We don't have any huge commercial buildings

[Lounge Lizards]

Do you have the CMS CD??

This will give you the confidence & pointers on how to approach new clients, as well as flyers, etc; to print.

I will plan a morning, usually Friday ( 09:00 - 12:00 ), each week, to contact prospective clients, I work out 3 months in advance where I will go on the day.

This then gives me the afternoon to have a leisurely lunch with my wife, then go home & do up the quotes & get them emailed back the same day.

I may target a particular shopping mall, having made a list of all prospects there with carpet.

Or I may target a particular building, first making note of where each prospect is located.

Other times I will target a particular street in the CBD & work my way along.

Properties that look particularly unkempt, I don't enter, if people aren't prepared to keep their property looking nice, I doubt they would be interested in paying my price nor on my terms.

Not all of my accounts are large, mostly they are much smaller, but more regular.

I refer to these as "boutique cleans".

Many that I have targeted have been inside shopping malls or in the CBD.

Mall Management also refer me for the carpet cleaning in several malls.

Travel agents, usually every six weeks, I have chain stores in the same group in different areas.
Some, I also clean the exterior glass to keep them happy, for a price.
I also have keys for each & every one of these stores, so I just forward plan when I'm going to clean them & sometimes do two in the one night.

Jewellery stores, usually every 3 months.

Clothing & shoe stores, usually every six months.

Many small offices that are generally attached to a factory or workplace, usually every 3 months.

Gymnasiums, usually every 3 months, these are generally done on a particular day, just after lunch when they have a slow period.
I also take along my small Oreck to fit in between some of the treadmills, etc; that are close together & Big Yella won't fit in.
Because several also have rubber floors, I also take along a CRB for the rubber.

Accountants & lawyers, are usually larger clients but only want them done yearly when they close for the Christmas break.
Some get them done 6 monthly on a week-end.

I also offer a "Spot clean" for those minor accidents or spills.

I don't chase those establishments that have long opening hours.
I don't relish starting work at midnight or some other godforsaken hour, and then missing work the next day.

I also no longer go after those early morning starts.

Most of my commercial work is late afternoon, early evening or on week-ends, I price accordingly.

As my good wife has active evenings playing bingo, church & other stuff, it gives me a chance to get out and make some money rather than lying on the lounge, being a Lounge Lizard, watching TV & drinking fine reds or Guinness.  

Hope this is of some use to you.

One other thing, because I am in a very small city, most of my clients are within 15 minutes drive from my home.