Cleaning 4 Profit

everything you need to start your own cleaning business

Your cleaning business flyers need to be on target.

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Zero in on your target market when creating a flyerUPDATED 10/18/2021: The commercial cleaning flyer is a tried and true method of getting customers for your cleaning business.

You pass them out by hand, include them in your direct mail pieces and leave them wherever your customers can find them.

The goal of the sales flyer is to zero in on its target market and create just enough of an emotional pull to get the prospect to act. To just about everyone else, the sales flyer will be the most boring piece of paper they ever saw. But that’s fine because…

We ONLY want to speak to those interested in what we have to offer!

So in essence your business flyers act as an army of salespeople working hard behind the scenes to get your phone to ring. Unfortunately most of the flyers I see out there couldn’t attract any business even if it had a ten-dollar bill attached to it.

I know that sounds a little over the top, but it’s true. The vast majority of people get the whole idea wrong when creating a flyer. They just bold some type with the words CLEANING SERVICES thinking that they are on the right track.

They go on to add the words cheap, discounted or some other adjective hoping to grab people’s attention. This of course not only doesn’t work all that well, it attracts all the WRONG types of potential customers. Who would that be?

The cheapskates who give you nothing but grief!

Of course you don’t want to get hired by a cheapskate, do you? I didn’t think so! You only want to get hired by those who appreciate what you do and are willing to pay to you a premium to clean for them.

When you follow this approach you’ll have fewer customers, but EARN MORE MONEY. The hidden benefit is that you will also work for a better group of people, as you get to avoid the cheapskate crowd. Not a bad deal in my humble opinion. So how do we do that?

Well…it all starts with the headline. A good headline speaks directly to the target market, every last word resonating with the reader. Take a good look at the example below. You’ll notice the headline asks a question that many office managers are thinking about.

Once the reader gets pulled in by the headline, now you need to talk about the benefits that your service offers. These benefits will add an emotional element to the flyer because the reader can “imagine” how your benefits can help them personally.

Take notice of how I turned the bad habits of inferior cleaning services into a benefit of my service by asking the sub-question of “Are you looking for?”. Then I go on to list all the small details that I already know matter to the people who make the decision to hire a cleaning service.

By doing this I “imply” that poorly run cleaning companies can be defined by the following list of requirements. This in turn makes the customer go two different routes in their perception of the cleaning company they now have.

  1. It “confirms” to them that their current cleaning company is no good and they need to change providers. When this occurs their current company was probably “on the fence” anyway, and are now “out the door” because of your prodding.
  2. It makes them look more closely at what level of service they are currently getting. Odds are their current company is dropping the ball on at least one of the items listed. When this happens you may not get the job right away, but it puts you in a clear path to assume their job once their “probation” ends.

As you can see, either way is good for you!

Now lets get back to the flyer for a moment again. After the benefits I throw in the line “Let us solve your problem once and for all!”. This text is meant to give an extra push to the reader, as it makes no bones about the fact that I can solve whatever problems they are having for good.

After that I add a few short paragraphs to further connect with the reader. If you notice, each paragraph touches on a slightly different topic. The first one just touches on the fact that we will work hard to come to a win-win price when it comes to bidding.

The second paragraph just points out that the size of their facility doesn’t matter, as we clean just about everything. Finally the third paragraph mentions a monthly special. This is a must! You need to give the reader some incentive to act.

Then to finish I add a “deadline” for the reader to make the call. This deadline is probably the most important part of the process, and must be included. If you have no deadline, you are inviting the reader to PROCRASTINATE, and that is not good!

Now to be fair, the “special offer” could have been highlighted even more prominently. Perhaps instead of placing “No Long Term Contracts” in the big red star located at the top right, I could have put “25% off your first month!”.

The moral here is to be creative and TEST what works. You will not know what type of layout works or doesn’t work until you send it out and see what happens. Try different headlines, try different benefits, try more text or less text. In short test everything.

I am making this flyer available as a download below so you can start the process of testing this particular layout free of charge. Just click on the download button to get the file. Note: Removed “star” image and replaced with “100% Guarantee” image.

Click Here For Download Page (LOOK FOR FILE #5A)

The above file is in PDF format, so if you have Adobe Acrobat, you will be able to modify it right away by putting your name and phone number on it. If you don’t have that program, just take the file to your local printer and they will change what needs changing for a minimal fee.

