Hey Residential Cleaners!!!!!

[Kevin]

When you going to do it? Seeing alot of websites with only residential on them. When are you going to make that move and add some commercial cleaning onto those websites. There really isnt that much difference in cleaning small offices. ? So when are you going to do it? You can always turn down jobs that you do not want!!!

[Roman Cleaning Services]

I'm finding that its harder to compete with the more establised companies. I've put the commercial aspect on hold for while and focusing on residential. Pay is more frequent and commercial equiptment is high.

[Kevin]

James,
Well atleast you have it advertised on your website. Your listing it as a service you perform. It all depends on the commercial account that you will be doing. An example would be you could get a call for a small attorneys office, your first office cleaning could be very similar to housecleaning. It is up to you, if your at least advertising that your perform commercial that way you can go on bids and get experience.

It is up to you if you decide to take the job. Just because your called to give an estimate, does not mean you have to take that job. You should though, take every commercial with the slightest profit margin to build references and experience. The money it takes to get into a commercial account is not high at all, if your doing residential currently, think of your cleaning box that you travel with is now stationary at the account (although some services are still chemical & carry, moving their supplies from one account to another) At Purity we do this with smaller accounts, and on larger ones they are stocked. The cost though is under $250.00, (including a vac) , some of the larger ones the cost of equipment and supplies go up. (but you build into them, floor scrubbers, buffers...etc..)

I think I posted this before we store all of our floor equipment minus a couple of machines at customers accounts, it takes up less space that way. Even if their floor work is only quarterly, they have a designated machine, and when we need that machine for a job, we go by the account and pull it. .... But back to the point, you can do both residential and commercial, and then keep on adding on services.

What was that from Seinfeild " Welcome to the Scotch Tape Store" Don`t open a store that just sells scotch tape.

[Renovare]

Well...

Oddly....Renovare had commercial literally plop into its lap! Previously, I had no continuing residential contracts, just some one-offs, the occassional carpet clean, and apartment turnover. Part of the reason is, and James, you might be feeling this too, is being a guy. It's kinda hard to market residential as a guy, I think. And I can't fake it as a girl, despite looking stunning in heels, even with hairy legs. (I believe Kevin does well in residential but I hear he waxes). ;D ;D ;D

But I will say, of even the one-off residentials I've done, i.e. turnovers -- some even really clean turnovers, if you can do residential, you definetly can do commercial. I'm not sure the reverse is true though. Residential is a lot of work, a lot of different surfaces and materials, and a lot more personal. My hat is definetly off to the residential-only outfits in our midst.

Cheers!

John

[Kevin]

lol... the only waxing be done is residential basement flooring Seriously though good point, Posted this before if your a detailed residential cleaner, new commercial customers would be extremely impressed with your work.

[Linda]

I drove behind a van today all the way home. On the back window it said "Best thorough cleaning ever or its free" I wanted to take his van and hide it lol

Linda

[Roman Cleaning Services]

The janitorial carts I found were like $200, which kinda scared me. I may start cold calling again and see where I get. I'd like to focus on smaller offices if possible. As far as men doing residential...thats done by the women that I hire. My main concern when I started was females being uncomtable with men in their home. I would mind putting men on turnover jobs though. This last client I picked up was actually fine with men cleaning. In fact, she was kinda shocked that I wouldn't be doing it myself!

[rhapsodyvf]

I have residential and commercial on my website, however the only thing that i seem to be getting is residential!

[Kathleen]

Right now, I plan to stick with the residential cleaning and continue to build a solid reputation that way. I would rather keep my business focused on providing exceptional residential service with a small yet personal feel to the company. Many in my community value that trait! Some may call me silly for not going into commercial right away, but around here in this extremely conservative community ...loyality and personal touch goes along way.

Within my networking group, I have had many inquires about doing commercial, so when I do go down that road I know there will be work. My goal within a few years would be to be able to hire a night crew to handle all the commercial clients. And me ..over see it all from a financial perspective.

[gailm]

Unfortunately, I really hated commercial cleaning. Hated the hours and hated the kind of cleaning they wanted done.

In residential, the work is very detailed. How do you go from that to hardly cleaning anything? And the areas they wanted me to detail I didn't like. I even had some of my employees that gave it a try and they also found it confusing going from my procedures of "clean everything in and out of view" to "don't clean......". There was no sense of fulfillment of doing a good job when we were done.

Kevin is right, you can always decline the job. I managed to schedule some strip mall doctor offices into my day schedule. And model homes are extremely easy and pay well.

Offices that are easy to clean: chiropractors, real estate offices, jewelry stores, mail stores, travel agencies and those areas with industrial parks. They're like little office condos all together in specific areas of the city. They're easy to walk through and leave a promotional piece with the office manager in each business.

[Pages Personal Cleaning]

Gail
I feel the exact same way about commercial cleaning. If I can't go in and do a thorough job and be proud of it, I don't want the job. I use to do offices and quit a few years back because I didn't like that kind of work at all. One reason I quit doing offices was the hours. I got tired of working all the evenings and weekends. I am a morning person. I like to get up early and get our jobs done during the day and enjoy my evenings. I just enjoy doing residential. You can really see what you have done and be proud of a job well done.
We do occasional small offices where they want a one time thorough cleaning.
Patti

[gailm]

Patti

Thanks goodness! All these years and I thought I was the only one. Good to find out I have a like-minded friend out there.

Detail work is the only cleaning worth doing.....in my opinion. ;D

Gail