Accounts Receivable Management and Collection Calls

Managing accounts receivable is an important aspect of operating your business. As reported in The Cleaning Digest^®, the older the debts the harder they are to collect.

But don't be too hasty in turning slow paying accounts over for collection. You unfortunately are probably going to lose a customer, however if you wait too long you may never collect the debt.

If a customer does not pay within your normal terms then you should make collection calls. This is an unpleasant but necessary task. A tactful way to broach the subject is to say "I'm calling to inquire about the status of our invoice". Don't say any more until your customer has a chance to respond. If they say "the check is in the mail", then ask when the check was mailed and the check number. If they say "it will be sent soon", then inquire when it will be mailed. If they say they lost the invoice then offer to send another immediately.

Once again this is an unpleasant function of business. Many times when someone owes you money, they will try to put you on the defensive. Do not lose your cool and always remain professional. Even though you had to make a collection call, it does not necessarily mean you will lose a customer.

Related carpet cleaning business information on the Bane-Clene web site:

• Building Your Own Carpet Cleaning Business
• The 15 Factors of Success
• Twenty Steps to Success in the Carpet Cleaning Business
• What makes a company successful?

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog.

Please read the latest issue of The Clene-Times^® at www.baneclene.com/publications/.

Please visit our recently updated web site at www.baneclene.com.

The Bane-Clene^® Team.

Hiring and Firing Carpet Cleaning Technicians

Hiring qualified technicians is a common complaint in the cleaning industry. It is said that "good help is hard to find". This is not a phenomenon unique to our industry, many others face the same problem.

Recruiting is a difficult part of hiring, which needs to be worked at. You cannot just hang a sign in the window or run an ad. While you will probably get applicants, are they the one you are looking for?

One of the "secrets" of hiring is to pay a decent wage. A great deal is expected form a carpet cleaning technician. Minimum wage or slightly higher is not nearly enough. Also, training is vitally important. You cannot entrust the care of expensive rugs, carpeting and upholstery to a novice. Keep new employees with a veteran cleaner.This is where the training plays a major part. Besides basic cleaning skills there are many other nuances to being a good technician which can be taught by a veteran cleaner.

Unfortunately, there is usually no way to tell in an interview if a prospect will ultimately be a good employee. While appearance and manners are easy to assess, work habits and attitude are not as evident. There should be a period of appraisal and training. If work habits are not up to your standards, firing should be sooner rather than later. Usually a 90 day evaluation period is sufficient.

Bane-Clene Institute^® has classes which explore employee relations and will assist you in this difficult but highly important aspect of your business. Because without good technicians your business will only grow so much.

Related carpet cleaning business information on the Bane-Clene web site:

• Area Rug Care and Cleaning
• Carpet Cleaning the Bane-Clene® Way®
• Hiring
• Hiring is a full time job
• Recruiting Tips
• The 15 Factors of Success
• Upholstery Cleaning, Care and Protection
• What makes a company successful?

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog^®.

The Bane-Clene^® Team.

Please access our updated website at www.baneclene.com.

The latest issue of the Clene-Times^® is at www.baneclene.com/clenetimes.html.

Starting a Carpet Cleaning Business

February 4th, 2017, marked our 55th anniversary. People regularly ask us if this is a good time to start a business? While there may never be a perfect time, there also may never be a bad time. However to avoid the bad time and strive for the perfect time, you must identify and reach the market that has the money and need to buy your service.

What is the best way to reach that market and who is your major demographic? Yellow pages, direct mail, radio, television, magazines, newspapers and of course the Internet are all possible ways to reach your market. As far as the residential market goes, the majority of our customers will be home owners with disposable income. Commercially there is a wide range of potential customers. Hotels, motels and restaurants usually are looking for the lowest price. Professional offices are willing to pay for a high quality service. Many industrial customers may be cleaned through a sub-contract agreement with a Building Service Contractor or direct contact with the In-House Manager.

To enhance our market potential Carpet and Fiber manufacturers are stressing the importance of carpet maintenance. In fact, most warranties are tied to regular professional cleaning. Interest in indoor air quality continues to promote the idea that professional cleaning is a necessity for an improved indoor environment.

Your business can be successful if you do your homework and prepare properly. We can help in that preparation. We have the literature, video presentations and of course our management school at Bane-Clene Institute all geared toward your success. All those tools can also be an advantage for those that already have started their business.

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog.

The Bane-Clene^® Team

Please read the latest issue of The Clene-Times^® at www.baneclene.com/publications/.

Please visit our recently updated web site at www.baneclene.com

Bane-Clene Corp.® will celebrate our 55th Anniversary - February 4th, 2017

We will presume you know the story of how a small start up Janitorial Service morphed into what we are today.

An International Manufacturer and Supplier of Cleaning Equipment, Chemicals and Accessories.

We don't have to tell you that being in business has its trials and tribulations.

However, more importantly, it has its many rewards for which we are thankful.

Here is just a partial list of what we are thankful for:

1. An invaluable staff, without whom we did not and will not continue to grow.
2. Customers that compliment us for doing a good job.
3. Customers that point out mistakes. We correct those mistakes, which makes us better.
4. Good Vendors that keep our supply lines full.
5. Good Accounting, Advertising, Financial, Insurance, Legal and Technology Advisors.

Lastly, we are thankful that 55 years ago Wm. F. Bane had a vision and we at Bane-Clene strive everyday to promote and build on his vision.

Thank you for reading Bane's Blog.

The Bane-Clene^® Team

Please read the latest issue of The Clene-Times^® at www.baneclene.com/publications/.

Please visit our recently updated web site at www.baneclene.com