Post by Kevin on Jan 21, 2007 12:28:44 GMT -5
One of the most asked questions I receive is, How did you get to the level of comfort and security you have? the question is not always worded like that, but that is primarily the main question.
This post goes back to the beginning. I have made lots of posts, starting my operation, even some posts talking about my earlier years.
But this post is for the newer services, of what I believe it takes.
I was a professional manager before my business. General Manager of a movie theater. Not just one movie theater. I managed a total of 15 theaters in my life. Ranging in size from 10 employee single screens to 200 employee`s mega-plexes, 20 screens. I learned alot about marketing and customer service. I would say my strongest background experience is dealing with people. (I like to say people service, not only customer service)
So with that in mind. When I did start cleaning service. I had a head start, also being a cleaning service purchaser. Also having a professional job, dealing with professional people. Talking and selling my business to customers comes easy, dealing and talking business (making deals with other businesses, comes easy)
Now when I started my cleaning service. I had roughly $15,000 dollars in cash, and roughly $40,000 in credit. I started my business out doing primarily window washing, out of the back of my personal vehicle. I started about $150 dollars in equipment and about $100 in flyers, business cards and a one-page website.
With my funds left, it was a nice security blanket. I never had to worry about money, and when you do not have to worry about money. You can really concentrate on your business.
My goal was $58 dollars a day, if I could make that, my bills were covered.
Read more on my 58 dollars a day- click here.
So If you read that above post I was off and running. Now my schedule was hectic, working all the time. I believe that newer services forget the one of the biggest thing. Customers come and go!, jobs come and go!
Why would you work for one or two (accounts) people? , when you have the option to work for hundreds or thousands of people. I hear stories of this all day long, losing accounts, losing the big account or the main source of income for the service provider.
Do not put faith in your customers.
Keep on getting customers, don`t stop. OK so with this in mind, now to the marketing. I believe in the philosophy of telling ten people about your business daily. That philosophy is done and performed regardless of what advertising print or media you have going on. This is something you do, it can be handing out a flyer or business card, sending an email, sending a postcard or letter.
Anything you do as an owner that informs 10 people a day, that never knew about your business. [/b]
Now this is turning into a I believe thread,
but... I believe if you have a strong advertising program, web and print media, along with your daily 10. You can not fail.
Because I believe that the main effort of your business should be finding new customers, not as much effort as maintaining customer relationships.
Now you might say, WHAT!, let me explain. One of the reasons you started this cleaning business is INDEPENDENCE
There is no independence in working for one or two customers. You want freedom and security, you work for hundreds of people. Thousands of people.
That is comfort and peace of mind. Now with Purity my cleaning business, we have lots of jobs. Many call me a shoemaker, because we offer so many services. I have learned over the years, I Believe if you give somebody good service on one job, they will call your business for another service.
More Services=More Money!
Dedication: Work, Work, Work!
If your starting your business, you need to be 100% full committed. around the clock, I believe proper time is 55+ hours a week for the newbie, that can be doing labor, or doing the business labor, (learning, marketing, paperwork...etc)
My Secret!
Let me sum this up, starting to get a little long. If your starting out in business. Don`t half-ass your business. If you do, you will have a life of NO Security and Comfort. Keep on adding customers, and extra services that your customers need or want to purchase. At the same time market extra services to your current customer base, the services they need or want but have not purchased.
OK... hold on.. Quick Story... I know a floor cleaning company, pretty much all they do. So talking with this owner. He has about 100 customers, lots of repeat business. Almost all commercial. We were talking one day on the phone. (He wants more business) His advertising is sending his 100 customers the same postcard yearly to remind them they need floor cleaning, that`s it.
I ask: how do you get new customers?
His answer: Word of mouth! plus commercial stores purchasing more service for other store.
I say: Thats great!, how many of these places have carpet? who`s doing there carpet cleaning?
Long story short: He does carpet cleaning now also, In one year he doubled his business.
Guess what: He does window washing now too.
In closing: Work hard everyday, advertise your business, and tell 10 people a day about your business, concentrate more on finding new customers, and new ways of making money off your existing customers. When you do get a good amount of money and funding, re-invest it in safe places or sure things. You will have that life of security and comfort.
