Carpet Cleaner “Pinching Pennies 101”: Office software
Five solid free software tools to make your cleaning business more productive. Did we mention they are all FREE?
owner/operator
The best business books from 2010- Pick one.
Remember in 2011 you were going to read more than the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition? Well guess what? No more excuses! If you walk into Borders you will be overwhelmed by choices so let us help!
Oh no! It is New Year’s Resolutions time!
Do these New Year’s Resolutions sound familiar- healthier food, more exercise, drink less, sending your SFS QuickTips to that slave driver Toburen? Well the Heath brothers, authors of “Switch” share 5 short tips that will make 2011 different for YOU!
Can a new carpet cleaner handle a Home Show?
A new Georgia carpet cleaner is worried about tackling the strange new world of Home and Trade Shows. Steve says Home Show marketing is great … IF you do it right! Here’s some tips …
When to jump from my part-time “job” to a “real” cleaning business?
Cleaners get nervous when its time to quit the day job and go full speed ahead with their new cleaning venture. Bill Yeadon shares his insights after helping many budding cleaning entrepreneurs make the jump!
What if you could do your cleaning career “all over again”?
Do you “fritter away days”? Chuck Violand fights this tendency to waste time. Read here Chuck’s musings on how to avoid this destructive habit and live your life to its full potential.
The Great Carpet Cleaning Pricing Debate- Part II
Big Billy Yeadon weighs in with what may be the most profitable way to price your carpet cleaning services as an owner-operator. In the final analysis it will be up to you. But first check out Bill’s musings …
The Great Carpet Cleaning “Pricing Debate”- Part I
Outside of arguing about the best truck mount (which invariably is owned by the person talking) there is nothing that causes more disagreement among carpet cleaners than “how to price” the job. My take? They all work! Let me explain why …
Why carpet cleaners should ask “stupid questions” …
Carpet cleaning business owners can do well by taking a lesson from small children. Kids are by nature inquisitive and take in enormous amounts of information (also called “learning”) by asking questions. Sadly, as we grow older we lose this essential “growth trait”. Chuck Violand weighs in on why and how you should rekindle your curiosity and start asking some so-called “stupid questions” …
When should I move my owner-operator carpet cleaning operation out of my house?
It makes a lot of sense to start your cleaning or restoration business out of your house. However, sooner or later you will be faced with the question of “when should I stop storing all these cleaning chemicals and equipment in my garage?” Steve waxes nostalgic …
Why won’t my wife get on board with my new carpet cleaning venture?
A prospective Denver carpet cleaner has caught the “entrepreneurial cleaning bug” but his wife just isn’t excited about this new development. Steve timidly ventures into the “family counseling” field with some hard-learned wisdom from his own experience in cleaning up …
“Information age” to the “conceptual age”- where do I fit in?
You may be “just a carpet cleaner” but have you ever been accused of being “a blue-sky person”? Do you recall information better when it is explained in story form? Have you noticed that one of your child’s favorite sayings is “Mommy, read me a story?” If your head is nodding up and down, you are going to love this book.
Should I go with a “one stop package” carpet cleaning “business opportunity”?
When entering a new industry it can be an oh-so-very-overwhelming journey. So it is tempting to go the pre-packaged equipment route, especially if the company offers you a “protected territory” for your carpet cleaning business. But Steve says to be very, very careful. After all, you are putting one more link in the “supplier chain” …
How professional carpet cleaners can get local small business consulting … FREE!
Even the Bible says that “in the multitude of counselors there is salvation”. And yet, being the stubborn, mule-headed entrepreneurs that we are, we continue to insist on going it alone. One SFS member shares a great idea on outside advice. Even better, this help is FREE!
Steve’s “Bleeding Hearts” Advice Column Directory
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.