[andy east sussex]

hi i own a cleaning company and wish to expand to domestic cleaning by that i mean employing somebody to go to peoples homes to do genral cleaning for them on a reqular basis could you give me any ideads how i go about starting it do i put leaflets out to advitise ? do u have a leaflet u use to get an idea ? all help required and will be very much appreciated
andrew
reliable cleaning services

[andy east sussex]

can anyone help me please

[clairewillmoth]

Hi Andrew,
I started domestic cleaning a year ago and cannot keep up.  I dropped 250 leaflets - and through those I got all my business and referrals.
Here is an example of the leaflet I used:

DO YOU NEED A CLEANER??
. EXPERIENCED
. EXCELLENT REFERENCES
. IRONING (OPTIONAL)
. CALL CLAIRE ON   .... always have a landline number and a mobile number

I printed each heading in a different colour - in A6 size.

I would then visit the caller - discuss their needs, go around the home with them discuss how long it would take, set a day and time for each week. 

Hope this helps
Good luck
Claire 

[andy east sussex]

thank you for that. would i have to get a police check on people i employ for it. do u have staff ? do they / you wear a name badge when you enter customers properties. sorry about this i only know about window and carpet cleaning and not genral cleaning im willing to learn so i can try and make my buisness sussced im only 23 but have been in buisness 2 years

[clairewillmoth]

Hi Andy,
I am at the point of employing staff and it does worry me - however I can only imagine that it will be a case of learning as we go along.  I personally would not worry about name badges.  I have a very close relationship with all my customers - they have grown to trust me.  I think the most important thing is communication - to meet their needs - and to tell them up front that this is a new project for you, you will do your best to give them the service they expect and will make right whatever may go wrong.  I have been advised to take on only experienced staff, with a current and past reference.  No need for a police check as far as I can tell. 
Hope this helps?
Claire

[Paul Kettless]

Hi Andy,

your biggest problem is not going to be finding the customers, but relaible and trustworthy staff that will represent your company.

Adverts in the free papers, flyers, leaflets all work to a certain degree, yet can vary depending on the area you live.

Personally, I find that parish council newsletters are good in my area, and have picked us up quite amount of contracts, for very little advertising costs.

Our staff have uniforms, and name badges as it gives a very good corporate image.  After all, image is everything when you are starting out.  We visit every customer, and sit down and talk with them about what there needs are, and if we are able to accomodate them.

If you have not already, I would advise you to contact your local business link,as they can have some very helpfull advice and information.  Also I would suggest that you contact the inland revenue, and ask them to send you an emloyers pack.

The pack will include all the forms that you will need to complete for emloyees, and a very handy CD rom.  The Inland Revenue also run courses that you are able to attend, which are free.  Speaking from personal experience, these are invaluable.
I hope this information helps, please do not hesitate to email me if I can be of any further assiatance to you.  paulkettless@hotmail.com

Kind regards
Paul

[andy east sussex]

the person who i will be employing is my partner she loves cleaning and keeps our home sparklingso i think she will respect other peoples properties. i just need more advitising skills like what to promote say and charge then i should be fine hopefully
andrew
reliable cleaning services

[andy east sussex]

i know this may sound rude but should i target the more desent areas, or elderly or just a mixture and see what type of response come from it sorry to say it it that way i dont mean it in a rude way

[shelton]

Hi,

From experience, leaflets are hit and miss with their reliability.  I've seen many colleagues on this forum give the pros and cons of leaflet drops on many an occasion.

Personally, we only use a website for our business, as well as word of mouth recommendations (which we have no control over, obviously!)

This keeps us ticking over nicely.  I'd like to expand (I'm the normally silent partner who does all the admin, billing, emails, etc.) but the missus (who is the MD and main worker) doesn't want the hassle of extra staff.

It's frustrating for me, as I can see so many opportunities for expansion.

Anyhow, I'd certainly recommend a website.  If I ever want a service or anything, I very rarely go for the actual Yellow Pages book or local paper now.  It's always a Google search for me.  Therefore, it makes sense to put our service on there.

It needn't cost anything (other than time) either.  I've got a free hosted website, costing nothing other than the domain name (something like a one-off £3.99 payment) &  I did the web page myself.  From this, we martket our company.

Again, in my experience, all sorts of people need cleaners, for all sorts of different reasons.  I'd certainly find it difficult to catergorize any of my customers.

I often think the "well off" folks are only that way because they are tight!

In short . .  .. don't put all your eggs in the leaflet basket.

[Jan K]

I have been running my dom cleaning biz for 4 years, and have 6 girls working for me. i get all my clients from Yellow Pages, Yell.com and my website

i occassionaly spec letter professions, such as solicitors, teachers etc etc and have got a couple of clients that way too and of course word of muth i have got a few from too

[andy east sussex]

thank you for your support guys im gona crack on and see how i get on cross my fingers and hope for the best cheers
andrew
reliable cleaning services

[Bizzie Lizzie]

Hi,  Another good way to get some business is leave some business cards at local hair dressing salons, local shops etc always give new customers a few and tell them you are looking for more work and ask them if they know anyone etc.  Good luck
BL

[andy east sussex]

thank you all this support helps me alot thank you hopefulley it will help each other as well

[andy east sussex]

does anyone have anymore to add to help

[Paul Kettless]

You mentioned earlier on in thread

i know this may sound rude but should i target the more desent areas, or elderly or just a mixture and see what type of response come from it sorry to say it it that way i dont mean it in a rude way

This is certainly not being rude, but having the right attitude to suceed.  The vast majority of our customers are either elderly and need genuine help or have surplus cash, and have the luxury of employing someone else to do a job they hate.

When we first set up our company, we targeted effluent areas, and elderly peoples complex.  We also got ourselves on the approved traders list for Help the Aged, this has lead to quite a few customers.

Good luck with your venture.

Regards
Paul

[andy east sussex]

does anyone have a leaflet they use to give me a bit of an idea cheers guys and girls

[Ian Rochester]

Andy,

The leaflet should be of your own design, you need to understand what is says and take ownership for it.  Make it simple, make it bold and make sure it gets across that you are a quality business and not just a fly by night who's not got a clue what they should and shouldn't be doing! 

Don't take this personally but that's the impression I am getting of you from this thread and I don't have a real clue about you, it's just my first impression and the impression the customer will get as well.

The majority of the better off customers will find their cleaners in yellow pages or yell.com, make sure you have good adverts in these.

Our flyers are on 300g, A6 full colour, double sided postcards, and are of a very good quality.

You need to be able to tell your customer what YOU will do for them on each and every visit.  If you leave it to them to dictate you will be run ragged and still not achieve the standard that they really want.

Do a print off of what you do on a standard clean, give them a copy of it when you are pricing up the job, give them a copy of your insurance policy and details of the names of those who will be cleaning their property.

It all makes for a professional image, at a professional price.

We always supply all our own cleaning materials and equipment, that way they are not complaining that you are using too much of this, or not using any of that.  Also you are using materials that you know will do the job and you are confident with, not some budget priced cleaner that is basically water with a splash of bleach and fragrance added.

Hope this helps.

Ian