Starting and Building a Business |
Post Reply | Page <1234 17> |
Author | |
moreforles
Newbie Joined: 22/December/2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Status: Offline Points: 24 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
print up some 3 or 4 (or more) referral sheets, with your price and cleaning information, with the customers and let them pass them out for you to either relatives, friends or neighbors.
the first couple years, I ran a small add in the Yellow pages. The internet didn't exist then, at least in it's present form, so mining your contacts there would be more or at least as important as any other advertising. a half dozen commercial accounts (restaurants, offices) to keep you busy while you schedule and clean residential jobs and build up a clientele And one thing I wish I had done more of, is keep a upto date list of clientele, that can be searched, by city, job last completed, relatives and referrals, so that when you schedule a job, you can contact others in the same area, saving travel expenses, or jobs that are due for annual or biannual cleaning, to keep your schedule full, or relatives or referrals of the scheduled job, to see if they want theirs done the same day.... I have several streets in a few cities where I have a half dozen customers on the same street, but can rarely get two or more to schedule the same day, if face I normally end up doing one and then the other customers see me there, or hear that I had been there and a few days/weeks later, I'm back on the same street again, not that I mind, but three or four of them, would make a great day, if I could schedule them together.... And it's not that I don't like people, but my favorite jobs are empty houses and apartments, clean them and bill the job. The only thing better, is when they tell me where a key is, or a lock box code, and say the checks on the counter. |
|
Sponsored Links | |
moreforles
Newbie Joined: 22/December/2011 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Status: Offline Points: 24 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I would say, "clean the carpet like it was a relative of yours, one you didn't want to hear complaints from, always try to get it as clean as possible, leave it as dry as possible, don't leave a mess, either from draining the machine after the cleaning is done, or from a vehicle that leaks fluids - Leave them happy and glad to call and/or refer your services to others" |
|
Chris1
Newbie Joined: 02/November/2011 Status: Offline Points: 10 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I too am new and appreciate all the posts. Based on your experience what would you say is the most important marketing/advertising method or use for a beginner would be?
|
|
barry
Newbie Joined: 14/June/2011 Location: Chanute Status: Offline Points: 2 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
well, before you start to clean all the problems with the carpet belong to the customer.
when you start to clean the carpet all the problems become your problems
always do a good walk thru with customer and point out big problems
|
|
DavidD
Newbie Joined: 07/January/2011 Location: Chicago Status: Offline Points: 1 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I'm new here in this forum and everything i read is really nice.
I learned a lot here. Just want to say Thanks.. |
|
MR. STEAMER
True Patriot Only in the GTA Joined: 03/March/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 14544 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
You don't have to tell me...... I had to do a double take on the date the thread started...LOL
|
|
www.mr-steamer.com
|
|
John L
Carpet Cleaning Guru Joined: 29/November/2004 Location: I'm Right Here! Status: Offline Points: 4013 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Yep, And were all 6yrs older...... That went fast! |
|
MR. STEAMER
True Patriot Only in the GTA Joined: 03/March/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 14544 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I can say 6 years later... I'm still here..... It was a little slow like two years ago..... with all the economic doom and gloom... Business hasn't been bad lately...less carpet for sure... but we charge more... I have cut way back on advertising.... I have a good size customer list with the advertising I do, and repeats and referrals are always coming in. I book on average 20 calls per week.... Min call is $90 for 3 areas....
6 years later... and still kickin...
|
|
www.mr-steamer.com
|
|
MR. STEAMER
True Patriot Only in the GTA Joined: 03/March/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 14544 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
This Thread is old man... I wonder if all the people that have posted are still in business.
|
|
www.mr-steamer.com
|
|
vacman2000
Groupie Joined: 22/August/2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 61 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
I have been in the carpet cleaning industry for 20 years or more.
3 Major things will make you a lot of money 1. Get the carpets as clean as possible. 2 Get them as dry as possible, prefreably with a TM. 3 Charge a resonable cost. Whilst my business advertises like crazy, my brother does little advertising, his english is crap,but he does such a wonderful job his customers keep calling his wife who has perfect english, they rebook all the time. He has a Diamondback and get the carpets really clean and dry, and charges a resonable amount, if I could do what he does with all my tec's I would not have to work again. |
|
vacman2000
Groupie Joined: 22/August/2010 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 61 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
What makes him the most sucessful guy in the business? |
|
CantSeeMyToes
Newbie Joined: 06/September/2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
That seems to be a growing trend not just in carpet cleaning. |
|
duckcountry
Master Carpet Cleaner Joined: 29/October/2005 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1082 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Bottom lining it, ROI -- Return On Investment -- must take into account time spend because time always equates to money.
The higher the risk the higher the rate of return not only applies to venture capitalists it also applies to every business person who puts his capital at risk within his own company. And the more you are willing to invest, the more you are willing to risk -- the higher the return you must demand. It is why I don't do yellow pages for example. |
|
Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity?
|
|
CantSeeMyToes
Newbie Joined: 06/September/2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 9 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
It will also be the most costly way to determine what works. Might even be cheaper to hire an experienced marketing consultant. |
|
Post Reply | Page <1234 17> |
Tweet |
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Welcome to KleenKuip.com's Professional Carpet Cleaners Discussion Forum!