It is always a tough relationship between the policy holder and the insurance company. Your job is at least partly to keep all parties happy. One hapless Kansas mold remediation contractor got caught in the middle. Steve gives him some hints on how to stay out of this trap in the future …

Can your home-based or small cleaning and/or restoration business compete with the big boys? A lot depends on your telephone skills. Here is a tip to make sure future customers AND potential cheerleaders don’t fall through the cracks!

An Oklahoma business owner wants to do right by his employees but is frustrated by their apathy and fear in selling carpet protectant. Steve shares 7 steps that he used to super-charge his Scotchgard carpet protectant sales …

Life is too short for a cleaning professional to pass his or her day down in the dumps. Plus any attitude (good or bad) is highly “contagious”. Here is one tip to keep a sour viewpoint from creeping up on you …

Check out these 10 questions that just may keep you from joining the 80% of start-up businesses that fail within their first decade. Then share with your fellow board members other vital questions that have kept you safe, sane and profitable …

A New York carpet cleaner poses a thorny question, “What is the average age of my customer”? In typical Steve Toburen fashion he takes the “long way around” before answering the original question. But Steve’s long-winded reply contains some great insights on the Emotional Dynamics of the home owner/technician relationship …

Many entrepreneurs struggle with verbalizing their gratitude to others. SFS instructor Chuck Violand shares why saying “thank you” is so important and how you can do so …

One frustrated SFS carpet cleaner vents about the construction industry in general and contractor’s almost total lack of customer service specifically. Steve as usual finds a “silver lining” in this very bleak cloud …