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How I Got My First 10 Oven Cleaning Customers
16 Plays7 days ago
How do you get your first customers when nobody knows who you are?
In this episode of The Oven Cleaning Podcast, Ian shares the honest story of how he got his first 10 oven cleaning customers in just two weeks — without spending thousands on advertising.
From the very first booking, which came from someone spotting his van parked outside his house, to building a steady flow of enquiries through word of mouth, referrals and repeat business, this episode is packed with practical advice for anyone thinking about starting an oven cleaning business.
Ian explains why visibility matters more than complicated marketing strategies, how professional branding and van signage became his biggest source of enquiries, and why expensive Facebook and Google ads weren't the answer.
You'll also discover why leaflet drops didn't work, how local networking groups, estate agents and landlords generated early business, and the surprising impact repeat customers can have on your confidence and income.
In this episode, we cover:
• How Ian got his first customer
• How he reached 10 customers in just two weeks
• Why van signage generated more than 10 enquiries a week
• The marketing methods that worked — and those that didn't
• Why reviews become more important over time
• The power of referrals and word of mouth
• How to approach estate agents and landlords
• What Ian would do with just £500 if he was starting again today
• Why being friendly, trustworthy and reliable is the best marketing strategy of all
If you're wondering how to find customers, build trust in your local area and create a sustainable oven cleaning business, this episode is for you.
Because when it comes to service businesses, people don't buy oven cleaning.
They buy trust.
To learn more about the industry before investing your hard-earned money, visit:
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to the Oven Cleaning Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to the Oven Cleaning Podcast with me, Ian and Tina. This is the podcast where we talk about oven cleaning, business, freedom and building something for yourself.
00:00:10
Speaker
Whether you're already in the industry thinking about starting an oven cleaning business or simply curious about how a so-called boring business can create an extraordinary lifestyle, you're in the right place.
00:00:22
Speaker
So let's get into today's episode.
Starting Challenges in Oven Cleaning Business
00:00:40
Speaker
How I got my first 10 oven cleaning customers. If you're thinking about starting an oven cleaning business, you've probably got one big question running through your mind. How do I actually get customers? Because let's be honest, it doesn't matter how good you are at cleaning ovens if nobody knows you exist.
00:00:56
Speaker
And I remember that feeling well. When I started oven loving, my biggest worry wasn't whether I could clean an oven properly. It was whether the phone would ring. Would people actually pay me to clean their ovens?
00:01:07
Speaker
Could I get enough customers to earn a living? Could I physically clean enough ovens in a day to make this work? And if you're feeling like that right now, trust me, you're not alone.
00:01:18
Speaker
So in this episode, I want to share exactly how I got my first 10 customers, what worked, what didn't, and what I'd do differently if I was starting all over again. Now honestly, the answer might surprise you because my first customer didn't come from Facebook ads. They didn't come from Google ads and they definitely didn't come from leaflets. My first customer came from my van.
00:01:38
Speaker
That's it. They saw it parked outside my house. They loved the branding. They called the number on the side. And just like that, I had my first booking. I still remember how I felt, excited, nervous, a little bit terrified because suddenly this wasn't just an idea anymore.
00:01:53
Speaker
It was
Importance of Visibility and Van Signage
00:01:54
Speaker
real. Someone I didn't know who was trusting me to come into their home and clean their oven. And I wanted to do a brilliant job. Looking back, I'm massively undercharged. I charged 48 pounds, which wasn't enough.
00:02:06
Speaker
But at the beginning, confidence is everything. You don't know what you don't know. you just want someone to give you a chance. And that's exactly what that first customer did. Now my first 10 customers came surprisingly quickly. It took about two weeks.
00:02:20
Speaker
But even then, I remember thinking, where's the next customer coming from? Can I make enough money doing this? Can I physically clean enough ovens in a day to make this work long term?
00:02:30
Speaker
I think every business owner asks themselves those questions in the beginning. And the truth is, You don't need all the answers. You just need the next customer, then the next one, and then the next one after that.
