Would you pay to bid?

The Biz
1

There’s a property management company in my city that manages a lot of properties.

To be considered for a job your company must register with BCS (Business Credentialing Service). They keep tabs on you to make sure you have your WCB, Insurance and Licensing in place. The catch is it costs $389 to register with them per year.

My experience living in a property they manage is, they hire the cheapest people they can find.

Should I bother? Is this just a cost of doing business that leads to profits, or is this a crap deal like it seems?

2

Being that you feel you know they go with the cheapest seems like your first sign. Are you willing to be the cheapest? Maybe the volume of work could be worth it??

2nd-are you desperately wanting their business? If so, you probably don’t want to take the chance of paying and not gaining it.

I probably wouldn’t go for this.
If your instinct says it’s a crap deal, then move on.

Put that same dollar amount into google ads or whatever other advertising you do and you’ll likely get a better return for your money

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3

Thanks Jack.

I didn’t know if it’s a business decision I need to swallow or if I should follow my gut.

Going with my gut.

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4

I have ran in to that same thing before. I just add that cost the invoice, and make them pay it. just be upfront with them about it, from the start.

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But… if he doesn’t get the job, he still pays the price

6

So in my Experience, you only pay the price if you get the job you don’t have to pay anything to give an bid. normally you are just told, in order to get the job you’ll have to sign up on so so. and that is what his post says in order to be considered your company must register with the BCS. He should not pay that 389 unless the plan on hiring.

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I’ll look into this.

Thanks for the info.

Worst case scenario, I bid the job with a line item of BCS membership and they either take or not.