Michael Anthony Cleaning Enterprises LLC

I have different ways of approaching the pricing estimate and that normally depends on the type job being taken on. Normally for residential jobs I base it on a hourly basis, how much chemicals are going to be used, the degree and freuquncy of work and cleanliness of the place we are cleaning and how many staff members will be needed. If it's a routine cleaning situation I normally charge a little more for the first initial cleaning and give the place a real deep cleaning which then helps keep the residence maintained easier for future cleanings. For commercial jobs I normally bid it by the square footage of the facility ,the man power / chemicals needed for the job and once again the degree of cleanliness of the place. If they want special request such as paper products or toiletries replinished or trash bags I budget that into the cost as well.

Typically we contact the client either by phone or email and just give them a general background of who we are and what we would like to do to assist them. Next we like to set up a appointment with the client and attempt to schedule a walk through of their residency or facility to gain a better understanding of exactly what they want done and how they want it done. Afterwards we like to ask a couple of questions about anything that they didn't necessarily like about their last experience so we can eliminate those things from happening again. Then we discuss a fair price and any current promotions we may be running and look into setting a date to start service. If the clients wants any additional information like insurance documentation information we make arrangements to get those items for them and then go from there.

Prior to starting my own company. I decided that it would be best to learn the ins and outs of the business. So I invested into a cleaning sub contracting company and gained some accounts through their umbrella. During this process they put each owner through a 5 week training course. The course focuses on customer satisfaction and retention, what chemicals to use and what not use, how to properly not just clean but how to properly kill and disinfect germs and prevent bacteria from spreading. The training courses teaches you how to properly clean a facility from top to bottom and how to properly use the right cleaning equipment to effectively get the job done correctly. The training also takes you through a certification program to make sure you meet OSHA safety standards and that you are properly educated on the industry policy and procedures. Lastly, you complete hands on cleaning modules to prepare you for real life cleaning situations such as bathroom cleaning, office cleaning, window cleaning techniques and general cleaning practices. At the end of the program you take a written test to measure your knowledge of the subject matter and must pass the test in order to move into working your first few accounts . After being apart of this company for a year and half I felt I gained enough knowledge and experience to branch out on my own and here I am lol.

My initial background stems from retail and customer service. I was actually a employee for AT&T at the time and happen to run across a customer that i was assisting who owned his own cleaning business. I had always wanted to own my own business but just never knew what type of business model would be the best for me. The customer told me how he got started and what steps he recommended taking. He suggested that I start under a sub contracting company first to learn the business and then go from there. I followed his advice and started cleaning office buildings part time after work(At&t) and on weekends. I had up to about 9 accounts at one time ranging from weight watchers facilities, dental offices,industrial offices, private day cares, architectural offices, moving companies and small professional offices. Finally I started gaining my own clients from constantly networking with business clients at At&t and was able to land a huge apartment complex in Clayton Missouri and was able to walk away from my full time job and start working my own business full time. It's been quite a experience and huge blessing. I have gained so much experience and knowledge that is priceless.

At one of my biggest accounts. Which is a luxury residential apartment complex the building is filled with top executives from Boeing, Enterprise,Schnucks , CEO's ,Presidents and Vice presidents, Attorneys, Professional athletes from the St. Louis Rams and St.Louis Blues and many more. My company has serviced several of these clients for personal residential cleaning needs. Also we have cleaned and performed grounds keeping duties/make ready apartment cleaning for some of the local apartment communities in the St.louis area. In addition to that we have worked with local businesses such as martial arts studios, hair salons, fitness and wellness studios and small professional offices. Also have done power washing for the apartment complexes in their parking garage and outside storage areas.

A very recent project was deep cleaning a vacant restaurant at the bottom of one the apartment complexes we work with in downtown St.louis. The existing company was a pizza parlor called Empire Pizza. The project took two full 8 hour working days. We were cleaning it in preparation for the property manager to be able to tour the space for potential investors. It was quite the experience. Cleaned out the walk in deep freezer, sinks, walls ,windows, counter tops, bathrooms and floors

I would suggest that a customer be as specific as possible about what they want accomplished and to hold the cleaner accountable to meet their expectations. I would also encourage a customer to not be so price driven but more quality driven. Normally you get what you pay for. You want someone who will give you quality work but not price gouge you at the same time.

Customers should ask questions pertaining to how long should the job take. This will give them realistic expectations and allow the cleaning company to work at a efficient pace and not rush or feel rushed through the job so they can make sure they are detailed and don't miss anything. Also ask questions in regards to who will be doing the work and gather some information about the workers so that they can feel at ease about who's in their home or facility. Make sure your cleaner is insured to protect their assets and items just in case because accidents do and can occur. Ask questions about pricing before the work is fully completed that way you have a general idea of the cost to prevent any surprises.