56 Tips For Running A Profitable & Efficient Company

Running your own business is not rocket science, though many see it that way when just getting started.

As Sue and myself are quite fond of saying here at Cleaning 4 Profit, all you need to succeed is some common sense and a good dose of determination to see yourself through the process.

I know that may sound like a rather simplistic approach, but it’s true. Running your cleaning business is really that easy, as long as you keep it simple and don’t complicate the process.

Though me and Sue know this to be true, many others still have a hard time believing that’s the case. We get emails all day long from people looking to break into the cleaning business, and many indicate they are a bit apprehensive about the process in one way or another.

Some are worried about meeting customers, others have employee concerns, many are worried about managing their time among other issues. This lead Sue and myself on a mission to encapsulate some of the guidelines we have followed since day one of our business. Ready? Here we go…

56 tips for running your business, yourself and your employees.

When facing a potential customer. This is where the rubber meets the road as the old saying goes. Get this part right and you’ll have a good chance of landing the account. Get it wrong and you will go home empty handed.

1 – Stand straight
2  – Sit up
3 – Look them in the eye
4 – Have a firm hand shake
5 – Stand with your hand crossed behind your back, not crossed in front
6 – Always smile
7 – Look your best

Meeting Deadlines. You will be judged heavily on this section so you better abide by the rules below. Number 8 is HUGE, and should never be forgotten.

8 – Only promise what you can realistically deliver
9 – Keep communication open
10 – Do it right the first time
11 – Set clear goals
12 – Make sure expectations are clear
13 – Have a plan

Getting along with employees. Get this part right and your business will run like it’s on auto-pilot. You’ll enjoy being a business owner, get to take long vacations whenever you like and you’ll also be the envy of all your friends. Get it wrong and you will have a migraine headache that will make your head explode.

14 – Don’t play favorites
15 – Give credit where credit is due
16 – Don’t micromanage
17 – Keep promises you make to them
18 – Provide motivation

Ability to manage yourself. As the CEO of your own cleaning company you’ll need the ability to manage “who you are” in a way that fosters success. Let the tips below guide you in this process.

19 – Be accessible
20 – Be open to criticism
21 – Be open to suggestions
22 – Accept responsibility
23 – Explain things simply
24 – Instruct rather than order
25 – Be flexible
26 – Know everyone’s job
27 – Know your limitations

Boost productivity. Running your own business is all about getting thing done. So if you want to fast track your success and make it to the big time you will have to be productive. No strike that…very productive. The following tips help you do just that.

28 – Get the most out of meetings
29 – Focus your energy on things that matter
30 – Be punctual
31 – Do what is necessary
32 – Respond to email in a timely manner
33 – Don’t be online constantly, it’s a time robber
34 – Stick to schedules and routines
35 – Do your least favorite task first

Managing your finances and resources. This section goes a long way in determining how much money you will earn while running your own cleaning business. Though money is not everything, you certainly don’t want to throw any out the window if you don’t have to right? That’s why number 43 is my personal favorite.

36 – Set up a realistic budget
37 – Save costs where they matter most
38 – Spend only when it’s necessary
39 – Stay true to your contracts
40 – If you have employees, compensate them well.
41 – Learn to do more with less
42  -Update when necessary
43 – Don’t be wasteful

Communicating with Clients. How you interact with current customers plays a key role in your ultimate success or failure. This makes your goal a rather simple one – work hard at becoming their “trusted advisor”. Once you assume that role you gain a lifetime customer that fattens your bottom line for years to come.

44 – Remember your customer is the “Boss”
45 – Retain your current customers as much as you recruit new ones
46 – Maintain customer data
47 – Provide effective lines of communication
48 – Listen attentively
49 – Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know

Resolving problems. Even when you do everything just right a problem will crop up every now and again. How you handle these issues goes a long way in determining how the customer views you and your business. Many people completely botch this part, which is unfortunate because getting it right is not all that difficult.

50 – Fix what’s broken
51 – Manage and control your emotions
52 – Take the blame
53 – Get the facts first
54 – Rise above the crisis
55 – Don’t ignore the problem
56 – Try to depersonalize problems

Well there you have it, a bunch of practical easy to implement tips you can use right away in your business. I know it’s not easy to keep all these tips front and center as you go about your day trying to run a business, but do your best just the same.

Keep in mind you may not get them all right, all the time at first. So the short term goal is to just get more right than wrong. Then just chip away at the rest over time. You’ll be happy you did!

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