Cleaning Service, Advice on Getting Customers
- Thread starter astral_stardust
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dontcallmebuzz
Newbie
- Sep 20, 2008
- 32
- 15
I also had experience in owning a cleaning business- door hangers are a good way to go.
Unfortunately, I closed up in March of 2009- just getting too damn competitive and cut throat-
I still read cl ads just to see what is going in this business in my area and it is rough
There is some dumb * c u next tuesday - and I am saying that she is a dumb * c u next tuesday because that is exactly the way I feel- She charges $6.00 (yes, six) per hour. Offers to clean 1bd/1ba for $25- I got so pissed i sent her e-mails telling her she was screwing herself and everyone else- how the f--- could she pay insurance, overhead costs etc and so on- even tried flagging but she still posts her ad on there
Focus on the Higher end clients, and charge then appropriately. There are plenty of cleaning forums for locating that info (some charge sq ft, some by hour) also give a real rough estimate over the phone, and tell them it is a rough estimate- you have to do a visual before you set a firm price- there are some real slobs out there and you never know what you may be walking into
Unfortunately, I closed up in March of 2009- just getting too damn competitive and cut throat-
I still read cl ads just to see what is going in this business in my area and it is rough
There is some dumb * c u next tuesday - and I am saying that she is a dumb * c u next tuesday because that is exactly the way I feel- She charges $6.00 (yes, six) per hour. Offers to clean 1bd/1ba for $25- I got so pissed i sent her e-mails telling her she was screwing herself and everyone else- how the f--- could she pay insurance, overhead costs etc and so on- even tried flagging but she still posts her ad on there
Focus on the Higher end clients, and charge then appropriately. There are plenty of cleaning forums for locating that info (some charge sq ft, some by hour) also give a real rough estimate over the phone, and tell them it is a rough estimate- you have to do a visual before you set a firm price- there are some real slobs out there and you never know what you may be walking into
ellmexicann
Junior Member
- Apr 11, 2009
- 190
- 43
My other half has her own cleaning gig. Craigslist and newspaper, plus once you get going word of mouth is HUGE as long as your good. Make sure you get insured and it's a wrap. It's good money.
farfetchedmoney
Regular Member
- Oct 9, 2008
- 457
- 152
Could you elaborate on these forums. I might be interested in brokering cleaning contracts.
I know you said you wanted to only do residential, but we owned a cleaning business quite a few years ago, and one thing we really enjoyed was cleaning for our church and the private elementary school. After we got one, we had 5 more by the end of that year. They pay well and on time. At least ours did.
imprint
Junior Member
- Nov 1, 2009
- 151
- 256
I'd say to get a feel of Florida's market, call up some cleaning services around there and ask them how much and what will they do for that price.
BillyRayValentine
Junior Member
- Jul 19, 2008
- 199
- 11
Does anyone make good bank with this?
- Mar 10, 2010
- 42,695
- 107,109
I just checked with sunbiz.org and that name is not registered in Florida. You can register it for 50.00 and get an EIN associated with it online for free.
Here's where you check - http://www.sunbiz.org/ficinam.html
Register the name here - http://www.sunbiz.org/feefic.html, get the EIN here - https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp, use your cell phone as a business line, make up some generic looking flyers/doorhangers, build your site and get those flyers/doorhangers out there.
I personally would use flyers as they will be less expensive. If the business starts generating revenue you can "upgrade" to flyers.
Here's where you check - http://www.sunbiz.org/ficinam.html
Register the name here - http://www.sunbiz.org/feefic.html, get the EIN here - https://sa2.www4.irs.gov/modiein/individual/index.jsp, use your cell phone as a business line, make up some generic looking flyers/doorhangers, build your site and get those flyers/doorhangers out there.
I personally would use flyers as they will be less expensive. If the business starts generating revenue you can "upgrade" to flyers.
yuyo
Regular Member
- Oct 29, 2008
- 482
- 25
BassTrackerBoats your are awesome bro, thanks for this info, one more question, how often i need to report taxes, they said every 3 months, do I also need a license do to this, huumm whts the cost... kind of low on money these days ...
what others cost are invlove any idea..
what others cost are invlove any idea..
Last edited:
- Mar 10, 2010
- 42,695
- 107,109
Taxes are quarterly (write off EVERYTHING) and you may or may not need a license depending on what Sanford requires. You can call up the city offices and find out. Odds are that a license will be pretty cheap as well. The closest to Sanford I have every operated a business was in Daytona Beach and the license cost me around 125.00 if I remember correctly.
You'll also need to call your local bank and ask what they require in order to open up a commercial bank account as that also varies bank by bank.
You'll also need to call your local bank and ask what they require in order to open up a commercial bank account as that also varies bank by bank.
- Mar 10, 2010
- 42,695
- 107,109
Sure yo ucan run it from home. Insurance and bonding are not required to get going and I inagine insurance would be pretty reasonable... like 500 a year or so. Bonding will vary based upon a few different factors... your credit, your criminal background and such.
I doubt that it would cost more than a few hundred dollars a year to get bonded and that you can get after you start making money as well.
I doubt that it would cost more than a few hundred dollars a year to get bonded and that you can get after you start making money as well.
- Mar 10, 2010
- 42,695
- 107,109
I'd like to see the site when you are done.
PlatinumPi4u
Junior Member
- Mar 5, 2010
- 178
- 31
Don't forget the most important part guys...
Scale up, Cut, Copy, Paste, Return.... (see post #6 above)
Scale up, Cut, Copy, Paste, Return.... (see post #6 above)
angelas111
Elite Member
- Jan 4, 2009
- 1,648
- 1,052
just come in and start cleaning and when they ask you what's up say that you made a deal with "jim" and you were to start that day. that's how you get business.
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