketing section). Computer Consultant Procure a local hardware consultant who can help with initial set-up of system, networking, and preparation for growth. May need this company to do internal “drops” of data lines in office space. 4 Local Accountant (See Prepare Accounting, Budgeting and Financial Items). Uniforms for HRS Cintas is the uniform company CHS works with. Check to see if in your area (Lead time usually 2 to 3 weeks). Orientation & Training of Employees Typical training, depending on skill level of office manager: OM – 1 day CCTS, 1 day QB, tape of Case Culture, Corporate Case Culture during sales training week HRS – Tape of Case Corporate, T&M work order invoices, timecard, understanding the T&M process. Recruitment Copy of sample ads. Contact paper and get rates information. Job Signs Dee Signs 1.800.DEESIGNS Dee Signs has our template. They will ask if you want to upgrade to a nicer quality job sign. They also sell information boxes to go. They will send you a proof. The lead time is about 7 – 10 days. Insurance Insurance can be a very difficult nut to crack, especially when it comes to health. Look into possible buying groups, local affiliations, chamber of commerce, etc. To help defray the higher cost of individual policies. Jan Shaut, in out office can help you with your insurance needs. 5 START UP CHECK LIST SET UP BUSINESS STRUCTURE / LEGAL ITEMS Item Date Completed Permit Business license Form of business Fed. ID Number Bank account Local accountant Local attorney SET UP PHYSICAL PLANT Item Date Completed Phone, Fax, Network Cable – Data Lines Furniture, Equipment and supplies Mail set up Computers Security DSL / Dial up Line Procure 5 Lines Phone Number First Aid Kit’ Fire Extinguishers Cleaning supplies Food items Safe; fire Proof Box 6 PROCURE EXCELLENT LOCATIONS Item Date Completed Drive area Contact brokers Define space parameters Storage space Location to suppliers, vendors Signage Parking Occupancy permit Dumpster / Trash Hours of building access Cleaning service Utilities OPERATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE – OFFICE Item Insurance – truck, liability, workers comp., health Credit App. – letter of credit to establish vendors, etc. Establish vendor’s list Establish vendor’s account Nextels / Pagers Business cards Set up Fed Ex account CIS – Background check account 7 Date Completed (con’t) Set up SFI account Set up local printer Timecards Set up Account Dee-Signs for Job Signs Credit card machine & processing Maps of area Letterhead / Stationary Corporate credit card All forms available ID Badges ISP Computer consultant PREPARE ALL ACCOUNTING, BUDGETING & FINANCIAL ITEMS Item Date Completed Budget Proforma QB Payroll system 401K Employee contributions to their benefits – uniforms, overage of cell phone Burden calculation – establish rate HRS bonus program Order checks 8 PREPARE OFFICE FOR PRODUCING PROFITABLE JOBS Item Date Completed Job Signs Uniforms Fleet repair – management & maintenance Truck Lettering Lease 1 ton truck HRS tool inventory – insurance Truck Stock Inventory HIRE, TRAIN & MOTIVATE THE INDUSTRY’S BEST Item Date Completed Define job descriptions Create ads Place ads Ideal profile for all positions Employee agreements Employee handbook Mission statement Hiring / Firing process Presentation Book Phone scripts Application & other forms Performance appraisals Orientation 9 (con’t) McQuaig surveys HRS bonus program – set up in future Employee ad on webpage TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OFFICE Item Date Completed ID software ID hardware Red House QuickBooks DSL / Dial up Line Develop technology plan MARKETING Item Date Completed Complete Marketing “To Do” List Implement Marketing Plan Contact Claritas Contact MarketSource Contact and order from SFI Put together media contact list for Press Releases (TV, Radio, Newspaper) Weekly / Monthly Updates to Corporate on status of Marketing Efforts 10 HOA Newsletters Research local community newsletters (county websites can be a good place to start). Look for advertising opportunities in newsletters located in your target neighborhoods. Place ad in newsletter on a consistent basis for one year. Obtain specs from publications. Place an ad request (allow two weeks to process) with Corporate. Approve artwork proof from Corporate. Corporate will send artwork directly to publication once approved by franchise owner. Private School Directories Research private schools in your target neighborhoods (county websites can be a good place to start). Identify those publications that have directory advertising opportunities. Obtain specs from publications. Place an ad request (allow two weeks to process) with Corporate. Approve artwork from Corporate. Corporate will send artwork directly to publication once approved by franchise owner. Coupon Magazines Research coupon magazine and discount direct mail opportunities in your market (examples include Val Pak, Money Mailer, Super Coups, Clipper Magazine, Hometown Publications, Advo, etc.) Choose three publications and commit to a 3x buy in each for three consecutive mailings to your target zip codes. Obtain specs from publication. Place an ad request (allow two weeks to process) with Corporate, please indicate that this is a coupon publication so we can add the appropriate offers. Approve artwork proof from Corporate. Corporate will send artwork directly to publication once approved by franchise owner. 