Starting any business can be quite an intimidating and overwhelming process. If you have decided to start a cleaning business and are looking for some guidance- then this is the article for you.
Here, you will find out exactly how you can start a cleaning business- with a step by step guide.
Identify the two market groups
There are two main market groups that you need to identify – and decide which one you want to cater to. The first one is the consumer group, and the second one is the commercial group.
The consumer group consists mainly of carpet cleaners, residential maid services, window cleaners, carpet cleaners, etc.
The commercial group consists of janitorial services provided to buildings, offices, institutions, etc. often in combination with other cleaning companies.
The reason you need to identify the two market groups is because you need to know which niche market you want to cater to – and bring together the resources to do this properly.
Decide what kind of services you wish to offer
Not every cleaning business offers a complete cleaning solution for customers. However, if that is what you want to offer, then it is your decision. It is important to first decide the kind of cleaning service you want to offer, such as:
- Private residence maid services
- Janitor services
- Window cleaning
- Kitchen, bathroom cleaning
- Organic cleaning services
- All-purpose cleaning services
Have a clear budget in mind
You don’t need to invest a huge amount of money into starting your cleaning business. In fact, the most important things that you need initially include:
- Basic cleaning products
- Advertising and marketing your brand
- Staff you employ
- License and permits
- Insurance
When you start any new business, keep in mind that it can take a couple of months initially for the business to really start off. During these months, you may have low, or even no profits at all. However, you will still need to have a fund kept aside to pay maintenance, labor charges, etc.
It is important to have enough funds to help you get through the initial difficult months, after which the business will slowly start to take off.
Picking the right location
You need to have a viable space where you can run your business from. You can either choose to work from your home or rent out an office space. Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to all the options, so it is best to really sit down and make a pros and cons list first before you decide where you want to operate your business.
If you decide to work from home, then you will be saving money on rent. However, all of your cleaning equipment will stay in your home, so keep that in mind.
If you choose to lease a commercial space, you will have enough space to store all your cleaning equipment. It also gives you a professional setting for meeting new clients. However, the downside is that you will have to pay the rent each month, whether or not you are making any profits.
Choose a name for your Cleaning business
You might have already thought of a name for your business months ago, or maybe you are just getting to it now. Either way, having a good name for your business is important. This is the first impression that your potential customers will have of your brand- the business name.
You can choose a name that has a certain value or meaning to you, or you can search for unique names or even create one on your own.
Logo
Once you choose your business name, the next step is creating your business logo. Remember, you can always do all this on your own if you are creative enough. But if you lack artistic skills, then you can always hire a professional.
If you are lucky, then you can even get a friend to help you create the business logo.
Official Website
Now, you will need to create a business website.
You already know that most businesses have their own websites. It makes it easier for you to market, find potential customers, and even for customers to find you. If all your competitor companies have one, you need to have one too.
Pick a domain name that is professional but catchy at the same time. You can take help in creating your official business website. Make sure that you include all the vital information which a client might want to know. You can also add a FAQ section and give the readers the contact information they need in order to get in touch with you.
Set up your Cleaning Business
It is finally time to make it official!
You need to officially register your business at the register of deeds office. If you are going to hire employees in your business, you will also need to get an Employee Identification Number and fill out all the appropriate tax forms.
Get a liability insurance
This is a very important step for your business. You need to get liability insurance with a good company, which also works out within your budget. This insurance can save you in case there is any damage to the customer’s home during your cleaning services.
Remember, you might be super careful about everything, but accidents can happen. Your business might suffer a huge loss if you don’t get the liability insurance.
Buy all the cleaning products and get a company van
You can start stocking up on your cleaning products now. Get the basics first, and then you can always get more advanced cleaning solutions according to your company resources. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get some expensive vacuum cleaner right away. You might need to get a company van as well, but this depends.
Hire your workers
Finally, you can hire your workers who will do the main cleaning job in customer’s houses. This step is a crucial one, as you want workers with skill and experience, but you also have a budget to think of. Make sure you find out enough history about your workers before hiring them blinding- this can be a very bad business decision.
Advertise!
Use billboards, posters, social media, word of mouth, newspaper advertisements, and your own company website to reach out to clients! You can hire a copywriter to help you with your campaigns.
These are the easy, step by step process in which you can successfully start your own cleaning business. For more information visit House Cleaning Advice.