There’s a lot to think about if you want to be running a successful business, though one thing is for sure, you definitely can’t do it alone. An important thing to do is to be taking care of the things you are good at yourself, and getting others to take care of the tasks that lie outside your field of expertise. The bottom line is that you need to take every opportunity to make your business stand out, you don’t want to be just another empty shop front this time next year. The following four people can make all the difference in helping make your business look great, giving you that extra edge over the competition.

The Cleaners

Regardless of what type of business you are running, it is absolutely imperative that your workplace is clean. Commercial cleaning services are the way to go as a clean work space will mean happier staff, more efficient functioning and will impress clients, potential clients or business partners that happen to drop by. If your Melbourne business is based in an office, it is a no-brainer to invest in weekly, professional office cleaning. Melbourne is a highly competitive business environment, so don’t fall behind through lack of cleanliness; talented cleaners provide that extra sparkle to you business that can make all the difference.

Web Designer

Everyone does business via the internet these days, so the way your business looks online is one of the most important considerations for any business. Get yourself a good web designer who will make you a great website, as it really does make a massive difference when potential customers are deciding where to invest their money. Make sure it is simple to navigate and that the services you offer as well as the prices are made clear. Your website has to be interesting and informative enough that it turns potential clients into confirmed sales. Invest in a good web designer because your website is one of the most important tools your business has.

Your Staff

Great staff are the most important investment that your business will make, as they are the ones who do all the important grunt work and inevitably make your business look good. Look after them and provide every possible chance for additional training and support, as without your staff you have no business. Be sure to have clear and easy ways for your staff to discuss difficulties and suggest improvements because, chances are, they will know more about the nitty gritty of your business than you will.

Clients

There is no more valuable tool for a business than happy clients, and nothing can make your business look better than to have rave reviews about your services coming from people with experience. Remember this every time you are dealing with a client, as they can have a huge impact on whether your business looks great and thrives, or looks horrible and goes bust.

A successful business requires a collaborative effort, so look at the running of your business as the co-operation of many different skill sets. There are a lot of ways that your business can look good or bad, so be smart and support the people who are obviously having a positive impact.

4 People Who Can Make Your Business Look Great is a post from: Cleancorp

Have you ever dreamt of launching your own commercial cleaning business? It will take a lot of hard work and determination, but if you are committed then a commercial cleaning business will be a very lucrative venture.

Here are our five easy steps to launching a commercial cleaning business:

1. Your Business Role and Name

First you need to decide what kind of cleaning service you want to offer. It is not easy for a new cleaning company to get commercial clients straight away so you might want to start off doing house calls. But if you are really confident in the quality of your service then you can jump right into commercial cleaning.

When you decide what cleaning service you plan to offer, think of a catchy business name that will leave an impression in people’s minds.

2. Create a Business Plan

As with any business venture, if you fail to plan you plan to fail. Make sure that your business plan answers these key questions:

• Why will your business succeed?
• How much money will you need to start up?
• What is the expected return on the investment?
• What is the growth potential?
• How is it unique?
• Who are your potential customers?
• How large is the market?
• Who are your competitors? How are their businesses positioned?
• How will you structure your organization?
• What are your plans for employee salaries, wages and benefits?
• What is your total estimated business income for the first year?

3. Employees?

If you are planning to hire employees, run an ad in the local paper and advertise through online sites like SEEK.com.au. If on the other hand you are planning to own and run the business with your family, then make sure that you know all of the correct procedures and put yourself through the necessary training.

4. Advertise

When your company is ready to take on clients then it is time to start advertising. Initially start advertising in the local paper and at industry expo’s. You might even want to print out flyers and display them around your neighbourhood.

In this day and age it is virtually impossible for a new company to be competitive without some form of online exposure. You may decide to create a regular static webpage or maybe a blog, the important thing is to get your name out there. Use advertising tools such as Google Adwords to increase your online exposure. Just don’t forget to include your rates and if possible, a discount offer for your first customers.

5. High Quality Service

The final step to launching your office cleaning business is to exceed expectations with your first corporate clients. This is your chance to make a great impression, and if you do a great job you can be sure that your clients will spread the word.

Starting a corporate cleaning business doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Just follow our five easy steps and you will be up and running in no time!

Launch Your Commercial Cleaning Business in 5 Easy Steps is a post from: Cleancorp

Many business owners recognise that using commercial cleaning services would be immensely helpful, but question whether their business can afford to do so. However, those businesses that do use the services of professional cleaning companies almost invariably vouch for the fact that the services offered reduce employee stress and inconvenience, while increasing employee productivity and morale.

