Suze's Cleaning Business Blog

Pay off your holiday debt by cleaning part time.

Pay down that holiday credit card debt fast with a part time office cleaning job.

This is a great time to start a part time office cleaning business, for these simple reasons:

1- Pay down your holiday debt. and avoid accumulated interest. This will certainly motivate you!

2- Start your cleaning business on the weekends and evenings during the winter months.

3- Have your cleaning business ready for the spring cleaning season.

We have made it easy for you to start a cleaning business with the Bundle Discount which includes a free cleaning business website.

Read more about the Bundle Discount.

The Suze and Ev cleaning business start up method

The Suze and Ev cleaning business start up method teaches you how to start a cleaning business the smart way.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Suze and Ev cleaning business start up method"

The pros and cons of cleaning franchises

What are the pros and cons of cleaning franchises? Part 1.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "The pros and cons of cleaning franchises"

Start a cleaning business during the Holidays?

Who has time to start a cleaning business during the holidays?

If you need work, you can always find time! The employment seas are pretty rough out there right now for many people. I was in the same boat in 1996. I could not land anything better than a $9 hr job, but there was no way I could get beyond scraping by on pay that low. Somehow, I lived in that bind for over twelve years. The stress of overwork and underpay built like a tsunami of stress. One day that tsunami hit, and I made the decision to go to work for myself, no matter what. I gave it all up and started fresh. The odd thing is, I really enjoyed it. Yes, I was broke for a short period, but then suddenly I had freed up a lot a time to make a break from the J.O.B (just over broke). I was doing something epic: Living and breathing my own new business. It was exhilarating. And can you believe it, it was fun.

In retrospect, I see that I had spent twelve years worrying about how hard it would be to make it in my own business. But the reality was that I was only in a risky situation starting my new cleaning business for about two months. I had spent twelve years fretting about something that lasted two months!

Man, I wish I would have started in 1984 and saved all that wasted time!

Do not wait for the perfect situation. You'll wait forever. If you feel in your bones that you can do it and only fear is standing in your way, then go for it. Use the holidays to your advantage. There are a lot of cleaning situations you can break into during the holidays and in the beginning of the New Year. Momentum can pick up quickly at this time of the year. I usually picked up two or three new clients during every holiday season. While the other cleaners were giving into lethargy and distraction, I was out making a push to steal some of their clients, simply by being willing to do what they were not. The difference between us was that I had discovered the hard way how precious it is to have my own cleaning business.

Make the holidays special this year, and get started with your cleaning business.

Compare Suze & Ev Method products

Compare the benefits between different Suze and Ev Method products and services.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Compare Suze & Ev Method products"

Starting a cleaning business during a recession

Should you start a cleaning business during a recession? Yes!

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Starting a cleaning business during a recession"

Get a free business website with the Bundle discount

Be sure to take advantage of the Bundle Discount and save over 70%. You will receive every resource and tool we have including a free business website. It's an amazing deal! Click on the link to learn more.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Get a free business website with the Bundle discount"

Cleaning Business Cards & Fliers

It may seem like all the action is happening online. However, a well-designed business card or flyer is still a powerful marketing tool.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Cards & Fliers"

How to use texting with your cleaning business

Text messaging is a quick & efficient way to keep in touch with your cleaning crews and clients.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "How to use texting with your cleaning business"

Cleaning Business Advertising Tip

Tips for using Craigslist to advertise your cleaning service business.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Advertising Tip"

Cleaning Company Business Planning

Planning your cleaning company business will require a detailed and targeted approach.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Company Business Planning"

Window Cleaning Business Equipment

Here is a basic tutorial on what window cleaning business equipment is neccesarry to start a window washing business.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Window Cleaning Business Equipment"

Marketing your cleaning business online

Launch your cleaning business with a website. Learn why you need to market your cleaning business online.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Marketing your cleaning business online"

Window Cleaning Business Start Up Overview

What are the general concerns when starting a window cleaning business?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Window Cleaning Business Start Up Overview"

Cleaning business website design: No up front costs- optimized for search.