00:02:42
Speaker
Because businesses are built one customer at a time. Here's what I learned really quickly. People can't book you if they don't know you exist. And honestly, visibility matters far more than fancy advertising.
00:02:53
Speaker
For me, the van became everything. Every single inquiry in those early days came from the van signage. Everyone. People would see the van parked outside a customer's house while I was cleaning. Then they'd ask the customer afterwards,
00:03:06
Speaker
What were they like? Was the service any good? And if the customer was happy, the phone would ring again. Simple, no complicated marketing funnels, no expensive advertising campaigns, just visibility and a good reputation.
00:03:20
Speaker
In those early months, the van generated more than 10 inquiries a week. That's why I always say your van isn't just transport. It's your biggest marketing asset. It's a moving billboard. It works when you're driving. It works when you're parked.
00:03:33
Speaker
And it works while you're cleaning 24 hours a day Now, I did try other forms of marketing, and some worked much better than others.
Building a Brand and Community Engagement
00:03:41
Speaker
What worked best for me was focusing on the long game, building a recognisable brand, creating a professional website, setting up a Google business profile, being active on social media, joining networking groups, and getting out into the local community.
00:03:55
Speaker
I concentrated on building assets that would keep generating inquiries for years, not just days. Now I know lots of people think the answer is Facebook ads or Google ads. And look, they can work, but if I'm honest, they weren't right for me.
00:04:08
Speaker
I spent around £2,000 testing digital advertising. And looking back, it wasn't necessary. that The leads weren't as good, the costs were high, and I found myself chasing inquiries instead of building a business. Leaflet drops were the same.
00:04:21
Speaker
I know they work for some people, but they never work for me. That's why I always tell people to test things for themselves. What works in one town might not work in another. What works for one person might not work for someone else. But for me, organic marketing won every time.
00:04:36
Speaker
Word of mouth, visibility, relationships and trust. Now let's talk about reviews, because people often assume reviews are everything from day one.
Role of Reviews and Word of Mouth
00:04:44
Speaker
For me, they weren't. Reviews didn't really help me get my first 10 customers. At that stage, people booked because they'd seen the van, heard about us locally or been recommended.
00:04:54
Speaker
But around a year into the business, reviews became incredibly powerful. The impact was huge because once people started searching online, they wanted reassurance. They wanted social proof. They wanted to know they could trust us in their homes.
00:05:07
Speaker
So I got into the habit of asking every happy customer a simple question. Would you be happy to leave us a review? No pressure, no awkward sales pitch, just ask.
00:05:18
Speaker
And early on, Yell worked really well for us. Now something else surprised me, how quickly word of mouth kicked in. Within a month, customers were recommending us to friends and family. And honestly...
00:05:30
Speaker
There's no better marketing than someone saying, you should give these guys a call. Trust transfers. And that's incredibly powerful. The best way to get referrals isn't some clever marketing trick. It's doing a brilliant job, turning up on time, communicating well, leaving the kitchen spotless and making people feel good about their decision to book you.
00:05:48
Speaker
Now, another thing that helped early on was building local relationships.
Networking with Local Businesses
00:05:52
Speaker
I targeted estate agents and landlords. Nothing fancy. I simply walked into local offices and introduced myself to the office managers.
00:06:00
Speaker
I went to networking groups. I had conversations because people buy from people, especially in local service businesses. And yes, those relationships generated work early on.
Strategies for Starting on a Budget
00:06:11
Speaker
If I was starting again tomorrow with no customers, no reviews and £500 to spend, Here's exactly what I'd do. First, I'd do keyword research. and I'd work out exactly what local people are searching for online.
00:06:24
Speaker
Then I'd build a simple website and optimize my Google business profile around those searches. Next, I'd invest in professional van signage because we've already established how powerful that can be.
00:06:37
Speaker
And then I'd make sure that van was seen by the right people. Schools, supermarkets, junior football matches, places where busy families spend time. Because busy mums are one of the biggest demographics for oven cleaning.
