Just Released! Round Table 17 Agenda!
March 5, 2010
May 12th Personally Guided Tour of My Highly Systematized, Highest Priced, $2
Million Cleaning Firm!
Arrive a day early to be taken on a private tour. See how we get our trucks ready for service, how we get the highest prices, and find out about our latest strategies we have implemented to produce MORE SALES and MORE PROFIT with less personnel and equipment. Find out how we have streamlined the company and why our staff is on FIRE! This will be a special kind of tour. You choose a one hour block of time and you will be among 10 - 15 others that will be carefully guided through our facility by Howard Partridge personally. We will cover how we market, how we sell, how we operate, and how we track. Many of our past attendees have stated that the tour alone was worth the entire trip. What will you get out of the tour?A vision for how it all fits together. A vision for your future growth, and confidence that you can grow in quality and size. Even if you want to remain an owner/operator you will pick up many strategies to make more money in your business.
Only 120 Seats! Register Now!
Day I Agenda
Thursday May 13th
7:30 Registration
8:00 “How to Become a PHENOMENAL Success Story!” by Howard Partridge In this session, you will learn how I went from a “welfare-throw-away-kid to living the “American Dream” and how you can have everything you want in life! You will discover how I built my company up from the trunk of my car to over $2.8 million per year and how you can take your company to new heights. In this session you will learn simple organization tips that will help you get more output with less input. You will learn the proven, validated and coveted 7 steps to a phenomenally successful life and business! 9:30 Break10:00 “Pure & Simple” by Tom Ziglar, Proud Son of American Legend Zig Ziglar Tom Ziglar will share the timeless wisdom of Zig Ziglar – principles that have changed lives for decades. Principles that when applied can change your life too. Plus, Tom will share how the Ziglar Corporation uses Social Media to enhance their brand and leverage one of the most valuable client lists in the information marketing industry today. 11:30 Meet Tom Ziglar Special Ziglar programs will be on sale.
12:00 Lunch
1:30 How to Transform Your Everyday Business into a Predictable, Profitable, Turn-Key Operation! – Howard Partridge In this session, Howard will share the proven steps of building a turn-key business – a business that runs smoothly and profitably while you are on a long vacation. Learn the steps of building systems, discover proven leadership skills that get your employees to do what you want when you want it, and learn how to work “on” the business instead of just “in” the business! 3:00 Break
3:30 The Latest, Greatest Marketing Strategies that Are Producing RECORD SALES! – Howard Partridge If anything, the “market” has been unpredictable the past two years. What is the difference between those who are thriving and those who are surviving? You’ll find out in this segment. You will see no less than 24 examples of marketing pieces, concepts, strategies, blogs, newsletters, cards, and systems that you can use over the next 2 years to grow a phenomenally successful business or practice!
Only 120 Seats! Register Now!
