ProfitBrite

Tips For Starting Your Own Facility Maintenance Service

Great janitorial facility maintenance service should include all this list

Plumbing problems
Painting, plastering and papering
Replacing light bulbs
Everyday cleaning needs of common areas including windows walls and floors
Minor repairs to furniture or fixtures
Electrical problems and alarms
Parking lot cleaning and maintenance
Any new or reconstruction cleaning
Pressure washing building and all sidewalks
Grounds maintenance including snow plowing and clearing fire hydrants

You must have liability insurance because most businesses will ask you for it. Use a dependable 24-7 emergency phone, hire experienced or train a staff yourself. You should offer a price guarantee while you deliver professional results. Offer your great commercial cleaning service to manage all of their building maintenance needs including ordering all their supplies and tools.

If you provide complete building maintenance service to any commercial and industrial businesses through out your area or region, then your commercial cleaning service company can be a leader in facility cleaning yet still can be an affordable service. Remember that using good environmentally friendly products will help achieve this goal.

Common qualifications in facility-maintenance-management includes

Facility maintenance certification
Knowledge of Facility maintenance software
Excellent mechanical & electrical knowledge
Good work ethic
Current driver license and any other needed permits as required
Have personnel reliable transportation
Pass a drug screen and background investigation
Able to meeting customer expectations as a facility maintenance manager
Be adept at planning, negotiating, developing schedules and time-managing
Capable of inspecting buildings and grounds
Perform human resource duties of hiring, training, and dismissing employees
Maintain required inventory of all facility maintenance supply room and tools
Good physical condition without alcohol or drug problems

An overall summary of the twelve USA district reports are prepared by a designated Federal Reserve Bank and is "the BeigeBook" and indicated that overall economic activity continues to expand at a modest to moderate pace.

A quick list of commercial businesses within our economic expanding industries

Insurance offices
Lawyer offices
CPA offices
Town and city offices
Medical Facilities
Credit Union offices
Nursing Homes
Churches
Retail Stores
Hair Salons
Banks
Restaurants
Auto Boat and Camper Dealerships
Manufacturing Facilities
Recreation and town parks
Dance studios
Auto rental agency
Taxicab company
Bus terminals
Athletic gyms
Golf course club-houses
Travel agencies
Tutoring services

ABOUT-US

Hello, our names are Andy and Ginny and we would like to welcome you to the Cleaning Occupation by mom and pops. We are very excited to show and point out the many income producing opportunities we have found in running our own cleaning business over the many years.

This website's primary focus is about processes and methods which any one can apply to help improve their unemployment statistics through developing a Cleaning Occupation of their own, either as a secondary or a primary income source. These methods are are grouped into income producing categories and listed here below. http://www.cleaningoccupation-by-momandpops.com/Startup.html http://www.cleaningoccupation-by-momandpops.com/facility-maintenance-manageme...

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Starting-Your-Own-Facility-Maintenance-Ser...] Tips For Starting Your Own Facility Maintenance Service

Your Cleaning Business - Ten Top Tips To Vacuuming

If you follow each of the tips below from the first time you clean a house, you will find that you take less time each time you clean because the house will be easy to clean to a good standard. Regular attention to these areas means they don't get to the stage where they need a scrub - only a touch of the feather duster.

1. Consistency is really important - you need to do a great job each and every time you visit your clients. Not great one day, slapdash the next.

2. Vacuum The Window Tracks - the tracks where the sliding windows move will most usually be dirty. Dust, cobwebs, and lots of dead flies get stuck in these tracks. If they are really dirty get a soft brush and loosen up the debris before you apply the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. Once they are clean they will only need a quick go over once every few visits. If they are really dusty vacuum them as above then wash them with water and a brush. The dirt will probably run down the outside of the window. But that is another task.

3. Empty the Bag Before You Vacuum - it makes sense to empty the bag when it is full, so do it before you do any cleaning. That means you will have a vacuum cleaning that is sucking at full power and giving you the best performance. It makes it easier to have it working for you, instead of trying to get the vacuum to work like a tired pack horse.