Particularly for small and medium sized businesses, responsibility for the cleaning of the business premises often falls to staff members. Although employees may try to keep the work environment fresh, clean, hygienic and tidy, doing so often distracts or prevents them from fulfilling the roles that they are employed to do and can sometimes provoke a degree of annoyance and demoralisation.

Using a professional company for office cleaning can actually save you money in the long term and deliver worthwhile and highly sought after benefits for your business. These benefits include:

#1:  The focus of your business being directed to the activities that create revenue

All business owners should want and see the value in their employees concentrating on the activities that generate income for the business. If your employees are required to empty bins, clean bathrooms, vacuum, dust and complete all sorts of cleaning tasks, they are less able and have less time to complete their core work activities to the level you would and should expect.

There is no denying the importance of maintaining a clean and hygienic office. However, it is a key activity that can be outsourced to a professional cleaning company. Outsourcing this work is often affordable and, in the long run, enables money to be saved as your staff are more able to concentrate on the work that brings money into the business. With the money that is saved you are more able to recruit and retain quality staff who will raise the profile and efficiency of your company.

#2:  Save money on equipment and products

If you use a commercial cleaning service, you are likely to save money on the ongoing expense of purchasing cleaning products and aids and buying and maintaining equipment such as vacuum cleaners.

It is a benefit to your business that these products are provided by the cleaning company and your staff will require no training in the safe and efficient use of particular products.

#3: Reliable, stable and a high standard of service

If you engage with a professional cleaning service provider, you can feel confident that the cleaning of your business premises will be completed to an exacting standard that will impress your staff and customers.

You don’t have to worry about how the cleaning will be done if one of your employees is ill or absent from work for any other reason. Instead, you can feel assured that the professional cleaning service that you use will provide a reliable, consistent cleaning service of a high standard throughout the year.

#4: Expertise in a range of services

One of the most significant benefits of using a professional cleaning service is that you will no longer need to deal with multiple service providers. When you work with a commercial cleaning service, the need to engage with separate carpet cleaners, window cleaners and others is very often eliminated.

A full service professional cleaning company will be able to carry out an impressive variety of cleaning services and will schedule services for your company throughout the year and as they are required.

#5: Morale

Staff morale can only increase when cleaning tasks do not fall to employees. It is unfortunate but true that in many businesses that do not use cleaning companies, the cleaning falls to the same individuals. This can demoralise and lead people to feel inferior and less important.

If your business invests in professional cleaning services, morale is likely to increase as staff feel that they are supported by their work environment being thoroughly cleaned and tidied for them. Staff are likely to feel that you value their work efforts significantly more than their cleaning efforts.

#6:  Quality

Professional cleaning services will almost certainly clean and maintain your business to a standard that is significantly higher than that which could be achieved by your staff. Remember that your premises creates an impression and says a lot about your business and you definitely want to extend an impression of hygiene, cleanliness, organisation and professionalism to your customers.

Outsourcing cleaning services is an affordable and effective way to increase the effectiveness of your business.

Six Reasons Why Using a Professional Cleaning Company is Cost Effective is a post from: Cleancorp

It is a common situation when a business owner wants to keep the premises of their business in a good and clean order but they are hesitant to invest and commit money to a commercial cleaning service. However, many companies that decide to keep the cleaning of the office ‘in house’ soon discover that it is not done with the desired attention to detail and quite often is not done regularly.

There is a real danger in trying to take on cleaning duties as the business owner or delegating this responsibility to your staff. In all likelihood, you are pushed for time and have many other duties to attend to. The same is likely to apply to your staff – they are more likely to be concerned with fulfilling the core duties of their role than ensuring that the floor is cleaned and all fixtures dusted and wiped down. If you are honest, don’t you want them to be more concerned with their fundamental duties than the cleaning?

There is no denying that many businesses have faced tough times lately and the unstable and ever changing economic climate worries a huge number of business owners. While this is true, it is false economy to assume that savings will be made if contracts with professional cleaning companies are ended and all cleaning is undertaken within the business.

It may appear that you are saving money by not paying commercial cleaning services, but your staff time (or your own time) will subsequently be allocated to cleaning duties and taken away from the duties that more directly generate money and success for your business.

Add to this the reality that very few people like carrying out cleaning duties, particularly if they have been employed to fulfil a different role within your business. It is possible that some employees will find instruction to clean the business premises demeaning, perhaps a little disrespectful and an action that fails to capitalise on their strengths, talents and skills – the very reasons that you employed them!