Ev will build your cleaning business website for you! Receive a fully optimized beautifully designed cleaning business website with no up front costs.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning business website design: No up front costs- optimized for search."

De-Cluttering And Organizing Services

De-cluttering Home Office

Some pro cleaners offer organizational services as well. Home offices and study rooms are usually the part of the house that accumulates clutter. I’ve got some tips on how to de-clutter and clean up this room like a pro!

The Home office is usually the most cluttered only second to the kids rooms. But they should clean up their own rooms, right? A home office should have all the necessary office supplies and tools used for work and---nothing else! This includes computers, telephone or all gadgets of communication, books, files, and reference materials. Get rid of any unimportant print-out material that the house owner won’t use everyday. But, take note! To avoid throwing out important papers by accident, have the house owner segregate important files which is needed and used everyday from unimportant things which is not used everyday for work.

You can use boxes and label them “important and unimportant” for the segregation process. In this way it will be easy for you to organize the office supplies to place inside the room and what things not to place there in such a way that you will prevent the trouble of throwing up the house owners stuff by mistake!

You can also advise the owner to encode and download all their paper files through pdf and have them burned into dvd format or simply save it to an external hard drive. This will save him or her from accumulating a lot of messy paper and this will save space, too! If they resist using these hi tech solutions then organize their files and documents in clearly labeled folders and boxes.

Now, proceed on dusting the desks, computers, printers and other gadgets first before wiping it with a clean cloth with a table cleaner. Neatly place the computers on top of the desk and always have the CPU under the desk to free up the space for additional space while working. Always have a shelf beside the printer for the paper sheets. You can now vacuum the carpet and the floor!

De-cluttering and organization can be great services in addition to house cleaning that you can offer your higher-end clients. you’ll maximize your profit per client while decreasing the complexity of having more clients which will make your business and your work day more efficient.

Happy Cleaning! :)

Professional Spring Cleaning Tips

Learn how to Spring clean the way professional cleaners do.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Professional Spring Cleaning Tips"

Cleaning Methodology

Two possible cleaning methodologies for professional cleaners.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Methodology"

Professional Cleaning Tips

5 professional tricks for cleaning faster and doing a better job.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Professional Cleaning Tips"

business plan for a cleaning business

Business plan for a cleaning business. Planning is crucial for the success of your cleaning service business.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "business plan for a cleaning business"

Vinegar still rules

Dinner parties, celebrations, and out-of-town guests leave extra cleaning work behind. Do you have to bring out the "big guns" to help restore order to the house? Nah. Leave those toxic commercial cleaning products on the shelf and grab a gallon of the cheap, green alternative: distilled white vinegar.

Vinegar works well in problem areas, such as hard water stains in showers, tubs, sinks and toilets. Everything the toxic cleaners will do, vinegar will too. Soap scum on glass? It's the worst, isn't it? But vinegar does work even on calcium-crusty grime. It simply takes longer.

I know you don't want to spend more time on the job, so here are a few tips to help you make the most of your time and money.

Go to the bathroom first

(Got your attention, didn't I?) Before you tackle the kitchen or wherever you usually begin, go into the loo. Pour a good amount of straight vinegar into the toilet bowl where it will sit for 30 minutes. Hard water stains, lime build-up and calcium stains will scrub off much more easily. For stubborn stains in the bowl, use a pumice stone.

For deep cleanings, move-ins and move-outs, unscrew the shower heads and faucets and let them sit in hot vinegar in the bathroom sink.

In the kitchen

Place a dish of vinegar water inside the microwave. Use a ratio of 1/4 cup vinegar to 2 cups water. Turn it on for 3 or 4 minutes. After it's done, remove the dish and easily wipe off the food particles and grease.