11 Newspaper Advertising Research various publications in your market both local and regional in nature (obtain media kits to include circulation information, demographics and rates). Place ad on ongoing basis for first 3 months rotating among the various publications. Determine size of ad based on rates and size of publication (typically ranges between 1/8 of a page to ½ of a page). Place an ad request (allow two weeks to process) with Corporate requesting grand opening artwork. Approve artwork proof from Corporate. Corporate will send artwork directly to publication once approved by franchise owner. Press Releases Develop a list of media contacts in your market. Obtain grand opening press release template from Marketing Startup CD. Customize with your personal information. Include a cover letter that talks about your background and credentials. Submit the press release by E-mail or regular mail to entire list of contacts. Place a follow-up call to contact one week after release is sent to answer any questions they may have. Look in paper to see if release is picked up. Send that you note to those editors that pick up your release. Continue to send out releases (tips, trends, etc.) on a regular basis. Direct Mail (discuss strategy with corporate before proceeding) Call grant at Claritas, 1.800.234.5973 x-3522 and give zip codes for your territory, request list counts (purchase 5,000 – 10,000 names). Place an ad request with Corporate for customized postcard back with desired offer. Order postcards online at CaseHandyman.com through shopping cart (http://www.casehandyman.com/hp/shop), indicating that customized artwork will be provided by corporate, determine quantity with Corporate. Call the mail house – Liz Breitsameter at MarketSource 301.428.1536 – to give dates of first 3 drops, a postal request and fulfillment invoice will be provided by MarketSource. Postage must be paid before materials are delivered to the post office (be sure to seed or add your name to the list so you will know when mailings hit homes) Evaluate results with corporate after first 3 drops and determine schedule going forward. (con’t) 12 Yellow Pages Research all yellow pages opportunities in your territory (regional and local books, etc.) Obtain rates, circulation, and book closing deadlines. Determine size of ad and heading (main ad under Handyman and possible listings under Home Improvement or other general category-size of ad should be large enough to stand out in section without being larger than necessary, use the latest publication as a guide. Place an ad request (allow two weeks to process) with Corporate. Approve artwork proof from Corporate. Corporate will send artwork directly to publication. Thank You Cards Order the CHS note cards from CHS Shopping Cart (http://www.casehandyman.com/hp/shop) Write hand-written thank you notes for each projects once it is complete. Include “we want more clients like you” referral card in each thank you (template available on marketing startup CD, have printed at local printer) Home Shows See booth packages for complete instructions. Research home show opportunities in your territory. Secure space through show management Order booth structure from Craig Nodland at Atlantic Skyline, 703.802.6800 x133 Order recommended premiums from CHS Shopping Cart. Flyer Delivery Research flyer delivery companies in your area. Determine route schedule for first several months. Place an art request (allow two weeks to process) with Corporate. Approve artwork proof from Corporate. Have flyers printed at local printer. Job Signs Place job sign order with Dee Signs (1.800.DEE.SIGN). Minimum order is 6 signs. Ask for proof to be sent. Approve proof, fax back and place sign order. (con’t) 13 Door Hangers Place an order for door hangers through the CHS Shopping Cart. Send in ad request to Corporate to customize door hanger with grand opening offer. Research delivery opportunities in your market. Set up regular delivery schedule. Reorder door hangers as needed. Service Magic Call Rod Salyer at 1.303.963.8026 to set up 14-day trial. Choose scope of work, service