4. Where The Vertical Meets The Horizontal - that is where the floor meets the wall or any other vertical surface such as a cupboard. This is a place where most vacuum cleaners never get to, especially upright model vacuum cleaners, because the vacuum head cannot suck right up to the very edge of the floor tool. There is often a white line of dust you can see along the edges of the carpet. To get to this, remove the floor tool and apply only the nozzle to the floor along the line where the vertical meets the horizontal. Remove the whole metal tube and use the plastic end, being aware that this nozzle may be a little dusty itself. Just check to make sure it doesn't leave a mark along the edge.

5. Skirting Boards - these are a trap for dust along the top of the board. A room will always look dirty while these are still dusty. Attach a brush to the nozzle and get the dust off. After the first time you will only need to sweep along them with a feather duster to keep them clean.

6. Dust Bunnies - there would be nothing more embarrassing than having finished vacuuming the whole house a breeze brings out a dust bunny from deep under the lounge! A dust bunny is a soft roll of fluff and dust. They only occur on smooth floors such as timber or lino, and they only build up under the furniture where they can multiply undisturbed (hence the name). It is really important on hard floors to get right under the furniture as much as possible.

7. Behind Doors - not closed ones, open ones. Always! Don't take an open door as a sign it never gets closed. Bathroom and toilet doors always get closed. Make sure you vacuum the floor as well as the skirting boards. As with so many of the tips here, once you do it the first time it takes so little effort to keep these places clean.

8. Lounge Cushions - the lounge is a sneaky place to hide dirt. Down between and behind the cushions is a place to collect all sorts of rubbish. Most people never look there and it is a courtesy to do them, knowing that one day they will lift up the cushions and it will be clean.

9. Doing Under The Furniture is usually a real pain because it means bending right down and shoving the nozzle into the tiny places underneath. Only do it when the space is big enough for the client to see whether you have done it or not. In my experience they won't mind if it is not done very well as long as the front visible part is clean.

10. Plug In The Cord In One Place - you need to have a cord that is long enough that you can reach all areas of a house from one power point. 15 mtrs is usually enough to get around a single storey house. It means you don't have to keep finding new outlets to plug into and you can get on with the job.

Bonus secret tip for a truly professional approach:
Working Backwards - when you vacuum soft carpet, work yourself backwards out of the room. Start in the corner furthest from the door and walking backwards, vacuum the floor, and vacuum your footprints out of the carpet at the same time. When you get to the door you will only have a vacuuming pattern on the floor and none of the cleaner's big boot prints. It looks good to even a discerning client to see only their own footprints in the raised pile.

Consider these tips when you go out to do professional cleaning as the owner of your own cleaning business.

Luke Dearlove operated his own cleaning business in regional Australia for over five years.

In the new eBook Build Your Own Cleaning Business he shows you everything you want to know about setting yourself up in business with next to no capital, and to get you cleaning and earning like a professional.

With industry knowledge, insider's secrets and videos to show you how there is nothing to stop you getting out there and becoming your own boss, and building an asset for yourself. There is even advice on selling your business when you decide you want to move on.

Visit http://www.buildacleaningbusiness.com to get updates and free advice on how to make your new business going and growing.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Cleaning-Business---Ten-Top-Tips-To-Vacuuming&...] Your Cleaning Business - Ten Top Tips To Vacuuming

The Client Contract - Unwritten But Essential

Those of you who have read other articles I have written on customer service will know that I believe that the customer is always right. Even when they are wrong, they are always right. A cleaning business is a place of strong relationships and trust, and as part of this the customer is always right.

There is no point in making someone wrong and even proving it with all the facts at your fingertips. It makes them feel like they have made a mistake and often they will blame you for making them feel that way because you have shown them the errors they have made. It is not a good thing to do because they are likely to go somewhere else for their services instead of coming back to you again.

There are however at least two situations where you may need to show the customer they are not correct.

The first one is where there is a major discrepancy in the accounting. If you believe they have not paid you for your goods or services, then you have the right to make your case and prove to the customer that they have missed payment. After all you are in business to earn a living and make money, so I believe you have the right to state your case clearly.

Don't use this approach over a few dollars however. It is not in your best interests to make a case over a simple error that will not make much difference to your bottom line. Just make sure it does not happen to you again. You might let one instance of a small amount go through, but I hope you would be more wary, especially if it happens more than that. That is a coincidence you don't want to repeat. If it happens a third time it becomes a pattern.

