photo credit: Francois Schnell

Before listing the 7 steps on how to start a window cleaning business below, I’d like to first say that I’m going to assume you know that you need to register a business name (preferably with the term “window cleaning service” or “window washing service” in the name). OK…let’s move on…

1. Image – In order to grow your window cleaning business the way you want to grow it, you MUST establish a high quality image. There are window cleaners all over the place that look “average”. They show up to do a window washing estimate and they look like they just rolled out of bed. Put yourself in a prospect’s shoes. 3 window cleaners show up to provide ‘em an estimate. Only one of them (hopefully you) is in company uniform (polo shirt/logo) and presents a nice estimate presentation package (references, cover letter, etc.) with a written estimate (most window cleaners provide verbal estimates with no references). Who do you think the prospect will choose to clean their windows. Um…let me think. YOU!

2. Market – Do some initial research into your target market of prospects and what subdivisions/areas where they live. My markets were generally higher income homeowners and retirees. Then distribute flyers into these areas. Flyers are cheap and they generate activity, calls, and jobs. You can expect on average about a 1% return, so don’t just put out 100 flyers and think you’re good to go. Sorry. It doesn’t work like that. You can eventually reinvest into postcards to automate more of your marketing.

3. Market…Again! – This is actually what separates the successful window cleaners from the not so successful window cleaners. You need to absolutely repeat your marketing efforts to the SAME prospects over and over again. Repeat, consistent flyer distributions, postcard mailings, etc., is what will make your business and window cleaning customer base skyrocket. The first time someone sees your flyer, they say “oh hum, who are you?” The next time they see your flyer, now they know your company. The 3rd time they see your flyer, they begin to trust you. And now is about the time they’ll call you if they need their windows cleaned. And it gets better and better each time you market to them. Sure…you’ll get calls the very first flyer distribution you do, but it’ll be your weakest response. It goes up from there.

Hot Tip: When I first started marketing to an area/subdivision, I would do it once every 3 or 4 weeks to this same subdivision for the first 3 months. No exceptions! At the end of this 3 months, you’ll be well known in these particular subdivisions and you will have plenty of jobs on your calendar.

4. Reliability – When you and a customer agree to a job time, be on time. Elementary and I shouldn’t even have to mention it, but unfortunately I do. And if you’re running late, call the customer. No one likes to wait. So it’s a great way to make the wrong impression by being late. Do it too many times and you’ll see your customer base start dwindling.

5. Get Insured – I saw a video on Youtube the other day where this window cleaner recommended that you don’t carry insurance. His reasoning? It’s too expensive. That is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in a long time. You’re exposing yourself and your company w/o the proper insurance coverage. If you’re in the window cleaning business for the long haul, then why risk it all? But you also need to understand that you can charge more if you’re insured. So the insurance premiums are paid for by the extra profits you’ll make. At the end of every estimate presentation I made to a prospect, I always said: Oh by the way , I’m fully insured and bonded.

6. Be thorough – I know window cleaners who refuse to open up the windows that they’re cleaning. In my opinion these window cleaners are not doing a complete and thorough window cleaning job. A window cleaning service has to consist of cleaning the glass, tracks, frames, sills, screens, etc. If any one of these are not done, then what’s the point? No sense having clean glass and dirty screens, right?

7. Communicate – The window cleaning business is a repeat business. That’s what makes it the ideal business. BUT you have to treat it as such. Don’t “forget” about your customers after the job is done and you have your money. First, you should always send them a “thank you” letter a day or two after the job is done. And next you should stay in touch throughout the year by sending greeting cards regularly. Too much work you say? Maybe. But every single time w/o fail that I sent out a batch of greeting cards to my customers, I walked away with exceptional profits. So…is worth it? Yeah…I think so.

Repeat 1 through 7 over and over again, and when they build a Hall of Fame for window cleaners, you’ll be in it. It’ll take you from a so-so, average window cleaning business to a successful, extremely profitable business that you’ll be proud to call your own.

It would take much more room than I have here in this article to go over everything, so visit my website for more free window cleaning tips. And if you’ve been looking for a resource on how to start a window cleaning business, my manual How To Start Your Own Residential Window Cleaning Business is available for a limited time.

photo credit: McPig

The American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, or even the old adage of two cars in the garage and a chicken in every pot is often exemplified in the American small business. Too many people seem to focus on the ideal of “being your own boss” while overlooking one of the greatest benefits there is to owning your own business: financial independence. While it’s true that not every small business owner will become independently wealthy, and it’s also true that all of those late-night infomercials promising to make you a millionaire over night are promising more than they can deliver, it is entirely possible to achieve your financial goals and love what you do with a small business.

