Operating a kitchen exhaust cleaning business can be lonely sometimes. When we operated our business in Raleigh, NC we found being members of forums where we could exchange ideas, pictures, and ask questions made it more fun.

Below are websites we found helpful. We invite you to send us links to other websites (including your own) that you have found useful.

www.theGrimeScene.com
There is a forum here just for kitchen exhaust cleaners. Many members of the GrimeScene clean driveways, windows, carpets, etc. so you may find some of the other forums helpful if you are planning on branching out from hood cleaning.

www.HoodCleaningHelper.com
This website was created by Anthony Blanton, first winner of the Nobel Grease Prize. It is full of helpful advice on the hood cleaning business as well as videos that show special tips and tricks of the trade. It is a must see site!

www.restaurantactivityreport.com and www.restaurantleads.org
Weekly notification of new restaurants, new owners of existing restaurants, management changes, and closings. Get there BEFORE your competitors! Also a great source for accurate lists if you plan to do some direct mail marketing.

www.bidslotprogram.com or call 828-423-0776
Cold Calling Service for Hood Cleaners. They set the appointment, you walk in and close the deal. Sweet!

www.ehoodcleaner.com
Hood Cleaning Business Software and Online Marketing for hood cleaning business online with job scheduling, before and after pictures, and client billing software that's hosted online, as well as internet marketing and website design.

www.theGreasePolice.com
This forum has a free area and a paid subscription area. There is some good stuff in the free area, but the best advice is found in paid subscription area

www.firemanllc.com
If you are cleaning hoods but not servicing the fire suppression system you should consider getting trained by Fireman LLC. It is an easy way to add $100 to the invoice at each cleaning.

www.raglady.com
Using her blue surgical rags saved us grief on 2 occasions when the customer claimed our rag ruined his fan. The rag in question was white. This site also has great prices for gloves and oil booms. Oil booms contain material that absorbs oil but not water and are useful in maintaining grease containment systems. Especially if you decide to go the build-it-yourself route.

Want to have a unique logo or just wish you could find some illustrations that are all your own? Start a contest on one of these websites and set the rpice you are willing to pay. Be sure to ask for both JPEG and vectored files from the winner. www.logomyway.com ($200 minimum prize) and www.hatchwise.com ($100 minimum prize).

www.HoodFilters.com, www.OrderFilters.com, www.SmithFilter.com
When our customers needed new steel grease filters, we ordered them from Smith Filter and had them drop shipped to the customer. There are now several wholesale places where the filters can be purchased. Prices vary, so double check between the sites. I found Smith Filter very helpful with advice on how to measure and order. It is not as obvious as it looks!

www.OmniContainment.com
Make money selling grease containment systems and replacing the filters that go into them. Some people make their own grease containment systems by installing adjustable roof gutters around the fan housing. Fill the gutters with oil booms cut to size by the Rag Lady listed above.

www.SoapWarehouse.biz
If you are having trouble locating the right chemicals, check these people out. They will drop ship caustic beads and liquid sodium hydroxide. They are also very customer service oriented and are happy to answer your questions regarding what you should be using. Many communities have a Landa dealer that will offer chemicals as well as repair and maintenance on your pressure washer. You can also ask the owner of your local car wash for the name and number of where he gets his chemicals.