The second situation where it is relevant to stand up for yourself is in the unfortunate case where there is abuse. If there is a matter at issue that needs to be resolved keep the customer on side. Do not get angry or take offense as far as possible.

But when the customer starts to make it personal and becomes abusive it is time to change tack and retreat. It is at this point that the contract between customer and you is at an end or at least suspended. They have crossed the line.

There is an unwritten contract between client and service provider that is about being mutually respectful. By not making them wrong you are upholding that contract. When there is a dispute that deteriorates into abuse that contract is broken and the rules are gone.

In this situation it is important for your reputation that you do not indulge yourself and take part in a slanging match. If you do, it will be all over town by morning. You need to walk away from the situation, and never go back. If you have to leave behind the money for the service, do it. Any client who starts to abuse you is not worth the money. If the client contacts you again and apologies, asking you to return (is that likely?) then you need to make a judgment call as to whether you want to go back there again, and whether the situation might recur or not. You are in my opinion perfectly entitled never to go back if you have the least doubt. As I always say, you are not desperate.

It really is a relationship between yourself and the customer.

This breaking of the rules has other forms as well. Any form of sexual approach that is unwelcome is an example. Treating you with disdain while pretending to be civil is a borderline call.

We once had a client whose husband clearly resented our being in the house. He would come home from work when we were there, and once he left our money in the peanut jar! (He thought he was being clever, and being dumb cleaners we wouldn't get the point.) In the end we had no choice but to leave. It seems the only person who was going to clean his house was the wife.

These examples are just some of the situations that can arise and start to break the contract between you both. If you are starting to feel like you are not being respected, honour the feeling, and find what is happening to break the trust. If you find you have not been living up to the contract yourself you will need to take steps to rectify the problem, and quickly, starting with an apology.

But if the break-down is coming from the other side you have the right to walk away. Do it with dignity and your reputation will not be hurt. The contract has been broken.

Luke Dearlove operated his own cleaning business in regional Australia for over five years.

In the new eBook Build Your Own Cleaning Business he shows you everything you want to know about setting yourself up in business with next to no capital, and to get you cleaning and earning like a professional.

With industry knowledge, insider's secrets and videos to show you how there is nothing to stop you getting out there and becoming your own boss, and building an asset for yourself. There is even advice on selling your business when you decide you want to move on.

Visit http://www.buildacleaningbusiness.com to get updates and free advice on how to make your new business going and growing.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Client-Contract---Unwritten-But-Essential&id=61...] The Client Contract - Unwritten But Essential

Backpack Vacuum Cleaner - Pros and Cons

As a cleaner of five years experience in my own business I always used a backpack. I preferred this type because firstly I was tall and could stand up straight as I vacuumed. I found a pull along type meant I had to stoop to get the vacuum head onto the floor.

Secondly, it came with me everywhere I went. The pull along was always somewhere behind me and would frequently crash onto the corners or doors because it was harder to manipulate and move around.

Third, the pull along did not have as much capacity in the bag as the backpack and needed to be emptied more often. A pull along needs to be picked up and carried on stairs like a small dog.

Stairs are always difficult with a pull along because it wants to rolls backwards down the stairs and won't stay put on the step. A backpack is there with you up and down again.

On the other hand the backpack cost more to buy. They are more industrial and don't have as many features as a pull along which is designed for a more domestic application. And pull along models will almost always have a cord retractor mechanism and no back pack does. It is a manual wind-up of the cord which is tedious and has the potential of wrecking the cord. Cord retractors make a really neat job of winding it up.

A backpack requires more strength to use because it is carried and they are not light machines. They are hot on hot days and can be noisy.

What makes the backpack vacuum worth it to me is that it is more powerful and robust. In a cleaning business you need to have a reliable hard working machine that is easy to use and strong enough to pick up the worst of dirt and more without complaint.

If you are considering starting your own cleaning business or even if you are a home owner who needs a more manoeuvrable machine to do your house cleaning, a backpack will be a better buy in its ability to get around corners, up and down stairs and go wherever you are going right there with you.

