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Post by Kathleen on Mar 4, 2006 22:31:35 GMT -5
Hi Everyone - I started my home cleaning company about 2 months now..business rapidly picking up - which is great - BUT last night I broke my ankle. 6-8 weeks recovery time! Grr Yikes! So here are the questions: (1)What is the most professional thing to say to your new clients and prospective clients that either A) Inform them that I will be coming along with a new girl to make sure their cleaning is done right. (sub-contractor) Or B) Ask them to wait about 6-8 weeks until I heal. (2) Since I am growing at a rapid pace .... do I focus on making bookings in the future or just sub-contract it out to maintain the current growth rate? I am almost at a lost of words to know what to say....  ANY ideas- or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Kathleen K & B Cleaning Service |
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Post by Linda on Mar 4, 2006 22:55:32 GMT -5
I think if it were me I would hire someone to do the job for me. May be a good idea to go the first time if it is their first time cleaning the home. Make sure they have a check list so they dont forget something and give one to the client as well. I am not sure about putting them on hold. They may look elsewhere. Sub-contracting it out could cost you the account couldn't it?
Linda
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Post by Kathleen on Mar 4, 2006 23:13:26 GMT -5
Linda - thanks for the reply....If i sub-contracted it out - I might make a contract up stating that stating that they would not solict the home owner nor work for them unless it was through me .. I have seen this type of contract out there ...when I used to deliver the newspaper. Is this a good idea or not?  still blown away that i did this to myself now..grrr Kathleen |
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Post by Linda on Mar 5, 2006 17:28:18 GMT -5
Well sub-contracting it out I think would be worth the signing, but if you just hire a girl at a certain rate and make sure she and the home owner understand she is temporary until you are well enough to come back to work, unless of course you decide to keep her as an employee. You could talk to the owner and ask her what she is more comfortable with...the temporary or a scheduled cleaning in about 6 wks. That will give her an option at least???
Linda
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Post by Pages Personal Cleaning on Mar 5, 2006 20:20:47 GMT -5
A little advise on something I learned the hard way. If you hire someone to work while you are off, make sure they sign an agreement. I hired someone once to do certain houses for me and she started giving me problems and I had to let her go. When I fired her she called all the clients she had been cleaning for and told them we had been partners and we disolved our partnership (I have never had a partner, she lied to my clients) and that she wanted to continue cleaning for them. She was only an employee but it was her word against mine. I lost some business over it.
Patti
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Post by Linda on Mar 5, 2006 22:16:39 GMT -5
Oh that is just wrong  So far I have only had my sister and my niece helping me, but I am the one who sets everything up and the walk thru. I do let them know if I am bringing someone with me. I will keep that in mind Patti if I hire someone. Will definitely do a signing. Thanks, Linda |
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Post by debi5257 on Mar 6, 2006 7:59:30 GMT -5
Kathleen,
Sorry to hear about your broken ankle. I broke mine several years ago and it took a while to heal. You should definitely have whoever you have work for you sign a non-compete agreement. Almost every company that I ever worked for, no matter what it was, had me sign one.
Hope you heal fast!
Debbie
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Post by Kevin on Mar 6, 2006 8:05:08 GMT -5
Sorry about your ankle  Hope your doing OK  . I blew out my knee on a skiing trip and was laid out for almost three weeks, so I understand where your coming from. Follow Patti`s advice, and be honest with your customers telling them what happened, and also state that your employees will be filling in for you during the time. Also inform your customers that you do not expect any problems( As your staff is highly trained to handle things while your away) but if they should have any problems or if the cleaning is not up to par, to contact you immediately so the areas can be fixed. (tell them your cell phone hand & ears are still working fine ) A little advise on something I learned the hard way. If you hire someone to work while you are off, make sure they sign an agreement. I hired someone once to do certain houses for me and she started giving me problems and I had to let her go. When I fired her she called all the clients she had been cleaning for and told them we had been partners and we dissolved our partnership (I have never had a partner, she lied to my clients) and that she wanted to continue cleaning for them. She was only an employee but it was her word against mine. I lost some business over it. Patti |
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Post by Kathleen on Mar 6, 2006 10:32:35 GMT -5
Ok - Good Ideas everybody !!!!!!!! THANKS!!!!   Now- Any ideas on where I can get a generic non-compete agreement? So, I don't have to reinvent the wheel. I was planning this month to become a full member to check out any forms but since the ankle pulled the plug on that ..you know money constraints! ugh! Ideas Welcome-you can also email me at kathleen@KBClean.com Kathleen |
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Post by logan5127 on Mar 6, 2006 10:47:14 GMT -5
Kathleen, Sorry to hear about your ankle. It is hard to set still when your business is taking off. The full membership dues are extremely low cost. I would suggest that while you are taking some time for recovery that you go ahead and become a full member. While you are not able to perform physical duties it would be a great time for you to do research , get forms together, organize and learn many new things. There is so much great information for Full Members.
Hope your recovery goes well and you have made a good business relationship with your clients so that they will understand when things like this happen. Thanks, Dan
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ANY ideas- or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
still blown away that i did this to myself now..grrr
So far I have only had my sister and my niece helping me, but I am the one who sets everything up and the walk thru. I do let them know if I am bringing someone with me. I will keep that in mind Patti if I hire someone. Will definitely do a signing.
Hope your doing OK 
. I blew out my knee on a skiing trip and was laid out for almost three weeks, so I understand where your coming from. Follow Patti`s advice, and be honest with your customers telling them what happened, and also state that your employees will be filling in for you during the time. Also inform your customers that you do not expect any problems( As your staff is highly trained to handle things while your away) but if they should have any problems or if the cleaning is not up to par, to contact you immediately so the areas can be fixed. (tell them your cell phone hand & ears are still working fine 
