Information on Starting a Cleaning Business
The Business Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) estimates that the cleaning industry is made up of about 56,000 contractors. Most are small “mom and pop” operations. A cleaning business is easy to get into. It allows you to keep your expenses low while you build up a customer base. This is a business you can operate part-time or full-time.
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Decide Which Type of Business to Start
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The two main types of cleaning businesses are residential and commercial. Residential cleaning refers to providing home cleaning services like dusting, vacuuming, moping, cleaning kitchens bathrooms and more.
Commercial cleaning services include janitorial services for offices, hospitals, restaurants, schools, hospitals and other commercial establishments. Commercial cleaning jobs are usually much larger than residential jobs.
Narrow in on Your Target Market
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Once you decide which cleaning services you will provide, narrow in on a target audience. Both residential and commercial cleaning can be further broken down into specialty niches like green cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning, window cleaning, etc.
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Labor and Materials
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A residential cleaning business is much easier to start on a tight budget. In the beginning, you can perform most of the work yourself. Cleaning supplies, garbage bags, a mop, broom and vacuum cleaner can be purchased or you can use your own until you earn enough for separate supplies and equipment.
Marketing and Advertising
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Let potential clients know about the cleaning services you provide to drum up business. That’s where marketing and advertising come in. As soon as you focus on a specialty, you’ll need to create a message about the benefits of your services. Customer referrals can be an excellent source of new business. You can offer existing clients a substantial discount for any referrals that turn into new customers.
Franchise Versus Independent Business
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You can choose to buy a franchise cleaning business or start an independent operation. Buying a franchise is like buying a ready made business formula that’s been proven by other franchise owners. You pay the required costs and sign a contract stating that you will follow the franchise guidelines and established systems of operation. You have the benefit of not having to learn everything from scratch by choosing a business with brand recognition. This can also mean being able to immediately attract customers who are already familiar with the franchise name.
If you choose to operate your business independently, you may have to endure some trial and error during the start up phase, but you can run things according to your own rules. You can operate as a full-time or part-time business, stay small or expand to hire employees. You also have the potential to earn much more.
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References
- Photo Credit glass cleaner image by Randy McKown from Fotolia.com
