Today we are talking with Alesha Burning with A-Nitty Gritty Cleaning Company.

As small business entrepreneurs it is so easy to lose sight of what needs to be done.

We are wearing a hundred different hats in our cleaning businesses. For many of us we just don’t know where to start. Everything seems like a red alert level priority. It is okay. Take a deep breath. It is time we cover some business fundamentals that can help you tick all those “To-Do’s” off your list in a way that will supercharge your cleaning business to the next level.

The first priority you should have in your cleaning business is to make sure you are working ON your business and not “in it”. In other words, stop cleaning yourself as fast as possible. If you have too much work for you to handle by yourself, the first thing you should look at is raising prices.

Resource Alert: Cleaning Business Profit Margin – The Holy Grail of Your Cleaning Company

https://oldsite.growmycleaningcompany.comcleaning-business-profit-margin/

A good sign you are charging too little is if there are too many people wanting your services. Instead of hiring someone, raise the prices. You can raise prices and increase your margins by 20-30% every single month. Some people are afraid their clients will leave them if they do this, but the truth is only a few will leave you over price issues if you’re doing a good job. People don’t want to go through the entire process of finding yet another cleaning company that meets their standards just because they are unwilling to pay a little bit more.

The clients that do leave over price are likely not going to be good clients in the long term anyways.

There are two common excuses I see from my coaching clients when it comes to raising prices.

My company is too new to raise prices!
My client has been paying me for years, I can’t raise their prices!
Nonsense!

Unless it is written in your contract, there is nothing stopping you from raising your prices. When clients ask why, just be honest. There are only so many hands you have to go around cleaning and simply too much work being given to you. Most clients are going to understand this and respect you more for doing what is right for your business.

Resource Alert: Mastering Your Janitorial Service Pricing for Maximum Profit https://oldsite.growmycleaningcompany.comjanitorial-services-pricing/

Raising margins is your first priority, since most cleaning businesses charge too little for what they provide. Once you have created some breathing room (and extra profits), it’s time to hire some employees.

These should be your first two priorities. When you accomplish these priorities and are no longer a cleaner in the business yourself, you have opened up the floodgates of leverage. Those floodgates of leverage can lead you into building a truly valuable asset for the long haul.
Lightning Round
Best advice you’ve received either personally or professionally?
Run into the roar. Face your fears. If you’re scared, we’re all scared, just face the fears and things will become better.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in the cleaning business we can all learn from?
Not blocking enough time off to work on your business rather than working in your business.
What’s one idea cleaning nation can put into practice to improve their business or their lives immediately?

Believe in yourself and make it happen. No one is going to demolish your dreams for you. Keep pursuing what you believe in.