area, etc. After 14-day trial, you will automatically be eligible to waive the $90.00 start-up fee. Service Magic will forward you only those leads that meet the criteria you have selected. Accept only those leads you are comfortable with, and pay for only those. Reject any leads you are not comfortable with. Radius Mailings Purchase software recommended by Corporate. Place ad request with Corporate to customize back with grand opening offer. Order postcards through CHS Shopping Cart. Set up regular schedule to do mailings on a weekly basis to jobs in progress (200 – 300 postcards per week total, 25 – 50 postcards per job). Rehash Program At the beginning of each month, pull the list of all leads from the previous month that have not resulted in a sale. Generate a rehash letter to this list – letter template available on Marketing Startup CD. Do follow-up calls the week following to this group. Continue this on a monthly basis. Sister Business Letter Send a letter to existing client base on sister business letterhead introducing Case Handyman Services – letter template available on Marketing Start-up CD. Do follow-up calls to this letting past clients know about Case Handyman Services. Continue to leave behind a Case Handyman Services brochure on every sister business lead and vice versa. (con’t) 14 Networking Compile a list of existing or potential alliances in your market to include but not limited to bankers, realtors, landscapers, local lumberyards, plumbers, electricians, etc. End an introduction letter to the group on existing letterhead if applicable – letter template can be found on Marketing Start-up CD. Do follow-up calls and meetings to introductory letter. Continue to keep in contact with group on regular basis via Friends of Case Handyman Services campaign – materials available on Marketing Start-up CD. New Mover Mailings Locate new movers in your market either through automatic quarterly updates from Claritas or through real estate sections of local publications. Send a welcome to the neighborhood letter to this group – letter template available on Marketing Start-up CD. Church Bulletins Identify church bulletin advertising opportunities in churches in your market. Choose 1-3 to advertise in on an annual buy. Obtain Specs on ad. Place an ad request (allow two weeks to process) with Corporate. Approve artwork proof from Corporate. Corporate will send artwork directly to publication. 15 GRAND OPENING MARKETING CHECKLIST ACTIVITY Completed Yes No Activity Radius Mailing Software Ordered Mailing Materials Ordered Schedule Determined Door Hangers Order placed with SFI Ad/art request to Corporate to include offer Delivery method determined (company, boy scouts, HRS’s, etc. Direct Mail Strategy discussed with Corporate List ordered from Claritas Postcards ordered from SFI Ad/art request to Corporate to include grand opening offer Mail house contacted to determine initial mail drop schedule HOA Newsletter HOA opportunities identified Space reservations made Ad/art request to Corporate Private School Directories ___________ opportunities identified ___________ reservations made ___________ request to Corporate Coupon Magazine & Discount Direct Mail 2-3 Opportunities identified Commitment made on 3x buy for each Ad/art request to Corporate Newspaper Advertising Media kits obtained Ad sizes determined Commitment made for first several months Ad/art request to Corporate Press Releases Customize grand opening release with relevant information Send release to all editors three weeks prior to start date 16 Comments (con’t) Place follow-up calls to editors one week after release is sent Yellow Pages Yellow pages opportunities researched Close dates, rates, circulation information obtained Contract(s) signed Ad/art request to Corporate Thank You Cards Note cards ordered from CHS shopping cart Office manager advised to send follow-up note to every client _________ Shows _________ Show opportunities researched Available opportunities discussed with Corporate marketing Flyer Delivery Flyer delivery companies researched ________ schedule determined Ad/art request to Corporate Flyers printed at local printer Job Signs Job signs ordered from DeeSigns Service Magic 14-day trial set up with Rod Salyer Rehash Letters Letter template customized from marketing start-up CD Follow-up letter to each call that does not resulting a sale Sister Business Letter Letter sent to existing client database Follow-up calls made Networking Alliance list established Alliance letters sent Follow-up calls or visits made Friends of Case mailings set-up by office manager New Mover Mailings Establish system of locating new movers in market Customize new mover letter template found on marketing start-up CD Church Bulletins Church bulletin