Pour a half cup of hot vinegar into a bucket of warm water. Add 12 - 15 drops of lemon, lavender, pine, eucalyptus or spruce (my fave is orange) essential oil. I recommend lemon oil for wood floors. Relish the fragrance as you watch the dirt and grime easily wash off the wood or linoleum floors. Still messy under the baby's kitchen chair? Spot clean with the scrubby side of a kitchen sponge.

Clean your CDs

After work, when you feel like kicking back to watch a movie, don't let that dirty CD interrupt the flow. Wipe it off with diluted vinegar. A paste made from baking soda and water, gently rubbed on with your fingertip, will make that movie watchable from start to finish. Just rinse it well in warm water and pat dry with a soft absorbent cloth.

The Bundle Discount

The Suze & Ev Bundle Discount. Save a bundle of money on all present and future Suze & Ev resources. Get your free cleaning business website.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "The Bundle Discount"

Professional Cleaning

Is starting a professional cleaning service a good career move for you? What exactly does it mean to be a professional?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Professional Cleaning"

Cleaning Jobs

My first cleaning jobs did not go very smoothly, but I quickly learned what I was doing wrong and was able to get it together by my fourth cleaning job.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Jobs"

Cleaning Work

Cleaning work is good honest work that is always in demand as well as recession proof. What are the different types of cleaning work?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Work"

Setting up a cleaning business

When setting up a cleaning business, it is important that you plan carefully by learning all you can about the professional cleaning industry.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Setting up a cleaning business"

Cleaning Business Flyer

Cleaning business flyers might seem like a little thing. However, most cleaning pros discover that when you need business quickly, the flyer plays an indispensable role.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Flyer"

Cleaning Business Cards

Your cleaning business cards come in handy for helping to spread the word about your new business. However, that's not everything a business card can do.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Cards"

Start a cleaning business from home

Start a cleaning business from home using the Suze & Ev cleaning business method. Learn how to run your cleaning from your home.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Start a cleaning business from home"

8 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Cleaning Business

Starting a cleaning business is like learning to drive on a stick shift. You might be able to get the car out of the driveway in reverse, but have you checked the gas gauge?

Permalink -- click for full blog post "8 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Cleaning Business"

Add Foreclosure Cleaning Into The Mix

Foreclosure cleanup is a fast-growing trend due to the economic downturn and the fallout from historic loose-lending procedures that resulted in a spread of home ownership that was ultimately unsustainable. An astounding 1 out of every 5 homes is in danger of foreclosing. As a result, a new cleaning business niche has emerged very quickly and on a very large scale.

Foreclosure cleanouts can be lucrative and are at present extremely abundant. There is simply more work available than can be handled.

Foreclosure cleaning opportunities have never been so easy to land and keep, but will this historic opportunity last? Read the article by clicking on the permalink below.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Add Foreclosure Cleaning Into The Mix"

Smelly molds having a party? Clean up with orange essential oil!

Being outside these days is like cruising through an enormous terrarium. The trees are gardens are growing like crazy in the heat and humidity, and inside the A/C feels heavenly.

Wherever there is humidity, you can bet that molds and bacteria are having a party. They love this summertime weather. So, what's a cleaning pro to do?

One surefire way to torch the nasty bacteria and instantly freshen up the environment is to upgrade your cleaning routine with a touch of orange essential oil. Lemon is also clean and delicious-smelling. (In fact, I love lemon so much that I always dab a little on my arms and neck whenever I'm using it in my cleaning routines.)

Essential oils aren't simply fru-fru fragrances. These potent natural oils can kill mold and bacteria on contact. Combine a few drops with white vinegar and baking soda, and use this homemade (and inexpensive) concoction to wipe out entire colonies of bacteria -- wherever it's hiding.

Where to track down mold and bacteria?

* the bottom edge of the shower curtain liner

* counter-top behind the kitchen or bathroom sink

* inside the fridge, in the rubber door seal

* inside drain holes in sinks and bathtubs

* jacuzzi tub jets (bacteria LOVES a good hot tub party)

Do you have these 2 traits for business success?

