How to Start a Housekeeping Service
Residential housekeeping is a booming business in the United States. With the increase of two-income households and working single parents, many people don't have enough time to properly clean their homes. They hire outside cleaning help. By starting your own housekeeping business, you can have control over your own schedule and earn income. You can launch a housekeeping business with minimal start-up costs; a bucket of cleaning supplies is all that's needed.
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Instructions
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Select a name for your housekeeping business. Come up with a catchy name that will help you stand out from the crowd.
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Calculate your start-up costs. Consider how much it will cost to purchase cleaning supplies, mops, brooms, carpet cleaners, detergents, transportation and advertising.
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Decide how much to charge your clients by determining what the going rate for housekeeping services is in your area. Call other housekeeping services to learn what they charge and which cleaning services they offer. Charge a slightly lower rate than your competition or offer a service that isn't usually offered to help drum up business.
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Advertise your housekeeping business. List your business in the yellow pages. Place ads in local newspapers. Offer incentives such as discounts for first-time customers. Print business cards and distribute them to people you come into contact with throughout the day. Slip fliers announcing your housekeeping business under the front doors of apartments and homes, and distribute them to office buildings. Hang fliers in shops, restaurants, supermarkets and at bus stops.
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Get your housekeeping business bonded and fully insured. Insurance will cover you if you break an item in a client's home. Bonding protects you if a client accuses you of theft. Shop around for quotes from different insurance and bonding agencies, such as Aetna, State Farm and Nationwide. Visit the website of the Small Business Association (see Resources) to learn if your state requires you to have a license to operate a housekeeping business.
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Tips & Warnings
Depending on your state law, there may be tax deductions your housekeeping business can take for expenses such as equipment, supplies, advertising costs and transportation during business hours. Consult with a certified accountant.
Make a quote sheet listing how much you charge for specific services to give potential customers.
