How did you get started in your cleaning business?

[kathyskleening]

I would like to hear how each of you got started in your own cleaning business. Are you satisfied with the way things are going? If you could go back and change anything, what would it be? What are your future goals with the business? Would love to hear as much info as possible.

[Kevin]

There is a thread around her which is very similar (called why did you start, really need a smart librarian) This one is different as you are asking how, changes and future goals. First if i could do it over I would have added a city name into the business name as Detroit Janitorial, Southgate, or maybe Michigan I think that this is very important for someone starting out, especially now with the level of competition out there, people like to refer to businesses in their city and region. I got started doing door to door sales offering service, went out everyday to as many stores as possible, would offer to clean anything? I needed to make $1740.00 a month or $58.00 dollars a day to pay all my bills. It was tough some days were better than others, somedays I would make more or less, but still worked everyday. My going price at that time in 1995 was about $10 a hour. I took alot of big jobs for small wages. My first commercial seven night account was a restaurant about 4000 sq. ft for of course $58 per day. This gave less anxiety, as I now could pay the bills, and everything else was gravy. I still suggest to new services " take everything you can" think of it as a training experience. Sometimes in here myself included will give you a national average price for a job, the best advice is just take it, you know what is right for you now, if its a 3 hour clean a night, and your getting $35.00 and thats roughly $1050.00 a month, and thats your mortgage, its worth three hours a night. My plans for the future are with Purity to continue to be a pro-active company (not re-active). To keep the grease on the wheels allowing it to run in smooth operation, I am doing my best now to let go of the reigns, and allow the good people who work for me run it. Some of my plans for next year are to travel more, not vacations but IJCSA business. I plan on offering a service to IJCSA members where I will come to their hometowns and perform sales and training. My main goal will to work on getting new accounts for members, goodwill, training and support. The cost will be free some travel and accommodations will be paid by IJCSA, some by the members actually. I am figuring that I will spend one 40hr week per town, handing out flyers and brochures, for the members , promoting service, enhancing service, and reviewing members operations. The only thing the members will have to provide is brochures, business cards and a logo shirt for me to wear. I estimate the cost to be about $500 dollars with room, food, and rental car. I currently have lots of friends who are pilots and flight attendants with the airlines, so I travel with them at tax on ticket. Look for more on this issue to come. Along with this plan will also be spending time with state charter leaders so they can duplicate the process that I perform, with new members in their state.

[Crowz]

Right in this section Kevin.... "Why did you start a cleaning..." Lots of posts on that one!