Starting a carpet cleaning business is about more than just acquiring the right equipment, it also requires some marketing savvy. Getting the word out about your services is key. And as a business owner, you’ll have to be smart about convincing others to hire your business for their floor cleaning needs. Buying cleaning contracts is one option for carpet cleaning companies to get consistent business.
Why contracts are important
The best thing about contracts is that you guarantee consistent work for a specified period of time, as long as you continue to do your job accordingly. Contracts are legal agreements between two entities, which in this case is between another business and yours. You can get contracts with hospitals, property managers, schools, government facilities, and a host of other clients who may need the kind of services you offer on a regular basis.
Bidding on projects is normally how you would win contracts, but again, the other option would be to buy contracts from others.
Find customers looking for your services
Another reason to seek sales contracts is because it puts you in a position to get business from customers who are already seeking your services. You may even be able to land carpet cleaning jobs with those who want specific equipment, like steam cleaners or truck-mounted machines.
If you are interested in finding such contracts to buy, this is how you can do it.
How to find cleaning contracts
The first step is to research your competitors. Do any of them look like they are going to close soon? These could be opportunities to step in and buy the contracts that they have. You can attend local networking events to meet with other floor cleaning companies in your area. You may come across some business owners who are planning to go out soon and are looking for deals on their contracts.
If you know of such people, then you will need to act quickly to secure the deal. Chances are, there are quite a few other cleaning companies interested as well. In some cases, you can even reach an agreement with the other interested parties that involves splitting the contracts.
How to buy cleaning contracts
Make sure everything is written down and documented before you agree to buy an unwanted cleanup contract from a competitor. No matter how good of a friend they have become, documentation is key.
It is also recommended that you bring an attorney to oversee the drafting of documentation and agreements. Some of the things that need to be in the agreement include the contract price, payment terms, non-compete clauses (in case the business owner decides to re-enter the floor cleaning business in the near future ).
After the deal is finalized, everyone involved must sign the agreements. Once you’ve taken care of that, make it your mission to visit your new clients to introduce yourself and your company. Provide brochures and other information that can help them become familiar with your carpet cleaning company, equipment, prices, and services.
Make sure you start work on schedule, so that cleaning your floors is not interrupted in any way.
what to look for
Not every contract is a great deal, so make sure you know what you’re getting into beforehand. What you want to see includes:
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The price of the job: Find out how much the client will pay you for the job in question.
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Contract Length – Make sure you get your money back and make a profit. Also find out how long the company has been retaining the customer to make sure they are legitimate. If it was a recent deal, then it could be a red flag for a fraudulent deal.
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Seller-Customer Relationship: Determine if the two of you are on good terms, so you don’t accept a contract that is about to be terminated.
If you’re looking to upgrade your tile and carpet cleaning equipment and machines to accommodate more businesses, be sure to check out the many resources and offers available online.
