James Nokes Editor

Come visit us at build-a-business.com (we're always adding new content) Email address: jfntci@aol.com The Cleaning Institute 955 Karol Way, #3 San Leandro, CA 94577

I've talked a lot, in previous articles, about ways to grow your cleaning business, by servicing new markets, by providing secondary services to your existing customers, and similar means. This week I want to talk about improving your business by educating yourself in specific, specialized cleaning skills.

 But First, Get Lucky 

Robert Kravitz, the author of Get That Account recently offered me a copy of his book, The Janitorial Contractor's Bible at a highly reduced price.

He offered it to me because it had a minor imperfection and couldn't be sold as new. I've decided to give it away to a lucky reader (one of you guys) as my way of saying thanks for all your support. I will announce the exact nature of the contest in my next online aritcle, issue 51.

As for the book itself, The Janitorial Contractor's Bible, it is well-respected in cleaning circles because it's a book written by a man who has built several successful commercial cleaning services, from the ground up. Want to develop a successful cleaning service? This is your chance to learn how from Robert Kravitz, a man with a proven track record at doing just that.

 Go With the Tide 

Click here to go to a fun little site created by the Tide Company. You look up the stain and the type of fabric it's on and they tell you how to clean it. Of course they suggest one of the Tide family of cleaning products but it never hurts to have information on stain removal.

 Now, Back to Business 

I've talked about the IICRC before -- the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification -- for those who didn't read my earlier article, it is an organization made up of cleaning professionals working to raise the level of professionalisn of people in the cleaning field to benefit everyone in the field.

The main way they do this is by sponsoring hands-on classes taught by skilled professionals. Here is a list of the courses the IICRC teaches classes in:

• Carpet Cleaning
• Hard Surface Cleaning
• Carpet Repair
• Area Rug Cleaning
• Fire/Smoke Damage
• Water Damage
• Mold Remediation
• Inspection
• Odor Control
• Upholstery Cleaning
• Color Repair
• Leather Cleaning
• Master Textile Cleaner
• Master Fire & Smoke Restorer
• Master Water Restorer
• Master Restoration Technician

These classes represent a great chance to invest in your own skill development. With the knowledge you gain, not to mention their certification programs, you can not only charge more money for your services but can gain prestigious clients and do work for insurance companies that you would not qualify for before.

Below I have information on a one of the many seminars IICRC gives during the course of the year. This one is to be held on June 9, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They give seminars on all the different topics listed that I above in different regions of the country and different times of the year.

The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself. The classes from IICRC give you hands-on training, taught by a master technician.

Click here to find classes in specialties you are interested in.

Click here

to return to my Free Info page.