00:06:50
Speaker
They're juggling work, family life and everything else. Cleaning the oven is usually right at the bottom of the list. The goal isn't to be seen by everyone. The goal is to be seen by the right people.
Importance of Repeat Customers
00:07:00
Speaker
Now the biggest surprise for me wasn't how quickly the phone started ringing.
00:07:04
Speaker
It was how quickly repeat business arrived. Because once people trust you, they come back again and again and and again. And eventually you're not constantly chasing new customers. to You're looking after existing ones. And that's when things become more predictable.
00:07:18
Speaker
And honestly, that's when the business becomes easier too. With repeat customers, you know what you're walking into. You know what type of oven they have. You know how often they get it cleaned. You know roughly how long the job will take.
00:07:29
Speaker
With new customers, you never really know. You could be opening the door to a quick clean or an oven that's been through five Christmas dinners and never seen a cloth. Repeat customers remove a lot of that uncertainty.
00:07:42
Speaker
And that's one of the hidden benefits people don't talk about enough. Now, if you've just started and you're worried about getting customers, here's my honest advice. The best form of marketing in a service business is being a nice person. Seriously.
00:07:54
Speaker
Be friendly. Be polite. Read the room. If the customer wants to chat, have a chat. People are inviting you into their homes. They're trusting you. And trust is everything.
00:08:04
Speaker
If customers feel respected, they'll remember you. If they feel comfortable, they'll recommend you. And if they trust you, they'll book you again. Your attitude reflects your business. always Always remember that.
00:08:15
Speaker
because people don't just buy oven cleaning, they buy reliability, they buy trust, and they buy peace of mind. So if you're sitting there wondering how to get your first customer, focus less on marketing hacks and focus more on visibility, consistency, and customer experience.
00:08:31
Speaker
Do a brilliant job, be someone people trust, and the customers will come.
Online Training Academy Introduction
00:08:42
Speaker
If you've been listening to this episode and wondering whether an oven cleaning business could be right for you before you invest thousands of pounds in equipment, training or a franchise, take a look at the Oven Cleaning Training Academy.
00:08:55
Speaker
We've created practical online training designed to give you a genuine insight into the industry from equipment and products to pricing, marketing, customer service, and the realities of running your own oven cleaning business. No hype,
00:09:10
Speaker
No unrealistic promises, just honest advice from people who do this every day. So if you'd like to explore whether this industry could work for visit www.ovencleaningtrainingacademy.co.uk.
Key Customer Acquisition Strategies
00:09:24
Speaker
That's www.ovencleaningtrainingacademy.co.uk. Now let's get back to the episode.
00:09:43
Speaker
Frequently Asked Questions. The questions everyone's thinking, but not everyone asks. So today's question is, what if I can't find enough customers?
00:09:56
Speaker
And honestly, I completely understand that fear because when you're starting out, It can feel like everyone already has an oven cleaner. But here's the reality. Every kitchen has an oven.
00:10:08
Speaker
And most people don't enjoy cleaning them. The challenge isn't demand. The challenge is visibility. People can't book you if they don't know you exist. That's why I always say focus less on fancy marketing and focus more on being visible in your local area. Get your van seen, build a professional brand, Set up your website and Google business profile.
00:10:30
Speaker
Join local networking groups. Introduce yourself to estate agents and landlords. And most importantly, do such a good job that customers tell their friends and family about you.
00:10:42
Speaker
Because word of mouth is incredibly powerful. Once you start building repeat customers, things become much more predictable. Remember, you don't need hundreds of customers to get started. You just need your first one, then your next one, and then the one after that.
00:10:56
Speaker
Because businesses are built one customer at a time. And that's this week's Frequently Asked Questions.
00:11:08
Speaker
Thanks for listening. If you've enjoyed today's episode, make sure you follow and subscribe to the Oven Cleaning Podcast. And if you'd like to learn more about the industry before investing your hard-earned money, head over to www.ovencleaningtrainingacademy.co.uk.
00:11:24
Speaker
We'll see you in the next episode.