The path to success, respect, status, and happiness is more straight-forward than you might think. It begins when you take the first step, which is making the decision to achieve your small business goals.

Once you decide on that, you call in two very important allies: self-discipline and determination. Don't worry if you feel a little lacking in these areas. You can develop these two traits. Here's how:

* Set clear priorities. Working from home can be the answer to many peoples' dreams. There's no question that it can benefit you greatly, but there are challenges as well. For example, you might have days when your spouse is home sick, your car gets a flat, or your kids are out of school unexpectedly. Set your priorities and stick to your plan. Have a backup plan that includes arranging for help, or call in a sitter. That way when your day takes a surprising turn, you will still reach your goals.

* Get your most important tasks completed quickly. Don't even ponder them. Drink your coffee (or in my case, your tea) and simply jump in and tackle them. I've gotten to where I sometimes forget to eat breakfast because I sit down at the computer and start answering emails first. Don't skip breakfast! But do wake up at the same time each day, and keep a regular schedule. Just because you are the boss of yourself, that doesn't mean you can take it easy every day. Treat yourself like an executive. Get the job done, and you'll reap the rewards.

* Keep clear boundaries for your work. This means both time and space-boundaries. If you have a small space in the garage or carport where you keep your cleaning supplies, make sure that only cleaning supplies are located there. Don't toss in your surfboard, your skis, or your antique junk collection too. Same goes for time and your schedule. Once you determine the time you begin and end a workday, for example 8 am to 3 pm, only vary it when you must, or in case of emergency. Friends and family members will figure out quickly not to bug you during your workday.

* Be accountable. Nobody else (except us and your spouse) really cares if your new business gets off the ground. That's the harsh truth, but it's a healthy thing to recognize. That means it's totally up to you, and you alone, to make your cleaning business fly. Being accountable means following through on your promises to yourself, to your assistants, and most importantly, to your customers. Go over the top to deliver excellent customer service and your business will grow quickly through the very best advertising: word of mouth.

How to offer gift certificates

Gift certificates are an easy way to help your fledgling business grow wings and fly. So how do you offer them? One way is to place gift certificates on your flyer where new customers will be tempted. Create a simple hand-drawn one, make one on the computer, or go to Giftango.com to make a gift certificate that can be emailed. Thinking of expanding your housecleaning business to include office-cleaning? Create a campaign to spread the word to your clientele, offer them a gift certificate worth a certain amount, say $20, for every new office-cleaning client they refer.

More ideas for using gift certificates:

Just starting up?

Grow your cleaning business through offering gift certificates. People appreciate getting them as well as giving them to others. You know yourself, how welcome a gift certificate is, when it's for something you really want or need. Also, a certain percentage of your new customers will be more willing to try out your service if they are convinced they're getting a bargain.

Already established?

Good job! But hey, it's always a good idea to have a backlog of people interested in your service. Offer gift certificates to your existing customers to enlist their help. For example, you might offer $15 off their next cleaning whenever they refer a person who becomes a customer. This is a variation on the trustworthy 'word-of-mouth' ad campaign. You're just sweetening the pot for them.

Got PayPal?

If you have a business or premier PayPal account, use their system to create a customized 'Merchant Gift Certificate' button which you can add to your website in minutes. For further info, see PayPal.

Gift certificates can help your business become more financially secure. They encourage new customers to give your service a try, and can also help to maintain the friendly bond between you and your existing customers, by giving them a way to help you grow your business.

Cleaning Business Contracts

Cleaning business contracts allow you to handle your business smoothly from the start. A contract's purpose is to detail the expectations of both parties.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Contracts"

Cleaning Business Plan

Writing a cleaning business plan does more than help you define your objectives. A well-written plan can provide you with a structure to follow while you get your cleaning business off the ground.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Plan"

How to be funny on your flyer

In our Method ebook we recommend using a sense of humor in your advertising material. People will remember your flyer if it appeals to their funnybone or makes them grin. Also, by portraying yourself as a real person with a sense of humor, you will attract clients who are better suited to you. Like attracts like. This isn't a scientific approach, just something we learned over the years.

