7.
Re: Commercial Cleaning and Limited Residential Cleaning Apr 11, 2008 4:05 PM

in response to:
quality
Baboo,
I have been doing residential and commercial cleaning for 21 yrs and always something else like wholesaling on the side.
I always had very good luck advertising in the free papers, the pennysaver type papers. I dont know if they have anything like that in Fla. I'm in Central NY People read them and the ads are much less expensive than the larger papers. Its very cost effective. The suggestion to make flyers and pass them out in a neighborhood was a good one. You will already have reference right there for them to talk to.
Another idea is to make some business cards and hand out 3-4 to existing customers and offer a discount on their weekly service if they pass them out and it leads to a new customer.
Residential cleaning is different than commercial. Commercial is Business to Business so they understand a LOT more of the mechanics of a contract, your fees etc. Homeowners often dont have that business savvy and are harder to deal with. You have to be able to sell yourself and your services differently. They can be quite unreasonable at times.
Will you be charging by the hour or by the job? Will you be bringing the cleaning supplies, vacuum etc or will you have the homeowner furnish them? Do you work alone or do you have a crew? If you have a crew will you be cleaning with them or managing? Lots to consider.
If you have any questions I am available to answer. dubbsceo@yahoo.com