In summary, advantages of using a professional cleaning company are:

1. You can be assured that a professional cleaning company will do a thorough job and will pay close attention to detail. If they do not, you are perfectly entitled and should take action to bring this to their attention and have them improve their performance.
2. A professional cleaning company will be more focused on the cleaning of your office. If staff are expected to do this, it is highly likely that the quality of their work will be compromised or that the cleaning will not be carried out to the standard that you desire and expect.
3. Asking staff who have been employed to carry out roles other than cleaning to undertake the cleaning of your business premises will do little to build morale and a sense of positivity about their employer. In contrast, staff are likely to feel devalued and taken for granted.
4. Investing in commercial cleaning services and office cleaning is a sound investment. You want and need to convey an image of professionalism, attention to detail and pride in your business to your customers, clients and staff. The way that your business premises or office is maintained tells a lot about your business and its operations.
5. The efforts of staff and business owners are far better directed to improving business performance and sales. Outsourcing the cleaning of your offices to commercial cleaning services allows for the development of staff skills that are specifically related to the role and will allow for leadership to be better established and conveyed. It is not ridiculous to think that staff who see the business owner or their manager more concerned with the cleaning than the core functions of the business will be disillusioned and uninspired.
6. Commercial cleaning services have the equipment, skills and experience necessary to undertake a more thorough and attentive cleaning job than you can do in house with your standard vacuum and other domestic cleaning products. If you are serious about having your business cleaned thoroughly, there is no substitute for a commercial cleaning service.

Some businesses strive to make savings by reducing outgoing costs to professional cleaning companies. In the long run, this rarely results in savings for a business and only serves to create more stress and worry for business owners.

Six Advantages of Using a Professional Cleaning Company is a post from: Cleancorp

If you run a small to medium-sized office you may not currently have an office cleaning company, relying instead on rosters and staff-members to keep things fresh and tidy. There are several reasons why outsourcing your cleaning requirements could benefit your entire business, and actually save you money in the long run. Here are three reasons why outsourcing could be the right idea for you:

Morale

In an office that doesn’t have a dedicated cleaning service, the job usually falls on the shoulders of administrative staff or those members of staff with less significant positions. While an admin assistant or secretary is usually aware that their role can involve many varied tasks, cleaning the office can often make this person’s other skills feel unimportant, or make them feel as though they are not highly valued within the company. In the instance that your workplace has a roster where everyone takes turns in cleaning up, opportunities for in-fighting and resentment are rife. Either way, there is the potential for low morale on staff, which can only have a negative effect on business. Unless your business is a cleaning company, keeping the place tidy is not the job of your staff, and in hiring a specialised company to take care of the cleaning, you’re letting your workforce know that you value their efforts in other areas too much to have them spending their work time cleaning. Feeling valued is one of the most powerful motivators at work, and you will notice a marked improvement in productivity when members of staff can forget about vacuuming and focus on their jobs.

Efficiency

A reliable cleaning company with the right products and equipment will keep the office tidy and fresh on a constant basis. Studies have shown that the cleaner and more organised an environment is, the more efficient the people n that environment become. By providing a hygienic, pleasant and tidy workspace, you are encouraging that kind of conduct among your staff.

Quality

No matter how efficient your admin assistant or intern is with a duster and vacuum, a professional commercial cleaning service can and will do a better job. They have specialised, high-quality equipment and cleaning products, and years of experience in keeping places spick and span. The look of an office says a lot about the business itself, and the impression you put out to clients should be one of cleanliness, organisation and professionalism. A good cleaning company can ensure that your office is permanently kept in this state, and you can rest assured that dustbins will remain clean and empty, the staff kitchen will be a hygienic and pleasant place to eat, and the bathrooms will not embarrass you or the company if ever a visitor needs to use the facilities.

3 Reasons To Outsource Office Cleaning is a post from: Cleancorp

Businesses are created for many different reasons. And the people working within them have many different – and important – jobs to do. But all businesses have one thing in common. They must present a professional and efficient image to their customers at all times.

Most businesses have direct contact with their clients at some stage. With an office based business, that may only occur once or twice a week. Receptionists and similar staff will be the first point of contact. With a store, the business will cater for hundreds or more customers during the same time span.

Clearly not all businesses will have the same cleaning needs. The surroundings are different. A catering facility will have a wholly different set of Health and Safety needs and requirements when compared to an office.

Office Cleaning and Your Business

Some people think cleaning is not the most important part of a business. But it has a bigger effect than you might think. It is a big part of the customer service that extends to your customers and clients. Surveys have shown that people will travel further to go to a business they like. This is instead of visiting a lesser, closer business. Another survey indicated that a huge 98% of people feel better when their own property feels fresh and sanitised. And that feeling is likely to extend elsewhere too.

