This is challenging

[LCCFL]

I’ll admit being a business owner under 3 years is tough. I’ve jumped from per room to sqft and back to per room. I believe I’m fair with the per room rate.

But when it comes to commercial I’ve taken sales courses and other tasks to get a grip of landing more commercial and residential work. Honestly it’s a pain when I can’t see a long shot and making it very profitable.

I know it’s more then looking professional, clean truck, latest equipment, and most off honesty. Which I feel I valid in all those categories. I really don’t want to be into apartment complex’s doing $25-30 cleans on occupied units. I feel I built a great reputation for my business.

What I don’t see is how I can grow, feed my family, live peaceful, and make a good pay. Yes it takes time but I always do the most I can. Market online, cold calling, emailing previous and new clientele.

Hoping anyone on here can give me some pointers.

 

[Cleanworks]

I’ll admit being a business owner under 3 years is tough. I’ve jumped from per room to sqft and back to per room. I believe I’m fair with the per room rate.

But when it comes to commercial I’ve taken sales courses and other tasks to get a grip of landing more commercial and residential work. Honestly it’s a pain when I can’t see a long shot and making it very profitable.

I know it’s more then looking professional, clean truck, latest equipment, and most off honesty. Which I feel I valid in all those categories. I really don’t want to be into apartment complex’s doing $25-30 cleans on occupied units. I feel I built a great reputation for my business.

What I don’t see is how I can grow, feed my family, live peaceful, and make a good pay. Yes it takes time but I always do the most I can. Market online, cold calling, emailing previous and new clientele.

Hoping anyone on here can give me some pointers.

Don't even be looking for that kind of work. Can't you see there's no money there? Start looking at strata buildings for their hallways and common areas. Look for large retail units in the malls or large offices. If I do rental units, it's now $150 for a 1 bedroom, $200 for a 2 bedroom suite.

 

[Fat Mike]

Don't even be looking for that kind of work. Can't you see there's no money there? Start looking at strata buildings for their hallways and common areas. Look for large retail units in the malls or large offices. If I do rental units, it's now $150 for a 1 bedroom, $200 for a 2 bedroom suite.

Gave away last apartment complex two years ago.

Building relationships is very important imo. We started our business with mostly all referrals and some flyers. Haven’t mailed anything in years but that doesn’t work in all areas and we don’t just clean carpet.

When one area of service is slow the other is busy for us. It’s crazy when it’s all busy though!

 

[hogjowl]

It all boils down to being known.
How do they learn about you?

 

[Trip Moses]

Business cards to everyone. Realtors, Property management that have mostly houses, hand them to people when you are getting gas, groceries and when your at the barbershop. Always have business cards. Have a website and a google local business listing. Post on Facebook. Have a business page on Facebook. Get to know other cleaners in town. You’d be surprised how many will send some work your way. Market to daycares, veterinarian offices and medical offices. Get to know some large janitorial companies and see if the will send some work to you. You can do it.

 

[hogjowl]

Or, just hang around for 31 years

 

[LCCFL]

Don't even be looking for that kind of work. Can't you see there's no money there? Start looking at strata buildings for their hallways and common areas. Look for large retail units in the malls or large offices. If I do rental units, it's now $150 for a 1 bedroom, $200 for a 2 bedroom suite.

I do but I’ve seen pricing of $.9-$.12 a sq ft on hallways like that. Especially a company that subbed work to me. I had to cut them off cause it wasn’t worth my time nor good pay.

 

[Jimmy L]

Move out of that HELLHOLE state and move to............Atlanta

I hear they need carpet cleaners there

 

[FredC]

Move out of that HELLHOLE state and move to............Atlanta

I hear they need carpet cleaners there

Its true. I've seen several light poles that didn't have a cc sign taped to them

 

[jcooper]

Or, just hang around for 31 years

Believe it or not, Marty is correct.


I used to get soooo frustrated coming on the boards and asking how people started, only to hear "repeat's and referrals"..... Over and over.

When you have no clients, you have no "repeat's and referrals".


We all feel your pain, but it does take time.

The more you clean the more people will call. For us, after about five years "things" got much easier as far as phone ringing, not working for cheap, less worries, etc.

At some point(hopefully) the phone will ring enough you won't have to work for aholes anymore.


In the mean time work on your internet presence every chance you can.

 

[LCCFL]

Believe it or not, Marty is correct.


