If you’re looking for an additional source of revenue, try selling janitorial services on bidding websites. Here’s how to get started.
It’s easy to think of selling janitorial services as strictly an in-person activity. We meet our future clients, walk through the facility and discuss their service needs, present them with a bid, and complete with a handshake.
There are plenty of opportunities to network and interact with people and find jobs without getting online. However, when you take advantage of bidding websites, you can substantially expand your potential sources of revenue. The process is relatively easy, too, once you know what you’re doing.
If you decide that the time is right to move into selling janitorial services online, here are some tips to help you get started and succeed.
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Don’t miss these 10 tips for selling janitorial services online
1. Don’t fear the process. You can do almost anything online, from email to signing documents to doing taxes. Selling janitorial services is no different. If you can read the manual for a new floor scrubber, you can figure out how to promote your business and bid for jobs online. Sure, it might take you a little time if you’re new to the process, but it will be well worth the effort.
2. Review bidding websites. Different sites have varying specializations. For example, the Janitorial Bid Network is a virtual bulletin board with job listings primarily in the United States and Canada which lists news and classified ads related to the cleaning industry. Or there are sites like FindRFP.com. This website lists federal, state, and local government RFPs, bids, and contracts that may not appear elsewhere. Also check out 7 Janitorial Bidding Websites That Your Competitors Depend On to get an overview of some of the sites we like. Don’t forget to check your local websites, too, such as school departments, city or county governments, and so on.
3. Start with one or two websites. Don’t overwhelm yourself and set up accounts on every site you find. Start small and get familiar with the way the sites work. If you want to bid on government contracts, stick to those bidding websites that specialize in those opportunities. If you feel like adding more sites to your list, go for it. Again, though, take it slow.
4. Get comfortable submitting bids. Without fully submitting a bid, go through the process of selling janitorial services and creating a proposal, so it’s not entirely new territory when you find a job you want to bid on. Though there’s usually an open bidding period, these can sometimes be relatively short notice, so the more prepared you are, the better your chances of winning a bid.
5. Sign up for alerts. One of the issues many smaller commercial cleaning companies run into is that they don’t feel like they have the time to monitor bidding websites for opportunities. One way around this is to sign up for email lists and alerts for jobs in your area. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to check the sites occasionally, as well, but email alerts can really streamline your process.
6. Use a bidding calculator. At Janitorial Manager, we have a bidding calculator built into the software, making it easy to accurately calculate the cost of cleaning a location. You can use your own standards or opt to use the included ISSA 612 time and tasks standards.
7. Don’t skip the optional sections. If you see “optional” sections on proposal websites, do not ignore them. Whether it’s a cover letter, introduction, section about your company, or even what your favorite local restaurant is, take every opportunity to share why your company is the right one.
Even outside of bidding websites, there are still some ways you can stand out when you’re selling janitorial services, either through bids and proposals or networking.
8. Use a professional template. You don’t need to make anything complicated, but it helps to have a professional template for your bids. Include your business name and contact information at the top, along with a detailed plan that makes it easy for your prospect to understand what they’re paying for and the value they get.
9. Include an “About” section. If possible, always include a section on your bids that tells the reader about your business. This gives you a great way to bring some personality to your proposal and create a connection.
10. Always offer the best customer service. A good attitude will do more in selling janitorial services than most people realize. Be the person that people want to work with. Then, even if you don’t win a specific bid, you’ll be remembered.
Remember, too, that keeping yourself organized is always beneficial. It’s important to keep track of bids, ongoing sales talks, and, of course, the logistics of making sure you’re prepared to win more business.
Harness the advantages of Janitorial Manager to enhance your bidding process. Schedule a free discovery call and find out how to win more contracts with an accurate bidding calculator!