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Business Strategies
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Business Strategies
It takes more to running a successful residential cleaning company than just a broom, mop and elbow grease. It takes proper planning so you get your cleaning business started off on the right foot and to keep it running smoothly. You have to learn how to develop a network to market your cleaning services. Having a successful business means knowing how much to charge, when you should "fire" a customer, how to get up and running on a shoestring budget and ways to finance your business. The Business Strategies articles will cover important topics, such as:
- Income
- Expenses
- Recordkeeping
- Taxes
- Insurance
- and More!
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Member Discussion: How Can You Become Indispensable to Your Clients?
This month our members discussed, "How can you become increasingly indispensable to your clients and make more profit?" We may not think of ourselves as indispensable, especially in tough economic times when customers dump their cleaning business at the first sign of trouble. But there are things we can do and additional services that we can provide that will make our customers feel as if they can't do without us! Listen as members share their ideas! . . .
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23 Things That Every Cleaning Business Owner Should Know
Theresa Peterson
In business you should not focus on selling just your services. You should also focus on selling customer satisfaction. Satisfied customers return to spend more money and are more likely to refer new customers to you, whereas dissatisfied customers will not only stop buying from you, they will also discourage potential customers. . . .
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AUDIO: Are You Prepared for Tax Time?
This is a telephone discussion that members had at our sister site, The Janitorial Store. Listen as Jean, Steve and fellow members discuss tax time preparation. Some of the topics discussed include: Why you should use bookkeeping software to track your business financials; Do you prepare your own taxes or do you have an accountant?; How often and when you should visit your accountant; Paying Estimated taxes W-2's and other end-of-year forms and reports; Taking advantage of write-off's; Tracking mileage; Employees vs subcontractors . . . .
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The Two Most Important Things You Need To Do For Your Business Today
Sharon Cowan
It sounds simple doesn't it? Only 2 important things to do for your business today! How about get more clients? No. How about purchase new equipment? No. Well, how about moving to an office? No, none of the above. There are only 2 tasks that if neglected can make or break your business today. Now I know you are really scratching your head wondering what those can be. . . .
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Interview with Cathy Green - Upper Crust Maids
Have you ever wanted to find out how other residential cleaning business owners got started in their business and how they managed to grow it successfully without going absolutely crazy in the process? Listen as Steve Hanson interviews Cathy Green of Uppercrust Maids shares her experiences since starting her business in 2007. Her business is doing very well and she has great advice for those just starting out. . . .
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Do You Believe In The Value Your Cleaning Company Provides?
Jean Hanson
Many people will tell you that price is all that matters these days. But is that really true? When a prospective client immediately shifts the conversation to price, do you cringe and feel yourself starting to give in? Are you ready to lower your price in order to get the client? . . .
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Press Releases: The Best Kept Secret To Free Advertising
Sharon Cowan
One of the most underutilized and best kept secrets in effective marketing is the use of the Press Release. It is an easy, no-cost way to spread the word about your business. A well-written press release can be used to describe events, grand openings, new services you provide, new personnel, or even new products that you are using in your business. . . .
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Should You Accept Credit Cards from Cleaning Customers?
Jean Hanson
As our society is becoming more and more "paperless," there are an increasing number of choices for your cleaning customers to pay their bill. Many people find that writing checks is becoming obsolete in a world of online banking, automatic payments, electronic checks, and debit and credit cards. Even carrying cash with you is becoming less important, as most businesses now accept debit and credit cards right at the checkout counter. What does this mean for you as a business owner? Most people like the convenience of paying with "plastic," but there are distinct advantages and disadvantages for you. . . .
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Are You Qualifying Your Home Cleaning Prospects?
Jean Hanson
The phone rings and it's a prospective client who wants to know how much you charge to clean a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Before you even get a chance to get any more information about the home, she takes over again by saying, "I don't want you to come to the house, I just need a ballpark price". . . .
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Attending Cleaning Trade Shows, Part Two
Jean Hanson
Trade shows serve a useful purpose for the commercial and residential cleaning service owners. Like most things in this world, it is all about your attitude going into it, how much work you put into it, and what you do with the knowledge you learn. In Part Two of this series of articles about trade shows, we will pick up where we left off and discuss the things you need to know while you are attending the show. . . .
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Pandemic Flu and Your Role as a Cleaning Company Owner -- Part 2
Jean Hanson
Pandemic flu continues to be an issue worldwide. In our two-part article, we are discussing how cleaning business owners are affected. In the last article we talked about what you need to do internally within your organization to prevent the spread of swine flu/H1N1. Now we will move on to how you deal with your customers in a pandemic crisis. . . .
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Attending Cleaning Trade Shows, Part One
Jean Hanson
As a small business owner, I'm sure you have received many invitations to attend a trade show. If you are anything like I was, these invites ended up in the proverbial "circular file." You probably thought they were for corporate big-wigs or for those who needed an excuse to attend a "convention" on the company dime, when in fact you were looking for a mini-vacation. Those thoughts are misconceptions. Trade shows serve a useful purpose for the commercial and residential cleaning service owners. Like most things in this world, it is all about your attitude going into it, how much work you put into it, and what you do with the knowledge you learn. In this two-part article, you will learn about what trade shows are, how to prepare for them, what to do while attending one, and the benefits you can achieve. . . .
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The Grant Process for Cleaning Companies
Jean Hanson
So you want to start a cleaning service or expand your current one. You have the knowledge, skills, and ambition to do so, but are missing one thing -- money. Personally financing your business is often not an option. How about a loan? While a common choice for many people starting out, sometimes loans are not possible due to your circumstances or credit rating or for whatever reason. Plus, they have this built-in disadvantage: they have to be paid back! . . .
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Here's what our members are saying ...
"Steve and Jean - thanks a lot for offering this great resource for folks
like me who may not yet be in the business but seriously thinking about entering
it. Your materials here are truly a Godsend for me. If it were not for your
site, I wouldn't know where else to find reliable and honest information about
starting and running this type of business.
With all the information I have already gotten from this site, I feel confident
that I am better prepared to launch my business and that there are people I
could turn to and ask whenever I have questions. For that, I truly thank you
both."
Ruben Pifanio
Sunspark Home Cleaning Service
Toronto, Canada
"What a great site! I can easily spend hours and hours reading all the
information provided in your site and listening to those valuable audios and yes
they are surely beneficial to my running a cleaning business especially since I
am only new to the industry. I could highly recommend it not only to my fellow
Australians but to everyone in the cleaning industry! Well done Jean & Steve!"
Charity Mezger
Home Therapy Cleaning Services
Geraldton, Australia
"I really enjoy this site. I have found more
things in the last two days than I have from others sites I have been a part of.
I love the downloads and how simple they are. I have seen some from other sites
that made no sense. You have made
my life easier and I do not have to make the forms myself. Way to go!!!"
Lori of Lori's Cleaning Solutions
Coatesville PA
"Thank you all, for putting this site together and bringing us such great
resources, not only in downloads and information, but in the people resources
that you have brought together for us. Keep up the good work!"
Kathy Miller, Owner
pour-la-maison.com
Lakewood CO
"We are very fortunate to have the resources on this site available to us. I was
a business executive for many years and thought I knew it all. Thought starting
this business would be a piece of cake. WRONG!!! You guys have been a great
source of information and support - better than any site I've seen on any
topic."Susan Buckley
Mrs. Green Clean
Ft. Wright KY
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