Help

[Geoff0409]

Told in short, I am in a job that really I don't like at all any more. I have been in the job for 8 years and really only took it when my Wife was pregnant with our 1st child (our DD) as the hours were regular and it was easy to fit around appointments etc - my Wife was quite unwell at the time.

I am treated like a dogsbody and have not been happy for a very long time.

Anyway now with 2 kids (DD and DS) and everything a bit more settled and complete at home, I decided to look for a new job. This has been going on for about 6 months with no luck - not even an interview. Agencies seem surprised that I am looking for a job after 8 years in the same place - it seems the turnaround with jobs is closer to about 2 years alot of the time these days.

What I have decided to do is start a small business - I looked at Gardening (lawn mowing, maintenance etc)however have had my fingers burnt a bit with it (so to speak) and decided this might not be the best idea.

My other idea, was to start a cleaning and ironing business - start small and hopefully build it up from there. I have an idea of what we can offer (my Wife and I will work together), what our start up costs are, and roughly what we can charge, however I am hoping someone on here can please advise me the best way to advertise this type of business.

I have thought about flyers, adverts in shop windows, and building a small website, but different types of business seem to benefit from different types of advertising.

Does anyone on here do something similar and would be kind enough to give me a few tips please?

Many thanks.

I would say flyers through doors.I seem to have a lot of these and used one recently for a spring clean of my house. Would you do the work or are you setting up an agency?

Hi fez,

Thanks for your reply. Hope they did a good job for you. I have read a few things about cleaner's/cleaning companies that won't do some jobs - cleaning on top of cupboards & high units, won't do a little bit of ironing, won't tidy up the dishes etc - I'd be more than happy to do it.

Yes it will be me doing the work (any my Wife). I am more than happy to do it and hopefully just build it from there - Rome wasn't built in a day, as the saying goes.

Sorry, and my Wife it should say

You want your work to be hyper-local - there's no point in having jobs ten miles away from each other because travelling will eat your time and therefore profits, so leaflets through doors is a better bet - you can target the more affluent streets in your area, for example.

It is a good idea to think about something which has longevity - something which will make the receiver think 'oh, I'll keep a hold of that'. Fridge magnets, for example (although I don't know how much that would cost). Or a leaflet with a long-lasting promotion (oh I might stick that in the drawer and get a deep-clean before Christmas).

Also timing - I firmly believe (although I have no evidence to back this up) that if you get a leaflet on a Sunday rather than walk in to find it on top of your 'normal' post (which will also be full of leaflets, right?) you are slightly more likely to look at it.

Word of mouth is also important - if you have kids at school, or at a club, keep talking up your business. Most cleaners I've hired have come by personal recommendation so you need to keep the network up.