Day II Agenda
Friday May 14th
8:00 “I’m a FIP” – John Downey Founder and former owner and editor of Cleanfax Magazine, John Downey calls himself a FIP (You will learn what that means in a bit). John has enjoyed an amazing career in the carpet cleaning industry during the “good ol’ days”. After “having his cake and eating it too” by selling his magazine and keeping his job as editor, he eventually moved on to other opportunities. In this session, I think you will learn how one life can make a big difference in an industry. And that could be your life! 9:30 am Break10:00 “ Mr. Systems” John Browning John Browning one of my first members and co-founder of the Knights of the Round Table has a phenomenal business in Nashville. In this session, he will walk you through how his company grew by 500%! Find out how he just launched his Oriental Rug Cleaning operation with Ruth Travis, and how his systems keep his company rocking year after year. 11:30 Panel Discussion
Q&A with some of the cleaning industry’s most successful business owners! 12:00 Lunch
1:30pm Ken Snow President of Hagopian Cleaning Services Hagopian Cleaning Services is one of the largest independent carpet cleaning companies in the world. Ken’s company has a massive Oriental Rug Cleaning division and a huge company that sells Oriental Rugs. Ken freely shares his knowledge and insights on leadership, production and of course, rug cleaning! This is a rare opportunity and we are blessed to have Ken on deck. 2:30 Break
3:00 “Just Add Water” Spinnergy Solutions by Bridgepoint Systems With the green cleaning movement now becoming part of our everyday lives, Spinnergy pads make it easier than ever to polish marble and natural stone. With no use of chemicals, your stone cleaning becomes faster, easier and greener than ever before! 3:45 “Stone Rocks!” by Dane Gregory
Dane Greogory has an extensive background in the stone care industry. At this Round Table, Dane presents “Stone Rocks!”. In this session, you will learn how you can set up your own Stone Care System that will add phenomenal profits to your business. His presentation will include how to market your service, how to sell the service, and how to set up easy systems so that you can have a predictable, profitable, turn-key stone business! 5:00End
7:00pm Spiritual Night At Spiritual Night, we take time to share the real secrets of success. Myself and others will share how God has impacted our lives and our companies. This will NOT be a “religious” service, but rather “Spiritual”. There is a big difference. NOTICE: This session is optional. You are not required to attend it. You will not be made to feel uncomfortable if you don’t come, and you will not be made to feel uncomfortable if you do attend.
Only 120 Seats! Register Now!
Day III Agenda
Saturday May 15th
8:00 KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE MASTERMIND with The Growth Coach® If you are a Knights of the Round Table member, report to the Knights Mastermind Session for a full day of Strategic Planning.8:00 Get FIT! With Howard Partridge When you leave an event like this, you are charged up, overloaded with information, and ready to take on the world. But when Monday morning comes you are overwhelmed with the day to day problems that have plagued your growth all along and F.T.I. (Failure To Implement) sets in again. The solution to F.T.I. is get F.I.T. You Focus, Implement, and Track. 9:30 Break
10:00 Get F.I.T. Part II – Howard Partridge The rest of today is dedicated to helping you boil down everything you have learned at the conference so that you can take it back and make Monday morning a new opportunity rather than “back to the grind”. You will leave the event with your own personal action plan. 12:00 Round Table 17 Farewell
Only 120 Seats! Register Now!
Stone Rocks!
March 5, 2010
If you are in the cleaning and restoration business and you are not into natural stone care yet, this Round Table session can totally revolutionize your business! If you are already providing stone care, come and learn how to add phenomenal profits to your business by taking your stone care business to the next level!
At my company, natural stone care is one of our most lucrative with job sizes that dwarf carpet cleaning. As wall to wall carpet in the home is shrinking, hard surface floors not only continue to emerge, but the floors that have been down for a few years need t be cared for properly. That’s where you come in!
Dane Greogory has an extensive background in the stone care industry. At this Round Table, Dane presents “Stone Rocks!”. In this session, you will learn how you can set up your own Stone Care System that will add phenomenal profits to your business. His presentation will include how to market your service, how to sell the service, and how to set up easy systems so that you can have a predictable, profitable, turn-key stone business!
Master Rug Cleaner Course
October 28, 2009
Full Day Seminars Near You…
October 26, 2009
Discover How to Break Free from the
Demands of Your “Everyday” Cleaning and Restoration Business… and Transform it Into a Predictable, Profitable, Turn-Key Operation…
From someone who has already done it…
and helped thousands do the same!
Full Day Seminar with Howard Partridge Reveals How to Take Your Business to the Next Level… How to stop spending your day putting out “brush fires” and get organized… and the cleaning industry’s newest, latest, greatest, and most profitable marketing strategies!
Coming to the Following Locations:
· Dallas, TX November 6th
· Salem, NH November 13th
· Tampa, FL November 20th
· Raleigh, NC December 4th
WARNING: Only 50 people will be able to attend each of these events
I am very blessed to announce that I will be traveling to select locations across the nation for a one day seminar. This seminar is “rare” because I don’t travel to do these types of seminars very often any more.
If you know me at all, you know that my systems have literally transformed cleaning and restoration firms world-wide.
If you are a successful cleaner and you want to take your business to the next level, be sure to join us for a one day seminar that will NOT be repeated anytime soon. I will spend an entire day sharing my proven strategies for success.
We will be holding the seminar here at the following locations and we only 50 seats have been reserved for each location, so it is not too early to register.
And here’s the best part: I have agreed to do this seminar for only $97.00 per person, and it comes with a complete, 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not thrilled with the information you receive, you don’t pay! Plus, I will be giving you a free business building package worth $600.00 just for attending.
I look forward to seeing you there,
To Register for the Seminar, Call Right Now! Seats will go fast!
Dallas, TX November 6th: Call Jon-Don of Dallas 800-936-3512
Salem, NH November 13th Call Jon-Don of New England 800-542-8090
Tampa, FL November 20th: Call Jon-Don of Tampa: 800-201-6313
Raleigh, NC December 4th: Call Phenomenal Products at 877-354-7960
Here’s what Howard Partridge will be sharing at this seminar…
My Story… How I Went from a Welfare-Throw-Away-Kid to Living the “American Dream”
How I Built My Company from the Trunk of My Car to Over $2.8 Million Per Year - at an average of 62 cents per square foot for carpet cleaning.
How to Be So Organized that You Can Operate an Office On Wheels! This is the same system I use today!
7 Steps to Phenomenal Personal Success – The more successful you are as a person, the more successful your business can be. Find out what is holding YOU back!
How to Transform Your Everyday Job that You Call a Business into a Predictable, Profitable, Turn-Key Operation
How to Build Systems in Your Business – Step-by-Step
14 Ways to Get Your Employees to Do What You Want, When You Want It - I have 34 of the most positive, productive employees in the industry.
*** My Latest and Greatest Marketing Strategies, Systems, Promotions and Techniques that are Producing RECORD Sales Even in a Down Economy
Not only will you learn exactly how to get the highest prices for your service, how to generate a ton of referrals and how to double or even triple your business in the next 12 months, you will also get to see the exact marketing tools that myself and other highly successful members are using to produce record sales even in this “new” economy!
I will show you no less than 24 examples of real live marketing tools that are in action right now… newsletters, blogs, websites, e-mail marketing campaigns, my new card system, joint-venture marketing, and more
Only $97.00! Guaranteed or Your Money Back!
The entire day of working on your business is only 97 bucks and is completely guaranteed. The only thing you risk is your time and I promise it will be the most outstanding seminar you have ever attended.
Free Business Building Package Just for Attending! $600.00 Value!
Over the years I have created a “plethora” of training information that has revolutionized companies across the world. You will get access to a free package worth over six hundred dollars just for attending. You will be able to immediately implement many of the things you learn in the seminar with this information.
I look forward to meeting you in person
– Howard Partridge
How to Expand Beyond A One Man Show
August 15, 2009
by Howard Partridge
The cleaning business is chock full of owner operators – people who do the work themselves. The one truck operator. The one-man show. Does that describe you? If so, you have probably thought of expanding. You may have dreamed of being off the truck. Maybe you don’t really like the physical work that much. Some dream of having a big business. We want lots of trucks (the cleaner’s term for toys), lots of employees (the naïve entrepreneur’s “yes” men), and lots of money! WOW! The Entrepreneurial Dream!
Some have “opted-out” out and decided to stay on the truck. And there is nothing wrong with that – IF it is done for the right reason. If it is done because it is part of your vision and goals and NOT because you don’t believe that you can effectively manage and grow.
Here’s the reason many have chained themselves to the truck for life
Many cleaners that have added their second truck have struggled with a multitude of issues they never imagined in their worst nightmare. Faced with dealing with employees, organizing the office, maintaining two trucks instead of just one, keeping the schedule full, and wearing all the hats so to speak eventually gets the best of them. They have finally thrown in the towel because they don’t really understand what has happened to them.