However, as one person wrote us to ask, "How do you be funny?"

It's a good question. Humor is one of those elusive qualities. Some people are just born funny. (But looks aren't everything, right?) However, if you are one of the many humor-challenged people out there, there are a few tricks you can learn to improve. It's completely possible to tickle a funnybone or two without being a professional comic.

We're not saying you have to make someone double over with laughter, either. You simply want to catch your customers' eye, maybe even make them stop and go "ha!" for a split second.

Don't be afraid to try. As it turns out, even Richard Nixon had a sense of humor, who knew?

Think about it this way. People are incredibly busy. Most of the advertising they are bombarded with over the course of their day will strike them as dismal and creatively bankrupt. It's really not that difficult to beat those odds! Be the exception to the rule and you'll win their heart.

4 ways to use humor on your flyers:

1. Use a cartoon portrait of yourself. So maybe you're not Johnny Weir or Jennifer Aniston. You're a real person, and other real people can relate to that. You can do this yourself. A lot of websites are ready to help you get funny. Go online.

2. This is one area in life where I condone stealing. Okay, borrowing, if you prefer. Grab a quote from a funny writer or a comedian. Place it at the top or bottom of your flyer. It should be somewhat relevant to your cleaning business. Nothing long or difficult. Just cut to the chase with a quip.

3. Somewhere on your flyer, refer to yourself in 3rd person. For example, our flyers say "Suze & Ev often reflect that to be happy is to make others so." You come across as relaxed and willing to discover something nice about life, the world and everyone in it.

4. Change the fonts. You've noticed that fonts can have a serious, romantic, comical or whimsical effect. Match the font with your text in theme. The result isn't going to make someone roar with laughter, but it will appear amusing.

So. Go ahead and be funny. Most of all, be yourself. People respond to sincerity, and we're all suckers for something that makes us smile.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "How to be funny on your flyer"

Cleaning Business Forms

Cleaning business forms can help get your business off to a good start. All aspects of your cleaning business can be better organized with the right business forms.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Forms"

4 easy ways to make your goals come true

Be specific about your cleaning business goals. Be confident. Be realisitc. Be accountable. Know when to say when.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "4 easy ways to make your goals come true"

Harsh storm brings unexpected holiday cheer

Winter is here!

After a blizzard that snowed us in and knocked out our electricity for the entire weekend, I can tell you Ev and I were elated when the power came back on this morning. But what did we do for three frigid, dark days? We joined our neighbors and made lemonade out of lemons.

We made new friends, played Scrabble, chess, and simply socialized. We laughed about our circumstances -- what else was there to do? A table appeared and a generous amount of food kept coming. Someone had tuna, someone else had bread. A Tai Chi teacher amongst us even taught a spontaneous class.

Looking back over the long cold weekend, I think it's safe to say that everybody had a great time, even though we weren't happy about eating cold meals.

The spirit of giving is alive and well. May you and your loved ones enjoy the richness of shared experiences. Even unexpected ones!

Here's to a very merry holiday season.

Cheers,Suze & Ev

Be an elf this season - and expand your business

It's that time of year again. All over the world, cleaning business pros are asking themselves, What would Santa do?

I had a feeling you'd want to know. I jumped on Air Alaska and flew up to the North Pole to ask the Big Guy himself. As you know, he and the missus are themselves a couple of highly enterprising characters, entrepreneurs who run a well-established home business. The locals who work for them seem happy too. There was a lot of whistling while they worked.

So what was Santa's advice for you?

After giving me two thumbs up when I asked if adding chimney sweeping to your cleaning service was a good idea, he said to keep it simple. The holidays are for giving. He had a wonderful idea in keeping with the holiday spirit, no matter where you live or how you celebrate.

