Quote:
Originally Posted by Stringer
Hi Nanc,
I am a little confused as to which way to proceed with this? May I ask some questions of you?
1. Are you wanting to start a "conventional" commercial cleaning company?
If you are then the way to go is to seek out business that will be cleaning 3 to 6/7 days per week on a regular basis.
2. If you are not, then you are going after business that only comes up periodically right?
Depending on this type is OK however it is somewhat like recreating the wheel each time. Even though you are "on their bid lists" you only get this business when it is available. And creates much more "sweat" and less stability (steady growth income).
In my opinion and this is the way I set up my business is to go after the steady/nightly cleaning which means that you will have that account on-going with the profit from it coming in each month. Then when you get the second, third, fourth, etc "steady" account of the same kind your bottom line will will continue to layer in a positive way.
Now after you establish the steady business (nightly) you have more options for additional profits; carpet cleaning, scrub and refinish VCT (hard floors), window cleaning, fabric chair cleaning, etc from these "nightly" accounts/clients.
Then possibly go after the construction clean ups, the new house clean ups, the "move out" clean ups.
I chose to have a steady income from the commercial business and sold the other things for additional business and profits.
This is only my opinion, do as you choose obviously, but I think that this business model would work better for you now and certainly in the future. And the steady income provides more financial and job security.
In these nightly commercial accounts I always list things such as carpets, hard floors, windows, etc as an available "option" with a price in the original proposal which they sign and is now the contract. By the way, whenever possible I never put a time line in the proposal, unless the request it. This allows the contract to go on without disruption. You should put a "30 day termination" clause in the proposal, this allows you or your customer to terminate after a 30 day notification, in writing.
Did I make any sense to you on this? If it does and you want to proceed with this then we can move on to "how to do this." As Clough has given you excellent advice on how to market and advertise your business. You need to have a Business Plan, a written one for your on benefit and clear planning for you and your company.
Stringer
Quote:
Originally Posted by
nanc1430
Stringer,
That's a very good idea. I will concentrate on the nightly jobs and then everything else is gravy.
I just didn't know where to start with bidding on restaurants. I know most of the cleaning companies don't do the kitchen. They only do the front room but as far as bidding, I don't have a clue if they charge by the square foot or hourly. I know that offices pay by the element but don't know the going rate for this also. I will have to contact a friend in Pennsylvania that did that down here as to what they might charge by the element.
I thought by doing the other type first, it would give me some time in between to feel my way through. Your right though, it's only when they have houses. I know they are getting ready for the parade of homes and wanted to be included in that. I am doing a spec house Wednesday for a contractor and think I will be servicing it once a week until they sell it. I walked the beat today and tonight with door hangers. I put them on offices, (each type has their own different saying and specials)
Nice houses and houses for sale or rent.
If I had a clue as to what they pay for restaurants, I would feel a lot better about them.
Is there any way I can find out a ball park figure and I can go from there?
Can you help me with the restaurants?
I really want to make a go of it and with the economy these days, have to give a little more for the money but don't want it to cost me either.
Thanks
Nanc1430
Hi, nanc1430 and Stringer!