[MIKE1206]

I'm trying to start a cleaning business by mid- August. I have a lot of cleaning experience dealing with hotel's and cleaning parkings lots. I decided to charge $10.00-$15.00 per hour. I'm going to only do the business part- time since I have a full time job already working Mondday- Friday. I'm only doing my surrounding area because I don't have a car.


The question I have is.. How do I get clients. I have flyer's and I signed up for different websites but still no one replied to me.I also wanted to know if I should hire one or two people to help me out and if so what should I pay them.

[Clough]

Hi, MIKE1206!

I can definitely help you with the advertising and marketing part. There is a person on this site who goes by the name of Stringer, who is an Expert in the cleaning business and owns a very large cleaning company in the Chicago, IL area. I'll alert him to your thread so that he can give you his excellent advice.

Thanks!

[neverme]

I'd say start alone if you can, don't hire people until it's absolutely necessary.

Best of Luck.

[Stringer]

Getting sales is a combination of a lot of things Mike, and prospecting is one of them that should never cease.

You may be doing some things already like flyers and website advertising however there are some proven ways to do it correctly. Clough is an expert in the advertising area especially on the web, he can advise you on how to most effectively use this tool with success.

To me, flyers usually work best in residential cleaning, not too well in commercial. Now that doesn't mean 'leave behinds' don't do some good along with your calling card. (To me a 'calling card' lends itself to being more professional AND after you put your vital information on the front, it is advisable to use the back of the card for additional information as most people WILL turn the card over to look on the back... ) A 'leave behind' is usually a more professional piece of advertising with better art work but keep it simple. On this; say a little but ask a lot. By that I mean that you want them to call you so ask a question that might prompt them to do just that;

"Are you getting the service you are paying for?"

"Are you paying too much for your cleaning service?"

"Are you tired of the problems with your present service?"

"Do you really have the time to continually listen to the problems with your cleaning service?"


What you want first and foremost is that appointment... if you aren't talking to them, you aren't selling or servicing anything.

Also, you have to wear out your knuckles... forever. Go personally to 'visit' your potential customers, dress professionally (I always wear a suit and tie, to me and hopefully to my prospects this shows respect to them and says that I care enough to be as professional as I can be and possibly imply that I might know what I am talking about.)

Now the most vital item... confidence. Be knowledgeable about your industry and what you can do to help your prospects; knowledge breeds confidence (period).

When you continually prospect, find out who is the decision maker, continue to follow up on these leads... you will find some success. Remember that these buildings will still be there but situations change, if they are not interested now they might be in six months... things change.

Last item, BE PREPARED always... there are many people that want to sit down with these decision makers, they are busy, ask questions and let them talk to you. Too many of your competitors will sit there and constantly be talking about themselves and their company... then expect the prospect to simply say... "where have you been all my life, where do I sign and here's a blank check..."... really? (sigh)... If it were only that easy... right?

Plan your sales meeting with that prospect and plan to LISTEN and address how you can solve his/her problems... after all, they are taking their time to meet with you, there must be some kind of problem that would need to be solved... what do you think?

Listen and tell them how you are the 'cure.'

I hoe that this helped in some way, if so please let me know.

Stringer

[PaintingCompany]

I myself am having trouble with the advertising part of business but it is very important to be pacient. Pay a lot of attention to detail when it comes to your advertising. Follow Stringer's advice - I sure will.

What's the point if your phone is ringing off the hook and you don't sound professional or can't answer the questions the clients have.

Now the employee part: if you are going to be charging only $10-$15 an hour that's just enough for your time and materials not enough for that plus an employee. Start SOLO, there's nothing wrong with that. Once you start getting more accounts or need an extra hand hire someone. But there are a lot of responsibilities that come with an employee. So be carefeul but for now work by yourself. Keep all the profit now - in the beginning so you can invest it back in your business maybe a more up to date vacuum, better cleaning supplies, and hopefully a car!

Business is hard work - Don't give up!