Can I (should I?) start a restoration company again?
Should this restorer start a restoration company of his own? There are no easy answers. Steve invites all cleaners and restorers to first establish goals.
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 hire a salesperson for commercial accounts?
Should a business hire a salesperson or do it themselves? Steve Toburen gives a complete answer to this question to a surprisingly complex question.
How can I compete with the dreaded preferred vendor?
Restoration preferred vendors have transformed the water damage mitigation world for the small independent restorer … and not for the better!
How can I avoid “wacko” clients after buying a carpet cleaning business?
A new carpet cleaning business is concerned that every customer will be off their rocker. See Steve’s reply …
Mitigation versus structural re-construction?
Where is the balance between remediation and structural construction? Your priorities.
Steve offers some instrospective questions for meditation.
What to do when a commercial prospect “puts you off”…
How to negotiate with a time-strapped manager …
What is my “business good will” worth?
At the end of the day any business is worth what an informed and willing buyer is willing to pay for it!
How should I bonus my techs on their “Additional Service Options”?
Make it easy for your technicians to sell more on the job and you’ll make more money too. At the same time keep things transparent for everyone.
What should I include in an “agent introductory letter”?
Face to face selling is almost always the best. Chuck and Steve provide insights to a disaster restoration company on how to start off right.
Can you give me any brochure ideas?
Steve gives advice to a New York cleaner on the content and design of a killer sales brochure.
Should I hire a whole bunch of part time salespeople?
A brand new commercial cleaning business owner wants to “blast” his sales area with a focused short-term team. Good idea? Steve and Chuck give feedback.
How can I avoid leaving money on the table?
Steve’s first rule in selling is to give multiple price options. But how can a cleaner find the sweet spot in pricing even with these options?
Who should pay for my techs training and certifications?
A Memphis cleaner plays with his options of how not to get hung out to dry by his new technicians. Will it work? What else should he take into account? Steve weighs in.
How can I compete against the ‘Big Boys’?
You don’t need (or even want to be) a national company. As you well know lots of people don’t like the “big boys” and prefer the local “little guy”. So don’t let yourself be intimidated!
How can I hire someone who hasn’t applied?
Turnover is par for the course in Carpet Cleaning and Restoration companies. However there really are good employee candidates out there. Steve offers some suggestions for finding (and holding on to) the best.