When I sold my cleaning business I had to sell the backpack machines along with all the other equipment. But the first thing I did was to go out and buy another one to replace the ones I sold because as a professional cleaner there was nothing to replace my old friend which lived with me day after day in my cleaning business.

Luke Dearlove operated his own cleaning business in regional Australia for over five years.

In the new eBook, Build Your Own Cleaning Business, he shows you everything you want to know about setting yourself up in business with next to no capital, and to get you cleaning and earning like a professional. With industry knowledge, insider's secrets and videos to show you how there is nothing to stop you getting out there and becoming your own boss, and building an asset for yourself. There is even advice on selling your business when you decide you want to move on.

Visit http://www.buildacleaningbusiness.com to get updates and free advice on how to make your new business going and growing.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Backpack-Vacuum-Cleaner---Pros-and-Cons&id=6003193] Backpack Vacuum Cleaner - Pros and Cons

Clearing Debt For Fun And Profit

Debt is not intrinsically bad. Debt can enable a person to afford a house, a car, an education and a comfortable way of life. But when debts become excessive they can lead to a lot of problems, the worst of which is not being able to repay the debts which will make it very difficult to obtain credit in the future because an individual has completely damaged their credit history.

Of course the best advice for a person to get out of debt is to repay them. An individual has many options to do this, sell assets such as a second car, jewelry, shares and the like. Another option is to be frugal - limit spending and cut-back on unnecessary expenses. Another alternative is for an individual to increase their income - get a second job or run a part-time business. Individuals should be open to all possibilities and opportunities and should not be scared to take a risk if they want to get out of debt fast and to experience long term financial freedom and security.

Not only does setting up a part time business give you extra income, it allows you to put your passion into practice in helping you out of debt.

Running a part-time business does not have to involve a large investment. There are many people who have started businesses that became great successes on a small initial capital investment. Some part-time businesses can be operated from home; an example of this type of part-time business is a cleaning business. This is a good business to operate in your spare time if you need some extra money to help you get out of debt.

A cleaning business is a low-tech business that does not require a big start-up capital and has a huge potential to become a profitable business that can generate income very rapidly and can help settle debts faster. It can be operated out of the home and can be done on either a full-time or part-time basis. It can be operated without hiring employees, with a do-it-yourself approach or if administration and management is your strength you can hire people do the cleaning for you while you focus on building and managing the business.

There are two market sectors for a cleaning business, the residential or consumer market and the commercial market. The residential market involves carpet and window cleaning and other residential cleaning services. Whereas the commercial market involves janitorial services and carpet and window cleaning services for buildings and other business structures.

An individual who wants to start a cleaning business should decide on what area of the cleaning service market they want to concentrate on. It is however, practical to make provision for the servicing of all kinds of markets. The bigger your target market the more clients that you will attract and the more profitable that your business will be, the more money that your business generates the faster you can get out of debt.

What does a person need, to build a cleaning business that will help them get out of debt?

Resolve to make the business work - just like any other type of service business; aim to make a success of the business by providing great service and quality work.

Eagerness to make the customers happy - the business depends entirely on the customer's contentment and satisfaction. Recurring customers are where your profits will come from. A satisfied customer will use your services on a long term basis and will also recommend you to others.

Fundamental or basic business competence - A person needs to understand the basics of running a cleaning business, develop good working relationship with customers and employees, and of course, possess marketing skills to build a clientele.

A cleaning business is a great way to start your own business, and start generating revenue fast which will help you pay off your debts and help you experience financial freedom and stability faster.

Luke Dearlove operated his own cleaning business in regional Australia for over five years.

In the new eBook Build Your Own Cleaning Business he shows you everything you want to know about setting yourself up in business with next to no capital, and to get you cleaning and earning like a professional.

With industry knowledge, insider's secrets and videos to show you how there is nothing to stop you getting out there and becoming your own boss, and building an asset for yourself. There is even advice on selling your business when you decide you want to move on.

