Start-Up and Operations Issues

Franchise or Independent Operation?

Buying an Existing Business

Maid Services

Who Are Your Customers?

Beyond Individual Homes

Who Are Your Competitors?

Equipment

Supplies

Standard Operations

What Will You Clean?

How Will You Clean?

Scheduling - What Does a Typical Day Include?

From that First Phone Call

Maintaining Customer Records

Pitfalls

Mistakes – how to avoid them

Janitorial Services

Who Are Your Customers?

Who Are Your Competitors?

Equipment

Floor Cleaning Equipment

Chemicals

Standard Operations

Laundry

Maintaining Customer Records

Bidding

Estimating a Job

Be Prepared to Answer Questions

The Cash Flow Issue

Security

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Service

Who Are Your Customers?

Who Are Your Competitors?

Equipment

Cleaning Methods

Chemicals

Carpet Cleaning Basics

Carpet Cleaning Specifics

Handling the Initial Service Request

Visiting the Customer's Home

Writing the Invoice

Performing the Service

Finishing the Job and Collecting Payment

Furniture Cleaning Specifics

Inspecting Furniture before Giving an Estimate

Writing Your Estimate

Cleaning Furniture

Cleaning Drapes

Other Cleaning Businesses

Window Cleaning

Disaster Cleaning and Restoration

Blind Cleaning

Restroom Cleaning

Chimney Sweeping

Ceiling and Wall Cleaning

Developing Your Plan

Business Plan Elements

To Market, to Market

Are You On a Mission?

Structuring Your Business

Naming Your Company

Trademarks

Protect Your Mark

Legal Structure

Licenses and Permits

Professional Services

Create Your Own Advisory Board

Insurance Issues

Deliveries and Storage

Finances: More Than Just the Bottom Line

Sources of Start-Up Funds

Setting Prices

Labour and Materials

Overhead

Profit

Setting Maid Service Prices

Setting Janitorial Service Prices

Setting Carpet Cleaning Prices

Keeping Records

Billing  

Establishing Credit Policies

Red Flags

       Accepting Credit and Debit Cards

Setting Up Your Business

The Homebased Tax Advantage

The Commercial Option

Vehicles

Pay Attention to Image

Build a Fleet

 Check Out the Drivers

Chapter 11

Human Resources

at Makes a Good Cleaning Service Employee?

Look in the Right Places

Evaluating Applicants

Take Care of Your Employees

Now that They're Hired

Training Techniques

Uniforms

Employee Benefits

Child Labour Laws

at Should You Pay?

Employee Theft

When You Suspect a Problem

Purchasing

Choosing Suppliers

Buying Supplies

Dealing with Suppliers

Suppliers Are also Creditors

Negotiating a Deal

Equipment

Basic Office Equipment

Telecommunications     

Marketing

Researching and Defining Your Market

Communicating with Your Market

The Elements of Image

Trade Shows

Trade Show Tips

Tales from the Trenches

Never Stop Learning

Tap All Your Resources

Clean It Like It's Your Own

Develop Systems

Be Careful!

Don't Undersell Yourself

Take Care of Your Employees

Prepare for the Worst

Don't Grow Too Fast

Watch Your Chemical Combos

Find a Niche

Develop Your Computer Skills

Track Labour Costs

Invest in Customer Service

Keep Your Eye on the Economy

Don't Take Every Job