I just bought my first Cimex from Rick. I can't wait to start making some cold calls and see if I can drum up some business. Any advice from some folks that have started a business from scratch with virtually no experience?

Don't expect instant success. Sometimes it happens but it usually takes 2 years.

George Barnett
Owner: G & G Services
HydroTech Representative
www.webnow.com/HydroTech

what George says. unless you have quite a bit of money for advertising AND know how to market wisely, then you're best off hitting the pavement. if you're motivated and have good social skills you might be lucky and it'll take off quickly for you.

otherwise i agree with George. but that's not a bad thing. this is work after all and nothing comes easy.

good fortune --- Derek.

when you say no experience, is that you've never cleaned carpet or just not residential or commercial. Are you looking to just do residential or just commercial or both.
do you have money to market with? what will you live on while growing your business? What part of the country are you located in? There are a lot of options available especially if you don't mind the cold call but you should have a target market in mind. Tell us more.

thanks
wayne

Assuming that you know how to clean and that you lack experience in growing the business, you can try contacting janitorial services that don't clean carpets and turn away the work. Explain that they should get the work from their commercial customers. You will charge what you feel you want. They can add what they want when they bill the customer. You will present yourself as working for them as their carpet tech. You deal with the customer. They make money for a phone call. That is how I built this business. I even gave them is copy of Rick's flyer to give to the customer. It is a way to get work while you market your own accounts.

You can contact some national services that contract with large chains located in malls. Be careful, though, as some of those companies will try to take advantage of you. They don't pay as well, but, with the Cimex you can work quickly enough to make it worthwhile.

These are two ways to get work without spending money while you market your own accounts.

I am a total newbie. Cleaned some carpets in college for extra $$. I am keeping my day job while hitting up commercial accounts for night and weekend work to get started.

David, thats how I did it 3 yrs ago. I drove trucks 3 days a week to pay the bills, the other 4 I hit the pavement. No business was safe from my sales pitch, had alot of doors where slammed in my face, but persistance pays off. I'm nowhere close to what Rick has done, but I'm at the point now where where I only drive one day per week, and can now be a little picky on new clients.. Newbies hang in there. DisneyLand cannot even fathom a ride like this business. LOL.

Thanks for keeping the Glass half full.

I am really excited to see if I have good enough marketing skills/materials to actually get some work. I have done my homework. I have been working on getting my stuff together for about 4 months now.

David,

Your last sentence sums up a good start for a successful enterprise...

I am really excited to see if I have good enough marketing skills/materials to actually get some work. I have done my homework. I have been working on getting my stuff together for about 4 months now."

1) "really excited."
Absolutely necessary. Keep your enthusiasm, even when you get rejected. Keep in mind every time someone says no, you're that much closer to a yes. If you push the right buttons and are persistent the "yes" comes fairly easily.

2) "if I have good enough marketing skills/materials"
Having spoken with you a few times I was always impressed with your ability to communicate well and with your professionalism. Hey, this ain't rocket science. Kick yourself in the butt and get out and hammer it. The marketing isn't such a mystery really. Focus on identifying their problem and fixing it for them. Simple.

3) "I have done my homework"
Yes you have done your homework. If you will keep the same pulse as you move into the next phases of your business I think there's no reason to think you'll have any trouble. You're located in a strong metropolitan area. You have something those businesses need. Go for it. Piece of cake. Enjoy

Thanks for your business.





Rick Gelinas
encapman

Mark said, "I even gave them is copy of Rick's flyer to give to the customer. It is a way to get work while you market your own accounts."

while i have used and appreciate this marketing flyer, i recommend you use it with discernment. in the instance Mark mentioned, you don't want the janitorial firm to become your carpet cleaning competition

same is true with some prospects who may be looking into either hiring it out OR going in house...i've run across a prospect that was trying to decide this at least once in my little experience. then when you give'm a free demo and blow their minds, they now have all the info they need to go buy the stuff and you are then outta the picture.

in other instance, this marketing flyer is informative. i just don't hand it out indiscrimately...i want to know their circumstances and what exactly they're looking for first.


(Rick don't read this) :

yes let's keep this system our little secret

thanx --- Derek.

I will be receiving my cimex by the end of this week. I have been cleaning residential and some commercial jobs with my truckmount and my dri master
rotary cleaner. I am not happy with the results on gluedown carpets with my truckmount. Is the cimex as good as it seems . I am getting more and more commercial jobs...