Commercial carpet cleaning can be looked at as a business totally separate and distinct from its residential counterpart. While the basic service of removing soil from carpet may indeed be similar, and may involve virtually the same tools and skills, the mindset and selling approach can be completely different.

The difference starts with the basic philosophy and reason for cleaning. Residential accounts are almost always restorative or corrective cleaning situations where the customer finally cannot wait any longer and hires a cleaning company to come in and bring the carpet back to acceptable levels of appearance and sanitation.

By comparison, commercial carpet cleaning is generally maintenance cleaning. Services are performed at various intervals with the goal of keeping the carpet’s appearance and sanitation from ever reaching an unacceptable level.

Residential cleaning is usually sold and serviced on an individual job basis, while commercial cleaning is often contracted for a period of time and may involve multiple cleanings and methods. Commercial carpet cleaning is very often part of a maintenance program as opposed to a stand-alone event.

With these differences in mind, it becomes clear that the skills and techniques used in marketing and selling commercial carpet cleaning services are different from those used in selling residential services. The first step to selling commercial carpet care is to take a step back. Look at the prospective account with a “total package” or “program” approach in mind. Analyze the carpeted area to get a clear picture of what cleaning and maintenance needs may apply. Things to consider would include: