How many clients do individual cleaners get ?

[earthlydream]

As a individual cleaner I need to do 2 houses a day to be able to pay my bills. I advertise on Craigslist & w/Flyers locally. Both have a high response rate. I'm getting calls daily sometimes 3-4 a day or at least 1 a day.

Not all will pAy my rate. I charge $75 & up. I think it's a regular price but there is alot of people cleaning for low rates which I can't compete with & stay in business.

How long does it take to fill your schedule w/good paying clients? I have been advertising for a year now & get many jobs but then they either move (College Town) or run out of money. I don't have a high end clientle mostly Professors, grad students, single career people.

Thanks,
Doreen

[Kathleen]

Doreen,

Have you joined a local networking group? Set up a referral program from your existing clients? Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce? Contacted and met with retirement homes, real estate offices, and property mangers, banks with homes that are foreclosed ..that need some TLC? Contacted relocation service specialists? What I am asking you what specific target marketing have you done to draw the "right" kind of clients that you desire?

I also live in a small college town and I believe that you must move past flyers and Craig's list to move forward. 98% of my business is referrals. I have not had to pay for any advertising other than to join a local networking group and take the time and gas $$ to drive to visit the above places and show my face and explain my services. I paid for business cards and quick read rack cards with a detachable business card at the bottom..so they can pass it on and still keep info at the same time. I first started with flyers - tri fold with lots of info ..blanketing the city but i only attracted a few of my ideal clients and the rest were ..well helping me learn what not to do ..I learned to bid my jobs better and try new techniques of how to present my business to prospective clients.

Right now my business is less than 6 months old ..after breaking my ankle within the first month of opening. Almost have a full schedule for 2 people working together. We have at least 4-6 one time only clients month ..move ins and outs or a special deep cleaning.... I find these clients/jobs to be my bread and butter when I am looking to convert them into a regular customer...by following up with them at least 2-3 times after I cleaned for them and by giving them a Finders Reward Program - sheet ..outlining the $$ back to them for referring me to new clients.

Doreen - for me it has been all about building my business on referrals and staying proactive with creating new business. I always know at the end of the month ....I am booked solid into the weekends - working like mad 8-16 hour days..just so I can save up to make it through the slow weeks and to be able to hire another sub or employee. But even when I am busy I make sure that I am working at filling the next 2 weeks in the schedule book by working the follow up calls and talking to them about the referral program. Once a month for my bi-weekly clients I leave them a referral letter after I clean..to keep it on the forefront of their minds.

Hope this helps... I have posted most of the tips on what to say to the above contacts all over this forum. Best of Luck

by the way what city and state do you live in?

[earthlydream]

Thanks for your advice!

I live in New Haven CT. I manage to get good clients but seem to be going thru a awful lot of people to get the few good ones.

I really enjoy my good clients. They are interesting to talk with as they are all intellectuals or into art & culture.

I see your point of presentation. If I keep posting on Craigslist should I state my rates so people who only want to pay very little won't call & bother me for nothing?

[Kathleen]

I think your problem with Craig's List might be the questions your asking on the phone when first speaking with them. I would keep Craig's list ..but perhaps you need to modify the wording within it to get the right clients you desire. I will PM with more this weekend. hope this helps

[earthlydream]

Thanks Kathleen!

I did add to my Craigslist ad my starting rate of $75 for a one bathrm size apt or house. I also added min charge of $40 for a small cleaning job that would be floors, one room, any small job that would only take 1/2 hr -1 hr to do.

It would have to be within a reasonable driving area because of gas prices & time to get there.

I got another call from Craigslist today & went on estimate . Told him my price -$75 for full cleaning every other week. He thought it was fine & needed to ask his partner.

I need a few more good clients to fill my schedule.

[maxcrunch]

Hello there,
I am new to running my own business, in Ontario Canada, so.. ?? what is Craiglist and will it help me out?

Thanks for the info on the Business leeds and networking, I have been thinking along the same lines.

Max

[Laura Wyatt]

Hey Max - Craigslist is an online listing service that is free, kind of like the classified ads in the newspaper.... and it is available in Canada. Check out this site www.craigslist.com

You can post your services in your area for free!

Doreen - I agree with Kathleen.... Network, Network, Network!!! referral work is huge! there are all types of networking groups that you can join : local business associations, Chamber of Commerce etc. that can help you get more work!

take care and I hope this helped a little!

[maxcrunch]

Thank you Laura,
I will look at the info later this afternoon.

[earthlydream]

Are the networking groups better for getting new clients than doorhangers?

I had a incredibly busy summer into Sept - now for some reason it's slow.

I keep advertising daily thou. I have added a few more services to my list.

I only need 8 more regular clients to fill my schedule. I did alot of one timers
Move-In & Out.

Doreen

[Pages Personal Cleaning]

Doreen
We all experience slow times at certain times of the year. Don't let it discourage you. We only had one request for an estimate in the past two weeks and then today I got slammed with requests and got 3 new jobs just today. There are just certain times of the year when you will experience a little slow down.
Patti