So you need to consider your choices carefully when you are hiring a cleaning company. It pays to understand your own requirements before you make contact. The best ones will be able to assist you in this respect. Which cleaning solutions and product offerings would work best for you?

Commercial Cleaning for Your Needs

You know that a good business structure is vital to how that business works. The same applies to a cleaning company too. How will you be able to contact the company you choose for your cleaning solutions? Choose a company that has people who liaise between their commercial cleaners and the business you work for. They will be on the spot more frequently than one you need to phone.

Consider then how you and they will interact. Ensure too that the cleaning company is a good match for your needs. Not all cleaning companies are the same. Some are specialists in certain areas such as office cleaning. Others focus on providing a refreshed and sanitised all round service that still hits the mark.

Clearly a good cleaning company isn’t enough for your needs. You need the best company – one that views each customer as an important client. You should not just be another person on the books. It should also make you look good, as you are representing the company as well.

A professional cleaning team will get results that are seen by clients and staff alike. One survey stated the most important thing in the average workplace for employees is comfort. And choosing the best cleaning firm can go a long way to achieving the level of comfort that is desired.

Why Only The Best Cleaning Company Will Do is a post from: Cleancorp

When we think about the importance of the business we work in, we tend to think of the most important tasks first. That does make sense of course, but it’s amazing how much difference the seemingly less important tasks can have if they are done well too.

Take office cleaning, for example. Now many people think of this as being a mundane and unimportant job, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Sometimes it can happen because another company takes care of the cleaning. This can mean that the workers in the office don’t really think of cleaning as having anything to do with them.

But let’s look into this a little bit further. When your office space is kept clean and tidy, you are naturally going to be more efficient. You won’t have to spend any time looking for things, for example. If you work in this kind of environment it’s easy to take it for granted, but you would soon notice the difference if you didn’t have that. Trying to find what you need amid a messy jumble of papers and an overflowing waste paper basket isn’t easy!

This is where we start to touch on the subject of going the extra mile. But what does it really mean?

Well, it means that we are basically doing everything we can to make our working environment a pleasant one to work in. And if we have a good cleaning company working with us to achieve that aim, we will get even better results.

You see, cleaning isn’t as easy a job as you might think. There is surface cleaning, which just makes sure that things look pretty good. And then there is proper cleaning – the type of cleaning that gets right down to what needs doing. For example, a range of efficient and antibacterial products might be used to ensure that everything is kept as clean as possible. And there might be one or more cleaners who come into the office every day and give it the once over before the workers come in to start their day.

In this sense, even a small touch such as the use of an air freshener by your commercial cleaning company will make all the difference to the mood of your workers. Wouldn’t you feel more uplifted if you came into your office each and every day to find it clean and smelling really nice and fresh?

Of course you would. It would uplift your mood. And it is the small touches such as these which make us create a more satisfied company. So in reality it pays to see how your own cleaning company is doing on a regular basis. If they aren’t going the extra mile it might be worth thinking about making a change. If you do you might be amazed at just what a difference it makes to your business – as well as to the people who work within it.

Why Going The Extra Mile Means A More Satisfied Company is a post from: Cleancorp

Are you in a position where you need to think about hiring some cleaners to make sure all your needs are taken care of? If you are then it pays not to think too small.

Most people tend to think about cleaning in terms of the minimum that needs doing on a daily basis. For example, washrooms might need a quick clean; offices may need a quick once over to keep them tidy; and depending on where you work you may have other regular tasks that need doing as well.

Notice the word ‘regular’ in that last sentence. Office cleaning may be a regular job, but what about all the things that need doing only every now and then? These are quite often the things that get forgotten, and there is no guarantee that a small cleaning company will be able to meet all your needs in this respect.

When it comes to larger commercial cleaning contractors they will have more experience with a wider range of tasks and requirements. They will have dealt with many more businesses and outfits than smaller companies, and will be more prepared to take on whatever tasks you need to have done.

As such you will find it much more versatile to have a company like this taking care of all your cleaning needs. Every company and business grows and changes over time, and there is no guarantee that what you require now in the way of a cleaning service will still be adequate at some point in the future.

You can probably see where this will lead. Just imagine that you choose a small company to get started with. You don’t see the need for using anyone bigger simply because a small company can do everything you ask of them.

But over time your business grows and you find that you now have more jobs that need doing. You may even expand into new premises, or simply extend the existing building or premises you are using. So you ask your cleaning company to add these extra duties onto your current requirements, so that the standards are kept high and everything is kept clean and tidy.

But they cannot do so.

