Need help in getting clients

[Sandip Dhakal]

I’ve recently launched my cleaning and gardening business and am currently looking to grow by securing commercial clients. I have a small but capable team, and we’re able to cover both West Sussex and the London area.

Any leads or opportunities would be greatly appreciated—thank you!

 

[fisicx]

Advertising usually works. Get the vans wrapped with details of your services and contact details. Start schmoozing the maintenance agencies that service the properties. Write personalised letters to prospective clients. Pay a marketing company to get you leads.

But it’s not going to be easy. The likelihood is commercial properties will already have someone looking after their grounds.

 

[wrapislove]

Consider SeO of your website, and running ads. SEO will help you get the clients in the longer run. And ads will give you the clients in a shorter period of time,

 

[Mark T Jones]

I'd look at this in 2 ways - one getting work to pay the bills and 2 getting reliable, ongoing contracts

The approach and style will be different

@fisicx advertising, calling and being visible will be good for the first (it should be relatively easy to pick up work).

The second requires a bit more research and strategy. Start by nailing down what type of work contracts you are looking for. How do their processes work? Who are the big players etc, etc...

 

[fantheflames]

Great work on getting things off the ground, and welcome to the forum, @Sandip Dhakal !

As you're looking to build local trust, make sure to setup a Google Business Profile to get visibility and gather reviews. You can encourage your clients to leave testimonials and use them everywhere for social proof.

I'd suggest building visibility through Facebook and local groups, and spending some of your budget of flyers and creating before and after visuals to show the results of your work. Hope things take off for you!

 

[Porky]

In one business we had taken a new small unit two story office lease and on moving in day three leaflets had been pushed through the door from local cleaning firms. I called two of them, one didn't get back was left to return the call the other one did.

The cost wasn't massive, they provided what we needed, even sorted sanitary services, went with them and five years later they still do the job.

In that time the unit probably gets three or four cleaning leaflets a year. Would I change supplier, no can't be bothered (effort v possible cost saving v risk of unknown) it's not a big enough overhead to concern.

Things are tough out there so maybe some would tender, larger coys but for Small businesses they either do it themselves or want a local firm that doesn't cost the earth to come in and sort it once a week.

My point here is that if you get in early on empty units due a new tenant you could pick some business up that way but very hit and miss but possibly easier to find a new firm that needs services for the first time rather than one looking to change supplier. Just a thought but I guess it depends on what you want to target.

Otherwise it's the old local marketing push as discussed getting your name out there.

Good luck anyhow.

 

[Paul Carmen]

This is a mature industry and most businesses will have an existing supplier. It becomes about doing something different or more likely better; e.g. getting in quickly with new companies, as Porky suggested, or being there when a dissatisfied company looks to change supplier.

It amazes me how many companies don't return calls, or make it easy to get in touch and get a quote. So doing something better could be returning calls really quickly, or even better, having an online quote tool that gives a quick accurate quote and lets people book a call back to finalise everything at their convenience.

In terms of capturing a company looking to change supplier; that will be about online visibility (SEO or PPC search/local Google Business Profile ads) for the relevant searches, a good website, great reviews, services and testimonials that convince people to go with you.