The reason they fail is they haven’t planned their growth. They thought they were just taking the next, natural step in their business. What they didn’t realize is that the dynamics of the business changed, their role completely changed, and now everything is very different. Before, everything was under control. Now, mistakes threaten their reputation, and the stress is overwhelming.
It doesn’t have to be this way!
Why have some expanded their companies successfully and others haven’t? While some are experiencing numerous problems, others are taking multiple vacations per year. One of my favorite sayings is “What one man can do another can do!”. I believe (and have experienced) that anyone can expand their business successfully if they learn a few important lessons.
I learned these valuable lessons through trial and error and the good ol’ school of hard knocks. I started my company from the trunk of my car in 1984. Over time, with some help from others, I was able to expand it to a ten truck company producing in excess of $2.8 million in mostly residential cleaning. My company employs 33 people.
The tried and true lessons of expanding properly can be learned in advance of making the mistakes that myself and many others have made. By understanding and applying a few simple steps, you can avoid wasting thousands of dollars, and keep yourself from experiencing a multitude of heartache.
The Required Mindset
The first thing to think about is why you want to grow. I know it may be as simple as being too busy to handle all of the work. It may be that you have done a good job selling your services, and people like what you do, so now you are having a hard time keeping up. This could be the worst reason to grow and should not be the primary reason that you expand.
Maybe you want off the truck. Maybe you want a different lifestyle. Maybe you want to grow a business that’s saleable. Maybe you want to make more money than you are currently making. Adding another service vehicle may or may not bring in more money, and it may or may not give you a better lifestyle. It depends on how much profit is associated with the extra sales. So ask yourself what you are really after.
I often say in my seminars that your business exists for one reason and one reason only: To help you achieve your life goals. In other words, what do you really want out of life. Most entrepreneurs go into business so that they can “work for themselves” or have more “free time”. Most of us show up to work every morning to run the business. There is no real goal. No real mission. No real life plan. Just make the business bigger. That is not the best way to think about your business. Before expanding your business, list the reasons that you want to do it. Write down how much profit you are anticipating. Write down how many hours you will work. Do your goals require expansion? Or could you increase your price and do less work?
Next, realize that by getting off the truck, or adding a second truck, you will become a manager instead of a cleaner. You may be required to remain the cleaner as well. So now you have two roles instead of one. Probably the biggest challenge for entrepreneurs is learning how to lead and manage people. Unsuccessful expansion is usually the result of not being skilled at managing others. To be successful as a two truck operator, you will be required to learn that much sought after skill. The good news is that there is ample material and resources available to help you in that area.
The Cost of Expansion
Have a realistic picture of what your expansion will cost. Plan your next move very carefully. Depending on what model you use to grow, you will spend money on vehicles, personnel, training, mistakes, and possibly office space. It is a big mistake to go into expansion mode without adequate financing. Create a financial forecast of start up costs, a realistic operating budget, and finally a cushion for cost overruns. Expanding without following the numbers is asking for disaster. Two main areas to keep a keen eye on are advertising and labor. Be sure to carefully plan these two areas.
Will you need a facility? If you are currently working out of your home and you don’t have employees, you will suddenly be faced with the dynamic of mixing your personal life with your employees. It’s a good thing to be personal friends with your employee, but your family needs their own space. If at all possible, get into a commercial space before adding your first employee.
“Systematize” Your Business
Basically, what you are doing when you expand your company is duplicating yourself. Some or all of the functions that you perform will now be done by someone else. Before expanding, begin to document how you do things. Create procedures for each function. Write a job description for your new hires. To be phenomenally successful, learn this important discipline. Try to create as many written procedures as possible on exactly how things are done, step by step, as possible. Write them so that anyone could follow them. Then thoroughly train your employees to follow the written procedures. Having a documented, systematic process to operate your company will reduce employee mistakes and will save you time. They will learn faster, and you will be able to concentrate on other things.
Eventually, as you learn how to model, train, and mentor your employees, they will become “good” enough that you don’t have to watch their every move. This is where the reward comes in. Now you can take a day off. Now you can go on vacation. Now, you don’t have to be involved in every little detail to make your business run.