Whether you’ve always wanted to own your own business, or you’re simply curious to see what it entails, the hardest part of starting up is inevitably finding the right small business loan. Small business startups can often be risky, and in an unstable economy, it may be harder than ever to secure a loan, particularly if you’ve never owned your own business before. There is, however, an alternative to the traditional small business startup that exists in the form of a small business franchise. The typical franchise is essentially a small business for sale where you (the franchisee) select the perfect business and then purchase the right to own and operate your own carbon copy of the business from the franchise headquarters (the franchisor). At first glance, it would be easy to assume that this is a step in the wrong direction, thinking that purchasing a franchise would only add more of a headache to the already difficult fundraising process, but in practice, it makes it much easier to acquire a loan, increases the likelihood that your business will survive and in many cases, a franchise will be cheaper than a similar non-franchise, small business startup.

We’ll discuss how a franchise makes the small business process much easier throughout this article, but the actual process of acquiring a small business loan is best broken into three categories. Each one is a question that you must ask yourself, and the answers to these questions will not only help you to think through your small business and figure out exactly what you need from your lender, but it will also help you to build the framework that your business plan will hang on.

How Much Do I Need?

This is most likely the first question any lender will want to know from anyone looking to borrow money, and if you want to gain a vote of confidence from your lender, you will need to know all of the costs associated with the business. It’s very easy to become short-sighted when asking how much you need, because the tendency is to think about what is the bare minimum needed to survive, rather than what is the best amount that will set you and your business up for a win. Typically, you will need to figure in startup costs (building lease, equipment, advertising, employee training, etc.) as well as the liquid capital that your business requires to operate for six months. This is because many businesses do not profit within the first six months, and if they do, the profits will generally go towards repaying the bank or investors, and not into your pockets. A franchise small business opportunity simplifies this process greatly by letting you know up-front all of the costs that you will incur as well as laying out the average costs for the business for the first six months so that all the work of asking “how much do I need” is done for you by the franchisor. For example, if you choose to open up a franchise with Famous Uncle Al’s Hot Dogs, you may have a rough idea of what kind of location you’ll need, but you will receive with your franchise packet a detailed list of all of the required equipment, signage and any other items you’ll need to purchase in order to have a successful launch.

What Do I Need It For?

The loan process can be difficult for a first time small business owner for a number of reasons, but most often it comes down to the business plan. If you’ve never written a business plan, it can be very intimidating, but working through it and making it accurate and attractive to investors will be well worth the time. Your business plan should contain detailed information about the total costs involved with the business, projected income and, perhaps most importantly, similar businesses and what kind of track record they have had in your area. If you’re not quite ready to craft your own business plan, consider that with a small business franchise, all of the work of writing the business plan is done for you ahead of time by the franchisor. Detailed analysis’ of other franchises will also help you to land the loan you need, since with a franchise, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of small businesses all over the country that have shown great success with the exact same business plan.

Brow Art 23 is a perfect example of how a franchise can help you start your own small business. They offer a decidedly unique line of products and services including eyebrow threading, henna tattoos and permanent makeup. This is definitely a niche market business, so imagine the difficulty you would have trying to convince a bank to loan you the money for such a unique type of small business. Brow Art 23 has done the hard work for you by setting up their small business, proving that it is a viable and money making endeavor and then creating franchises that can get into this unique market with the backing and strong track record of a successful franchise.

How Long Do I Need It?

Finally, lenders will want to know your plan for repaying the loan. Although it would be nice if every small business was an instant success and you could pay back the loan in the first year, often times the lender will need a strict timeline for the repayment. This can be tough to nail down because there are so many variables associated with starting a small business that it will be hard to say with any confidence how quickly you will be able to pay back the loan. Once again, enter the small business franchise. Franchisors will be able to offer many comparable franchises in similar locations to yours, show how quickly they were able to become profitable and then set you up with a good idea of how quickly your business will be able to recoup. Snip-its Haid Cuts For Kids is a successful hair cut franchise with an angle that makes it a cut above the rest. This kid-focused business elaborately decorates the inside of the business to be fun and inviting to kids, which not only puts frightened children at ease, but also allows the small business to charge a premium for its experiential atmosphere. With several new franchisees in the last few years, Snip-its Haid Cuts For Kids will have a very realistic idea of when the business will become profitable, how long it will take to recoup and what kind of profits a franchisee can expect out of the business once the business loans are paid off.

Small businesses of any kind can be financially lucrative as well as personally rewarding, but the security and ease of a small business franchise is often more appealing to the average small business owner than the prospect of having to start everything from scratch. If you’re looking to own your own small business without having to take such a large risk or having to re-invent the wheel when coming up with your business plan, take a look at the franchises mentioned above as well as the many other small business franchises available and you’re sure to find one that suits you perfectly.