While I don’t guarantee this flyer will make you rich, or even get the phone to ring for that matter, I can guarantee it has all the elements of a successful flyer in it. It will be up to you to modify it and make it work for your given situation.

UPDATE: September 6, 2012 – Due to numerous requests, I’ve made available a second download option that is in “OpenOffice” format. This format is FULLY editable by everyone who has the FREE OpenOffice software. NOTE: Picture of “star” was replaced by a picture of a “100% guarantee logo”.

Click Here For Download Page (LOOK FOR FILE #5B)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wow! You talked about some great information on janitorial sales flyers. I would say there’s nothing worse for a company taking a great marketing tool and creating another boring piece of literature with no appeal. Thanks Tom.

  2. Hi Ryan!

    I agree with you 100%. A lot of people don’t put enough effort into something so important. Many times the only way a prospect will have any exposure to your cleaning company is through the cleaning business flyer you craft. You really want to make a positive impression, and you can’t do that with some lame copy.

    Thanks again for the comment Ryan. I appreciate it!

  3. Thanks for the flyer. Looks great. What would you suggest for those businesses that state “We are using cleaning inside” (bascially we have our employees clean)?

  4. Hi Dariyun!

    Glad you like the cleaning business flyer! To your question, all you can really do is hand out your flyers and let the chips fall where they may. As you have mentioned, some companies do the cleaning in-house, as they have a employee or relative of some kind clean the building for them at a greatly reduced price. When you run into someone who says that all you can really do is just ask them to hold onto the info in case their circumstances change in the future.

    Another idea is to have a separate flyer that spells out all the extra services you perform (carpet cleaning, VCT floor care). This way when they say that they do the cleaning in house you can provide them with the new flyer (kind of a plan B). Odds are the employee or relative is not properly trained to perform those services, giving you the chance to be their provider.

  9. I just started my business but dont have a clue what type of commercial offices to send my flier to.

  10. Hi Charles!

    I have a few suggestions. First, take your flyer to any and all office parks in your area, then simply pass them around (staple your business card to the flyer). In this scenario you are not too worried about the type of business you are going to clean, just that they are all clustered together.

    You could mail them instead, but you really should have a direct mail letter to go with the sales flyer. Mailing a flyer by itself won’t really get many results. To mail anything you really need a one or preferably two piece sales letter, a flyer that drives home the special offer you are enticing them with (25 % off or whatever the special is) and a business card.

    Next suggestion would be to just “target” a certain type of office. Perhaps real estate offices or insurance agents would be a start as the offices are generally small and are good to get your feet wet on. With that said, visiting them to pass them out is not always a good trade off on your time (travel time etc…). So this method works best by mailing them (but you do need the sales letter to make it worth your while).

  11. just getting ready to start my own cleaning service and this site is enpowering, me so much awesome idea to get me started,guys I will need the advise I will need.

  13. Hi, thanks for the advice! I’ve had my own cleaning business for 8 years now. I started out advertising with Pennysaver then the One Book. A client told me about Craigslist, free advertising. It was the best way of getting new clients, until recently. Craigslist has a Forum, and they will flag and remove your ad if you post too many times, or in different towns, etc. I think competitors are removing my ad and it’s not fair. This economy is rough and I’ve lost a good deal of clients because of it. I’ve had a few peple tell me they love me and my way of being thorough and a perfectionist, then they cancel. I will use your flier to my advantage and see what happens.

  14. Hi Michelle! Yes try the cleaning business flyer out and see what happens. Make sure to tweak it to both suit your company’s identity and just for the sake of trying out different headlines (and offers) to see what pulls in the most phonecalls.

  17. I was able to download the cleaning business flyer on my computer (and I’ve heard of no other issues with anyone else). I’ll email you the flyer so that you have it.

  19. No they are not. In fact, I never created one before getting started. The only good thing about them is that they make you “think through the process” before getting started. So to get the same benefit, just educate yourself on how the process works (like you are through my site) then get started. The cleaning business is so simple that with just a little inside knowledge you can make it big.

