Question about Grip On Anti=slip Solution as part of a business to safety proof hard surfaced flooring such as ceramic tile, concrete, etc.
Q: "I recently took an early retirement. I read about Grip On and am interested in starting a safety proofing business for slippery floors. Last week I went to a restaurant with ceramic tile that was slippery. Many times concrete outside malls and stores are slick when it rains. And my own garage floor is dangerous when it gets wet. How difficult is Grip On to apply, what would I need to start a business and how would I know what to charge? Thanks. Frank."
Answer: You didn't mention the state or town where you live. My advice is to learn about local requirements for a business and decide if you want a corporation such as a Chapter S. Seeking advice about that from a business attorney and/or local Chamber of Commerce is a great first step. Once you have your business and insurance in place, then it is time to seek out customers who need hard surfaces such as concrete and tile treated to protect their customers and themselves from slip and fall accidents.
The five gallon buckets are probably the most economical way to start. Each bucket treats about 2000 square feet of flooring. Each bucket weighs 50 lbs. When business improves, purchase the 55 gallon drums of Grip On: you can refill the bucket using a pump. This 55 gallon size will treat about 22,000 square feet of hard surfaces. Ships by truck only: 4 drums can fit on each skid. Approximate shipping cost: $300 per skid with one drum. The shelf life is indefinite: with a good business, you''ll get through this quantity in weeks or days depending upon the square footage you will be covering. The lid of the drum stays on. There are two holes, one 4 inch hole and one 2 inch hole. Purchase a vacuum or hose pump from your local hardware store. (Cost about $15).
What you will need for faster application in addition to the Grip On are:
- a 20 lb cotton mop
- a mop bucket with wringer
- an 18 inch to 24 inch squeegee
- a wet vac to make removal of dirty and clean water faster
- a long extension cord for the wet vac
- a source of clean water
- a good cleaning solution with degreaser.
- roller ruler to calculate accurately the length and width of areas to be treated in linear feet.
- a calculator to determine the square feet to be treated (or a pencil and paper and the ability to multiply!)
As far as what to charge, you need to calculate the cost of the Grip On and pre-cleaning solution based upon the square footage of the project. Next you need to determine what your hourly wage should be based upon the local economy, your overhead (insurance, etc.), how you will be paid (check or credit card) and if there is another individual or company providing the same service in your area. You may be able to see public bids for local municipal buildings and see what the winning bids were. Certainly $1.00 a square foot might be reasonable in a more rural area while in New York City a reasonable charge might be $2.50 to $5.00 a square foot.
Remember what you are selling is safety. Insurance rates for restaurants, malls, etc. are based on many factors including accident rates. The fewer claims for slip and fall accidents the lower rates those companies will pay.
Slip/fall accidents are a major problem for employers and customers as well as homeowners. Just think of what happens to those in the Northern states who don't deice their sidewalks and someone falls and breaks a leg! The statistics about insurance liability claims are that slip/fall accidents rank second after auto accidents claims., And slip/fall accidents, paid for by workers compensation claims, have greatly increased over the last 10 years.
As a general rule of law, according to Grip On's attorneys, if an owner or possessor of a premises knows of a potentially dangerous condition, which could cause harm and he or she knows there is a means to prevent that harm, the inference is that the injured party would be more likely to hold that owner liable and have higher damage claims. Insurance companies don't like accident claims: keeping business insurance is important. When a company is canceled for insurance, other insurance companies are less likely to insure or will significantly increase premiums due to the risks they see in the future.
Do make sure that you ask each customer for his/her permission to use you and your company as a reference. I suggest a website for your area where you can have customers rate your service and make comments about the change that Grip On made for their hard surfaced flooring such as ceramic tile, glazed brick, marble, polished stone, terrazzo, river rock, concrete, and quarry tile.
Do remember that porcelain bathtubs are still fixtures in many homes, hotels and motels. Applying Grip On means no more tub mats, stick on plastic "fish", etc.
I hope this information has been helpful.
Thank you for the question.
Sincerely, Barbara