By 
You may disagree, but most people find that cleaning their home is stressful and sometimes painful. You can tap into a huge industry by starting a cleaning business.
You will always have a need for cleaning services to keep your business thriving and clients’ homes spotless. Here is a guide to starting a cleaning business from scratch.
You Can Do The Initial House Cleaning Service Yourself
You might be tempted to hire staff to help you start your house cleaning business, but the best way to get started is to do the majority of the work. You need to understand the business first before you can run it successfully from afar. Asking friends and family for references or cleaning their homes is a great way to get your first few customers.
By committing to work and source your first few clients yourself, you can keep your startup costs down. You can save money by paying yourself a fair wage instead of hiring employees while you figure out the kinks in business models and establish best practices for your new company.
You can also maintain your business’ image by taking care of the clients yourself. You can hire to help with larger house cleaning projects once the business starts to grow. You may decide to hire employees to handle regular clients, while you focus on other aspects.
Establish A Budget For Your Cleaning Company
Many potential residential cleaning entrepreneurs ask Can I open a business with no money at all? Will I require a business loan? How can I reduce my costs? What is the best business structure to use for this industry sector? Does it cost a lot to start this kind of business? It will cost some money but you may find it less costly than you think.
Budgeting is more than just how many hours and flat rates you charge or what your hourly rate is. You will have to spend money on supplies to make your business successful, and you’ll also need to track and cover fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. Establish a budget that is reasonable for your business. This includes the replacement of equipment and products as needed.
If you are outsourcing labor, you should also factor in the cost of hiring and payroll. As a business owner, you will need to save money for insurance and taxes. Set aside money to buy equipment and estimate taxes. This will help you prepare for a successful business. Your business budget will disappear if you fail to put money aside for tax.
Types Of Cleaning Services You Can Offer
It’s important when starting a cleaning company to think about the different cleaning services that you can provide to clients. Diversifying your cleaning services will help you attract more customers and increase revenue. You can offer a variety of cleaning services in Queenstown.
House cleaning
The most common cleaning service involves a general cleaning of the client’s house. Vacuuming, dusting and mopping are all part of this service.
Office cleaning
Cleaning services are needed by many businesses to keep their workplaces clean and professional. It can be as simple as cleaning the restrooms and sanitizing surfaces.
Deep cleaning
Deep cleaning services include more thorough cleaning that isn’t usually done regularly, like cleaning baseboards and grout or cleaning appliances.
Move in/Move out Cleaning
Clients who are moving into or out of an apartment or home will often use this type of cleaning service. This type of cleaning service involves a thorough clean to prepare the area for new occupants.
Choose The Equipment You Want To Buy
You will need some cleaning equipment as part of your startup costs to start a cleaning company. This will help you clean homes and offices more efficiently. Here is a list to help you get started.
Common Cleaning Supplies & Equipment
It’s important to have all the supplies you need to start a cleaning service. This will allow you to offer a high-quality product to your customers. You will need the following cleaning supplies:
Cleaning Solutions: These include all-purpose cleaners (including glass cleaners), bathroom cleaners and disinfectants.
Vacuum Cleaner: Any cleaning business must have a good vacuum cleaner. Choose a vacuum cleaner with a strong suction and a variety of attachments to clean different surfaces.
Spray Bottles: Use spray bottles to mix your cleaning solutions and apply them.
Scrubbers and Sponges: They are essential tools to remove tough stains.
Protective Gloves: Protect your hands while cleaning with durable glove
Disposable towels or reusable ones? Use a mixture of both for cleaning.
Brooms and Mops: Both are essential for effectively sweeping and mopping the floor.
Vacuum Cleaner: Investing in a quality vacuum cleaner will help you clean your carpets and flooring.
Microfiber Cloths: These cloths are perfect for cleaning and dusting surfaces without leaving any lint.
Trash Bags: Stockpile trash bags of all sizes to dispose of waste when cleaning.
Bucket & mop wringer: Make mopping easy with a bucket & wringer combination.
Cleaning caddies: Use cleaning caddies in order to organize and keep all your cleaning supplies easily accessible.
Dusting Tools: Use a variety dusting tools for different surfaces, such as microfiber cloths and feather dusters.
Floor cleaning products: Includes floor cleaners, polishes and waxes for different types flooring.
Step stools and ladders: When cleaning areas that are difficult to reach, it’s important to have step stools or ladders on hand.
Are you going to use traditional cleaning products like bleach or other conventional cleaners or will you be using environmentally friendly or “green” cleaners? Plan your equipment purchases based on how you plan to prevent cross contamination between clients’ homes, whether it is by using disposable products or strict sanitation practices.
Select A Brand Name For Your New Cleaning Company
A startup cleaning company must establish a name. The most fun part of running a cleaning company is choosing a name for your brand. You can choose a name that is a play on the words, your full or part of your own name, or a fun or quirky nickname. It could also be based on where you live or what type of cleaning service you provide, such as residential or commercial cleaning.
Choose a business name that:
- Accurately describe the company
- It is easy to remember and spell
- Does not exist in use
- It sounds good and reads very well
- Can grow along with your business
You should look online for names that you like when deciding on the name of your cleaning service. You should check as soon as possible to see if another business has the same name. Even unintentionally using another company’s name can result in costly legal issues.
How To Get The Right Licensing For Your Cleaning Business Startup
It is important to register a business name to prevent it from being used by others. Registration requirements may vary depending on state and local laws, so make sure you check that you are in compliance with all relevant laws.
Is a business license required to start your own house cleaning service? It depends. You may require for your business and even permits, especially if your choose a different name to use. You may be required to pay a fee and apply for a license depending on the local laws and state law.
Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs), and sole proprietorship are two popular choices for a license. A limited liability corporation (LLC) reduces your personal liability and puts company assets at risk. A sole proprietorship can be cheaper to set up and gives you total control of your business. A sole proprietorship may put your assets in danger if it is not profitable.
You will need to submit a Doing Business As-license if you choose a brand name. This license is used to establish your fake business name, and it ensures that your company operates legally.
It is also important to check whether your local laws require you to carry business insurance, liability coverage, or any other type of protection. Business insurance and liability coverage can protect you and your client in the event of an accident.
Promote Your New Cleaning Company
The next step to starting your own cleaning business is marketing. Once you’ve chosen a name, filed the necessary permits and licenses, and purchased all of your cleaning supplies, now it’s time for you to start looking for clients. The marketing for a cleaning business is as simple as word-of-mouth or as complex as advertising in the local newspaper or online.
Print fliers for your business, launch a website, email campaign, invest in digital advertising, or place signage (with permission) on your property to attract potential clients. You can ask satisfied clients to refer you if you already have a few customers. Offer referral coupons or discounts as an incentive to existing clients.
Give Customer Service Priority
Cleaning is an easy job: You remove dirt and shine surfaces. In customer service, however, it is important to prioritize the needs of clients. This means that you must be available to both existing and potential customers, respond promptly to quotes and service requests, and follow up with them to ensure they return.
You need to communicate with your customers in order to effectively manage your house cleaning business’s technical side. Voice mail, email, a social media page, a website or all these tools combined, can improve your company’s reach and customer satisfaction.
Cleaning Business Software: Save Time
As a cleaning business owner, you may spend a lot of time cleaning houses, filling out paperwork and filing permits, and replenishing supplies. In addition to meeting the needs of clients and restocking supplies, you also need to manage your budget, supervise employee scheduling, record client information and process invoices.
Comments