Ok here you go.. it is not 20k posts but 20k views
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/small-...tore-5144.html
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Ok here you go.. it is not 20k posts but 20k views
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/small-...tore-5144.html
Hey I was thinking about getting up on the horse tomorrow and hitting up the cold calling...
Any places in perticular that you recommend my friend?
Clean, that whole south side is ripe in my opinion. Actually that is part of my son's area, you may bump into him tomorrow...Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
As I mentioned before, since you are just moving into the commercial market I would go after small local banks (talk to me later about bidding banks... somewhat different), small privately owned buildings (3-5,000 sq ft), possibly retail...
Yeah, that thread is over 5 years old... and closed last year... by Clough. Good thing too, it went on for almost 4 years. :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
Your son?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stringer
Does dirt dusters have some competition here on the southside?
I actually walked into a few banks here on the south side and they explained to me that CORPORATE... does the hiring...
That is a area I am interested in...
How do you get on these corporate lists and how do they get certain companies on their lists??
I have a follow to make in a month or so with a residential customer... she said her office was accepting bid is in August...
Presently I suggest that you go after SMALLER LOCAL banks. You are not large enough to do chain banks as yet. The requirement for corporate bank chains usually are; you already have banks that you are doing and can reference, usually minimum 5 years in business, and background checks on you and all your personnel, etc. And the bid out usually 10 to 30 banks at a time. Usually there is a bond required too, and the expense for equipment, upfront labor, supplies, etc on a multiple location bid is a hugh cost. Even if you could qualify you would probably overextend yourself I believe. not just in dollars but in management capabilities and quality control. We decided not to bid a Harris bank bid that was for 45 locations even though we were qualified. We were just too stretched at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
There are a lot of the other buildings that I posted previously that you can get and build your business upon.
Byran, my son's sales area is from Roosevelt Road south... he has gotten business in Orland Park, Tiinley Park, Calument City, Lockport, Romeoville Joliet, Downers Grove, Bolingbrook, Naperville and pretty much a lot of other towns... he has talent and is a damn good salesman. But his written report/plan for the rest of the week said that he would be in the Calument City, Orland Park areas and around. Last year (2008) he wrote about $100,000.00 per month in new business. Between his salary and commissions he is pulling in about $175,000.00 per year.
Getting leads from friends, business associates and other people is a great way to get new business. When we started over 17 years ago 60% of our new business was from referrals. But nothing beats... 20 new personal cold calls (on the street) a day.
Stringer...
HAPPY FATHERS DAY! HEHE
How was your weekend! Mine Went great!
Your advice of cold calling has blessed me with another lead!
I walked into a graphic studio in a industrial zone this past weekend(10,000 Sq Ft)
I met the owner and he explained that he would contact me Monday or if not have me call him...
He was currently in the process of accepting bids!! Which excited me!
Also, I walked into a smaller bank.. as you said.. and they said they just signed a contract last week...
So I missed them..
I also got a lead for a fedex kinkos when I was in there.. stating that they had a prior cleaning service and the guy disappeared... so they may need one... im suppose to talk to the manager... next week or so...
COLD CALLING WORKS!! Thank You Guys!
That is great Clean, if only more people listened...Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
I am not one that says; 'told you... ' he hee... but...
With all the advice you given me and you to clough.. I realized that the jobs don't come to you!
You have to go to the jobs and get them hehe..
Hopefully more people will listen to your advice and see that hey maybe every one in twenty ends up with a lead of some sort...
Thanks again!
I am going to get to bed though for tnite!
Got to get up early to sell a car in the morning!
I will keep you updated on how everything goes!
I am back! MY Birthday was yesterday and was all over the place..
How have you guys been
I have appt to look at that 10,000 sq ft studio...
The owner said they are finishing up construction but afterwards he wants me to do a post construction clean up... and then he wants me to scrub his concrete so they can lay a green screen down... I have a buffer with concrete attachment...
He said he is also interested in a cleaning contract after everything is done...
Any idea on what to charge stringer?
Hi, guys!
I'm sorry that I haven't been around! Have been ill and computer connection to the Internet has been really bad!
Thanks!
I've read some posts but still don't get it why the thrift store thread came up on this thread. :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
Thanks!