opportunities identified _________ churches selected and ad reservations made Ad/art request to Corporate 17 OFFICE SET-UP FUNCTIONS Assuming that you have already procured the area suitable to establish your office, the next step is to organize the physical space in which you will operate the day-to-day functions of the CHS business. When setting-up and organizing the functions of the office, consider several factors: How many employees should the space accommodate? Future expansion needs. Physical limitations of the space. Communication flow. Client and employee flow. Specific needs relative to individual employees. Furniture and equipment. Furniture and Work Stations: Desk and chairs to accommodate number of employees and visitors. File cabinets for client files and bookkeeping functions. Storage area for supplies. Bookcases or shelving units for access to stationary/forms/marketing materials. Tables for displays. Pictures and plants to personalize and add warmth to the office. Determine conference area. Phone/Fax lines: 5 lines needed. Contact local phone company to determine timing/cost to do install and cabling. If possible, get a number related to Case (e.g. 703.803.CASE). Price out phone equipment from several sources. Timing/cost to install phone system. Timing/cost to install voicemail system. (con’t) 18 Misc. Equipment: Copy machine. Fax machine. Credit card processing machine. Small refrigerator. Microwave. Postage machine vs. stamps? First aid kits and fire extinguishers. Security: Price out 2 or 3 systems and check references on monitoring. Lockable/fire safe file cabinets/safe. Record and register all serial numbers. Forms and Stationary: Business stationary/business cards from SFI. Checks. Maps of territory. Marketing materials. Envelops, binders, and file folders. Misc.: Signage. Storage space. Dumpster. Cleaning supplies. Food items. Uniforms storage. 19 ACQUISITION OF VANS & TRUCKS 1. Purchase vans and trucks from a new car dealer (Ford, Chevy). It is recommended to get a one-ton van for the Home Repair Specialist. 2. Purchase vans and trucks from a return on a rental or lease (i.e., Ryder, Penske, Hertz, Avis, etc.) for example, Ryder takes vans out of service at 50,000 and does a maintenance check, paints the vans white, removes and decals, etc. 3. Lease the vehicles from a dealer. Make sure to be aware of the mileage clause in the lease. Home Repair Specialist van mileage can range from 15,000 to 25,000 annually. This also depends on where the Home Repair Specialist lives and if you allow him/her to drive the vans home in the evening. 4. The marketing section has the graphic standards for the lettering of vans. 20 CASE HANDYMAN SERVICES VAN EQUIPMENT Ladder Racks (three when requested) 24 ft Extension Ladder 32 ft Extension Ladder 16 ft Ladder 6 ft Step Ladder Tie down or Bungie Cords Shop Vac Back-up Horn (required on all vehicles without rear windows) Fire Extinguisher First Aid Kit Lock and Hasp for doors Triangle reflector kit for emergencies Chain and pad lock (pancake lock) for security Job Signs Tool bins and shelves Broom and dustpan Shovel Rake 21 CASE HANDYMAN SERVICES VEHICLE POLICIES & PROCEDURES The issuance of a vehicle by Case Handyman Services (CHS) of __________________ is a privilege to an employee. It is not a guaranteed benefit and may be withdrawn with or without cause. We expect that the vehicle will be operated in a sage and courteous manner, within the law, and kept in a manner reflecting the pride and professionalism of this company. The company vehicle is advertising for CHS that can be both good and bad. While the information on the truck serves to generate business, it also draws attention to the operator. While opening the vehicle, be extra courteous and sage. Other motorist may blame their poor judgment on you. Driving reports are part of your regular reviews. Employee Responsibilities The HRS is expected to comply with all of the following requirements when issued a company vehicle. CHS may amend these guidelines at anytime. Basic maintenance and cleaning should be done on the employee’s time. At any time, CHS may inspect the vehicle for compliance and condition. 1. The vehicle must be operated within all federal, state and local laws. Failure to do so may cause the revocation of vehicle privileges. Fines are the responsibility of the employee. 2. The vehicle must be kept clean. The vehicle needs to be washed once a month during the months from April to October and once a week during the months November to March. 3. The vehicle must be waxed at least once each year. Early fall is preferred. 4. The inside cab of the van will be kept clean and free of debris. Nothing is to be placed on the dashboard. (con’t) 22 5. The cargo area of the van should be kept in order, with the ability to reach your tools and accessories. 