When I started hunting for companies needing cleaning services, I didn't have a clue where to begin. I felt like a door-to-door salesman with no map. Here's exactly what I did, step by step.

Scouting Industrial Parks Early Mornings

Grabbed coffee at 6:30 AM and drove to nearby industrial zones. Parked near warehouse entrances and watched workers shuffle in. Looked for clues: overflowing trash cans outside loading docks, muddy floors near entrances, dirty windows. One place had literal piles of cardboard boxes blocking exits — perfect! Wrote down addresses where I saw multiple messes. Got chased off once by a grumpy manager waving his arms. Worth it.

Stalking Business Parks After Hours

Returned after 7 PM when offices emptied. Cruised slowly through parking lots peering at windows. Looked for:

• Lights still on in empty offices (janitors gone?)
• Dust buildup on reception desks
• Stained carpets visible through glass doors

Saw one medical office with gum stuck all over their welcome mat. Took pictures discreetly (felt like a spy). Next morning, called front desks saying "I noticed your entryway could use some love…" Bingo.

Mining Old Newspaper Clippings

Went digging at local library's archives section. Flipped through business announcements from last 5 years hunting for:

• New branch openings ("Fresh space needs cleaning!")
• Expansion news ("More square footage = dirty floors")
• Management changes ("New boss wants fresh start")

Found 3 companies that moved locations last quarter. Called pretending I was "following up on their relocation" – landed two meetings. Felt sneaky but worked.

Googling Like A Madman

Spent nights typing variations of:

• "[My Town] warehouse complaints"
• "Dirty office [Business District]"
• "Restaurant inspection fails near me"

Scrolled through Yelp one-stars for phrases like "filthy bathroom" or "sticky tables". Found two restaurants getting roasted for grimy kitchens. Showed up next day offering "emergency deep clean" special – owner almost hugged me.

Asking Delivery Drivers

Hung outside industrial zones around lunch breaks. Bought coffees for UPS/FedEx guys. Asked "Which spots always look wrecked when you walk in?" Got gold:

• "Oh man, that metal plating plant? Floor's always slippery."
• "Auto shop near highway – smells like dumpster juice."

Got handwritten notes with building numbers and backdoor contacts. Two drivers texted me photos later of clogged floor drains they saw.

What Actually Worked

Industrial park mornings scored me 3 clients. Delivery driver tips got me 2 more. Newspaper trick booked meetings but only one contract. Lesson: Boots on pavement beat online digging every time. Oh – and always check the trash cans yourself. One guy's overflowing bin got me a $2k/month contract.

Don't expect replies to emails. Show up sweaty with your mop bucket visible. Works better.