Cleaning business is an entire industry with the variety and depth of opportunities because if it gets messy, people will pay to clean it up.
The cleaning industry consists of two primary market groups – consumer and commercial.
The consumer field consists of residential maid services, carpet cleaners, window cleaners and a variety of other cleaning services required on a less-frequent basis.
The commercial ground is subjugated typically by wider range of services targeting business rather than individual consumer.
Before you leap into the cleaning business, it’s important to have a look at the big picture you are thinking to unfold.
Since need for general cleaning is expected to increase in the future, therefore you can build an extremely profitable business which will generate revenue very quickly.
You can build a company that suits your individual style and talents.
Most cleaning service businesses can be operated on either a part-time or full-time basis, either from home or from a commercial location. You need a determination to make any type of business work, a willingness to please the customer and the dedication to provide a thorough cleaning job. A critical requirement for the owner and the employees of any type of cleaning service is honesty. “Clients must have total trust in the people who come to clean their homes,” says owner of a maid service. This is important whether they’re cleaning bathrooms every week or carpets twice a year–or dusting and vacuuming an office at night.
Beyond actually being able to do the work, a cleaning service operator should have some basic business skills. You need to understand the administrative requirements of running a company, you should be able to manage your time efficiently, and you must be able to build relationships with your employees and your customers. You can start the business with personal investments and reinvest the early profits to fund growth.
Cleaning operations often require the use of special equipment and/or cleaning solutions for which you and your employees must be trained.
If you need to purchase equipment, you should be able to find financing, especially if you can show that you’ve put some of your own cash into the business. Just an advise – much successful business has been started with credit cards. Your company’s cleaning vehicles are essentially your company on wheels. They need to be carefully chosen and well-maintained to effectively serve and represent you. Your initial staffing needs might depend on the amount of capital you have and the volume of customers you can reasonably expect to serve.
Another friendly advise – Don’t rush through this process of pricing, especially in the beginning. Remember, in many cleaning situations, you may be competing against the customer himself; if your quote is high, he or she may think, “For that much money, I can just do this myself.”
Keep it moderate, don’t over or underestimate your prices. During the initial days of your operation, you should go back and look at the actual costs of every job when it’s completed to see how close your estimate was to reality. Keep strict record of Labor, materials, Overhead and of course, PROFIT. Your greatest marketing tool is your INVOICE.
Mention any upcoming specials, new services or other information that may encourage your customers. Add a flier or brochure to the envelope–even though the invoice is going to an existing customer, you never know where your brochures will end up. Though the total market for cleaning services is tremendous, you must decide on the particular place you will target. Look at the geographic area you want to serve and research the demographics. Remember, a densely populated market allows you to serve a greater number of customers because your travel time is minimal, but it also means you’ll be consuming more supplies.
You can build a very successful cleaning business on referrals. Make best use of word-of-mouth. (Friends, relatives, neighbours, co-workers) One of your most important marketing tools is the image you project. The way you and your crew look, printed materials, equipment, integrity, insurance and last but not the least your vehicles.