Visit http://www.buildacleaningbusiness.com to get updates and free advice on how to make your new business going and growing.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Clearing-Debt-For-Fun-And-Profit&id=5941999] Clearing Debt For Fun And Profit

The Appeal Of Being The Boss

Being your own boss becomes more appealing especially when you think of the liberty attached to being the boss, the liberty to call the shots or make the major decisions in the business such as setting company policies, hiring employees, developing product ideas as well as the advertising campaign to promote these product. Being the boss also means enjoying the fruits of your own labor. For these liberties, however, an equal amount of responsibility is attached. Below are some factors that need to be considered if you want to take the leap into being your own boss.

A person needs to assess their education, skills, talents and experience that will be their tools to bring in to the business. A comprehensive understanding of the business and the related industry is essential if the business is to be successful. If a person for example wants to open a cleaning business - house cleaning, carpet cleaning, window cleaning, janitorial services, that person should have a comprehensive idea of what the cleaning industry is all about. This knowledge maybe obtained through working in this line of business or by extensively researching the industry.

A person who owns a business should have the capability to make decisions. As the boss you should be on top of all situations. For example a business owner needs to assess whether it is profitable to hire employees. A cleaning business has the flexibility of being operated by the business owner or the owner may choose to hire employees once the businesses clientele has increased. These are all decisions that need to be made by the business owner and that are critical to the success of the business.

A person who wants to open a business should have the ability to manage finances. Financial management is one important element of a business. From preparing a budget, controlling funds or money, raising initial capital and additional capital, acquiring loans and even accomplishing an income tax return. Of course an accountant will be able to assist with all these matters, but a basic understanding can help you manage your business more efficiently and effectively. A great business idea is a cleaning business. This type of business does not require a big initial capital investment, however can be very profitable very quickly if the business is run well.

Being your own boss will give you the opportunity to be in control of your life, your time and your financial future. If done properly it is the best investment a person can make towards their retirement. Starting your own cleaning business will give you the freedom to be your own boss, work on your own terms and experience financial freedom and stability sooner. The great thing about this industry is that anyone can be successful with the right tools and guidance. No prior skills or knowledge are required just a drive to learn and succeed. Build a cleaning business, can assist you to implement a strong foundation for your cleaning business that can be earning you profits quickly and without the need to invest a lot of capital initially.

Luke Dearlove operated his own cleaning business in regional Australia for over five years.

In the new eBook Build Your Own Cleaning Business he shows you everything you want to know about setting yourself up in business with next to no capital, and to get you cleaning and earning like a professional.

With industry knowledge, insider's secrets and videos to show you how there is nothing to stop you getting out there and becoming your own boss, and building an asset for yourself. There is even advice on selling your business when you decide you want to move on.

Visit http://www.buildacleaningbusiness.com to get updates and free advice on how to make your new business going and growing.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Appeal-Of-Being-The-Boss&id=5917713] The Appeal Of Being The Boss

Starting A Cleaning Business From Home, 7 Hot Tips

Get a website, it may sound a bit hi-tech if you're just looking to clean a few houses but it's a great sales page for you and your business and shows that you're not just a low-skilled mop and bucket merchant who may be here today and gone tomorrow.You can also clearly show your rates and additional services meaning that every enquiry knows what you are about.
Sign contracts, a contract will safeguard both parties in the case of a dispute.
Aim to be a specialist. There is a market for cleaning more than you may have originally thought. Add these to your website and flyers and let people know you do more than mop floors if you want to make some serious cash.
Think like a business person. The real money is in passive income. Get contracts and employ, there are a lot of people out there looking for extra work and many are reliable in a poor job market.
Offer high-value cleaning services and sub-contract to established and reliable businesses to do the work. Restaurant Duct and Carpet Cleaning are good examples of work that you can offer and make a commission from.
Get business templates for your contracts and invoices. Make what you do as professional as possible, it does add value.
Offer after-event clean up services to venues and event organizers, it always need doing and it's a good way to make an impact.

A Cleaning business is like any other business, you have to make money or you go under. Many people fail because they treat it as a job and sell themselves for a low hourly rate, sell the service and get jobs that set you apart from an employee and you will thrive.

