Can a carpet cleaner survive in a rural area?
A Chicago area cleaner is facing a “forced move” to rural Missouri. Can he not only survive but prosper?
owner/operator
How can I keep these “inherited” carpet cleaning customers?
A grieving friend asks how he can carry on the legacy (and clientele!) of his fallen carpet cleaning associate. Steve shares some practical advice …
Consider part time instead of full time workers
Ready to hire your first employee? Or maybe due to expansion you are eying the possibility of hiring more. Steve highlights the benefits of using part-time help.
After 15 years as a “Lone Wolf” carpet cleaner, should I expand?
A Portland carpet cleaner is at a cross roads in his life. Get big by taking on employees? Stay small as an owner operator? Steve’s answer may surprise you …
My big cleaning business just isn’t fun anymore!
Not all successful companies need to “get BIG”. A proven Colorado cleaner needs help in scaling things back into a manageable size. Steve offers a shoulder to cry on and shares his firsthand experience of what to do when your cleaning business gets out of control.
Sick of being “on-call” 24-7 for water damage losses?
Talk about a love-hate relationship! We all LOVE the big money of an “after hours” emergency water loss. (And aren’t they all “after hours” and usually at the most personally inconvenient time?) But an after hours call can sure play havoc with your personal life! A Nebraska carpet cleaner dumps on Steve and Steve dumps it right back!
How soon can I “escape” my carpet cleaning business?
An Alabama carpet cleaner is looking down the road 15 years or so and fretting, “How am I going to ‘get out’?” Steve says “Good for you”. Every carpet cleaning business should be managed for its eventual sale. The recipe follows …
Your greatest business challenge? ‘Displacement Activities’!
As an entrepreneur your most valuable business resource is your time … are you using it effectively? Steve helps you break down what this means.
What to do with the tables and chairs in restaurant carpet cleaning?
Restaurant tables and chairs- the bane of every carpet cleaner! Steve dishes out the secrets to how his company very profitably cleaned over 50 restaurants every month PLUS one BIG commercial cleaning NO-NO to avoid!
High or low pricing- which way to go?
A local Dallas carpet cleaner is already successful as a “prestige priced”, high end owner-operator. But now he is questioning his business model and his future …
Feature your “Turbo Cheerleaders” online!
Many restoration and cleaning professionals struggle creating fresh, effective content for their websites. So why not tap into your client’s 5-star reviews?
Buying a business versus “starting from scratch”?
Believe it or not, many folks from “outside” think this is an industry worth investing in. Steve shares a little start-up advice with one budding carpet cleaning entrepreneur …
Should I hire techs for carpet cleaning or just go it alone?
Steve focuses on what is probably the most common and certainly most agonizing question facing carpet cleaning owner-operators …
Longing for a good night’s sleep …
Working commercial night jobs can be physically exhausting and emotionally demoralizing. See what Steve recommends to one poor soul who has had enough …
Leaving a void on the truck …
When the boss decides to start working on the business instead of on the truck, this leaves a gaping hole … Such are the pains of success!! Steve offers his insights.