new to the business

[lust1kiddo]

Hey guys I am new to the business I worked for a company for a while and just got my own equiptment and chemicals and have been punding the pavement for business in the nyc metro area. Any advice you guys could give me would be a great help. My issue at this point is how to price comercial business..
Thanks

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Don't quit your day job!!!! (or at least don't let the wife quit hers)

"Belly to belly selling" as Chuck Violand calls it, is the most cost effective in your situation. Offer free demos too.

Have fun, your timing could have been better.

Thanks,
Lee

 

[hogjowl]

Glad to see you posting here! My market is as different from yours as black from white, so I can't help you much, unless you come across a trailer home somewhere in NYC.

But you are in a good place to learn.

 

[renegade_cowboy]

Lee,

to be honest keeping my PT job was one of the major things holding me back. When you have more to lose you tend to work much harder at getting to the level you want.

Hey guys I am new to the business I worked for a company for a while and just got my own equiptment and chemicals and have been punding the pavement for business in the nyc metro area. Any advice you guys could give me would be a great help.

I too have worked for other companies prior to open my business and it was a great benefit (if they are good). being an employee vs an owner is a big difference. I dont know what your goal or long term plan is so I can offer some broad advice.

Create an image and a brand name, this is something I have noticed alot of CC business is not doing. You know in the fast paced world we live in, if the customer doesnt know you they will judge you by your image and message within seconds. Look at your target market for instance. Its house wifes, moms, basically women and just build an image around that. What do you think they want to see and read. It the bed bath and beyond style, soft colors and pleasent information. You want them to feel something positive. Your target markets biggest fear is:

1. Will i be safe with this person in my house and around my kids, will he go through my panty drawer.
2. Will they do the quality work I expect. Now this is important because some women expect the unexpectable, that is why effective communication prior to the cleaning is one of the most important steps in this industry.
3. Are they there for themself or do they actually care about what they do, will they come back if theres a problem.
4. Are they on-time, ethical, high pressure sales, ect.

There is alot of thoughts that go through a customers mind when finally choosing a company, but if you can portray a sense of comfort in your image and marketing than you are ahead of some other companies.

A website is a must and direct contact and referrals will be your bestfriend in the beginning. Its also very important to have a business plan to add structure to what you are doing, so you have a higher chance of success and maybe less stress. Streamline your business and keep things simple.

There are highly successful people that contribute to this BB and there is always new things to learn to help improve your business. plus its far less stressful cleaning carpets with what the IICRC recommends.

Good Luck

 

[XTREME1]

Start with the small office condo complexes. That way you know you can handle it. Go in on a Monday and go to each of them usually like 20 or 30 ofiices all ground level and all roughly the same size and tell them you are running a special this(or next I do this weekend) weekend $100-150 each unit but this weekend only. You will be more than happy to give them an estimate for s future cleaning but you will be there this weekend so you have a special price. If you hit 3 or 4 complexes you should fill your schedule then offer them a 10% discount for all employees for each company.
Depending on the equipment you are using and the process your price will vary on commercial work so you will need to provide a little more info to get the right answer

 

[braddaddy]

You are aiming towards commercial work? what equipment are you using?

 

[Ron Werner]

isn't there a bylaw now in NYC about cleaning with cold water?

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Advising a newbie to quit his PT job and jump into this business going into December 2009 is just cruel and misguided.

Tell me in April how it worked out...

 

[hogjowl]

I absolutely refuse to publically agree with Lee.

So, I will remain silent on this thread.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Thanks Marty...that's better for my image too.

 

[Hoody]

Advising a newbie to quit his PT job and jump into this business going into December 2009 is just cruel and misguided.

Tell me in April how it worked out...

DID YOU READ THAT meAt-hED!?

And the whole time you told me I didn't have the nuts to do it... I just ain't THAT stupid to start up a CC biz in the winter. Now spring..... !gotcha!

 

[bob vawter]

[quote="Lee Stockwell":1jtw7if1]Advising a newbie to quit his PT job and jump into this business going into December 2009 is just cruel and misguided.

Tell me in April how it worked out...

DID YOU READ THAT meAt-hED!?

And the whole time you told me I didn't have the nuts to do it... I just ain't THAT stupid to start up a CC biz in the winter. Now spring..... !gotcha![/quote:1jtw7if1]
Holy Jesus......we gotta take up ANOTHER collection????

 

[lust1kiddo]

Thank you guys for all your replies. I have been punding the pavement and actually picked up some work...weather its easy or hard durring the winter i dont know. But one thing that i do know is that i'm hungry and people have been receptive. Maybe they are only small jobs but I will pay my bills this month and thats what matters..there are 8 million people in nyc. If I cant find 10 homes to clean then maybe I should go back home to mama. I'm a one man crew so I dont have a lot of overhead..I just need to learn more about the business and how to price things. So I appreciate the help..and the skeptics also. The reality is if my I'm starting to book work that means there is work. You cant teach hustle..see you guys at the top..and to the haters..thank you. Youre reminding me that i'm not a loser..I will win.

 

[Jeremy]

Good luck!

Just remember that when you're busy you need to keep looking for work!

