Back To Basics / Searching

[Kevin]

This morning I did a basic search online on topics cleaning & janitorial with google.

Probably the same search someone starting a janitorial service might do, looking for information to start a business. My results are below.

If you have started a janitorial and cleaning business in the last two years. I truly admire you.

How did you get through all of that, information overload?

You will see so many things available that you think you have to have. I will tell you most of the stuff below is not necessary.

6 things you have to do. Done in the most professional manner.
1- Do you have the ability to market and sell your business.
2- Are you going to price the job right.
3-Will the customer trust you or your staff to do the job.
4-Do you have the ability to get the job done the way the customer wants it.
5-Collect payment for service.
6-Pay yourself, staff and suppliers.

When I started roughly 12 years ago, none of the stuff below mattered. I loaded up a truck with window washing equipment, business cards and flyers, and went door to door selling service. Took those customers put them into a database and cold called them and papered them for other services. Simple, and made money everyday. To this day, still making money everyday.

If your in business now looking for new ways or the golden secret of more business, or if your just starting. I suggest a route back to the basics. The golden secret is YOU. Can you put yourself and company in front of the customer and get the job, do a good job, and get paid when your done.

Think about those priorities for a while, while you are researching the stuff below.



The Search
-Automated lead generators
-Be A Certified Company
-Buy environmentally friendly products,
-Maximize profit w/ little start-up,
-The most comprehensive resource for growing a house cleaning business,
-We will get you contracts. No sub contracting, your contracts simple!
-Start A Cleaning Business In 7 Days With Our Detailed Steps -Secrets Get More Cleaning Contracts with Targeted Direct Mail Postcards
-Best Cash Book
-Best Tracking System for Janitorial Service
-Best Accounting Software For Small Cleaning Business
-Commercial and Office Cleaning Business,
- Award Winning Cleaning Franchise.
-How to price your services for a commercial cleaning business. -Follow a proven step-by-step roadmap to success
-This is for anyone who owns a small cleaning business that wants to keep track of their clients.
-Antibacterial, Effective, NON TOXIC eco and safe. Money back guarantee

[rusty]

Good advice Kevin, We seem to get over welmed with the info out there. Here is a very basic rule to follow. I see countless people on here asking how to get accounts. Here is an example of how important it is to carry a nice clean crisp business card. In the last week when we were leaving two different jobs, one lady was walking her dog, the other we met in an elevator, both asked for a card.

Point is, we dropped the ball. Because our new cards are being printed, we didn't have any cards. Very unprofessional to write down your phone number on a scrap piece of paper. One has called and we set up an estimate. We always want to have that nice business card because you just never know. Rusty

[Wendy]

The amount of information out there is incredible, I have read countless hours of it. The hard part to me is figuring out what part of it you should believe. I think you have to read a lot and then decide what part of that is you, what works for you. Everyone is unique. I think your biggest asset in getting accounts is you. People buy you. Their impression of you makes up a huge part of their decision. It is a total package, but if they like you more than the other bidders and the price fits their budget, you get the job. Of course, to keep that job you have to be able to do the work properly and to their satisfaction. You have to have the ability to adapt yourself to people from all walks of life. Do more listening and less talking to find out what each client wants.

I always stress myself over pricing the bid right. But I also know that I can't get every bid I complete either. The law of averages applies to any sales situation. Price is not the only factor. Just the bidding process itself is a great learning experience for the next one. I always call for a followup and I ask why another company was chosen if we didn't get the job. I have always gotten an answer. Many times it is that they went with a cheaper service but other times another bidder was closer to them or they decided not to hire someone after all. You can't assume the reason and it doesn't hurt to ask why. That way you learn from the experience and it isn't just wasted time.

But anyways, Kevin, I agree that there is so much information out there that it can be confusing and overwhelming and it can drain you of money if you try to buy everything that sounds good.

Wendy