Probably Clean, but I need more information...Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
Will all the 'heavy things' be removed prior to your constr clng? (Large pieces of concrete, wood, HVAC, rubble, etc) or will you have to remove these items? If so, will there be a construction dumpster there for your use? (Costs plenty to get rid of this stuff if there is no constr dumpster.)
What does the construction clean up consist of exactly? (Windows, any stripping and refinishing, carpet cleaning, etc.)
What is your time line... how much of a 'window' do you have to do the clean up?
What is the exact sq ft of the concrete area?
Is the concrete roughed in or smooth finished?
Let me know these things Clean...
And if you like any of these answers, please indicate this in the tab below, thanks... :)
Stringer
Hi Guys,
I am back.
I went and took a look at the location the other day and did some measurements of the area he wants to be cleaned...
The only problem was that the guy was not there and I had to ask someone else...
The concrete is a smooth finish... I measured it to be around 1,866 sq ft of area of concrete that he wants scrubbed...
But I am not sure of what he exactly wanted because he had left.. so I do have to obtain more information...
I will be contacting him tomorrow to come out and take a look once again...
My question is... for scrubbing of the concrete... what will be the best to do this... I have a floor buffer but this room looks like it needs something bigger to clean it.
I suppose we will have to clean up the construction debris up also...
They had poly laid on the ground... I guess the finishing up the celing though...
First things first Clean...
Nothing is a simple answer. If the concrete is smooth, use a black or green pad. If the concrete is rough, use a nylon or poly brush. Depending on how much soil, use a degreaser or stripper, cut back to about 20-30:1. Rinse thoroughly. Might have to dry overnight depending on what is going on it. Single disk floor machine with wet vac or 20" auto scrubber would be good.
Open or congested area? Nooks and crannies or one big room?
Using a single disc and wet vac, 2 guys about 1.5 to 2 hours per 1000 sq ft. Using an auto scrubber, one guy about 30-45 minutes with a double scrub. Important. Put chemical down, let it work, scrub and pick up.
When you have more 'concrete' (no pun intended) information about the rest of the clean up, let me know.
Stringer
Ok...
I know you were telling to use a degreaser or stripper with a black or green pad... Now the current floor machine I have is a Commercial Oreck Orbitor... not a single disc wet vac... or floor machine.. do you think that I should rent a machine?
The total amount of concrete is 1,866 ft and smooth... it is a real open area with high ceilings and at the moment there is poly laid down on the floor so it is not getting dirtied at the moment...
So that is the exact details I got.. how may I go about with pricing the concrete... I don't want to charge too less but I don't want to over charge him...
Definitely! Rent a single disc machine AND the right size pads if you want the job to go well and do a good job. I would not use any other type of machine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
Based upon the hours I gave you above to do 1,0000 sq ftper hour, I would figure between 4 hours for 'clean' and 5 or 6 for 'dirty.
Figure your loaded hourly rate and price accordingly.
Important... let the chemical down to work... but do not let it dry and remember to rinse well.
When are you to do the job?
Stringer
Hi, Cleaningman23!
Do you still want any help with advertising?
Thanks!
Well I am suppose to deliver the pricing to him today or tomorrow.. I am going to take it over there tomorrow though... nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Stringer
They are finishing the construction this week I believe...
You said "1,0000" per hour or did you mean 1,000 per hour..
If it is 1,000 sq ft per hour
I am going to figure it out to be around close to two hours...
Now is the pricing going to be sq footage? Or hourly? I am unsure where I am going on that
Hi Clough!How have you been!Quote:
Originally Posted by Clough
Yes! Most Definitely ! I need to get this online ads back on track I am slacking!
Please let me know next time you will be on... and I will be on...
I will most def be on tnite if you want to work on it!
Thanks Again!
James
Your pricing as always...Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
Personally, I would use $0.11 sq ft as a safe competitive price; 1,866 sq ft X $0.11 = $205.00, only a suggestion as there is other profitable work available here also... correct?
I just got back... came through your area from Merrillville, In.
Won't be available until later tonight, granddaughter's birthday party.
Stringer
Yes. There is other Profitable work so I agree with you with the pricing..
Oh you were out in Merriville?
Did you you ever get that hospital you were talking about a little bit ago?
I have have driver out about 45 minutes from my area to big commercial industrial zones and have had no luck recently... many had said they have their family do it or I have to Book an appointment with the perosn in charge of cleaning?
Have you come across the situation?
