Steve Toburen answers pleas for help from carpet cleaners, mold remediation and fire and water damage restoration professionals. If you are starting a carpet cleaning business or an experienced small business person you will surely find practical advice here. More about Steve.
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 …
Steve Toburen answers pleas for help from carpet cleaners, mold remediation and fire and water damage restoration professionals. If you are starting a carpet cleaning business or an experienced small business person you will surely find practical advice here.
You have finished up restoring a water damaged home. The home owner has been great to work with and the structural contractor has played ball. So what can you do to thank everyone involved? See what Steve suggests to one California SFS member that specializes in water damage restoration …
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.
Hey Steve,
Do you recommend advertising in the “services section” of the classified in a town’s main local paper? If so, what sort of response can I expect? What can I put in 3 lines that would draw attention to my company?
Ah yes, the eternal question: “How do I ‘bid’ a job at the ‘right price’?” (Which means low enough that the manager does not fall out of his chair laughing when reading your proposal but high enough to make a profit.) Steve shares a 4 step “pricing for profit” system …
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 …
An Australian carpet cleaner wants to make more money while he is already in the home. So what other profitable services can he offer? Steve weighs in …
A new carpet cleaner is getting whip-sawed from both sides. Steve tries to bring a bit of sanity and balance to the eternal question, “How much should I charge?”
Finding quality people that are interested in on call work is challenging one Colorado restorer. Steve shares an answer that worked in his company …
We all have to get our feet wet and take that first plunge. However, getting started right can save you a lot of pain and aggravation. What pitfalls would Steve avoid if he was just gettin’ going? Take a look …
Our Strategies for Success member has captured the interest of a big commercial account. But he finds actually generating the proposal to be a daunting task. But fear not! Steve rides to the rescue with a step-by-step answer …
Steve waxes nostalgic when asked about his “success time-line” and then shares a few bone-headed mistakes he made over the years so you can avoid them!
It is so easy to get intimidated by the “big boys”. But Steve explains that there is a silver lining to this very scary cloud …
Sorry, folks, Sub-contractors cannot be “named” or “made” by you. Steve explains the folly of this approach AND what to do about it …