Find more mobile businesses at Small Business Sale

photo credit: Kecko

With today’s economic challenges everyone is pinching pennies and cutting back. The first to get cut from the spending budget are nail technicians, cosmetologist, personal trainers, massage therapists and hair stylists to name a few. Often when these services are cut, it’s due to people not seeing the value in maintaining these services when money is a little “thin”.

Now, more than ever, is the time to spruce up your marketing! Just because it’s a recession does not mean your services are not needed! Folks are looking for ways to feel good, cheer up, and escape from the headaches that a recession can bring. Also, people are looking for jobs and want to look good when they go in for an interview! Help your business survive by maintaining a high level of quality service that has value and worth every penny of your clients hard earned money!

Create value by being Different and giving your client an Experience when they come in to see you. Make your salon a place to get away from it all, get pampered, relax and unwind, for example. Serve them a beverage and/or some fruit. Give a spa-like hand treatment with a hot towel wrap, give a spa foot massage, or give a 5 minute shoulder/neck message with their regular service. Over delivering on your services and giving customers more than what they expected is a great way to create value and worth.

To keep current clients coming back, have customer loyalty programs in place. Reward continued service with freebies and discounts. Customer loyalty programs such as punch cards that give the 10th visit free or at a deep discount is a great way to tell a client “Thank you” for their business. The idea is to make it easy for them to keep seeing you and being able to “afford” the services they like. Always ask for referrals and make it worth their time to refer someone by offering them a free service, discount or gift when they bring you new business.

If you are not busy, use your downtime to call on past clients you have not seen in a while and invite them back for their favorite service at a discount. Email your client list with your “weekly specials” announcement to entice them to come in. Soon you’ll see your efforts payoff when folks start coming in from your phone calls and emails. Just this little bit of effort is all it takes to get people in to see you!

When you are out, talk to people you come in contact with about your salon and offer a free mini service to everyone you talk to. Try to get as many folks through the door as you can. Once their in, don’t forget to book the next appointment and turn them into a paying client.

Whether you work in a beauty salon, nail salon, or spa use these tips to stay focused and motivated. Yes, your business can survive a recession! Just being a little proactive will help you and your business get through these tough economic times!

Much Success!

Want to know how Successful Nail Technicians and Cosmetologist Market Their Business to Make Money? Check out Nail Tech Cash for the Hottest Tips and Strategies to Make Money in the Beauty Industry.

http://www.FitnessProTips.Typepad.com/NailTechCash/

Written by Candace Harrison NailTechCash

photo credit: we-make-money-not-art

With the new TFSA account becoming available to Canadians in the 2009 tax year, many business owners are interested to find out how this account may be beneficial for not only their own financial future, but also that of their business.

TFSAs Primary Benefits

There are several financial benefits of the new TFSA accounts that small business owners should take into consideration.

1. Tax free investment growth- The funds inside of the TFSA will grow on a tax deferred, tax free basis. Any account activity, capital gains or dividends will be treated on a tax free basis which is an attractive feature for active and passive investors.
2. Tax free withdrawals- Tax free withdrawals are attractive as funds saved into this account will not add to the individual’s or the business’s annual tax liability.
3. Catch up or re-contribution limits- This provision allows an account owner to save into the TFSA accounts at future points if they did not take advantage of the annual maximum for prior years. And, if the funds were withdrawn, the re-contribution provision allows the account owner to replenish the funds without penalty. This provision is particularly important to business owners as it will allow them to use the account over and over again to meet their growing financial needs on an ongoing tax free basis.
4. Investment Flexibility- The TFSA account owner can invest in virtually any type of investment within their account, including individual securities, mutual funds, individual bonds, real estate investment trusts, cash investments and some private corporations. This flexibility makes the TFSA a great choice for any investor as they can choose their own investment diversification and balance based upon their personal risk tolerance, their investment goals, their total investable assets and their investment time frame.

Because the funds within a TFSA are so flexible, they can be used to aid a small business in several primary ways. They can be used to start a small business, to fund necessary operating costs of a current business, to obtain additional financing as a down payment or for expansion needs. And as the funds can be replenished over and over again, the account can be replenished and reused for future business needs.

The initial annual contribution limit per person has been set at $5,000 per year. But this amount is set to increase on an annual basis. Any Canadian who is over the age of 18 and who has a social insurance number is eligible to contribute funds into a TFSA, no matter what their stated annual income is for tax purposes.

Canadians need to save for many different purposes over their lifetimes. Reducing taxes on savings can help. That’s why the Government has introduced a new Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). It’s likely the single most important personal savings vehicle since the introduction of the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP).

The TFSA will allow Canadians to set money aside in eligible investment vehicles and watch those savings grow tax-free throughout their lifetimes. TFSA savings can be used to purchase a new car, renovate a house, start a small business or take a family vacation. With the TFSA Canadians from all income levels and all walks of life can benefit.

Download your Free Special Independent Review of the TFSA at: http://TaxFreeSavingsAccountInfo.com/