Steve’s “Bleeding Hearts” Advice Column

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.

How can I calm a frazzled customer with a water damaged home?

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An Oregon water loss carpet expert struggles with being completely up front with the homeowner of a water damaged home versus the customer’s desire for “Immediate Action”. Guess who wins with Steve?

How can I get my carpet cleaning techs to upsell?

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An Oklahoma business owner wants to do right by his employees but is frustrated by their apathy and fear in selling carpet protector. Steve shares 7 steps that he used to super-charge his Scotchgard carpet protector sales …

How to avoid getting hung out to dry on commercial carpet cleaning without a key …

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Have you been stuck waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for your contact to show up and lock up after you finish a commercial carpet cleaning account? Nothing is more irritating and frustrating. If it has happened to you then you will “feel his pain” as a Salt Lake city carpet cleaner shares the typical “key boondoggle” …

Intimidated by residential carpet cleaning! What to do?

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A Big Sky country janitorial business owner gets cold feet over his carpet cleaning endeavor. Steve reminisces on his days getting started in the carpet cleaning industry and points to light at the end of the tunnel. We all had our first cleaning job, didn’t we?

How can I “step away” from my business?

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This SFS graduate from Florida needs to get away from the day to day grind of his business. Is selling the company the only answer?