How often are you at your mat??

[Kard]

Ok I have been looking into this business for a very long time. I have determined I am interested. After reading the posts for Sbaker I need to ask this:

How much time does an owner actually spend at the mat? This is how I envision it - I intend to have the mat fully staffed (maybe "work it" 1 or 2 shifts a week just to keep up with the customers & day to day affairs). I would think I would be there pretty much every day though, managing, ordering supplies, book keeping, banking, cleaning, repairs, marketing ect... I don't beleive any business can be profitable with an absentee owner.

I am asking this specific question because I am very eager to open a mat and there are a few profitable mats in my area, but I am passing them by because I'm not fond of the area (inner city). I know this is probably the best possible place to have a mat but I just envision myself there every day for years... Am I being over dramatic? I am also thinking about the help, the current owner of one that I looked at said trying to get good help in this area is almost impossible. Also the language barrier (not so much from the customers but the help). The mats I looked at are profitable, clean, modern, have security cameras, one of them is hooked up for internet veiwing I like everything except the area...

[PeterH]

My 'mat is unattended and I have a fulltime job. I'm there every morning to open, and every night for 2-3 hours to clean and close. On weekends, I spend most of my time there fixing things and organizing. I spend about 3-4 hours at home counting quarters, preparing deposits, doing accounting and paying bills.

[Duane]

My mat is unattended and it takes me about 2-3 hours a day to do the cleaning and maintain the vending. That is for a normal day, some days I may be there all day long just hanging around talking to the customers. When I first opened my store I was there 14-16 hours a day for a good 2 months then about 8-10 hours a day for another 4 months or so. That was 7 days a week. Everything went smoothly, but I was just nervous and wanted to be there for new customers and to keep the store extra clean.

Since I do nearly all the work myself I would estimate with getting vending supplies, going to the recycling center, bookwork, going to the post office and bank, counting money and being at the mat itself that it would be a good 20-25 hours a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less.

Don't tell my wife, if she knew how little time I put in at the mat she might make me get a real job..... SSHHHHHH!

[Burley]

I would echo PeteH's comments.......but I spend less time cleaning each night. I am guessing that my mat is smaller. I am also unattended. It would be interesting to know if you will end up spending more time at the mat since you plan to have employees. I bet it is more with all of the problems I read about here with employee interviewing, hiring, training, and theft problems. Time will tell I guess.......

[azkid]

I have a different situation. I only go to the mat to collect quarters twice a week or if there is a belt or something I need to put on (which rarely happens since my stuff is new or in good repair). I have a drop off operation that I gave to the people that work there in return for them cleaning and opening/closing, etc. I'm sure people will say that this never works...guess I have been dreaming for two years then.

[sbaker8688]

My father had two mats when I was a teen. His one mat did wash and fold, and was therefore attended (by him). His other mat was small and unattended - pure coin-op self-serve. I helped him with the unattended mat.

I'd simply drive there in the morning to open up, then drive there at night to close, sweep the floor, empty the machines, empty the trash, and wash the machines down with a soapy rag. Estimated time spent per night was roughly 30 minutes. Sure, every now and then there was a maintenance problem, which would be more time. And every now and then I had to become the "lint monster" and open up the bottom of all those dryers and clean out arm fulls of lint, and get covered and itchy from head to toe. But that wasn't the typical night. Typically, it was 30 minutes a night. That's what I envision when and if I find a decent mat to buy. I probably won't find one, or if I do, with my luck I'll get screwed and pay too much and lose money. But, in my perfect little world inside my perfect little head, I envision the scenerio I just outlined.

[Kard]

Thank you all for your comments. It looks like alot of unattended mats out there. I would think attended would yeild more profit (WDF comercial, dry clean drop offs).

If there is anyone who has an attended mat I would love to hear from you - is it a nightmare or is it worth the time? Do you spend more time than these folks? What happens when someone calls in sick? Quits?

[Kard]

Thank you all for your comments. It looks like alot of unattended mats out there. I would think attended would yeild more profit (WDF comercial, dry clean drop offs).

If there is anyone who has an attended mat I would love to hear from you - is it a nightmare or is it worth the time? Do you spend more time than these folks? What happens when someone calls in sick? Quits?

I don't mind putting in the hours - I'm just sick of working for someone else. I know this won't make me rich but it will probably make me happy...

[JamesWash]

I have an attended mat just open. Since the mat has not reached the break even point yet, I cannot afford to hire someone to work now.

My wife and I are the only attendants at this new store. She works 11 hours at the mat 7 days a week. I spend about 3 hours doing management work plus 7 hours being attendant 7 days a week. We are both tired.

Each night, I spend about 2 hours to do clean up.

[Burley]

<<What happens when someone calls in sick? Quits?>>

Sick--You try to call another worker and see if he/she is willing to come in at a moments notice OR you end up doing it yourself.

Quit--Same as above but includes putting an add in the paper, taking applications, calling and setting up meeting/interview, interviewing, making job offer, getting turned down, starting over.......