More about me- Click Here!
This post goes back to the beginning. I have made lots of posts, starting my operation, even some posts talking about my earlier years.
But this post is for the newer services, of what I believe it takes.
I was a professional manager before my business. General Manager of a movie theater. Not just one movie theater. I managed a total of 15 theaters in my life. Ranging in size from 10 employee single screens to 200 employee`s mega-plexes, 20 screens. I learned alot about marketing and customer service. I would say my strongest background experience is dealing with people. (I like to say people service, not only customer service)
So with that in mind. When I did start cleaning service. I had a head start, also being a cleaning service purchaser. Also having a professional job, dealing with professional people. Talking and selling my business to customers comes easy, dealing and talking business (making deals with other businesses, comes easy)
Now when I started my cleaning service. I had roughly $15,000 dollars in cash, and roughly $40,000 in credit. I started my business out doing primarily window washing, out of the back of my personal vehicle. I started about $150 dollars in equipment and about $100 in flyers, business cards and a one-page website.
With my funds left, it was a nice security blanket. I never had to worry about money, and when you do not have to worry about money. You can really concentrate on your business.
My goal was $58 dollars a day, if I could make that, my bills were covered.
Read more on my 58 dollars a day- click here.
So If you read that above post I was off and running. Now my schedule was hectic, working all the time. I believe that newer services forget the one of the biggest thing. Customers come and go!, jobs come and go!
Why would you work for one or two (accounts) people? , when you have the option to work for hundreds or thousands of people. I hear stories of this all day long, losing accounts, losing the big account or the main source of income for the service provider.
Do not put faith in your customers.
Keep on getting customers, don`t stop. OK so with this in mind, now to the marketing. I believe in the philosophy of telling ten people about your business daily. That philosophy is done and performed regardless of what advertising print or media you have going on. This is something you do, it can be handing out a flyer or business card, sending an email, sending a postcard or letter.
Anything you do as an owner that informs 10 people a day, that never knew about your business. [/b]
Now this is turning into a I believe thread,
but... I believe if you have a strong advertising program, web and print media, along with your daily 10. You can not fail.
Because I believe that the main effort of your business should be finding new customers, not as much effort as maintaining customer relationships.
Now you might say, WHAT!, let me explain. One of the reasons you started this cleaning business is INDEPENDENCE
There is no independence in working for one or two customers. You want freedom and security, you work for hundreds of people. Thousands of people.
That is comfort and peace of mind. Now with Purity my cleaning business, we have lots of jobs. Many call me a shoemaker, because we offer so many services. I have learned over the years, I Believe if you give somebody good service on one job, they will call your business for another service.
More Services=More Money!
Dedication: Work, Work, Work!
If your starting your business, you need to be 100% full committed. around the clock, I believe proper time is 55+ hours a week for the newbie, that can be doing labor, or doing the business labor, (learning, marketing, paperwork...etc)
My Secret!
Let me sum this up, starting to get a little long. If your starting out in business. Don`t half-ass your business. If you do, you will have a life of NO Security and Comfort. Keep on adding customers, and extra services that your customers need or want to purchase. At the same time market extra services to your current customer base, the services they need or want but have not purchased.
OK... hold on.. Quick Story... I know a floor cleaning company, pretty much all they do. So talking with this owner. He has about 100 customers, lots of repeat business. Almost all commercial. We were talking one day on the phone. (He wants more business) His advertising is sending his 100 customers the same postcard yearly to remind them they need floor cleaning, that`s it.
I ask: how do you get new customers?
His answer: Word of mouth! plus commercial stores purchasing more service for other store.
I say: Thats great!, how many of these places have carpet? who`s doing there carpet cleaning?
Long story short: He does carpet cleaning now also, In one year he doubled his business.
Guess what: He does window washing now too.
In closing: Work hard everyday, advertise your business, and tell 10 people a day about your business, concentrate more on finding new customers, and new ways of making money off your existing customers. When you do get a good amount of money and funding, re-invest it in safe places or sure things. You will have that life of security and comfort.
More about me- Click Here!
