How to Run an Apartment Cleaning Business
For the entrepreneur with a penchant for working from home, an apartment cleaning business may be the perfect venture. Apartment cleaners deal mainly with cleaning apartments before and after tenants have moved in and out, and they also clean shared spaces like club houses, pools or weight rooms. Though it may be difficult to collect a clientele, note that most of the earnings from an apartment cleaning business are straight profit due to low startup costs. You can pursue this venture on a full- or part-time basis.
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Instructions
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Consider startup costs. Tally up your assets like savings, stocks and other investments which may be used as collateral. Startup costs for an apartment cleaning business may be minimal, leaving you the option of using a personal line of credit for purchasing necessities. Think seriously about working with a partner or finding an investor. Many government programs support small businesses. Stop by your local U.S. Small Business Administration office to find grants in your area. Minorities, women and veterans, take note: look into local grants and organizations specifically poised to help you succeed in business.
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Think seriously about what you need. While it's important to consider startup costs, especially when you plan to rent or buy an office space or a company car, realize that a cleaning business is a rare investment opportunity that you can start with just a few cleaning supplies, a broom, vacuum, bucket and some rags. While a carpet steam cleaner may seem like an expense, call around to local distributors for a deal on a used unit. Get a pager or cell phone so your clientele can always reach you. Create a magnet logo at your local copy shop to stick on your vehicle for constant advertisement.
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Set your rates. Call around to other cleaning businesses for quotes. Expect $10 to $25 an hour, says business magazine Entrepreneur. How much do you want to pay yourself? Build your paycheck around your other costs. Detail supply and labor costs and overhead like phone and fuel bills.
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Advertise. Focus on media used most often by your target market--apartment communities, managers and landlords. Place classified ads in the rental section of your local newspaper and/or weekly shopper. Design a flier or direct mail piece to send to apartment communities in your area. List yourself in the local Yellow Pages.
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Make connections. Check out your local janitorial supply distributor for advice and other local cleaners with whom to connect. Keep up with those connections and offer to help out during their busy time; they may be open to helping you when you're booked solid as well.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep up your company's image. Wear a uniform and always act professional.
References
- Photo Credit cleaning image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