I used to get soooo frustrated coming on the boards and asking how people started, only to hear "repeat's and referrals"..... Over and over.

When you have no clients, you have no "repeat's and referrals".


We all feel your pain, but it does take time.

The more you clean the more people will call. For us, after about five years "things" got much easier as far as phone ringing, not working for cheap, less worries, etc.

At some point(hopefully) the phone will ring enough you won't have to work for aholes anymore.


In the mean time work on your internet presence every chance you can.

Internet presence is on point. Doing YouTube, Facebook, google etc.

 

[Cleanworks]

I do but I’ve seen pricing of $.9-$.12 a sq ft on hallways like that. Especially a company that subbed work to me. I had to cut them off cause it wasn’t worth my time nor good pay.

Don't worry about prices you hear about. Price your service at a point where you are making a profit that you can live on. Profit is what you have left over after paying all expenses, including paying yourself. There will always be someone cheaper as well as carpet cleaners going bankrupt because they didn't know how to price their service.

 

[Trip Moses]

This is my 10th year. I had a job for 4 years while I was getting my business going

 

[hogjowl]

And remember
Your a huge loser among
LOOZERS!

 

[Mikey P]

What are you doing to stand out in your community?

 

[LCCFL]

What are you doing to stand out in your community?

Not much.. Thought of joining Chamber of commerce. On the other hand I don’t know how to stand out in the community.

 

[hogjowl]

I found that having children causes you to become known in your community.

 

[Jim Williams]

A new guy showed up in my area and I'm pretty sure he is offering a discount for customers to brag about him on Nextdoor.com. They all say the same thing and it sounds scripted, but what you can do is just ASK for online reviews weather its Google or Nextdoor or Yelp, or their local neighborhood chatlist.

 

[jcooper]

Not much.. Thought of joining Chamber of commerce. On the other hand I don’t know how to stand out in the community.

You really don't have to stand out, you just have to not suck!

 

[LCCFL]

You really don't have to stand out, you just have to not suck!

Yea, I can say I’m pretty good at what I do lol

 

[LCCFL]

A new guy showed up in my area and I'm pretty sure he is offering a discount for customers to brag about him on Nextdoor.com. They all say the same thing and it sounds scripted, but what you can do is just ASK for online reviews weather its Google or Nextdoor or Yelp, or their local neighborhood chatlist.

That’s sad. But I do have reviews on all the platforms. All organic reviews

 

[Nomad74]

Ok, I know this sounds corny, but I practice this and it works. It used to bother me when a certain PM company would use another cleaner and not me. But then I had a change of attitude. I heard the term, "Be so good they can't ignore you". So that's what I do, and it works. Word has spread, referrals are working, and people share their results. Eventually my word-of-mouth work ethic made it's way to my competitors PM. They now are using me.

Be so good they can't ignore you.

Okay, i'm going to go apply tire shine to my bumper now.

 

[LCCFL]

Ok, I know this sounds corny, but I practice this and it works. It used to bother me when a certain PM company would use another cleaner and not me. But then I had a change of attitude. I heard the term, "Be so good they can't ignore you". So that's what I do, and it works. Word has spread, referrals are working, and people share their results. Eventually my word-of-mouth work ethic made it's way to my competitors PM. They now are using me.

Be so good they can't ignore you.

Okay, i'm going to go apply tire shine to my bumper now.

Lol very true.

 

[Mikey P]

Not much.. Thought of joining Chamber of commerce. On the other hand I don’t know how to stand out in the community.

Volunteer at a high profile organization
Donate cleanings to worthwhile charities
Help clean up your town of trash and graffiti
Join neighborhood FB blogs and be helpful
Help old ladies across the street
If you have kids , be the most visible helpful dad of all
Be, Social.

 

[hogjowl]

It’s not necessary to actually be social

 

[Mikey P]

How the hell would you know, you made your reputation in the age of the yellow pages

 

[hogjowl]

It doesn’t matter
I wasn’t social
Idiot

 

[Nomad74]

I enjoy Ice Cream Socials.

 

[Mikey P]

It doesn’t matter
I wasn’t social
Idiot

you have 6 competitors currently and I'm betting you're the only white one


with all his teefs.


Big deal.

 

[Fat Mike]

you have 6 competitors currently and I'm betting you're the only white one


with all his teefs.


Big deal.