Not sure that I understand your question?Quote:
I have have driver out about 45 minutes from my area to big commercial industrial zones and have had no luck recently... many had said they have their family do it or I have to Book an appointment with the perosn in charge of cleaning?
Yes, we are in negotiations. It looks like it may take a couple/few months now... but it is progressing nicely, thank you.
Stringer
Oh I apologize...
I had walked into a few places out in the bolingbrook area "Industrial Commercial Areas" and when I walked in.. Some of the secretaries were kind of not telling me if they did or did not have cleaning services and they explained to me that I had to make a appointment to meet the person in charge to speak with him...
Yep... those are all my accounts and they are trained to take care of me... :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
Awww cmon let me get some of them... are you serious?
I'm scraping over here for one single commercial job and your sitting back controlling your Mc Donalds Empire..
I still wonder to this day how all these damn foreigners steal all the jobs... everywhere I go has all ma and pa polish cleaning crews...
On top of it... I ran into a medical center cleaned by the nototious "Cardinal Cleaning" hehe
Yeah, they (Cardinal) give me a bit of bad air occasionally... they are also in Indiana. Actually they do a pretty good job overall, he is a tough competitor...Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
You will experience this "ma & Pa" thing because you both are going after the same size markets...
When you start to get larger and need crews trust me you will be damn happy that the Polish and Hispanics are willing to do the cleaning. "Americans do not want to clean toilets" even in this economy Clean. AND even if they do now, as soon as things get a little better they will leave you... fast. Most are excellent workers, we only hire those that are legal, we check thoroughly there is NO other way to do it. I wouldn't anyway, but the government is clamping down on employers that hire illegals.. big time.
Most often with the medium and larger size jobs you will only get a name, phone number and possibly an email address on your initial call. Then you call and set up the appointments, like I mentioned once before. But, sometimes you get lucky and walk into one that will see you right away... it happens.
I think I know where you are coming from hehe... Did you at one time clean toilets stringer? What made you go into this business if I may ask...
I did go into a new medical building out and they told me they were in the process of bidding and the man in charge was out of town.. so I gave them my card... and stopped int here again and they said he was still out of town... They did not have any of his cards... how will I got about this...
Along the way I have cleaned many and not just toilets. If you do not know how to do everything including carpets, VCT, stone, windows, general cleaning --- everything you will probably fail eventually.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
I worked for another large company started in sales went to sales manager to VP of sales and was fired. Started this 17 years ago and it has grown since then. Each night I have about 200 full time people working.
Do you have the man's name and phone number? You have the name of the company and the address right?Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleaningman23
I would do two things at this point;
Call him, tell him who you are, your company and phoine number and that you are very interested in tendering a proposal on the cleaning. If you get his voice mail, leave a very brief message saying the same thing... except; tell him that you will also call him back as this is important to him and you. AND, leave your phone number twice. After you introduce yourself and again just before you say goodbye... say it slowly and distinctly.
Also, send him a brief (seriously-brief) letter on your letterhead, state your company's name and what you do. (One small paragraph)
Second paragraph of letter; "I'm sure you realize that the appearance of your building is important in many ways? Especially to a for profit company... Clean and sanitized is synonymous with health."
"I am looking forward to the opportunity of providing quality service for your building." "I will contact you to gather the information necessary to offer my bid."
"Thank you."
Your name
Company name
This whole letter should be only about 1/3 of the total page, short and easy to read...
Stringer
2 phone numbers (landline and your cell
Hi stringer...
Sorry for the late response I have been having some PC issues lately...
How have you been I hope all is well!
Back to business
All right me and my single employee stoppe din the building on Friday and his secretary was there and said she was under strict supervision not give his number out...
I did get his name and cannot find an address online for it...
She also said she would promise that she would have him call me today and the call never came... I think I may stop in there again tomorrow if I Have time or stop in there on wendsday...
I also contacted a bank and talke dot the person in charge with the cleaning.. she stated that she was satisfied with her current cleaning but said to send her a synopsis of my company and she would keep me in mind if she ever becomes this satisfied with her current provider any ideas?
By the way I do not have a landline hehe...
It is a cell for my main business... I hope this doesn't hinder things at all...
Yes, when a sales call has reached a certain point and it is teetering on nothing going to happen, you have nothing to lose. I would stop at this place again and say that you were in the area, sooooo...
Many use the 'I'll keep it in my file' as and excuse to get rid of you... it usually ends up in the 'round file.'
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