 

[green guy]

Buy a good rinsing agent like prochem axiom with polymer technology built in
Buy a 175 rpm floor machine for scrubbing after you pre spray
Buy Release it ds for encapsulation carpet cleaning.

Do find a way to create a contrast between you and your competition.

Do look up howard partridge

What kind of portable equipment are you using

 

[lust1kiddo]

whoa..that sounds like a lot. I am just using a simple ecstractor..two pumps. I use chemspec formula 90..some good smelling deo..traffic lane crap for a spotter..stain shield..and i get down on my knees and use the upholstery tool on tough stains and they come out.

For upholstery..i beat up some foam..use a sponge and brush and then hit it with the machine..it works for me.

Some of this other stuff sounds way exotic..trust me I bust my ass in peoples homes and I actually clean their stuff..it may take a little longer for me to do it but I know i'm doing a good job and people like the results.

 

[Steve in Omaha]

Since you are using an portable extractor, look up all the info you can find on encap cleaning. Using a bonnet after the steam cleaning via the portable will help give you big boy results as well as quicker drying times. Become a pre-vacuum freak, vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Uniform: blue janitor pants, belt, nice shirt, and get in the habit of always wearing booties in the customers house.

Vacuum and booties, two very cheap ways to separate you from the competition, and your customers will notice.

 

[Royal Man]

A very cost effective way to get your business going is to network the other businesses and groups in your area. You'll find that you'll have ton's of opportunities in a large metro area like yours.

Start by googling the groups and associations in your area to start developing your list of contacts.

In my area almost any place with over 40 cars in the parking lot can be turned into endless referrals for a service business.

 

[John Buxton]

Find a good local distributor and get some classes and maybe referrals from them.

Look and act professional, I imagine that I am being secretly filmed when no one is around.

Under promise and over perform.

Don't concentrate on quantity, concentrate on quality.

Wear your clean shirt with logo everywhere and have cards, notepad and pen in your pocket.

Give every customer a refrigerator magnet, you'll be amazed how long they keep them.

 

[lust1kiddo]

Thanks guys..the fridge magnet sounds like gold!!!

 

[Bjorn]

1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2dfKm8XzSQ1]

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Don't give away such valuable secrets for FREE Terry!!! We worked hard and paid dearly for such wisdom.

 

[lust1kiddo]

I took two rugs home to clean..one has eyeliner on it..any ideas on how to get it all out?

 

[hogjowl]

Believe only half of what you read here and don't buy anything recommended off these boards until you've been here at least a year. It will take you at least a year to learn who's FOS and who's selling you worthless stuff to make a buck.

 

[Jack May]

Get a VDS - volatile Dry Solvent for the eye liner. It should remove most.

If not all, try a NVDS - NON Volatile Dry Solvent.

Don't pour solvents onto ANYTHING, always apply to a terry towel and gently blot the carpet face with them.

Blot dry with a clean towel and then if necessary hit it with your detergent and rinse.

Sometimes a little staining can remain and that's where someone from your side of the world can help you regarding dye removal products.

John

 

[Jack May]

Oh yeah, coz your new, there's some serious safety issues to keep in mind with these products.

Keep ignition sources well away. Have good ventilation, wear appropriate PPE - Personal Protective Equipment. If it's just a spot or two, you may get away with just a pair of solvent resistant gloves, but I also carry a activateed charcoal filtered mask for more than a little spot using solvents.

Read the MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet - that comes with the product to see what hazards and advice they give. If it's not readily offered when you buy, request it. If they refuse, go and buy elsewhere. I beleive that they MUST by law give you a copy if requested.

Don't decant chemicals of any sort into food or drink bottles -EVER!!. ALso use appropriately labelled bottles and be aware of pets and children in your work area.

Most of that is common sense, but sometimes common sense aint so common among us.

All the best in your new venture.

On your pricing, always try and think toward the future. You're selling work, that's great, try lifting your prices a tad till you start to get some resistance. Put away a little of each banking toward business development, training, equipment replacement/repairs, extra tools etc or even a dead patch.

John

 

[ACE]

Get a VDS - volatile Dry Solvent for the eye liner. It should remove most.

If not all, try a NVDS - NON Volatile Dry Solvent.

Don't pour solvents onto ANYTHING, always apply to a terry towel and gently blot the carpet face with them.

Blot dry with a clean towel and then if necessary hit it with your detergent and rinse.

Sometimes a little staining can remain and that's where someone from your side of the world can help you regarding dye removal products.

John

John,
I think I was sleeping during that part of class. They must have talked about it after the dumb IIRCR video. Can you explain the difference between Volatile and non volatile and give examples of each.
Thx, Mike

 

[Jack May]

VDS evaporates and leaves no residue. White spirits would fall under this category. I don't know your brand names over there sorry.

NVDS will not evaporate totally and leaves a sticky residue. Something like Kero would be like this.

If you're unsure, just splash a little bit into a dish and leave out to dry. Check later and if it's got a greasy residue and not totally gone, it's a NVDS.

Generally you should 'rinse' a NVDS with a VDS.

John

 

[lust1kiddo]

i ended up using a shit load of formula 90 and browning and did it with the upholstery tool..it came out. strange..but i took notes on the other stuff guys..thanks