While flyering or otherwise marketing (say, offers on your cleaning business Web site) for new customers, offer them a special deal. The holidays are an especially good time to attract new clients. People are running around finishing last minute shopping, cooking and prepping for out-of-town family and parties with friends. They will welcome your offer for cleaning help. It's the last thing they want to do, according to Santa.

With their hectic schedule, he and Mrs. Claus always hire extra elves during the holidays.

Offer new customers coupons for 50% off your regular price. Generosity is a virtue. Your customers will appreciate your gesture and be way more likely to hire you again, after the holidays. In fact, this is the way that all of Santa's regular elves got their day-jobs. That's right, they started as holiday helpers.

Remember, this coupon idea is only for new customers. Attracting new clients is easy this time of year, when everyone needs an extra elf on the job.

Compare our products and services

Use Google maps to get jobs fast

Show your customers the way with Google maps.

Most people searching online for local businesses use Google (they suggest 82%). Listing your business on Google maps will raise your page rank for your locale. That means people in your area are more likely to find you fast. Many times, simply listing your business on G-maps will put at the top of the search results. This is especially true for businesses in smaller towns.

Those clever G-people have recently added features that allow you to customize your business listing right on the map. Aside from the usual contact and address info, you can also add key information, such as your business hours and specialties (green cleaning, for example).

You can offer special coupons available only to those who find you on Google maps. Distinguish yourself from the competition.

Another useful recent feature on Google maps is a graph that shows where you're customers are coming from, and how they found you. You can see which part of town is responding best to your service, and use that information to help get more customers.

Signing up for Google maps is free. So is your professional cleaning business website, when you purchase the Bundle Discount. Even the hosting is free. Let us help you start up a cleaning business quickly and painlessly. And take advantage of Google's free business tools, to help show your customers where you are and what you do.

5 Top Reasons a Cleaning Business Is Not For You

5. Your dog will be lonely at home

You can't stand to leave Skippy home alone. She gives you those big, brown eyes when you return, which makes you feel so guilty. But Skippy likes to eat, and so do you, right? What about turning that compassion you have for your dog into motivation to go out and flyer a hundred houses? You'll be a better companion when you come home. And landing a few new customers will help enable you to bring home the bacon.

4. You can't bear to miss an episode of General Hospital

You've been a loyal fan for years. You just couldn't face yourself in the mirror if you slipped up and missed the 479-thousandth episode. Think of it this way: That quality of determination indicates that you've got what it takes to succeed. Now, figure out what you'd rather be successful at! Is it more important to be independent, build your own business and create your own financial security for years to come? Or do you really need to know if Laura is pregnant with Luke's best friend's brother's baby?

3. Your Uncle Don is leaving you stacks of money someday

He's always loved you best. Just because he's only 45, doesn't drink or smoke, works out daily and eats a healthy diet, you're counting on him to leave you a golden egg in his will. Guess what? Uncle Don might even outlive you. He's wealthy because he found a need and filled it with a business that became successful. You're holding the key to starting a successful cleaning business right here. You know you'd rather enjoy your uncle now than wait until he goes to enjoy your inheritance, anyway.

2. You'll miss the daytime rates at the gym

You started a workout a program and promised yourself you would stick with it this time. The fitness place runs a special that fits your budget. Plus, nobody's there during the day and you love having the Track-master to yourself. However, when your cleaning business gets rockin, you'll be able to afford the regular rate no problem. Big-time cleaning business bonus? You have to get physical. If you enjoy working out, you're going to love getting paid well to do it!

1. You'd really rather get rich quick

Get-rich-quick schemes are more than likely scams. True, people do fall into a pile of good fortune every now and then. It's also true that by practicing, you can greatly increase your odds of finding good luck. There's no better way to practice than to start your own business, especially if you are an independent person with the motivation, desire and drive to make your business work. Starting a cleaning business with the Suze & Ev Method will help by taking the guess-work out of those first steps. Get-paid-now always seems to work out better than get-rich-quick!

