What’s the best way to source for cleaning contracts?

[KAFE Cleaning]

I am new to the cleaning business. I have registered my business. I would need advice on the best way to get cleaning contracts and clients.

 

[fisicx]

Advertising. And getting out the house and start knocking on doors. But advertising is still one of the best strategies. Pay for a billboard on a busy street.

 

[japancool]

A bit late to be doing this now! This is something you really should have figured out and budgeted for before you registered the business!

Because advertising and marketing costs money. How much have you got to spend?

Drop leaflets. Get on the phone. Go round and visit premises of businesses that might need cleaning and talk to someone. Advertise on the internet via PPC or other means. Get recommended by existing clients, or if you have none, by friends and family. Make sure you have a Google My Business page. Make sure your web page is optimised as best as you can for local searches. Etc. etc. etc.

 

[WaveJumper]

What do you actually know about cleaning, what experience have you got in this field other than running a duster around the house, there’s far more to this if you’re thinking of attracting commercial clients. What research have you done to date.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Stop now!

its not about cleaning its about being good at running a business and being a good marketeer

 

[MarketingQuote]

Are you doing domestic cleaning or commercial?

The quickest way would be to get a list of local prospects and give them a call (you can do this yourself for a couple of hours a day).

 

[KAFE Cleaning]

Are you doing domestic cleaning or commercial?

The quickest way would be to get a list of local prospects and give them a call (you can do this yourself for a couple of hours a day).

Thanks…
I want to focus more on commercial cleaning

 

[fisicx]

Thanks…
I want to focus more on commercial cleaning

Then you need to start knocking on doors, gather contact details for a marketing campaign, leaflet drops, advertise, billboards, vehicle wrapping and anything else you can do to make your company visible.

Your biggest challenge will be to convince a business to drop their existing cleaners and employ you.

Does your marketing budget extend to taking the MD out to lunch?

 

[japancool]

Does your marketing budget extend to taking the MD out to lunch?

Marketing budget?

Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?

 

[WaveJumper]

A lot of commercial cleaning contracts will be held on a specific contract ie 1 to 3 years, might be different if your looking at the odd office "job". as already mentioned you need to get out there and target the type of business's you want to get a foot in the door and hopefully get a chance to pitch too when contracts come up for renewal.

Before you even go down that route you need all your ducks in a row ie. insurance, full H&S docs, working practises etc at the ready.

You never answered my first question reference what experience have you got in this sector, and ill follow that up with what type of 'commercial' contracts are you setting your sights on.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

When you wrote your business plan, how did you plan to promote the business and get new clients?

 

[HFE Signs]

Who do you want to clean for? Domestic, commercial, decorators, builders? Pick your target and advertise in places where they will find you.

 

[KAFE Cleaning]

A lot of commercial cleaning contracts will be held on a specific contract ie 1 to 3 years, might be different if your looking at the odd office "job". as already mentioned you need to get out there and target the type of business's you want to get a foot in the door and hopefully get a chance to pitch too when contracts come up for renewal.

Before you even go down that route you need all your ducks in a row ie. insurance, full H&S docs, working practises etc at the ready.

You never answered my first question reference what experience have you got in this sector, and ill follow that up with what type of 'commercial' contracts are you setting your sights on.

I have got over one year of cleaning experience and this will be my first time doing business in the UK.

I will be going out soon and knock on some doors as advised. I do not have money for marketing, so will be doing the work and grinding till I can.

 

[japancool]

I have got over one year of cleaning experience and this will be my first time doing business in the UK.

And how much experience do you have of running a business?

How many cleaners do you have on your books?

 

[datagatherer]

I am new to the cleaning business. I have registered my business. I would need advice on the best way to get cleaning contracts and clients.

Offer a couple of "not happy, don't pay" hours, let the potential customer inspect, and if they're happy, they'll pay you, and you secure a contract.

 

[fisicx]

Offer a couple of "not happy, don't pay" hours, let the potential customer inspect, and if they're happy, they'll pay you, and you secure a contract.

Too easy for unscrupulous clients to not be happy.

 

[datagatherer]

Too easy for unscrupulous clients to not be happy.

I'm talking about proper contracts, ones looking for a long term cleaner, set hours each week. Schools, offices, venues, restaurants, bars... I'm sure @KAFE Cleaning can use their judgment from an initial conversation and decide. I'm not saying rock up with a mop and bucket, say "hello, can I clean your floor, if you're not happy, don't pay me". Give people a little bit of credit and don't assume they're not capable of making their own decisions.

What would be the use in the potential client having 10 cleaning companies come in, do 2 hours free each, and not pay any of them?

1 in 10 might not pay, 90% is better than 0.
90% might offer you to return.

 

[Newchodge]

A lot of commercial cleaning contracts will be held on a specific contract ie 1 to 3 years, might be different if your looking at the odd office "job". as already mentioned you need to get out there and target the type of business's you want to get a foot in the door and hopefully get a chance to pitch too when contracts come up for renewal.

Before you even go down that route you need all your ducks in a row ie. insurance, full H&S docs, working practises etc at the ready.

You never answered my first question reference what experience have you got in this sector, and ill follow that up with what type of 'commercial' contracts are you setting your sights on.

If you are looking at commercial cleaning, you need to be very aware of TUPE.

 

[fantheflames]

Welcome @KAFE Cleaning!

First things that come to mind immediately are advertising and networking for B2B, and creating a referral program or discount for first service.

The challenge for businesses is landing those conversations and connections, and for residential clients you'll need to create a good offer that's less or competitive than others as people tend to shop around unless they're recommended (word of mouth).

I'd say your business is very much in demand and more so after the pandemic, so get out there to as many people as possible, online and offline, because there's tons of businesses and residential clients that are looking for cleaning services.

 

[fisicx]

Indeed there are @fantheflames, but you still need a marketing budget. There will always be some spending required even if it’s just an information pack to hand out to prospective clients.

I’ve just looked locally and there are loads of GBP and websites plus all the networking and agencies.

As has already been suggested many businesses will have fixed term contracts. A new business will struggle to get these contracts. The contracts are often negotiated by agencies who then employs local cleaning businesses.

 

[fantheflames]

Indeed there are @fantheflames, but you still need a marketing budget. There will always be some spending required even if it’s just an information pack to hand out to prospective clients.

I’ve just looked locally and there are loads of GBP and websites plus all the networking and agencies.

As has already been suggested many businesses will have fixed term contracts. A new business will struggle to get these contracts. The contracts are often negotiated by agencies who then employs local cleaning businesses.

Definitely. I think a combination of effort and luck for B2B due to those limitations. Getting their name out there, making connections, and seeing if anyone is willing to switch when their contract is ending. And OP would be up against it with lots of competition, but as you said, a marketing budget would get the ball rolling.