Client List Value

A prominant cleanr, from the neighboring town to me (approx. 9500 population), has made a career change. We share a mutual friend that might be able broker a deal for his client list if I want it. This cleaner was the primary cleaner for the town for the last 5+ years under a national franchise. I plan on saturating that city while the gap in available cleaners exits.

The question I have is this: How much value would the client list have for such a small town? If he was well liked, I can see how it might have good value in allowing you tp pick up where he left off. The other side of that is if he wasn't liked in the end, then would I be better off aligning myself as the opposite of what he provided in service and performance. I haven't heard a lot of positive things once he joined the franchise, but I was never a fan of that franchise's cleaning method in the first place (Chem-dry).

Help me out here, what do you guys think?

I think the value should be biased on actual sales in the last 12 months. And that wouldn't be the numbers he gives, but rather what the actual number show!.....like I said before most carpet cleaners are full of it!!  
Seriously though, personally I'd want to see the actual totals, invoices, books, deposits, whatever it took to prove the true amount in sales before I even considered the worth. And also, because you're unsure of his true standing with his customers towards the end while he had one foot out the door, it sure would be nice to somehow verify if he's still on good terms with his customers. You sure don't want to pay for his list of unhappy customers.  

So I think it would take some time and research on your part to figure this out, but it may be worth it?........you would know better than any of us I would think. 

Take my opinion for what you paid for it....

If he had a franchise I would not even be interested. You are not of that franchise so people are not really gonna care. You would be better off to blanket EDDM, other postcards, fliers etc....

Now, you could market to ALL those people he will no longer service, and save any money you may have paid for his "list". Build up your own e-mail lists from your advertising there. Have a spot on your website where people can sign up for specials and newsletters (or whatever reason your can think of to get their e-mail) and have that link on your advertisement.

Besides, what real good is it to buy his list, unless there is something to go with it, such as a letter of his recommendation or something along those lines.

Me? I would just seize the opportunity (since you are armed with the info he no longer cleans there) and blanket all those areas he served. EDDM would work great for that, if you have the money for the advertising.

I'm always leery about someone trying to sell their client list that is getting out of the business or changing careers. Why are they getting out? Why are they changing? Even if everything checks out great you are still getting a list of just potential clients. No guarantees of actual work. How much marketing can you do for what that list will cost you? I say market on your own.

His clients want the name not the man that's why people choose franchises. With that being said, just like what was said about e size the day! You could eddm every house for under 3k or 1k for all the people making over 60k a year. Do I would get on it now so u can get the holiday splurge.
And if they want vlm, give it to them! Just make sure your 175 has a fresh coat of paint and a nice company sticker on it.
Client lists are worth nothing . I would also make my flyers look just like franchises flyers. Have amigo make em for u.

Thanks for backup guys, I already sent in a few spies to evaluate his reputation among the residents and will be advertising heavily this week to get a jump on things. I am already doing some commercial in that city and have some good name recognition as a result, so the push should have some success.