Maybe you guys can help.

[sassyotto]

I want to pick your brains.

So I have 1 apartment complex I clean.

this is where you lost me and I will tell you why.

I started cleaning in 1981. Our business was 30% apartments, 40% residential and 30% commercial. By 1994 we were at a crossroads. we were ready for expansion but were not sure to expand vertically (add more services in the same service area) or horizontally (same services in an expanded service area) After a TON of research we joined the Service Team of Professionals who was run by Mack Clark. Anyone here that knew Mack knows that he was the most knowlegable person regarding Business Management within the Cleaning Industry. The VERY FIRST thing he told us to do was to drop all of our apartment accounts. That was 30% of our business! But we did and it was one of the best things we ever did.

Look at it this way.
Apartment carpet cleaning - lowest revenue per hour, fairly consistent monthly income
Commercial carpet cleaning - modest income per hour, very consistent monthly income
Residential carpet cleaning - most income per hour, inconsistent monthly income

If you keep cleaning apartments you will find yourself in a trap. You will be too busy cleaning to market to the customers that will make you the most money.

My advice is to set aside time each week to market to either commercial or residential customers. eventually you will be making more money in those areas and will be able to say goodbye to apartment carpet cleaning.

That being said, I do have two apartment owners that I do still clean for (duplexes) they are high end and pay the same rate as any vacant home.

(cleaning occupied apartments - forgetaboutit)

 

[Trip Moses]

Apartment hallways can be quite profitable. I have lots of buildings ranging from $500-$5000.

Now that’s what I’m talking about

 

[steve_64]

I have a lot of apartments that I make $100 an hour and more with.

Great thing about apartments is you learn a lot without ruining your reputation. If you do it right you learn what to let go when. Create your value.

 

[LCCFL]

Come on Man. Forget about apartments already. How many flipping post is going to take. Apartment work sucks all the D’s. Just quit doing them. Get a goood website and a local google business listing. Go to 10 business offices a day. You’ll land at least one. Six of you don’t suck at sales. Get them on quarterly cleanings or six months. Ugh. If not, nail them to the wall on annual. Beg residential customers with good results for reviews. You’ll be making six digits with no problem. If you’ve got the nuts to charge right you can punch above 150k this year.
I still do cheap jobs, but I don’t let them dictate my schedule.
Summary:
Unless you’re OK driving some piece of crap carpet cleaning with waste water leaking out the back door and buying scratchers in between cleaning piss pits. Stay the F away from apartments, hotels or any third party work.
I want to hear about you making a thousand bucks on one job next week. There’s you’re homework.

Dang that is exactly what I need. I appreciate this man.

 

[LCCFL]

Apartment hallways can be quite profitable. I have lots of buildings ranging from $500-$5000.

Don’t get me wrong. They can be profitable. This area and many around are building high rises with halls. Idk if they are using carpet. But most setups are indoor rather then a breezeway with a door to the unit.

 

[LCCFL]

I have a lot of apartments that I make $100 an hour and more with.

Great thing about apartments is you learn a lot without ruining your reputation. If you do it right you learn what to let go when. Create your value.

Yes, I’ve learned so much in apartments. I know repairs, & dyeing which is a great addition. But I’m focused on more residential and would like to get a few more commercial jobs.