I guess this economy is a crazy time to start a business, but I have to keep plugging along to try and get customers. We haven't any yet. Right now I am trying to figure out where to get a list of local building/business owners to contact. I remembered when I was looking for a job once and wanted the inside scoop on companies, I went to the library and they had these huge books which you couldn't actually take out but they listed the name of each company, when they were founded, the owners of the company, how much money the companies made etc. But...I can't remember the name of the books. There were huge too, like around 6" or more in thickness. If anyone knows the name of them I'd appreciate the help. Thanx guys! I'd ask at my library but....the library is closed for renovations. I'm thinking there might be a way to purchase these books online as well.
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Blogs by luneib:
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| Trying to Market Our Business |
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phantom53
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Jun 28 @ 10:10PM
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Look online for your local chamber of commerce..Every city has one and they usually all have the membership listed. It is a good idea to join your local chamber as the members tend to support each other...
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missliss78
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Jun 28 @ 10:28PM
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phantom made a good suggestion, but I believe the book you are talking about is called a city directory.
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chatillion
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Jun 28 @ 10:36PM
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While searching the website for the city of Fort Lauderdale, I found a listing of all contractors pending approval of building permits in the county.
Finding such a list in your city could give you an edge of projects soon to be under construction. I know every time a contractor nears completion on a project, they call in the cleaning crew a few days before they turn things over to the client.
One crew I talked to said it's hard work but good money.
Hopefully you can find a niche with a few accounts like that.
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ttomtarr
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Jun 28 @ 10:37PM
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The kind of books you seek are now online. But everybody (your competitor) uses the net. Your knowledge of your area will be useful to you, and not available to others. Use your brain, it is best.
High income people hire cleaners. Target Doctors lawers, CPAs. etc
Ask people who sell parallel services, like pool care guys, lawn care guys, hall rental, carpet and flooring stores, cabinet guys (Chat  )painting contractors.etc. who is coming to the point of cleaning to finish the job. It may be one shot, but can get repeats.
People who stage events, conventions, weddings, bar mitzvas, and meetings hire cleaners. Check with people who rent halls and event coordinators. Party equipment rental places. Price to get in the door, and shoot for repeat business
Weekly vacation rental managers hire cleaners. Lots of them at the beach, and near tourist attractions.
People selling real estate hire cleaners. See agents, listed sellers, owners.
A big one now is repossesions. The first thing the bank does is get it cleaned up to sell. I met a guy who does one a day. Check with banks. This alone will make you a living. Hook up with some parallell service guys you can sub out the kind of work you do not do (like heavy hauling) , so you can contract the whole job. Or be a subcontractor for a general contractor who doesn't do cleaning.
Building and rennovation contractors hire cleaners at the end of the job. Contact them. painters come in at the end, as do finish electricians, and can give you a heads up..
Recently sick people (heart attack, stroke victims) hire cleaners, Check with home health care providers.
If you get a customer, check for more work through him.
Check at professional cleaning supply places. If you spend with them, they will help you.
Print a flyer listing different services, and get cards. One well placed flyer is worth twenty left on doors, tables, etc.
Anyone who steers you business should be thanked, a card, a fifth of liquor, or business sent his way. This is exceedingly important.
Pay special attention to a customer's front line employee. She may just be a secretary, but she can make or break you. Learn names, record interests, ALWAYS REPAY FAVORS. Try to deal with the decision maker.
This should keep you busy for a few days, years if you play it right, even if only a quarter of it applies to your services. Things always get messed up, and require cleaning, regardless of the economy.
Good luck comes to a worker with his tools in his hand, and fortune favors the bold. Do it !
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luneib
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Jun 28 @ 11:20PM
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I had phoned and emailed our local Chamber of Commerce, they never returned my phone call, so I emailed them tonight.
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luneib
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Jun 28 @ 11:22PM
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We have a ton of brochures and stack cards we had printed up and have been distributing them around town, have also handed out alot of our business cards, not one bite yet, hmmmmm.
Thank you for all of those great ideas! 
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street
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Jun 28 @ 11:26PM
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I was trying to market , cow pie's w/o letting customer's know I bs them .
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chubs
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Jun 28 @ 11:37PM
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sadly, my escort/gigalo services went belly up! 
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mystery2u888
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Jul 1 @ 4:34AM
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I hope that you are getting things together and I wish you guys the best of luck....I think you will do fine
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