Gently ‘encourage’ marginal employees to move on!
Nothing is more important to your financial future (and personal happiness) than finding stellar employees that “buy in” to your business vision.
Can a carpet cleaner survive in a rural area?
A Chicago area cleaner is facing a “forced move” to rural Missouri. Can he not only survive but prosper?
Avoid negative cell phone Moments of Truth
You’ve worked really hard to polish your company image. Don’t let bad cell phone habits bring it down. Get started with these TIPS from the frontlines of a really successful carpet cleaning operation.
How can I keep these “inherited” carpet cleaning customers?
A grieving friend asks how he can carry on the legacy (and clientele!) of his fallen carpet cleaning associate. Steve shares some practical advice …
Consider part time instead of full time workers
Ready to hire your first employee? Or maybe due to expansion you are eying the possibility of hiring more. Steve highlights the benefits of using part-time help.
“Steve, what if you could do it all over again?”
A struggling Alabama carpet cleaner asks Steve, “What would you do differently if you could rebuild and sell your business all over again”? Steve (of course) waxes nostalgic as he looks back over the last forty years …
Got more time than money?
Steve shares the fastest, simplest, cheapest (but not the easiest) way to get more jobs.
Should I Hire Techs or Stick to Cleaning Myself?
Steve revisits the thorny topic of feeling torn between the undeniable ease and lack of problems of not having employees versus the advantages of not just “owning a job” and being “chained to the scrub wand”.
Never “present”- RECOMMEND!
Become an expert consultant sincerely interested in solving your client’s problems and they will respond by becoming loyal (and very profitable) Cheerleader Customers.
“I’m hitting a road block on implementing the ‘Stay Beautiful’ program!”
A North Carolina SFS member is getting resistance from customers who don’t want to give up their credit card information for the regular monthly service agreement amount. Steve reminds him that many people are more comfortable with a second option …
Use “Creative Scheduling” for commercial accounts
Steve’s stack of regular commercial “Service Agreements” let him sleep much better. But he did want to SLEEP at night. Learn how Steve avoided doing late night commercial work with his “Creative Commercial Scheduling” technique!
After 15 years as a “Lone Wolf” carpet cleaner, should I expand?
A Portland carpet cleaner is at a cross roads in his life. Get big by taking on employees? Stay small as an owner operator? Steve’s answer may surprise you …
Why you should ban the phrase “No problem”!
When your customer says “thank you” how do you reply? Steve reminds us to “keep it positive” while reminding your client about reviewing you online.
So should I ask to put up a carpet cleaning “yard sign”?
A Houston carpet cleaner is torn on asking his customers if he can install a temporary sign in their yard. Steve likes the concept but as always there are some pitfalls to consider …
“Seeing” is selling…
When first meeting a prospective customer you must “break through” their skepticism. After your contact gives you a tour and shows you their “areas of special concern” simply ask this key question…