For some fantastic Cleaning Business info and other low-cost small business ideas that you may well find very interesting [http://www.SmallInvestmentBusinessIdeas.Webs.com]www.SmallInvestmentBusinessIdeas.Webs.Com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Starting-A-Cleaning-Business-From-Home,-7-Hot-Tips&id=5937239] Starting A Cleaning Business From Home, 7 Hot Tips

The Importance of Clarifying Client Expectations - What the Professional Cleaner Needs to Know

Clarifying expectations is something that I consider to be an important part of the client interaction process. I didn't always understand this, however. In fact, when I first started in the cleaning industry, people's expectations were the last thing I wanted to deal with. Consequently, putting off this crucial task often came back to bite me when I finished the cleaning job with less than satisfied customers.

The problem was that I was to eager to "close the sell." I was afraid that if I brought up potential problems associated with the job, that I was exposing my weaknesses as a cleaner and I would lose out on the job. As a novice carpet cleaner, I would promise to get every single stain out of their carpet and to make it look "brand new."

Later as I gained more experience, I would take a walk through with them and tell them which stains I thought would come out, and what problems I thought may not be "fixed." It seems obvious to me that you cannot remove a bleach spot or a burn mark in the carpet with a steam cleaning- yet you still need to tell people this up front. Furthermore, aged carpet that has been abraded by years of walking over it, will not magically look brand new with a cleaning.; seemingly commonsense, but once again often needs to be told to the customer.

Now, as I own an operate my own company (window cleaning and janitorial) I make it a point to find out what the customer expects from my cleaning services at the beginning of the job, and then I honestly tell them what I can deliver. I find that it is better to settle issues at the beginning of the job than at the end. I often find that it is helpful to give people percentages. As in, "I think we have a 50% chance of removing those hard water stains from your windows." Or perhaps you can say, "I would say that there is a 80% chance of removing these wine stains from your marble counters with my cleaning expertise." If it doesn't work and you believe you were fully honest in your prognosis, you simply say that "this was an example of what happens 20% of the time."

A big mistake we can make as cleaning professionals is to over-promise and under-deliver. Remember it is better to promise less and deliver more than the reverse. Often a client will nervously as you, "you can get this out, right? I mean you're a professional, this will be easy for you, right?" You may be tempted to think that admitting that you aren't 100% confident that you can do something is a sign of inability and/or weaknesses. In reality, the professional should readily admit his own limitations, and also the limits of the situation itself.

Jesse Green owns and operates "Sparkle King Window Cleaning and Janitorial" in Bremerton Washington. Sparkle King services Bremerton and the surrounding communities of Kitsap County. For more information, you can visit his website http://www.sparkle-king.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Clarifying-Client-Expectations---...] The Importance of Clarifying Client Expectations - What the Professional Cleaner Needs to Know

Why Your Cleaning Company Shouldn't Accept Every Job

In those early days of my cleaning company, I thought that a professional should accept every job, that to turn down a job was a sign of incompetence. Now, however, I realize that a certain percentage of jobs are not worth my time or money.

In my early days, I saw myself as an eager servant, asking how I could help the "customer". Now, I see myself as a trader; I trade my services as a merchant would trade their goods. I am not happy to make just any trade, after all the trade has to be worthwhile for both parties. I see no "customers", just another individual with whom to trade - I don't want to take advantage of them nor do I want them to take advantage of me.

If I lack experience in something but still believe that I can do it, I will warn them that I do not specialize in doing service A - I could do it for them but I would have to charge by the hour because I am not experienced in pricing service A. Or if I really think that I do not know how to do something well enough, I would simply say that I don't have enough experience in service B, but I could recommend someone who does. I have realized that it is not fair to the customer or myself to perform a service that I am not skillful at.

Another situation arises where the customer does not want to pay you what you think you are worth. Accepting a job below what you think it should be can lead to both parties being unsatisfied, especially if it is for an ongoing service. For example if you agree to do an office cleaning job for an unreasonably low rate, you will be strongly tempted to do the job quicker and less thoroughly with each visit because it will pain you to be working for such low pay. You will most likely develop a resentment against the customer and your work will probably suffer.

