If I asked you how your business was going, what would your response be? “Great”? “Okay”? “Not so good”? And by the way, how did you come up with your answer? 

The cleaning business is chock full of owner-operators – people who do the work themselves. The one-truck operator. The one-man show. Does that describe you?

Every day American Business is receiving a silent kiss of death without even realizing it. Companies around the country are delivering a message to potential clients that says, “We don’t care enough about you to upgrade the way we handle you over the telephone.”

Back in 2007, we took a look at the six reasons people have their carpets cleaned. You’d think knowing these reasons would be an important part of dealing with your clients, yet a surprising number of cleaners can’t tick off more than a couple of them (reasons, not clients). Therefore, it’s worth taking another look.

At last! Over the past 8 months I have painstakingly outlined a step-by-step marketing plan for you. Finally, we are at the last installment.

When most small-business owners begin to think about marketing, this is usually where they start, and that is a big mistake! By starting at Step 8, you have left out seven very important steps!

Welcome to another edition of “Your 9-Step Marketing Plan.” If you want to review the first 6 installments of this on going article, look to your past issues of ICS magazine or go online to www.icsmag.com.

Welcome to Step 6 of Your 9-Step Marketing Plan, the step that addresses the question on the tip of every carpet-cleaning professional’s tongue: “How much should I charge?”

During the past four months I have been outlining a marketing plan that, when followed, can help you grow a phenomenally successful business.

Welcome to the fourth step in “Your 9-Step Marketing Plan.” Have you been diligently studying each step? I hope so; it will help your business a lot.