Whether you’re new to the cleaning business or you’re a seasoned professional, there are always new things to learn and keep you up-to-date with everything in the industry. You’ll want to make sure your meetings with potential clients make an impact and show that your business can be their solution to their cleaning needs. Certain standard considerations exist that all cleaning owners should have in mind. Today we’ll cover how to get cleaning contracts and how bidding on cleaning contracts will help your business.
Getting Started
Before you can find specific cleaning contracts, you’ll need to decide what type of facility you would like to target—keep in mind the level of cleaning and detail each facility would entail. For example, a commercial office would require bathroom cleaning, vacuuming, dusting, emptying trash cans, etc. However, something like a warehouse would be a lot more work because of the larger open space. Think about the services you offer, your skills and specialties, and your strengths and weaknesses; this will help you determine which facilities you will target.
Another thing to consider that we mentioned above is the services that you’ll be providing. If your focus is commercial window cleaning, then that pretty much narrows it down for you. You’ll be targeting offices or buildings that have windows that need to be washed.
If you do general cleaning or office cleaning, you’ll also need to decide your audience. Whatever service(s) you plan on providing, make sure that you tailor them correctly to the right audience. When you’re deciding which services to provide, keep your budget in mind, because you will also need to figure out pricing and how much your business can afford.
When finding contracts, you’ll also want to consider the areas and locations that you will be servicing and how far you are willing to travel. Travel time and expenses should be built into your business plan so you know what is realistic for your company to handle. Perhaps you’re just getting started and you’ll have a 20-mile set radius. If you have the means, you may have a 150-mile radius. You can decide what is best for your business. Make sure even within the radius you set, that you can easily get to each appointment if they are back to back.
Finding a Cleaning Contract
Now that you’ve done the background work, you’re ready to start finding cleaning contracts. The first place to start when finding a cleaning contract is to reach out to your network of people that you already know. Perhaps your neighbor owns his own business and is looking for someone to come clean the office each night. Maybe your friend’s friend owns an apartment complex that needs the carpets cleaned every six months. Use the resources you already have to see what business you can get from your current connections.
Another way to find new clients and get cleaning contracts is to market your business with social media. A common method for today is creating an Instagram account for your cleaning business. You can connect with potential clients in your area, post engaging content, share your services and pricing, and so much more. Use this tool to your advantage. You can also use sponsored posts on Instagram so that your posts can reach certain ages, genders, and locations—helping you find more business.
We also recommend carrying business cards with you to obtain cleaning contracts. Handing out business cards will give your clients a good first impression of your and your business, showing that you are professional. You don’t need to be pushy when it comes to handing out your business cards—you can find a way to casually give anyone a business card. If you’d like, you can also design and print pamphlets that you can hand out. These pamphlets can include impressive before and after photos, prices and services, and an FAQ section. These techniques are sure to help you get more cleaning contracts.
Obtaining a Cleaning Contract
Once you have marketed your services, you’ll want to make it easy for your clients to book with you. You can do this with an online cleaning software so they don’t even have to call anyone. Make sure that if they request a quote for the type of cleaning that they are interested in, that the turnaround time is quick and you don’t leave them waiting. Your goal should be to make the process of booking with you as easy and quick as possible. Consider including step-by-step directions of how to book with you and how the quote process works. With the software, you can also have a calendar set up that keeps track of all your appointments, including regular jobs and customer history.
Following Up Can Make All the Difference
Be sure to follow up with your clients to make sure they are satisfied with your work, so they’ll maintain that cleaning contract with you. If they aren’t happy with the work you’ve done, you’d rather hear it from them so you can correct it, instead of seeing a negative review online. After each appointment, you can ask them how their experience was and if they’re satisfied. You can also email or text them a short survey with a couple of questions and a space for them to provide any feedback, and you can also ask them to give you a positive review online. This will help you boost your business online and also see what you’re doing well as a company.
We hope these steps help you obtain new cleaning contracts and keep clients for years to come. After all, the goal is to get new clients and to keep them so you can maintain a good client base to boost your business. It’s much more cost effective to retain an existing client than it is to find a new one.
Insurance Questions?
30% of our insureds reported that having insurance has helped them gain clients. When a prospective client knows that you’re insured, they may go with you over a competitor.
More importantly, when you start to think about the time and money poured into your cleaning business, it only makes sense to protect your hard work. What if a patron trips over your equipment and sues you for the damages? It is every business owner’s nightmare to face a lawsuit. Without insurance protection, you could be paying for it all on your own and it can be a financial hit depending on the severity. With cleaning business insurance, you have peace of mind that your assets are protected and have a financial safety net.
You may also be interested in how to market your carpet cleaning business.