  20. dear tom thank you so much for the info on the flyers! tom I am so looking to starting my cleaning service in jan2012 will start very small and grow.tom can you tell me how to find and bid on contract in other state, live in GA, but will travel to FLA and other neighboring state to do the job,if that mean staying for a week or more only if money is worth it.

  21. please exlain to me what this sales letter that needed to go with the flyer or derict mailing?

  22. Hi Jean!

    I happy to hear you like the flyers, that’s great. As to getting customers in other States…that is no different from getting customers in your own State. You just do the same marketing techniques that worked in your hometown.

    With that said, I would not be looking for jobs in others States UNLESS you live RIGHT ON THE BORDER. This is because you really want your jobs to be in a small and tight radius. The more you travel, the LESS time you be making money.

    As to how to get the customers…that is all in my courses! They walk you through the whole process step by step.

  23. Hi Jean!

    A direct mail package usually contains:

    1 – Generally a sales letter (one, two or three pages). This letter talks to the prospect about why YOUR COMPANY can solve their problem (poor cleaning services). Several sales letters are included in each of my courses.

    2 – Flyer. This just drives home either the special off (one week free cleaning or “whatever” special you are ofering). I also include several of flyers in each of my courses too.

    3 – Business card. This keeps you “handy” for when they are ready to call you. In my course I provide an example of what a REALLY GOOD CARD looks like so you can replicate it.

    You can send the flyer (or hand it out) all by itself and you will get results, but it does work MUCH better with a great sales letter.

  24. Hello, thank you for making this flyer available, unfortunately I am not able to change anything on the flyer. Would you be able to e-mail it to? Thank you

  26. HI! TOM IM NEW TO THE CLEANING BUSINESS AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW DO YOU FIGURE THE COST FOR YOUR SERVICE. ALSO BY BEING BONDED AND HAVE LLC INSURANCE DO IT GET YOU THE JOB FASTER WITH LARGE OR SMALL COMPANY.

  27. Hi Tom

    I love the flyer! I can’t make any changes to the flyer can you email it to me as well. Thanks so much!

  28. Hi!

    You picked a great business to get into, so congratulations! As to how to bid, that is in my courses in deteil (http://cleaning4profit.kinsta.cloud/start-your-own-cleaning-business/). It walks you through the process very easily.

    Being bonded and insured is also very easy to do (that’s in the course too). Basically you’ll just look up business insurance online in your area and several options will appear, but again that is covered fully in the course.

    If you are asking me how fast will companies hire you then this is how it works. The smaller the company you target, the faster you get hired (in general). Larger firms go through a process that takes a little longer (more people need to “sign off” on you getting hired). In either case, I would not worry about that too much, as you will take whoever needs your services.

  30. Hey Tom,

    Great flyer… I was wondering if you can email me the flyer as well..
    Thanks in advance…

  32. Hello Tom, am from Ghana and trying to start a cleaning business here. Your sample flyer is catchy and amazing, and l want more through my email. I would like to know more on how to make the business grow and what are the the needed equipments needed to start home/office cleaning business? Can you please connect me to an investor or a partner in the cleaning business? I’m yet create a website. Thanks.

  33. Hi Alex!

    I tried calling you but we had a very bad connection. You may want to call me to see if we can talk about the cleaning flyers (and getting started in the cleaning business in general).

  34. Hi Tom,
    Just ordered your course and very impressed with all the great information and ideas.

    I downloaded the flyer but was unable to make any changes and put my own wording in…..can you tell me how to do this? I suppose the document is protected, which doesn’t allow changes.

    Thanks,
    Carol

  35. Hi Carol!

    I’m happy to hear you are pleased with the course, I love hearing that. Anyway…the download is not protected in any way, you just need the Adobe program itself to make changes. If you don’t have Adobe, just make a copy of the file and take it to a local printer and ask them to give you a price for whatever changes you want to make. Odds are they will make the changes cheaply to gain the business from printing.

  36. Hey Tom,
    I love the information you’ve provided, but I am unable to make any changes to the flyer. Can you please email it to me?

    Thanks

  37. Hi Makida! Sorry but I don’t have that file in any other format currently (I would be sending you what you already have). You will either need to purchase Adobe software or (best bet) just take the cleaning flyer “as is” via a file or email to a printer or copy shop and have them make whatever minor changes you seek. It won’t cost much at all to so that.

