Professional cleaning services are sought by millions of people worldwide every year. And, if you are thinking about how to start a cleaning company, it is the right time to own one. It is so because more and more people realize that it is vital to have a spotless environment to work, live, and play. This is why many decide that a professional cleaning service is a way to go. However, many people do not know how to start their own cleaning business or think it’s too much work for them to do on their own.
In this post, we present simple ways to get a professional cleaning business started with little or no effort at all.
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9-Step Guide on How to Run a Cleaning Company
If you’re looking to start a cleaning business but can’t figure out how to do it, don’t worry— many people feel the same way. Don’t despair just yet! We’ve put together this handy guide to show you how to get your business off the ground in 9 simple steps.
Step 1. Find Funding Sources and Clients
This is the key step when you want to know how to start a cleaning company. Obtain the seed funding for your cleaning business through a funding company, loan or credit card- not a big loan, but something so you can start with a budget. You will make your money back over time.
Alongside this, start finding clients – this is the essential part of the business because there wouldn’t be a business without them! And once you find them , keep your clients happy, and they will keep coming back.
A simple tip to research how to keep your clients is to talk to other cleaners, real estate people or housekeeping agencies to build a name in the local market. This will trigger the word-of-mouth advertising for you!
Step 2: Decide When and Where You’ll start.
Don’t make a big deal out of starting your business— just do it. If you’ve never run a cleaning company before, here is your chance to get it right from the beginning. Don’t try to learn on the job. In other words, don’t wait around for the perfect opportunity; instead, get your business started now.
Location is essential, but not to the extent that you’d think. Location can sometimes be an issue if specific zoning laws prevent you from operating within a particular area or if it’s an area that simply doesn’t support a particular type of business. Other than those two issues, you should be able to find a location that fits your needs. You just have to do a little research about how to start a cleaning company.
Step 3: Get Your Business License
Once you’ve decided where you’re going to operate your business, the next step is applying for your business license. In most municipalities, the process is straightforward. You fill out a few forms, pay a small fee, and you’re on your way. Some cities require a separate business license just to operate an independent cleaning business. If you live in one of those places, be sure to check with your local officials before you apply for a license.
Step 4: Get Your Cleaning Products Supplies
Once you have your business license, it’s time to get that all-important cleaning supplies. In the kit, you should have everything you need to clean everything from restrooms to office spaces. Since your primary focus is to render cleaning services small businesses, here’s a list of what your kit should contain:
- Backpacks or tote bags /cleaning apron
- Cleaning bucket with divider
- Color-coded microfiber cloths
- Disinfectant spray cleaner
- Disposable cleaning gloves
- Knee Pads
- Microfiber dusters (different sizes)
- Microfiber mop and dust pads
- Microfiber waffle/dusting/glass cloths
- pH neutral floor cleaner
- Powder Bon-Ami for shower and tubs
- Scrubbers and brush
- Shoe covers
- Soap scum remover chemical
- Vacuum cleaner for carpets and floors
Step 5: Get Your Office
If you decide that working out of your home is the best option, then you’ve just eliminated a huge step in starting your own cleaning business. If that’s not an option for some reason, do yourself a favor and find an office space. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches when thinking about how to start a cleaning company.
Step 6: Get the Word Out
Getting the word out about your business is truly one of the essential steps in learning how to start a cleaning company. Without advertising and promotion, most companies won’t be able to survive for very long. The right startup marketing and branding strategies creates a whole new brand identity for your startup business. Unfortunately, this is usually where many other business owners make mistakes and don’t see the success they expected from their new business. Here’s a big tip that will help you stay one step ahead:
Don’t overlook the value of customer feedback. Your customers can be your most significant source of information, so don’t forget to ask them for their honest opinions about your services.
Step 7: Determine Your Pricing
Now, with all those above steps, you might have a fairer idea about how to start a cleaning company. And after you’ve got your business up and running, it’s time to consider how pricing will factor into the success of your business. There are two schools of thought here: fixed price and hourly rate. In the fixed price variety, you charge a flat fee for each cleaning. It may be based on size or a certain number of rooms, but it’s all in one flat rate. You get paid for each room you clean and are not charged extra for other charges like taxes or insurance.
On the other hand, the hourly rate variety places you in charge of pricing all your services and fees separately. If you’re working for an hourly rate, you’d have to add all orders to your customers’ bills at the end of the day. You’d need to monitor the costs so that you can earn a fair hourly rate.
Step 8: Get Licensed/Insured
With a business license and a name for your startup already in place, all that’s left is to get your contractor’s license and any insurance needed for your specific business. Your state or local government office will provide all this information, so be sure to check them out when you start to run a cleaning company.
Step 9: Build Your Customer Base
After you’re up and know how to start a cleaning company, the best way to build your customer base is by offering free consultations. This will result in more customers because they can come for free tours of your service before deciding what type of cleaning services they need.
When consultations and talks are done right, customers will know exactly what needs to be done and how. They’ll also be confident in your abilities, which will result in high customer satisfaction rates that will keep them coming back for more.
Final Thoughts
If you start your business yourself, you are the only one responsible for its success or failure. Therefore, it behooves you to learn how to start a cleaning company and what steps are necessary to start a professional cleaning service. The aforementioned information can guide you on your way to creating a successful business.
