Should carpet cleaners accept credit cards?

One veteran professional carpet cleaner in California has been debating the pros and cons of offering the credit card payment option to his clients. Steve helps him realize he has already sub-consciously decided …

Did you know your carpet cleaning technicians are “addicts”?

You would never knowingly hire a heroin addict, would you? And yet you are allowing another equally insidious addiction to continue without trying to stamp it out. Steve shares one sure-fire (but very painful) “tough love” approach …

I’m getting beat up on this upholstery cleaning job!

A harried Florida cleaner is battling an upholstery cleaning problem. Steve explains that sometimes the best thing to do is “throw in your cards” but do so with honor and dignity …

What can carpet cleaners take away from the Toyota mess?

As a professional carpet cleaning entrepreneur you have built a great and unshakable reputation for quality. Or have you? Steve Toburen analyzes how a complacent attitude can quickly sink a recognized world leader in quality …

10 Questions Every Cleaning and Restoration Business Should Ask!

Check out these 10 questions that just may keep you from joining the 80% of start-up businesses that fail within their first decade. Then share with your fellow board members other vital questions that have kept you safe, sane and profitable …

How can I target the right age group for residential carpet cleaning?

A New York carpet cleaner poses a thorny question, “What is the average age of my customer”? In typical Steve Toburen fashion he takes the “long way around” before answering the original question. But Steve’s long-winded reply contains some great insights on the Emotional Dynamics of the home owner/technician relationship …

See how an old, washed up ex-carpet cleaner strikes back at Sprint!

[private]After almost three years of care-giving for my in-laws in the States it is time for us to return to our home in the Dominican Republic.  (Both of Sioux’s parents have passed away in the last year or so.)  But hey, NEWS FLASH here- Cell phone and cable companies are not your friends when it comes to ending contracts!

I foolishly thought since we had signed “one year contracts” three years ago we could say sayonora whenever we wanted.  But noooo- you only get a 30 day window one time per year and then the contract automatically renews!  Grrrr …

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One carpet cleaner’s house building odyssey after attending “Strategies for Success” …

Good morning, Steve,

Even though I own my own carpet cleaning business I have also been building my own house and contracting it out myself. The people I am coming across are astounding! These “professional” businesses and contractors have absolutely no customer service.

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Should I wear a bow tie when cleaning?

A Pennsylvania tech wants to add a bit of pizzazz to his “cleaning presentation”. His boss (being from the “old school” isn’t so sure. “New School Steve” shares his thoughts plus a couple of hints …

The question every customer is afraid to ask!

Way back in the 50’s Bo Diddley sang a song titled “Who Do You Love?” If Bo were around today he would change the lyrics to “Who Do You Trust?”

Steve’s latest Value Added Service “field trip”

Everywhere you go and every commercial transaction you make should be examined with your “Customer Eyeglasses”. For example, notice what Steve took out of a recent (and very sudden) sojourn to Brooklyn, New York …