New to Business(Help!)
Printed From: Carpet Cleaning Forum
Category: Carpet Cleaners Discussion
Forum Name: Introduce yourself
Forum Description: New around here? Come on in and say HI!
URL: https://www.kleenkuip.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4365
Printed Date: 11/May/2024 at 9:40am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New to Business(Help!)
Posted By: brewscrew
Subject: New to Business(Help!)
Date Posted: 05/November/2007 at 10:44pm
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Hey, my cousin and I started our business
right at 2 years ago and i'm trying to figure out how to make the
money. We just broke even. My question is, other than word
of mouth, what can we do to expand/explode our business?
Our commercial contract and our customer base has allowed us to break
even, but we can't seem to get ahead. What advertisements have
worked for you guys? We've tried the phonebook, but for some
reason it didn't pay for itself. We have a friend who does well
off of the phone book but can't figure out why him and not us.
How can we get other commercial accounts. We're based in the
southeast us, so if you can give us some good advice please. BREWSCREW ------------- yeeeaahhh!!!! |
Replies:
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 05/November/2007 at 11:58pm
Telemarketing works for some companies  ------------- 
The STD Meter |
Posted By: brewscrew
Date Posted: 06/November/2007 at 12:07am
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How much does that cost in canada/usa?
------------- yeeeaahhh!!!! |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 06/November/2007 at 12:32am
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No idea. We've never used it. If you hire people to do it and pay them commision, it could work out well for you. You need a good phone script and polite operators -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 06/November/2007 at 4:28pm
You got screwed brewscrew.. lol..  just kidding.. 
Are you getting repeat and referrals?
On a scale of 1-10.. What would you say your cleaning skills are at?
You Can telemarket Commercial all day long.. Residential you need to follow the Law.. No call list.. license & registering your biz with the gov't..
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Posted By: brewscrew
Date Posted: 06/November/2007 at 7:47pm
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My cousin does the work and he does great work. He's been
cleaning carpet for about 13 years. Most of our business is
repeat with a few referrals. I'm really interested in how to find
out who does property management for banks and restaurants. I
guess the only way to find out is to go in and ask them.
------------- yeeeaahhh!!!! |
Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 10/November/2007 at 4:47pm
news paper? ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 10/November/2007 at 8:42pm
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news papers are only good for lining bird cage floors? ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: John L
Date Posted: 10/November/2007 at 8:58pm
| If you go NPers go with Display ads not classifieds.. |
Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 12/November/2007 at 2:43pm
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DEPENDS ,...where you live, in smaller towns the news paper is the only way to go! ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 12/November/2007 at 3:06pm
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go broke ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 12/November/2007 at 8:18pm
Newspaper doesn't work here  -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: doug
Date Posted: 12/November/2007 at 9:40pm
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only may get a price shppers atttention ------------- Just My opinion |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 12:23am
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setup a business card drawing for a free carpet or upholstery cleaning. Do the collection points in various nail salons and boutiques. Team up with a local radio station (11th caller type thing - which is free advertising). The ones who are not the winner in the drawing get some special deal (freebie or discount) from your company. You have their cards so email them a congrats on getting the second place price (everyone gets second place in a tie) and they simply need to call you. That makes the DNC rules no longer apply as they called you and initiated a contact. Great way of spreading the word (radio) and getting new contacts (the drawing). Just an idea. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: Mr. Slide
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 12:46am
That's good!  ------------- http://qcsliders.com - http://qcsliders.com !!!Check this out!!! Put a Slide Not a Glide on your Wand, and do a better job! |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 10:46am
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The reason for the locations to target and the business card entry is to get working professional young women more likely to be homeowners who see carpet as something to care for, not a base for a dirt floor and therefore vacuuming is more than a once-a-year quick wave over the carpet and deep cleaning is a twice a year happening. Generally these women entertain other professionals in their home and need a spotless home most of the time. Walmarts, $1 stores and fast food places will get you another crowd - the penny pinching get water out of a rock group. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 10:57am
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Also do a coupon with the following offer: THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL YOUR WHOLE HOUSE CLEANED FOR $ Prompts calls by getting their curiosity going. How much was that special? ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 11:36am
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Fill in the price and hand it back with your estimate showing a discount, free room, free deodorizer - whatever as a deduction on the estimate. Or you could let the customer fill in the price she wants to pay (after you get the details of the job and make your presentation have her write it on the coupon then hand it to you folded - like the start of a magic trick) and start negotiating. It might be higher than you think. If you sold the value of your services she may have a greater perceived value than even you thought possible. This is risky but it is like the Tijuana style of buying "How much?" "Too much" "how much you want to pay?" now we are negotiating. And the coupon needs a date of expiration still. Figure 10 days out from when you gave her the price. I would write it on the coupon and estimate. She will like the price because he participated in setting it. You can always turn down a job, right? ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 12:59pm
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Get a simple free easy to use Excel template that will possibly show you how working fliers is not pointless. Adjust it for your area and business model (namely pricing). Makes the time doing fliers feel worthwhile. http://www.duckccc.com/tools/esimatesales.xls ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 3:08pm
 ------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
Posted By: Hammy
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 4:08pm
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So what experience do you actually have Holepro ?? ------------- Could somebody just clean my carpets! |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 13/November/2007 at 5:49pm
It's ok hammy, STEAMPRO is entitled to his opinion and to express it whether he has anything of value to contribute or not. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Hammy wrote:Posted By: STEAMPRO
Date Posted: 15/November/2007 at 9:28pm
ive cleaned carpets before with non heated namco portables..------------- NEW BUSINESS IN TEXAS |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 16/November/2007 at 12:14am
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Well I think that CRI tested and approved the Rug Doctor system so if they say the RD can clean good enough then I would guess just about any porty can. And for truckmounts even Stanley Steemer made the grade. This either says a lot for the industry or doesn't speak highly of it. Scary, huh? ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |
Posted By: cmaster
Date Posted: 16/November/2007 at 12:38am
It's a cash grab by the CRI. Give us a few thousand and we'll certify your machine  -------------
The STD Meter |
Posted By: duckcountry
Date Posted: 16/November/2007 at 2:24am
Hey, I will speed the approval process along for you. Just send me $10,000 and a picture of your machine. Sure, we take crayon drawings by your 3 year old. Welcome to Cash Rules International. ------------- Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity? |