Freebies into Sales

Sometimes doing a little extra pays off. Last week a contract customer asked for pricing on some floor work they wanted done. I submitted my price and they called back setting the work for this past Saturday.

On Friday evening I met my project crew leader over at the job site to review the work request. While I was there I noticed that the carpeting in 2 rooms that are used for large gatherings, meetings and parties was a mess. I instructed my crew leader to bring the encapsulation cleaning items with him on Saturday and do the 2 rooms.

My view was since they were already paying for the crew to be there on Saturday for the floor work, my paying them for an extra half hour to clean the carpet was my way of saying thanks for the extra business. My other thought was, when the floors are done and looking great these carpeted areas will diminish that achievement.

Monday morning I get a phone call from my contact thanking me for the great job on the floors and asking me if I am responsible for the carpet cleaning. When I explained that I was his response was "Great!, give me a price for a carpet maintenance program for the entire building"

That is 28,000 sq.ft. of carpeting now going to be cleaned by me every quarter.

I spent less than $60 to clean two rooms of carpeting and now will make over $3,000 every quarter in return. Not a bad investment at all. I won't do this for every customer but I will do it for some.

Cleaning Business Recognized by Business Leaders

Local Office Cleaning Service Recognized by Peers
StartupNation made its selection from among thousands of home-based entrepreneurs who entered the competition.

StartupNation, a leading business advice and social networking site for entrepreneurs (http://www.startupnation.com) today named L & K Office Cleaning Services, (http://www.lk-clean.com) a Top Ten “Highest Vote-Getters” in the first annual StartupNation Home-Based 100 ranking of the nation’s top home-based businesses. Organized into 10 categories such as Most Innovative, Boomers Back in Business and Best Financial Performers, the Home-Based 100 celebrates the innovative, nimble and resourceful home-based entrepreneurs who have gone largely unrecognized until now. The full results of the Home-Based 100 ranking are available on StartupNation’s Web site at http://www.startupnation.com/hb100.
“Although large companies often grab the headlines, home-based businesses today are thriving,” said Rich Sloan, entrepreneurial author, radio host and co-founder of StartupNation. “Millions of people are following their passions through entrepreneurship by pursuing innovative, sound business ideas.”
The StartupNation Home-Based 100, composed of ten Top Ten lists, presents a unique look at the nation’s top home-based businesses. Category winners span a wide range of revenue levels, sectors, ages and other characteristics.
Brookfield based L & K Cleaning, won in two categories, top vote achiever and grungiest. (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/TopTenVoteGetters.aspx and http://www.startupnation.com/home-based-100/85/8924/winner.htm#WinnerTop ) L & K Office Cleaning a family owned and operated janitorial service for commercial, industrial and retail properties was started in 1999 by Laura and Ken Galo. They offer green cleaning services to businesses in the Milwaukee and Waukesha areas.

About StartupNation
Founded by Rich and Jeff Sloan, StartupNation (http://www.startupnation.com) provides entrepreneurial advice via a nationally syndicated radio program and through online content for entrepreneurs who want to start a business. The Sloan brothers are successful inventors, experienced entrepreneurs and authors of StartupNation: Open for Business (Doubleday). They appear frequently as small business experts on national television and in online and print media. More information is available at http://www.startupnation.com.

Cleaning Forms and Letters

The Importance of a Great First Impression

by

Ken Galo

When you call upon a potential customer you need to put the best look on you and your company.

How best to do this?

1. Dress professionally, look like a sharp business person, not a painter or landscaper or cleaner.

2. Have the best business card you can afford, this will be on their desk, in their card holder or their rolodex long after you have gone.

3. Make your presentation clearly, concisely and then shut up and listen. Let the customer sell you by telling you what they are looking for so you can tailor your response to their needs.

4. Your presentation, it must be unique if you plan on standing out from the crowd of other presenters. Remember your potential customer may be seeing as many as 6 other vendors all selling the same product. Your printed presentation needs to stand out and shout, Notice Me!

www.lonemopperproductions.biz