6. All company signs and lettering should be kept in order, with the ability to reach your tools and accessories. 7. Absolutely no alterations to a company vehicle are allowed. This includes, but not limited to, decals, accessories, or lettering. 8. Each van will be equipped with a locking system. This system must be fully used at all times. If the locks are not in use at the time of a vehicle break-in, it may default insurance coverage on personal and company tools. 9. The vehicle is to be used for company related business, and should only be seen in transit during the 7:00am to 6:00pm workday, unless prior permission has been obtained from your Owner. 10. The company employee or their helper (unless otherwise noted) assigned to the vehicle will be a sole driver of the vehicle. It is prohibited to allow any other individual to operate the vehicle. The employee shall be responsible in full for all liabilities and damages associated with non-designated drivers of vehicles. 11. Using the company vehicle for side work or other purposes, without prior authorization, verbal or written from your Owner, is strictly prohibited. If caught using the company van for non-company use without authorization, the employee may be terminated immediately. 12. Absolutely no passengers, other than company employees, are allowed in the vehicle, without prior authorization. 13. Personal use is restricted to only the direct route to and from your job. 14. Any damage to the vehicle must immediately be reported to your Owner. 15. Should you have a vehicle accident with expensive damages or injuries, the police must be called to the scene. All accidents must be reported to your Owner. 16. One half of the insurance deductible will be the responsibility of the drive when found at fault in a vehicle accident. 17. In all accidents that another vehicle or private property has been damaged, exchange insurance information with all involved. (con’t) 23 Termination or Resignation Upon Resignation or termination of employment, the HRS shall turn in his vehicle and all keys to the vehicle manager at the end of the last day of his employment. The vehicle shall be clean and have, in good working order, all equipment and tools assigned to the vehicle. Missing items will be deducted from the last paycheck. Also damage to the vehicle that has not been reported to your Owner may be deducted from the last paycheck. It is the former employee’s responsibility to arrange for transportation home. Acceptance I have read the CHS Vehicle Policies and Procedures, and understand what is required of me. I agree to abide by all of the above and will operate the vehicle in a safe and courteous manner in accordance with all motor vehicle laws. I understand that intentional abuse, reckless driving, or failure to properly maintain any CHS vehicle could result in my loss of vehicle privileges or termination of employment. Name: _________________________________________________________________ Home Address: __________________________________________________________ Employee Signature: _________________________ Date: ______________________ 24 RECEIPT OF VEHICLE I have inspected the company vehicle, number ___________________, and have found it to be clean, in good condition, and equipped with the items listed below. 6’ Step Ladder 24’ Extension Ladder 32’ Extension Ladder Shop Vacuum First Aid Kit Locks and Hasps for Side and Rear Doors First Aid Kit Locks for Securing Ladders Drop Cloths Job Sign “Career” sign Dust Pan Broom Fire Extinguisher Other ________________________________________ Other ________________________________________ Other ________________________________________ _______________________________ Signature of Employee _____________________ Date Notes: ______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ 25 TOOL REQUIREMENTS Power Tools Hand Tools Framing Hammer Trim Hammer Tape Measure Framing Square Chalk Line Nail Puller Nail Sets Lineman’s Pliers Channel Locks Screw Drivers Adjustable Wrench Pipe Wrench Allen Wrench Set Tin Snips Flat Pry Bar Chisels Utility Knife Extension Cords Drywall Saw Drywall Tools Hack Saw Electrical Tester Levels (2’ & 4’) Pipe Cutter Plumbing Sheet Metal Clamps Circular Saw Sawzall Miter Saw Jig Saw Belt Sander Hammer Drill Drill/Bits Cordless Drill Table Saw Palm Sander Power Plane Router/Bits Nail Guns Air Compressor/Hoses 26 NETWORK AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN Network Design Requirements and Recommendations Dedicated Windows XP or Windows 2000 Network Server. One network category 5 network cable to each workstation Internet Access (Required) (High Speed Connection Recommended) Back-up device and software for network