Newbie Here.. Needs advice to start biz - Cleaning Talk - Professional Cleaning and Restoration Forum

NewbieCleaner · 11-12-2008, 04:47 PM

Hello Everyone,
I just joined the forum. I just graduated from College this March with Bachelors in Business and cannot seem to find a job to save my life!!!. My student loans are over $80K and due SOON

. I have very limited funds and I need some help and advice with this business. I am torn between residential and commerical.

1. What area ( res. or commercial) do you think is "faster"" to break into.???
2. Also I was thinking of specializing as a Green cleaning service. can you recommend any great products that would work well. If you think otherwise... please inform me.
3. Is this a "good" biz to start during a recession???
4. I would LOVE marketing tips/ tactics from all you seasoned pros so that I can be more successful.

I would love to be encouraged.. how quickly did you all get your first client (res or comercial) when you first started. BTW: I live in Texas.
Thanks for your replies. Have a great day!!!

office cleaner · 11-14-2008, 04:20 PM

I would suggest getting into commercial cleaning. My experience is that you can command a higher price. You can also get a lot of business from just one client. (Some offices get cleaned daily.) I haven't offered the green products, and I don't feel like I have ever lost any business because of it. I think it is a good idea to try it though. Good Luck!

NewbieCleaner · 11-15-2008, 11:08 AM

Thanks for your reply. I truly appreciate the insight. If you have more to share, please do!!!

**t.peterson** · 11-15-2008, 08:39 PM

Notoriously during times of recession there is a HUGE increase of persons entering into self employment fields such as cleaning, thus your competition is going to be even more to have to deal with than at any other time and pricing can get cut throat to say the least. Not to say that you cannot succeed, just to warn you that the path is going to be rougher to traverse. Right now consumers are tightening their belts and closing their pocketbooks. If not careful many small businesses will fold if they are not prepared.

Just my 2 Cents worth .