  39. Hi Tanya!

    You will need the Adobe program itself to make changes. If you don’t have Adobe, just make a copy of the file and take it to a local printer and ask them to give you a price for whatever changes you want to make. Odds are they will make the changes cheaply to gain the business from printing.

  40. Thank you Thank You! You’ve opened my eyes to a new form of flyers. It is very straight forward and even with no picture it got my attention. I revamped the idea, added a picture of before and after commercial carpet cleaning, added a bit of color and a personal touch, and it turned out great. I’m loving your blog and so happy that I was able to find it. We don’t do house cleaning but it is the same concept.

    Thank you so much!

  41. Hi!

    I’m gald to hear you are making use of the flyer, that’s great. Let your creativity run wild, and you’ll come up with tons of ideas.

  42. Adeboye Messach from Nigeria, I love the information you have provided, but I am unable to make any changes to the flyer. Can you please email it to me? Thanks.

  43. Hi Adeboye!

    Many people have been asking about that. I will create a version that allows people to make changes, but it will take a few days so bear with me. I’ll update you very shortly!

  44. Yes, I have been trying for hours to change the phone number and website..but it will not work..you said that you would make it easier with a new flyer do you know when that one is coming or can you email it to me? Love the flyer and you are such a big help to me. I can’t wait to get my flyers out in the hands of business owners.

    I have to tell everyone that you will not be able to get around cold calling on businesses no matter what. Sorry to bring the bad news…:-/. Good luck to everyone.

  45. Hi Tom just found your site. Thank you for the info. I am a newbie in the buisiness. I am also interested in getting the flyer.
    What advice would you give to getting that first contract

  46. Hi there! No problem…glad to help. Anyway, your goal is to just meet people and let them know you own a cleaning business. Leave your card with them and let them know you will be there if they ever need you. That’s it! Just REPEAT that process over and again. Whatever you do, DON”T try to SELL OR CONVINCE every last person to hire you (they will just run away).

    Now it helps a lot to have a real good sales letter and flyer that you can send or leave with a potential customer. This is because the sales letter does the heavy lifting for you, making you look good to the client. It also allows you to be in many places at once (if you did a mailing for instance).

    Another thing to do is join networking groups. This supercharges your effort over time (the more people who know you means more people will call you for services). Join several and participate regularly to get the best results.

  47. @ justmetoo

    I created a NEW VERSION of the flyer that is FULLY editable provided you have “OpenOffice”. This is a FREE PROGRAM that rivals Microsoft Office and should be on your short list as a business owner. The download AND link to OpenOffice has been added to the END OF THE POST below the yellow copy.

    No doubt about it, “cold calling” is not for everyone.With that said it does work when you follow a carefully scripted plan. Most people quit before ever getting the knack for it, thus sabotaging their results.

  48. This is an awsome newletter, with great value to it. I can really use these tools to implement. I started my business in 2008. It was going great at first, I used referral service to get my leads, eventhough I had to pay for the leads, I won the jobs & it paid for itself. Starting 2009, the economy hit, & the cleaning business became a luxury type business, because many lost their jobs. I’m now revamping my business to commercial contracts, like office vrs. maid service for residential. Commercial is much more lucrative, its just that you really gotta get your husstle on to get contracts especially when those offices have cleaning already. Thanks to this newsletter, I feel more encouraged that I can do this with all the info. you have to offer. ( I love the flyer, it says what I didnt know how to say) Thanks Tom.

  49. Hi Kimberly!

    I’m glad you like the content, I love hearing that. I agree with the commercial part… the numbers are bigger per month. Not to say you can’t make a ton on the residential side because you can… it’s just one commercial account can equal 3, 4, 5, 6 or more houses.

    And YES… I agree that the residential market is a luxury based item while the commercial market is MANDATORY as businesses have no choice.

  50. Hi Tom
    I have had my own commercial cleaning company for 2 years now and its been good but we are just not hitting the right notes somewhere as we have office contracts and we do end of tenancy cleans for local agents but would like more as we have some weeks where we dont get any work 🙁 so your flyer is brilliant as we have been looking at a way to promote our services.
    Is there any way of changing the green background on the logo to purple as that is our colour?
    Many thanks
    Jackie
    Blossom cleaning services