server. Anti-Virus software. Case Handyman Computer Requirements (As of October 3, 2002) Dedicated Network Server Windows XP Server 4.0 or better (Recommend Windows 2000 Server) Anti-Virus Software Pentium II or better 700 MHz or better 256 megabytes of ram or better 10/100 network card or better Category 5 network cable or better Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher Desktop & Laptop Computers Windows 98 Second Edition or better (Recommend Windows 2000 Pro or or better) Microsoft Office 2000 Professional Anti-Virus Software Pentium II or better 700 MHz or better 10/100 network cable or better Category 5 network cable or better QuickBooks Professional (accounting or office managers only) Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher Case Handyman Services reserves the right to make changes to these configurations as needed or upon request. If you have questions regarding the above conditions please contact your Case Handyman corporate office at 1.800.426.9434. 27 NETWORK AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS DESIGN High speed Internet Options A lot of people have been asking for advice about high-speed Internet options, otherwise known as broadband. We’ve put this document together to help you make an informed decision on how best to outfit your office. Red House was developed to run over a regular dial-up connection, because we know that not every office will be able to connect using broadband. In addition, we expect people to access the system from home. However, there are advantages that we’re sure you will want to use if you have the ability. Each Red House user needs to be connected to the Internet. Broadband connections make Internet access easy for multiple uses on the same network. There is no waiting for the computer to dial your Internet Service Provider (ISP) in order to gain access. Once your computer is on the network, you have immediate access. Most broadband connections are more stable than dial-up. Your connection will not get dropped in the middle of a session. On the other hand, when a broadband connection does go down, it often requires a call to your provider or your network people. We think that it would be wise for everyone to invest in a back-up connection, such as dial-up. You can consider this insurance against a lost connection. Dial-up accounts are available for less than $20 per month. You do need to be careful as possible when choosing a solution for your particular office. Unfortunately, depending on your location, you may find your broadband options to be very limited. (con’t) 28 Here are some of the options to consider: Option 1: Cable Network Most Cable TV companies are offering broadband service, which is an always-on connection with speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second. Be sure that this is a two-way connection. Some providers offer a one-way service that requires the use of a phone line. This would not be a good option. Estimated Monthly Cost: $100 – 200 per month for Business Service. How do you get it: Contact your local Cable TV provider for more information. Option 2: DSL DSL comes in 2 varieties, SDSL and ADSL. SDSL is Synchronous Digital Subscriber Line, and ADSL is Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line. The difference is that SDSL sends and receives data at the same speed. ADSL sends data at a slower speed. ADSL is usually less expensive, but when you are sending estimates from CJES to Ted House, that will happen at a slower speed. Most other activities will not show a difference. DSL is a good alternative to dial-up or Cable. Check with your local provider to see if it’s available to your building. Estimated Monthly Cost: $50 – 200 per month. How do you get it: You should visit the following website and select your desired service, in this case DSL. Enter the required information and complete the search for providers in your area. http://www.cnet.com/internet Option 3: Satellite Dish Satellite is growing and popular high speed Internet solution that is a little more costly than DSL, but its availability is far greater than DSL or ISDN. Estimated Monthly Cost: $70 – 100 per month. How do you get it: Visit http://www.starband.com/ Option 4: ISDN (Leased Line) Integrated Services Digital Network ISDN is a fading technology but is still available in most areas. ISDN lines are generally leased lines meaning you would be sharing the pipeline with other customers. Sharing means that the speed can increase and decrease depending on what others are doing. Estimated Monthly Cost: $50 – 200 per month. How do you get it: Visit http://www.cnet.com/internet (con’t) 29 Option 5: Full T1 (Dedicated internet connection) T1 circuits are far more expensive than most Internet solutions, mostly because