Use your co-competitors to your advantage.

[Fred T. Gruber Jr.]

There are many advantages to having a small business. You can keep your costs down, make your own hours and enjoy more flexibility than most larger companies can. Here are some examples that can help you provide quality service on a large scale.

Create a network with some friendly co-competitors for the following reasons:  

1. The job is too big: You may find yourself facing a situation, where a client needs a big job done in a short amount of time. You could split the job with another person and everyone is happy. I have teamed up with other cleaners to help do some very big jobs. We achieved three things. We served the customer, made money and helped keep another cleaner busy. Everybody wins!
2. Distance: Perhaps you will get a call for something that is small and far away. You could refer the job to someone that is closer to them, especially with the cost of gas. You time is worth something too. Perhaps the other cleaner will send you jobs, closer to you. We have set up an arrangement with a few fellow carpet cleaners, where we do just this.
3. Time: Perhaps you will get a call when you are extremely busy or on vacation. You could refer the job to someone else, that will give them good service. When we go on vacation, I put on our outgoing message that they can call our friend and they will be able to provide them with service. I would rather see one of my friends, who all do great work, make the money rather than someone that might not do as good of a job.
4. Specialty: you might find yourself in a situation, where you are asked to do something that you are not extremely good at. Someone in a similar business my be better at that task. Rather than try to take on something that could turn out to be more of a hassle than its worth, let someone more qualified do it. We can do some carpet repairs but know our limitations. We will hire in a carpet service to do things we can't.

[Drew Becker]

These are great reasons and suggestions about working with competitors cooperatively. Nice job Fred. I also have alliances with others when producing video projects to take advantage of the best skills for my clients and they have relied on me from time to time.

The secret is to see the marketplace as a win-win arena and figure out how we can help each other and create local wealth.