How to Get First Clients in a Cleaning Service Business
Starting a new cleaning business can be exciting and scary at the same time. It's exciting to fulfill your dreams of owning a business, but it might be frightening to face a blank schedule. Among the biggest fears new entrepreneurs may have is the fear of not being able to get clients. But, the best way to get clients is to put yourself and your new cleaning business out there.
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Instructions
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Six ways to get clients for a new housekeeping business
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Market yourself. You have to let folks know you are there and you are ready to work, which means you'll need marketing materials. Flyers, business cards, websites and email newsletter lists are ways to market your new business, none of which have to be expensive. You can print flyers and business cards on your personal computer. Your personal address book is the beginning of your email newsletter list, and you can find places to host a free website, such as yahoo.com and weebly.com (see Resources).
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Put yourself out there. Now that you have the materials for marketing, you have to market. Place flyers on grocery story and laundromat bulletin boards. Create a logo and a link to your website and make it part of your email signature so that every email you send promotes your website, and therefore, your business. Hand out your business cards at every opportunity. Create a monthly newsletter or blog with helpful cleaning tips, and email it to all of your contacts.
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Network. While you're out there, make sure you're networking. Networking is making the most of the people you know. It may feel strange to ask your neighbor or your mom to pass along your business card if she hears of someone who needs a housekeeper, but it's not. The people you know know people who know people who may need your service.
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Use your local classifieds to look for work and to advertise your business. It's one of the most economical ways to find work. Check the help wanted section of your local newspapers as well as any local free classifieds or craigslist ads.
And, place a classified ad yourself. If someone needs a service, he will probably check out the local classifieds first. Your best way to reach that client is to be where he's looking. -
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Cold-call. Many commercial businesses use cleaning services. Pick up your local yellow pages and cold-call businesses in your area. Let the business owner know you're available and give her a rate for your services. Follow up with a flyer and an email thanking her for her time and consider following up with a second phone call 1 week later.
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Ask the competition. It's risky, but sometimes large companies have more work than people. Or, the companies have inquiries for services they don't perform. A commercial cleaning firm may not accept house-cleaning jobs and vice versa.
Call large cleaning firms and ask them to keep you in mind as a referral for services they don't perform. Or, if they need extra or seasonal help, offer to be there if the company wants to outsource.
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Tips & Warnings
When you do get a client, make sure you network with that client. He may have a friend or a colleague who also needs a cleaner. Never stop marketing yourself. Before cold calling a business, make up a little script so you have ready answers available. You don't have to follow it verbatim.
Be sure to ask business owners before you put your card or flyer on a business bulletin board, or it might end up in the trash. Don't put flyers on car windshields until you check your city's policy. There may be fines for soliciting with flyers or littering.
