02-25-2014, 08:55 PM
Hi Dion :-)
Although we started out our cleaning business with a more commercially focused approach, surprisingly it has been our residential side that has seen the greatest areas of growth...and a large part of that success has come from Yelp!
We run a two man team and each tech has an Orbot SprayBorg, a vacuum, and an Orbot Micro (cyclo) on the van. It's amazing how efficient (and in terms of cost, easier to scale) two guys can be with 2 VLM machines on every job!
We pre-vacuum, we don't typically pre spot - we just find that the quality in some of the encap products today is so good, most of the spots are gone after a pass or two with the Orbot. We typically make our wet passes with the Orbot with the grey/blue microfiber scrub bonnets, and follow up with some dry passes with Superzorb pads. Post spot whatever didn't wet clean (typically red spots, rust or gum) and then finish groom with a carpet rake. We are priced moderate to high in our market for carpet cleaning ($0.40 cents for residential).
Don't totally give up on residential yet Dion...there is a lot of money that you might be leaving on the table if you do!
Commercial accounts on the other hand have generally taken us more legwork to acquire, but are definitely worth the effort given the right situation.....things that have worked for us have been networking with property managers - they appreciate the quick dry times. Sell your advantages, 1 hour dry times, no loud truck or hoses, can get to places other cleaners can't, you bring your own water and won't be needing to dispose of any either.....stuff like that :-)
Although we started out our cleaning business with a more commercially focused approach, surprisingly it has been our residential side that has seen the greatest areas of growth...and a large part of that success has come from Yelp!
We run a two man team and each tech has an Orbot SprayBorg, a vacuum, and an Orbot Micro (cyclo) on the van. It's amazing how efficient (and in terms of cost, easier to scale) two guys can be with 2 VLM machines on every job!
We pre-vacuum, we don't typically pre spot - we just find that the quality in some of the encap products today is so good, most of the spots are gone after a pass or two with the Orbot. We typically make our wet passes with the Orbot with the grey/blue microfiber scrub bonnets, and follow up with some dry passes with Superzorb pads. Post spot whatever didn't wet clean (typically red spots, rust or gum) and then finish groom with a carpet rake. We are priced moderate to high in our market for carpet cleaning ($0.40 cents for residential).
Don't totally give up on residential yet Dion...there is a lot of money that you might be leaving on the table if you do!
Commercial accounts on the other hand have generally taken us more legwork to acquire, but are definitely worth the effort given the right situation.....things that have worked for us have been networking with property managers - they appreciate the quick dry times. Sell your advantages, 1 hour dry times, no loud truck or hoses, can get to places other cleaners can't, you bring your own water and won't be needing to dispose of any either.....stuff like that :-)