How to start your own successful cleaning company
A cleaning business might involve getting your hands dirty, but it can be a lucrative enterprise if you get it right. Find out how to start a successful cleaning company.
Not many people actually like cleaning, which means there is a continual demand for companies who can take the chore away from them.
And if you are considering setting tip a cleaning business, the good news is that the initial startup costs aren’t high. You also get to be your own boss, work at your preferred pace, set your working hours, and can hire people to help you once your business starts to pick up.
However, there is a difference in just starting any cleaning business versus starting one that is successful. To ensure yours is the latter, follow this simple guide.
Set your budget
One of the hardest parts of starting a business is working out the financials. As the owner of your company, you’ll be in charge of everything that concerns money, unless you have an investor or a financial advisor to work with you to help. Most likely, though, you’ll be the jack of all trades in the beginning. So you need to carefully set your budget or starting capital to get things moving.
Apart from cleaning materials and equipment like commercial vacuums, you should also budget operating costs for things like fuel and vehicle maintenance. Depending on the scale of your business, you may also need to consider how you are going to schedule your appointments, charge for your services, communicate with your customers, and attract new ones.
Even if it is just yourself in the beginning, you still need to ensure that you are budgeting carefully and being as efficient as possible with your time.
Job scheduling software, such as Jobber, has been designed specifically to support cleaning businesses, no-matter the size. Apps like this one can significantly help not only in managing your schedules and cleaning appointments but also with invoicing, receiving payments and tracking expenses.
Make a list of all the supplies you need to get started. As much as possible, choose materials and products that are of good quality. To save on cost, look for a supplier that can provide you with what you need on a wholesale basis.
Here are some examples of the essential cleaning supplies you will need to have:
- Brooms and dustpans
- At least one vacuum cleaner
- Trash bags
- Cleaning cloths
- Paper towels
- Containers or buckets for the supplies
- Personal protective equipment such as rubber gloves
As you build your business you can add to these supplies, depending on the kind of cleaning services you plan to offer. For example, if you wish to venture into commercial cleaning, in addition to residential, you’ll need to have the tools and equipment that are more high-powered and made for commercial use.
You might also want to consider if you’ll be sticking to traditional cleaning products and supplies, such as bleach, or if you’re going to have consistent advocacy of using only ‘green’ or environmentally friendly products for your business. Positioning yourself in a certain way to your customers will stand you apart from your competitors and give customers a reason for choosing your services as opposed to others.
Choosing your company name
Having a memorable and professional business name is a must have if you want people to recognize you in your local area. It may sound simple, but deciding what to call your cleaning company involves more than just a name, font size, and design. You can choose one based on your area of service, the type of cleaning service you’ll be providing, or your family name. The decision is up to you.
However, it might help if you choose a name that accurately describes what you do or the kind of services you provide. As much as possible, choose a name that’s not difficult to spell or remember. Consider if the name can grow along with your business.
For example, naming it with words like ‘residential cleaning services’ may restrict your enterprise from expanding into other areas in the future.
Think carefully before pricing your services
Perhaps one of the most difficult decisions you need to make as an entrepreneur is to put a price on your services. This task isn’t only time-consuming but can also be a headache if you’re not one to enjoy working with numbers and prices. Make sure you’re careful enough before pricing anything. You don’t want to quote too low as you could end up spending more on supplies and products than what you make in providing your services.
Of course you want your rates to be as competitive as possible. In the beginning, people won’t know how good you are unless they decide to give you a try, and they won’t do that if you’re charging too much.
To be as accurate as possible when pricing, consider essential factors such as the cost of your materials and cleaning products, labor, and the overhead or other expenses that account for operational costs.
Be wise when marketing your business
Knowing how to effectively market your cleaning company can go a long way in ensuring its success. After all, spreading the word is key if you want the neighborhood to know that there’s a new cleaning business in town. Aside from traditional marketing methods, such as giving out flyers, consider investing in local digital marketing where you can reach a wider audience and attract them to try your services.
You can tap into the power of social media marketing, which is both effective and cost-efficient. Creating a professional website is also recommended if you want to leverage content marketing. These steps can significantly increase your online presence, especially if you learn more about local search engine optimization (SEO).
Are you ready to start a successful cleaning business?
Starting a cleaning business is just like launching any other enterprise – it requires careful planning and hard work. But if you’re able to do so successfully, you can expect it to be a rewarding endeavor that’s always in demand. With a relatively low startup cost, you have the potential to start making money much earlier than with some other businesses.
