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 …
Nobody likes misunderstandings or arguments and especially with a testy customer who feels like she has been “betrayed” on her carpet cleaning pricing. Here is a very simple way to keep all your advertised price promotions straight and heading off ugly confrontations before they start …
They say “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery”. If so, SFS member Dave Pastor very “sincerely” likes our SFS Director of Training. Read how Dave blew away his local BNI group by sharing a few key SFS ideas. Then learn how you can use these same concepts in your company. (Even without attending SFS!)
As Chuck reflects on how the typical carpet cleaning or restoration business is much like a boat he focuses on your business wind- MONEY! No money? Then as a business you are “dead in the water”. A simple concept? Yes. But at times agonizingly difficult to implement. Read on for Chuck’s meditations …
A premium Georgia carpet cleaner looks to expand into the budget cleaning market with a “parallel operation” operated with his existing staff and building. Steve isn’t real positive but would like other cleaner’s thoughts. Read and chime in …
All of us brag about our “imagined percentages” of repeat clients. Comments like this are common at every SFS seminar: “Yeah, over 90% of my clients are repeat business.” But honestly, have you ever put a magnifying glass on this claim? (Steve confesses he was guilty of this empty bragging too!) One very capable SFS member did and here is what they found out …
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 …
One wanna-be entrepreneur asks Steve what to watch out for in buying a carpet cleaning business. Steve’s answers may surprise and shock you. If so, they may be just the wake up call you need to successfully sell your company in the future …
Read about the pros and cons of structural rebuilding in fire and water damage restoration as Steve answers the question above …
One perplexed cleaning newbie confesses that pricing is just one big confusing mess. Steve shares a few quick principles on setting prices and gives a “charge more” pep talk at the same time …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Chaos sounds horrible. It brings to mind historic events such as the fall of Saigon or 9/11 and the horrors that ensued. But chaos can also lead to opportunity. In fact there is a Chinese symbol that stands for danger but also means opportunity. Which one will you choose?
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?”