Get found on local search

What does it matter whether your cleaning business website ranks high in the search engines?

It matters a lot.

A high-ranking website could mean the difference between bringing home a paycheck in six weeks or six months. Start now, and your website could quickly draw local customers to you. Start now and benefit from the upcoming holiday vacation weeks. I know from experience that during the holidays, customers will often hire their cleaning service for additional work.

More people now turn to the internet when they need a cleaning service. When they search for businesses nearby, your website should show up at or near the top of the list on page one. Internet search studies show that people rarely click past the first page of search results.

The Web isn't merely an online version of the Yellow Pages. It has really helped level the playing field for businesses like yours and mine. In the old days, you'd have to pay an arm and leg to take an ad out. Many people starting a cleaning service aren't able to fork out that kind of money.

Make it easy for customers to find you. Get serious about marketing your cleaning business and invest in your own professional website. We love helping people like you, because we were once standing in your very shoes. We didn't have the guidance you get with the Suze & Ev Methods, and we sure didn't have a professional cleaning business website. Back then, it didn't matter like it does these days.

Don't be left in the dust. Get your own professional cleaning business website, watch your URL shoot up in the ranks, and start fielding questions from new customers who found you on the Web.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Get found on local search"

Window Cleaning Business

A window cleaning business is a necessary service and a great little business to run. Window cleaning holds up well even in a recession. It is one of the fastest businesses to start.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Window Cleaning Business"

Cleaning Business Names

A list of cleaning business names including a tutorial on how to pick the best name for your cleaning business.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Cleaning Business Names"

Passion for disaster cleanup?

Responding to emergency calls might not be your cup of tea. However, if you feel a passion for serving on the front lines when people are in need, you might consider taking your cleaning business in the direction of disaster cleanup.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Passion for disaster cleanup?"

Top 5 things your website must do

Your website can help you grow your business quickly and naturally, but it won't be affective at all unless it does these five things.

Permalink -- click for full blog post "Top 5 things your website must do"

Do you have this ingredient needed for success?

What is the main ingredient you need to succeed in your cleaning business?

(a) Positive attitude (b) Website promoting your business 24/7 (c) Goal for earnings

If your answer is:

(a) You're on the right track. People are always attracted to someone with an upbeat approach. Having a positive outlook also helps you get through rough spots and eases the way to solving problems.

(b) Do you need a business website? These days, yes, you do. A well-designed website helps promote your business and allows customers the luxury of getting to know you even before they contact you. When you run a service-oriented business, your website is like your virtual store-front. It is your image. And increasingly, people turn to the internet first when they're looking for a local service, such as a cleaning business.

(c) Setting a goal for your first year of earnings is crucial to your success. You must have a target to aim for! And you need to include it in your business plan. However, what is going to make you achieve that goal?

What must you have more than any of those things?

You must have a driving need.

Yes, it's true that a positive attitude and a professional business website are very important. So is having a clear-cut goal. But without a driving need, your goals and aspirations won't be enough to kindle the flame necessary for business success.

When I first started housecleaning for a living, I had recently moved to another state. Thinking I could easily land a job in my field, teaching English, I wasn't prepared for the state's sudden cutbacks in education. By the time I decided to make a go of cleaning with my partner, Ev, I had been out of work for many weeks. Did I have a driving need? Oh, you betcha. I like to eat!

Hopefully you aren't out of work, as I was back then. But I have to tell you, having that burning need to make money - good money - quickly, supplied me with enough motivation to keep me going for a long time. How long? Until I reached my financial goals and then flew past them. I haven't stopped to look back since.

So. What is your driving need? It might not be financial. You may simply be ready to be your own boss, and take on the challenge of running your own small business.

Figure it out right now. What is motivating you?

Define it in one short sentence.

Only you can answer these questions:

-- What do you need in order to meet your financial needs every month? -- How much money over that amount do you want to earn?

Your answers will help you define your driving need - the hot ingredient in your recipe for success.