Another situation that you should be prepared to walk away from is the overly demanding client. Some clients want your trading situation to tip far more in their direction than in yours. They may want a 100% money back guarantee if they are not completely happy. This may be reasonable in retail, where they can return the item if they are not happy. But how can someone return your labor? Some clients who demand that you to agree to do a job for free if it is not completely up to their standards may be looking for a free job. After all, you agree to take some risk (you don't know if they will pay you, or if you will get injured on the job), why should the customer not be expected to shoulder some risk also? When I first started my cleaning company I would always agree to give them a money-back guarantee because I thought that I had to in order to get their business.

With experience, I realized that I could do a "test guarantee" if necessary, where I would do a portion of a task (for example cleaning the carpet of one room for a carpet cleaning job, or 1 window for a window cleaning job) and if they weren't happy with the results, we could terminate the job. But I completely stopped agreeing to spend a lot of time on something where I risked not getting paid. And I found that I never lost a client because I did not completely guarantee my work. Now, I let them know what I think they can expect instead of promising a pie-in-the-sky outcome. With better communication - clearly defining expectations, I have saved more money than I have lost from turning down jobs.

Jesse Green owns and operates "Sparkle King Window Cleaning and Janitorial" out of Bremerton Washington. For more information on office cleaning, janitorial services, and window cleaning, visit his website: http://www.sparkle-king.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Your-Cleaning-Company-Shouldnt-Accept-Every-Job...] Why Your Cleaning Company Shouldn't Accept Every Job

How to Boost Your House Cleaning Company's Reputation

As the economy has declined significantly in the past couple of years, so has the demand for housecleaning services from middle-income individuals and families. Thus, the demand for housecleaning services today mainly comes from the more affluent segment of society.

These more affluent clients often expect a greater degree of professionalism and competence which makes gaining their trust and business more demanding than ever. More affluent customers, however, are also value conscious which is to the small cleaner's advantage because the larger cleaning franchises simply do not offer the same kind of quality and value that the sole proprietorship cleaner can.

The emphasis then, is on being lean, nimble, and skillful. I believe that the small one-person cleaner can, if they are thoughtful and hardworking, compete successfully in a world that is increasingly moving towards large franchised cleaning companies.

Step one: Be lean and professional. Invest in a high quality website and work on it weekly. I'm here to tell you that it is within your reach to design your own website (I had no computer experience before I designed my own.) Designing your own website will save you $$$ and will give you the ability to update it whenever you may need to. Your website should be your #1 selling tool for potential customers (aside from referrals). Ditch the phone book. A one-person cleaning company cannot afford to spend $300-$800 a month for a business card size ad in these books.

Step two: Know how to professionally clean every conceivable surface. You can order books on professional cleaning techniques. I'm here to tell you that you need to be familiar with effectively cleaning everything. You don't want to use the wrong kind of cleaner on expensive Italian marble and end up destroying the surface (it happens believe me).

Step three: Become invaluable to your clients. Find the best landscapers, carpenters, roofers, pool cleaners and so forth in your area and get several of their business cards. Put these businesses cards in a business card album and be prepared to refer them to your clients. I often am asked who cleans upholstery, or trims hedges etc. Giving a good referral saves your clients time and money which, which will make them trust you.

Step four: Exude professionalism in your demeanor and appearance. Be calm and thoughtful. Work on your communication skills if necessary. You don't need to be bubbly when working with the financially well off. Be more like the waiters of high-end restaurants (calm and courteous) and less like the hyper and eager-to-please middle-class restaurant servers (i.e. Applebee's, TGI Fridays). Upper-middle class clients are often very busy and many times stressed out- they want someone who is relaxed yet can get things done. Dress in comfortable but professional looking clothes (i.e. polo shirt instead of t-shirt, slacks instead of jeans). Remember that You don't need to be servile: you are just as important as a person as they are, you just happen to occupy a different social strata. Keep your chin up and know what you are worth.

Step five: Utilize referral marketing. Utilizing your existing network will be much cheaper and effective than handing out a thousand flyers. Give 10% off of a month's cleaning for steering a client your way. Many wealthy people are money conscious and will take advantage of offers such as this.

Jesse Green owns and operates Sparkle King Window Cleaning and Janitorial Services from his home town of Bremerton, Washington. For more information visit his website, [http://www.sparkle-king.com]http://www.sparkle-king.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Boost-Your-House-Cleaning-Companys-Reputatio...] How to Boost Your House Cleaning Company's Reputation