You need to write out a business plan with a heavy emphasis on the marketing section of the business plan.

Even if you don't need a loan (swear to God! you actually write business plans for other reasons than that ), you should have it written out how you are going to pound the pavement.

With the three major forms of revenue creators - sales, marketing, and advertising (all meaning different things but complementing each other), it is my opinion that sales is going to be the one you should concentrate on.

I think you'll need to pound the pavement, get in the door, meet face-to-face with decisionmakers, do a very brief presentation (3 minutes or less, I don't give 2 thoughts to my carpets), ask for the business, and close them (or follow-up and keep asking).

Let me bold this:

If you don't think you can do this, and cannot formulate a plan to execute sales, then a partner (forget your pride) or an employee is clutch.

Remember the show Designing Women (I didn't watch the show that much, I'm a guy)? Remember that woman who had the big breasts, was a big flirt, and was the person in charge of sales for their interior design business and did little else with her day (she worked like an hour a day)? Remember how the manager said they kept her around even though she was a royal pain in the butt because she had a knack for it? She was absolutely indispensible in that fictional show.

It's sooooooo true to life. With a one person operation, you have to be her, the manager, and then yes, the fun part, actually doing the job (if you like cleaning carpet). In a lot of ways, she was the most important part of that business.

In business, you'll learn every dept is an expense. The only thing that creates revenue is sales.

Meanwhile, if you are going to do this all yourself - there are many, many, many books on sales you should be digesting. Zig Ziglar comes to mind, Endless Referrals by Bob Burg, and many others.

Good luck.

You may want to consider building a relationship with companies that already deal with businesses on a constant basis. For example, employee leasing companies. You may also want to look for a leads club in your area.

Once again, awesome information. Are there any programs that will assist me in making a business plan, or is it something you just come up with. I am starting to believe you are right. I feel that I have good ideas as far as marketing goes and who to target for my service, however, it would be really awesome to have someone that could help me doing sales. I do not mind actually cleaning the carpets until I can hire someone to help do that also.

One idea I have is possibly contacting the university here, and finding a upper class student in sales that needs a job. They could assist me in cold calling, door to door sales, and maybe even marketing. Now alot of people tell me that passing out flyers is key, but I am thinking of going a little further. What if I am able to send this student, who should have a good image of themself and be professional, and could sell my service well, send him door to door and be prepared to schedule cleanings as they go door to door, therefore putting the customer on the spot. I feel people would be more willing to sign up if they are put on the spot, especially if they know they could really use my service. Then I could just give the sales guy a commission per sale.