of the amount of bandwidth that you receive. This is normally a dedicated connection to your office, with a fast download speed (average of 1.5 megabits per second). There are no shared connections, unless you opt. To share a connection with another company located near you. Estimated Monthly Cost: $50 – 200 per month. How do you get it: Do an Internet search with the keyword “T1 Provider”. Option 6: Fractional T1 (768 dedicated Internet Connection) Most T1 providers offer fractional T1 circuits at a slightly lower cost. Estimated Monthly Cost: $1,100 – 2,100 per month. How do you get it: Do an Internet search with the keyword “T1 Provider”. Option 7: Dual Dedication Dial-up Connections The dual dedication dial-up connection is a dying breed, because of the growing availability of broadband. This service is still available from some providers, though. It is not distance sensitive and uses regular phone lines. In order to use this configuration, your network will need to have a dedicated server running Windows 2000 Server or Windows NT Server. You will dial up to an ISP, from your server using multiple modems, each with its own telephone line. Your Internet connection speed will be the sum of the individual lines. If you have 2 modems at 56K, that will give you 112K. Estimated Monthly Cost: $50 – 200 per month. How do you get it: http://www.cnet.com/internet If you are unable to find a provider that meets your budget requirements and physical location we strongly recommend you contact your local network or systems administrator. They should be able to provide you with information about the options available in your area. 30 Dear Partners: Welcome to New Partner Orientation: Every new partner joining Case wants to know how much a “normal” partner sells their first year. After all, a new partner goes through the challenges of building a new business and makes a sizable investment of time and money to create something that was not their before. Well the one thing I have learned in my time at Case is, there are no “normal” partners! Every group joining the system comes with differences, such as; experience in remodeling, sales aptitude, existing businesses, leadership skills and growth expectations. I studied sixteen different Case companies to see what first year results I could portray with confidence as good indices of the “typical” business. And I am please to offer these reports to assist you in your financial planning. Ralph J. Crozier September 2004 31 QUESTIONS ABOUT STAGES Q: Why do we group Partners by Stages? A: Grouping company’s with like type characteristics was helpful in assessing their financial, production and sales performances. We decided to group existing Partner’s b one metric right now and that is Gross Sales. We will always place new Partner’s in Stage 1 due to the learning curve and training effort involved. Q: What are definitions? A: Four months ago when the Stage concept was developed we chose these levels. They very well may require adjustments. Q: How do we decide to move a company to a different stage? A: Generally, we look at year-end results. Should however the company have high sales and lower that average GP, it is likely we would keep them in their current stage until GP rises to an appropriate level. Likewise, if by mid-year we notice a company with consistently high sales compared to their current stage, it may be appropriate to move them at that time. I anticipate adding a fifth stage in the next year to measure companies with design-build components. STAGE DEFINITIONS Stage 1: All new Partners, not matter their sales levels. Stage 2: All Partners with Gross Sales in the previous year, or, anticipated to be in the ranges of $500,000 to 900,000. Stage 3: All Partners with Gross Sales in the previous year, or, anticipated to be in the ranges of $900,00 to 1,400,000. Stage 4: All Partners with Gross Sales in the previous year, or, anticipated to be excess of $1,400,000. 32 FIRST YEAR GOALS Pre-Opening Implement Mktg. Plan Leads Unique Clients 1st Quarter # of Leads ________ 2nd Quarter # of Leads ________ 3rd Quarter # of Leads ________ 4th Quarter # of Leads ________ # of Clients _______ # of Clients _______ # of Clients _______ # of Clients _______ End of Year Marketing # of Sales $ ____________ Sales $ ____________ $ ____________ $ ____________ $ ________________ Establish Business/Financial plans Secure Loan for Business Financial 33 Pre-Opening Hire HRS’s Hire an Office Manager 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter End of Year # of HRS’s Management _______________ Go to HP in ___________ Learn how to train all staff Training Learn Red House Purchase QuickBooks Systems See Master Checklist Other 34
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