“The 20 Foot Rule”: Improving relationships.
Make eye contact and say hello. Sounds simple. However, many of us struggle with even the most basic people skills. Here is a simple rule to make it happen for you and your workforce.
employees
How should we pay our first cleaning tech?
A Buffalo, NY owner-operator muses on how to fairly pay his first full-time employee. Steve shares some important Compensation Principles …
Hiring the ‘right’ cleaning and restoration techs
IF you are going to hire employees you must “do it right”. Steve shares one great tip on where to find them …
We all need a little “feedback” …
Many cleaning techs are from the Millennial generation and so they expect “feedback”. Do they need to “quit whining and man up” or are your young techs correct in expecting communication from the boss? Big Billy Yeadon shares some thoughts …
Employees blossom in a family atmosphere
Today’s cleaning industry employee wants more than just a paycheck. Steve shares ideas how to promote a fun-loving family atmosphere.
What does your van say about your business?
SFS Member Travis Popp reminds us to keep an eye on the details. Your company vehicles are a reflection of your cleaning and restoration company. Give them the respect they deserve with a simple and easy touch up.
How NOT to hire carpet cleaning techs!
Chuck Violand proves that the old saying, “The fish rots from the head down” is constantly proved true when it comes to how we hire new employees. Escape from the “employee revolving door” by avoiding the trap of “desperation hiring” …
Make it a “horse race” with your carpet cleaning door hangers …
How can you motivate your techs to use on-site marketing efforts? Steve shares how he super-charged his employees to place carpet cleaning door hangers
Carpet cleaning technician pay- commission vs. hourly? What to do?
It is just one of the cleaning industry’s “eternal questions”. Where is the “sweet spot” in compensating my employees? What is the simplest and most cost effective way to motivate technicians while still letting the company make a profit? Steve shares a few thoughts with a Richmond, VA carpet cleaner …
“Baking bread” by developing your cleaning/restoration business managers OR maybe just yourself!
There is a very thin line between “controlled delegation of authority”(good) and “total abdication of responsibility”(bad)! Chuck Violand has been reflecting on this struggle as he engages in his favorite hobby- baking bread!
What can carpet cleaners learn from Disney?
Cleaners and restorers can learn a lot about how to run their operations from the legendary Walt Disney. After 55 years, Disney continues to be the most visited place in America. As with so many other things in life, it is focus on the little things that makes the difference …
So can I build a business that will run without me “pushing a wand”?
Are you enjoying the lifestyle benefits of living in the countryside? GREAT! This small town carpet cleaner asks, “Can I build a ‘real business’ in a market base of only 30,000 people?” Steve shares how he did it …
Do college graduates make good carpet cleaning employees?
College can be a wonderful gift and a great opportunity. OR it can be a four, five or six year party that wastes time and money. After reading a New York Times article Steve reflects on today’s cleaning workforce …
Steve’s “Cry for Help”- Keeping tabs on your employees with GPS van tracking
Do you know where your employees are … right now?! Do you think you should know? Steve feels adding “Employee Accountability” to your company is essential. One way to gently “hold your employee’s feet to the fire” is to start tracking your vehicles with a GPS online service. Steve is asking for your “been there- done that” experiences …
How to develop and manage your carpet cleaning/restoration business “crew”.
As carpet cleaning or restoration operation owners we love to bellyache about how “you can’t find good people anymore”! But as Chuck Violand explains, could it be that the fickle finger of guilt points more at us as small business owners and our abdication of our responsibilities as the skipper to develop our crew? Read on …