Their company is too small a concern to make this happen, and so you are left with the job of finding someone new to take on your cleaning tasks.

Can you see how inconvenient this would be? The truth is that such a process can take valuable time, and all the while you are trying to find someone, those jobs aren’t getting done.

But if you go for a larger company to start with, you can grow with them. You know they will always be able to accommodate any changes in what has to be done. That can really take the pressure off as the company you choose can be relied upon, both in the short and the long term.

So think about it now – could your existing company do this for you?

The Benefits Of Using A Big Cleaning Company When You Are Hiring Cleaners is a post from: Cleancorp

Cleaning is sometimes thought of as being a basic task – essential but basic, and sometimes easy as well. But in reality it is far from being that. Those who do this job on a regular basis know that there is a lot involved when it comes to making sure that the surroundings are kept clean and tidy.

Of course you may already have a commercial cleaning company in place to make sure that your premises stay clean. But there is a good chance that it is down to you to make sure all the supplies they will need are always there for them.

This can extend to other things too, such as toilet paper, paper towels and hand lotion. But let’s think about this for a moment. Even though you can allocate a member of staff to take responsibility for all these items, you are really taking them away from their primary job. This means that there are other things they could be doing that they can no longer devote as much time to.

Just think then, how much easier it would be if you didn’t have to worry about any of that at all. All you would need to do is arrange with your cleaning company what needs doing when and the rest would be taken care of.

Not all commercial cleaning companies work on this basis, but it really does pay to hire one that does. A company that is capable of taking care of all your needs in this respect will make life a lot more straightforward for you.

And this is true regardless of what kind of kind of work you need doing. For example, you might have fairly basic requirements such as keeping a single washroom clean and tidying a small office. Alternatively you could be overseeing a large warehouse which has offices built in and plenty of employees as a result. But in either case you would certainly appreciate not having to think about what you need to stock up on as far as toiletries and washroom products is concerned.

It’s also the case that your cleaning staff will find it far easier to order exactly what is needed and when. They will have the necessary contacts to be able to offer a wider range of products as well, which will again be beneficial to you.

In the end, it is no doubt the convenience of having an all round service like this that puts such a company ahead of its competitors. After all, which would you rather have? A cleaning company that leaves it to you to find the right products, or one that gives you the whole service? Most people would choose the latter.

And of course you can also benefit from the added knowledge that such a company will be able to offer you. They will know the best solutions for each type of business, and they can therefore offer help and advice exactly when you need it the most.

Let Your Cleaning Company Make Sure You Have All The Right Products You Need To Stay Clean And Tidy is a post from: Cleancorp

Health and Safety regulations come in all shapes and sizes. But they all have one thing in common – they are all there to keep us protected and safe, especially when we are at work.

And of course, we all need to make sure we are aware of what these regulations are in our own line of work. They will differ from business to business, as they all have very different ways of working. For example, an office building might have as many regulations in place as a factory production line, but you can expect them to be very different. A production line may require wearing of aprons, gloves and hairnets to maintain controlled conditions, but this obviously wouldn’t apply in an office!

But what about the cleaners you hire? If you are currently looking for a team of commercial cleaning contractors to take care of all your cleaning requirements, have you thought about how the regulations will affect them?

Let’s think about this in more depth. In truth it’s easy to think that cleaners just clean. But of course most of us recognise that it’s not as easy as that. The needs of an office will be very different from the needs of a factory floor.

That’s why it pays to hire a team of commercial cleaners Sydney that are very efficient at keeping up with all the relevant Health and Safety rules that are in place.

A more basic cleaning company may not be able to meet all the needs you have. For example, if you do manage a factory that produces food then you have to be sure that all the cleaners you hire understand the importance of their tasks. They may be excellent cleaners, but if they don’t appreciate the special rules that are in place to protect the business, then they are not going to be able to perform the best standards of cleaning for you.

That’s why it pays to talk in depth with the cleaning company before you hire them. A larger and more experienced company will usually have more equipment and more knowledge of different types of business. This means that they will be more likely to have experience of cleaning a similar business to yours successfully already. And that is much easier than trying to educate a small and basic cleaning team on what needs to be done and when.

Health and Safety rules need to be observed at all times. And the last thing you need to be worrying about if you are running your business is what the cleaning staff is doing. If you know they are doing everything as they should be, then you won’t have to worry about that aspect of running the business.

It’s easy and very truthful to say that people should always be aware of the rules that are in place. But if you choose a cleaning team that isn’t up to scratch, you will always be wondering whether they are doing everything they should be.

Does Your Cleaning Team Know All About The Health And Safety Regulations That Are In Force? is a post from: Cleancorp