Starting a cleaning business can be easy, but finding and maintaining customers is another matter. To help with finding customers, Tornado, a manufacturer of professional cleaning equipment offers these ten tips:

  •     Choose a territory, and select a specific area you want to service.
  •     Leave flyers on Sunday; distributing flyers can still drum up business, and because Monday is often complaint day in the cleaning business, leaving flyers on Sunday can be perfect timing.
  •     Door-to-door cold calling, or cold calling by phone, is still an effective lead generator.
  •     Purchase marketing lists, which are best used to call and set up appointments with prospects.
  •     Network. Join your chamber of commerce, leads groups, or similar where local businesspeople meet, exchange cards, and get to know each other. This can actually be one of the best ways to drum up customers.
  •     Have a presence on the Internet. Be sure your website looks professional, is search engine optimized, includes credible content and customer testimonials.
  •     Use Google AdWords. Ads that optimized for search engines can help get you noticed. 
  •     Leave a gift. This can be effective when cold calling door-to-door or when meeting with prospects. Leave something inexpensive but fun, unusual, or useful.
  •     Follow up. After meeting with a prospect, call on him or her again in six months. Keeping in touch can really pay off, especially if you want that account.
  •     Be disciplined but have fun. Set specific days and times each week devoted just to marketing.