[TommyB]

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum but have been in the business for 18 years. We've just lost a major contract with a national hotel chain to some idiot charging silly money to buy the work so i've moved out of the commercial sector for good an am looking to build up my domestic businees. I've got a prochem everest TM so have the edge on the most of my portable opposition.
Any ideas of the best way of bringing in new domestic work at a reasonable cost?

cheers
Tom
Any hints of how to do this

[Straker Cleaning]

Yes ......... get a porty 

Seriously ........ do not do much commercial myself and i do try to bring same quality levels from domestic ........... sure you will also but some clients may need reassuring if they know you are from mostly commercial background. 

ps ......... some people are more forthcoming with advice/help if they know what area you are based ...... make sure they can know from profile  ................... could pass surplus jobs if i knew your area and i had inquiries from there!!

[lands]

Whre are you based Tom?

[TommyB]

Midlands at the moment but we are thinking of moving south but may be stuck in the property slump for now.
Tom

[Barry Livingstone]

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum but have been in the business for 18 years. We've just lost a major contract with a national hotel chain to some idiot charging silly money to buy the work so i've moved out of the commercial sector for good an am looking to build up my domestic businees. I've got a prochem everest TM so have the edge on the most of my portable opposition.
Any ideas of the best way of bringing in new domestic work at a reasonable cost?

Any hints of how to do this

Hi sorry to be a pain but if you have been in the business for 18 years wouldnt you no how to market your own company? Just a thought as one Client shouldnt change the shape opf a company .

[John Kelly]

A planned leaflet campaign is one of the best marketing options for domestic work in my opinion. By planned I mean targetting areas which contain the type of customers you want to work for and leafletting the same areas over and over again. One hit leaflets are a waste of effort and money.

[John Kelly]

James, you're right in what you say but there are a few cleaners who get a large volume of work from one source. Not an ideal business model but you can become complacent with regular work and regular cheques.

[TommyB]

James
18 years of solid commercial work mate. Obviously I've done a fair few domestics through recommend etc over the years but i've never actively looked for domestic work before hence my question
tom

[TommyB]

Im a great believer in taking the the bull by the horns do yesterday me and my son  found a nice big middle income estate in birmingham and went door knocking. Three hours later we have ten jobs between us with over £800 worth of work for next week. easy
Tom

[markpowell]

Tom,
Well done,Have you considered a career change, maybe into sales  ;
Mark

[Mike Osbourne]

Yeah well done Tom.

And when you do the job I bet you upsell and get add ons with some of them bringing your average job price up.

Half the battle is having some balls, rejection is good for the character.

[CATMAN]

Hi Tom,

What was your sales pitch, as I too would prefer to do it  is the door knocking way.

Some will disagree with me on this but commercial carpet cleaning can be a good earner but getting paid AFTER 30 days can be a problem. I am still owed £750 from a clean six weeks ago.

Domestic work helps with cash flow and is more profitable because you are not funding your own business while you wait to get paid.

I would also advise don't advertise your services in the local free paper, all you get is price shoppers, and your add is competing with  £25 a room merchant.

Regards

Graham

[CATMAN]

Hi Tom,

What was your sales pitch, as I too would prefer to do it  is the door knocking way.

Some will disagree with me on this but commercial carpet cleaning can be a good earner but getting paid AFTER 30 days can be a problem. I am still owed £750 from a clean six weeks ago.

Domestic work helps with cash flow and is more profitable because you are not funding your own business while you wait to get paid.

I would also advise don't advertise your services in the local free paper, all you get is price shoppers, and your add is competing with  £25 a room merchant.

Regards

Graham

[dave123]

Catman  what's wrong with the £25 a room merchant.? In Bromley where i live that seems to be the average price . I suppose it depends on where you are based . Last year i was  contracting for a reputable company and they charged £20/ room  and £30 for hall stairs and landings and some of their clients were very famous people.It's not only the price but the quality of work

[Mike Halliday]

went door knocking. Three hours later we have ten jobs between us with over £800 worth of work for next week. easy

there yea go! why bother asking for marketing advise in the the first place

mike

[TommyB]

Graham

We just knocked doors armed with a leaflet. We were both dressed in our nice smart leaflets and had the Truck Mount with the side door parked near by so that they could see the standard of equipment we have which seemed to do the trick.
We got three more jobs today from the leaflet we left with people.
Tom

[markpowell]

13 jobs in 24 hours without spending a penny on marketing

[Mike Halliday]

the Truck Mount with the side door parked near by so that they could see the standard of equipment we have

so how does that work then? you keep moving the van up the street as you knock doors or did you hand out binoculars ?

As Mark said '13 jobs in 24hrs and not costing a penny' : :

[Mike Osbourne]

Half the trouble is most people don't like 'bothering' people. Especially when you are told to sling your hook.

If you can get over that it's good, but most people won't. Even I stopped after a few months. I came up with all the usual    justifications (exept I'm too busy).

[TommyB]

Yes mike you keep moving the van up the street and if you get someone interested you bring the van to them. don't knock it if it works, not bad for a first time effort.
Tom