My daughter very excitedly signed-on with College Pro Window Cleaning this past summer to run her own window cleaning fanschise- against her parents better judgment I might add. She was so convinced that she was going to work hard and make lots of money - and learn so much about running her own business…………..It all started going bad when she could not find reliable workers to hire. The pay for the workers is done on piece work based on a quote from the previous year(s), with no increase for inflation. The workers were paid just above mininum wage and once they found out that they did not get a full week of work, ie hours, many quit. One of the requirements is to do 'cold calling' - no one wants to knock on doors and beg for work. My daughter worked like a slave - literally. Starting in about March she was calling her "pc" list - previous customers - to start schedulling work. By May she had booked 2 full weeks of work - WOW! It was the day before she started work and I asked her if she had got her government registration completed - she did not know what I was talking about. Where was the coaching and mentoring on the starting up and management of a business that was promised by CollegePro? She did not have any invoices to give the customers and had no idea about managing the money aspect of the business. By July she had been through 6 staff and had no work. She had run a $20,000.00 business. Colleg Pro took $16K. Staff costs $5K. Business Expenses $1000 on gasoline etc - get the picture she was in the hole - a big one, since she still owed Colleg Pro close to $2000.00. This was a disaster………..she called her coach who explained that she would have to just work harder to break even. The crux here is that he invited her back for next year……….sure why not - CollegePro made their money. My daughter ended up in debt to pay them $16K!!!!!!!
NEVER NEVER let your kids do this - BIG MISTAKE!!!
To say this in the nicest way possible… you really have a poor understanding of what collegepro does.
It all started going bad when she could not find reliable workers to hire.
#1- Your daughter hiring bad workers is 100% her fault. Collegepro managers are given idiot proof question sheets on how to conduct an interview as well as opportunity to listen/watch other interviews and roleplay. If your daughter did not follow instructions that is her fault. If the employees were unhappy with pay, your daughter did not set clear expectations of what they would be making and what hours they would be working.
The pay for the workers is done on piece work based on a quote from the previous year(s), with no increase for inflation.
#2- Prices of previous customers ARE adjusted, so that point you make about inflation is simply wrong
The workers were paid just above mininum wage and once they found out that they did not get a full week of work, ie hours, many quit.
#3-Collegepro does not set hours or wages for your daughters employees, she does. If she was having a hard time finding work, than she shoud have told her employees during the interview process that hours would be low until more work is found.
One of the requirements is to do 'cold calling' - no one wants to knock on doors and beg for work.
#4- how else do you expect your daughter to get work without asking for it? The fact that you say nobody wants to do that is laughable, I know many people who enjoy it, myself included.
Starting in about March she was calling her "pc" list - previous customers - to start scheduling work. By May she had booked 2 full weeks of work
#5- 3 months to book 2 weeks? Your daughter did not use her time even remotely effectively… far below average results suggests a commitment issue, not a lack of training issue.
It was the day before she started work and I asked her if she had got her government registration completed - she did not know what I was talking about
#6- CollegePro gives very detailed instructions on how to get registered with the CRA and WSIB… they cant sign the forms for your daughter.
Where was the coaching and mentoring on the starting up and management of a business that was promised by CollegePro?
#7- At the several full weekend events where financials are discussed for hours, and in the weekly manditory conference calls with your daughters general manager
She did not have any invoices to give the customers
#8- As of Jan 2010 invoices have been done electronically through automated emails (unless paper invoices were specifically requested). Prior to that your daughter would have been given invoices at the training sessions and could have requested more at any time.
She had run a $20,000.00 business. Colleg Pro took $16K. Staff costs $5K. Business Expenses $1000 on gasoline etc - get the picture she was in the hole - a big one, since she still owed Colleg Pro close to $2000.00.
#9- That is a very small business. Do not confuse the difference between revenue and profit. Staff costing $5000 is an unnecesary point to make as they are paid on a piece rate system and therefor cannot be making more than the business brings in. $1000 on gasoline is below average. 3% of my revenue goes toward gas. Do you have any idea what it costs to startup a business? 75% of my profit is made in the last 2 months of the summer. I started this year significantly in debt.
The crux here is that he invited her back for next year……….
#10- Profits increase sinificantly each year. This is my third year as a franchisee. I am making more this year than my other two years combined, both of which were more profitable than what an average student job would have earned me over the summer. I am not an exceptional manager either, there are a lot of people earning more than me.
sure why not - CollegePro made their money. My daughter ended up in debt to pay them $16K!!!!!!!
#11- Collegepro makes almost all their money from a % of their managers sales, so they want managers to make as much as possible. Also everyone staff member on the full time team (even the CEO) started as a franchisee, they know how hard it is and really do help as much as possible.
At the end of the day you need to realize that most businesses go bankrupt or into SERIOUS debt in their first few years. Most Collegepro managers turn a profit on their first year and can increase that sinificantly in the following years. I personally know several corporate employers that have said they would much rather hire a young collegepro manager than a graduated business student. Real life experience goes a long way. I also know business students that say the training at collegepro is far more helpfull than what the discuss in 90% of their classes (I myself am a 3rd year business student and would say that is definetely true for atleast 50% of my classes).
I do realize how old this post is, but it is misleading and I feel the need to reply so at the very least it can better inform anyone who stumbles upon it in the future.
Forgot to mention almost the most important peice of info, your numbers CANNOT be accurate. Collegepro wouldnt be earning $16000 off of your daughters $20000, so to say she owed them that much at the end of the summer (even if she had paid nothing until that point is impossible). Startup fees for most managers are around $5000, and the most Collegepro EVER charges is 26% (rates decrease to 7% once your sales exceed a predetermined amount in your contract based off of the amount of previous customers you are given at the begining of the year). I dont see any likely situation of your daughter not making atleast $3000-$4000 AFTER labour, equipment, employment insurance, roylaties, gas, cellphone bills, car insurance and other expenses. If her account was empty at the end of the year, she spent it, collegepro did not take it.
Looks like the response to Kasmar's warning was sent by College Pro in an attempt at damage control. Here's some more damage for College Pro to manage: Young entrepreneurs are learning about business, all right. How to cheat at business!
We hired a College Pro franchisee to refinish the front and back deck on a house we just bought. The product used turned out to be wrong, and our decks now look far worse than before they were done.
On the contract that we signed was a section highlighted in bright yellow by the franchise owner that guaranteed all labour, paint, and materials for two years. I contacted College Pro in May to say that we had a serious problem with the materials used. Now mid-July, they have informed us that the guarantee does not cover "horizontal surfaces". (See tiny, non-highlighted print on the back.) Since not too many decks are vertical, this seems deceptive and dishonest, at best. I thought I was helping someone who was working to save money toward her medical degree by hiring College Pro. I regret the decision.
