What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
While I attended many seminars and trainings when initially starting this company, lately it has been more online following and courses. The Internet has opened a huge opportunity as it let's owners of cleaning companies around the world, talk and share ideas about the industry. Besides online, I usually attend a few trade shows and workshops a year to get the latest news on products in our field.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your service? If so, please share the details here.
We offer very fair pricing in our industry. Because each and every situation is different, it usually takes an in-person estimate to get a feel for the actual pricing. We are able to "ballpark" prices for customers, but it usually depends on what we see when in person.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
After high school I started off as part of a cleaning crew doing overnight cleaning in factories around Akron, Ohio. After years of "learning my trade" I decided to open my own commercial cleaning business.
What types of customers have you worked with?
The majority of our work has been chain retail stores. We have worked with almost every type of retail establishment that you can think including grocery stores, clothing stores, sporting goods and salons. Over the years we have also worked in a variety of small family owned warehouses, offices, factories and almost every type of small business that you can think of. The last two years we have been hired by more apartment/ residential companies, the most recognized being Kent State University.
Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
Working for Kent State was an honor for us, as it is one of the cornerstones of Northeastern Ohio. The cleanup for dormitories, apartments and housing around a college campus after school is over is one of the largest jobs that a cleaning company can possible do. We were able to complete that and that has been a huge addition to our business, as they are great customers to have and always have lots of work available.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Check references, do your homework and talk to someone that actually does the work. Many large companies will sub-contract out their work and you never get to talk to people from the actual company that you hire. As owner and operator of the company I give all my clients my personal cellular number so they can contact me 24/7 if they have an issue or questions about our service.
What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
While a majority of managers, supervisors and employees don't really take the time to talk with us, there is so much that we have learned talking with the average employee at places that we service. Many people think that the "cleaning crew" are just mindless guys with no real skills besides running a carpet cleaner or stripper. Little do they know that a majority of our staff are college graduates and very educated individuals.