This is probably the most difficult process you will ever go through. It will be painful. But, by being diligent in this area, you will increase your chances of successful growth.
How Much Staff Will You Need?
There are several business models for a two truck company. One model that people have used it is to simply add another truck with another cleaner while staying on the original truck themselves.
This model has major drawbacks in my opinion!
If you are just trying to add revenue, and you have someone that doesn’t need any support, it may work well. But trying to manage another truck while you are working on the original truck is difficult at best. There are some cases in which cleaners find the perfect guy to run that second truck. He’s almost like a second owner. This is a rare occurrence.
You also need to think about whether you plan to expand beyond the second truck. If so, this would not be a good model to build your infrastructure on. If you lose your superstar, you have an empty truck sitting in the driveway. Now you are on a search for the next hard-to-find “co-owner”.
The process and model that I like maximizes the first truck and builds infrastructure before adding the second truck…
If I had it to do all over again, I would use the following model. This model calls for an assistant to work on the truck with you. This person becomes your protégé. He will be your next technician. He will be trained by you. He will clean the carpet just like you.
The next step in this model is to add an office assistant to handle the paperwork and office duties. Your cleaning assistant cleans and stocks the truck, pulls the hose, pushes the wand, and does all the dirty work (even have him drive between jobs so that you can plan and organize). Your office assistant enters the job tickets, makes the bank deposit, does the filing, etc. Once you maximize the first truck, you now have infrastructure that serves as a foundation for adding your second truck.
It is important to get the single truck operation with two employees functioning well first. This gives you an opportunity to learn how to lead employees while they are under your direct supervision. This will help prepare you for when you have unsupervised field employees. It also offers you the opportunity to get your office organized, and develop systems into your business.
Now that your cleaning assistant is trained as a lead technician, you will hire an assistant to work with your technician. Train this person to be a lead technician. Your original technician will be helpful in modeling what you have already taught him. You will purchase your second truck and use it as your vehicle. You will spend your time supervising the jobs, providing on-site training as well as communicating with your clients, doing spotting jobs, and supporting larger jobs with the second vehicle. Resist the temptation to run the second vehicle full time at this point. You need to build infrastructure!
When your technician’s assistant is fully trained as a lead tech, you will launch your second truck with him as the technician. Next, hire an assistant for each of your technicians and immediately begin to train them as co-technicians. The end result is that you have two trucks with 2 technicians. If someone calls in sick or quits, the schedule still runs. If you have to fire someone, the schedule still runs. When you get ready to expand to 3 trucks, you have a technician-in-waiting. Having 4 technicians helps on big jobs as well. Four wands can make a big difference on a large commercial job.
This will be the most challenging time of your career.
This process will require lots of hard work, organization, and much trial and error. Hiring and training a net of 3 people (you will likely go through many more than that to net 3) while continuing to run your business is no easy feat. But, if you will make the investment in building it right you will end up with a strong two truck company with lots of depth and lots of capability. Other models may be easier, but are too fragile and undependable. At any moment they can turn into disaster. With this model, you will be able to grow your company as big as you want.
The Marketing System
Getting enough business to survive is one thing. Producing a predictable amount of revenue to support 5 employees, your salary, and a profit margin is something else. Know exactly how you will produce the income. No guessing allowed here. Develop a plan that will drive more business than you need. Duplicate and systematize what you have done in the past. Make sure you have more than enough business coming in before expanding. If I had it all to do over again, I would operate out of the excess instead of the desperate need. If you do not organize your marketing system ahead of time, you will get so busy training people and putting out fires that your marketing will run out of steam. Take a serious look at what it will take to bring in the amount of revenue you need and work it into your overall plan.
The information in this article may seem overwhelming and discouraging, but can you imagine realizing all of this after buying trucks and hiring people? I can. That’s what happened to me. Thank God for the opportunity to learn how to do it. Now you have the opportunity to study these dynamics before shedding years of blood, sweat, and tears.