Start a Cleaning Business

The American dream…beautiful home, family, friends, a beloved pet…and operating your own cleaning business. Well, maybe that wasn’t exactly how you pictured it, but the fact is that operating a cleaning business can be very profitable and rewarding indeed. Cleaning is very satisfying work, especially for those with natural abilities involving attention to detail. If you enjoy cleaning, don’t mind getting a little dirty at times and don’t have any sensitivity to cleaning agents, a cleaning business could very well be what you’re looking for in a career.

So let’s consider some practical steps to starting a cleaning business. First of all, before starting any business venture, you should do a little market research into the needs of cleaning work in your area depending on how far you are willing to travel to work. Gas prices are high these days and you don’t want your business to fail immediately because you can’t afford to travel to an assignment. So check out what possibilities are available close to home. You might even wish to conduct a phone survey especially if you are interested in doing commercial cleaning as well as residential. Survey in person the surrounding neighborhoods or businesses to see what types of cleaning work might be needed. You could explain that you are thinking about starting a janitorial business and wondered if they were happy with their present arrangement. You might be surprised to find a greater need than you had anticipated and this procedure will get your foot in the door when you actually are ready to start cleaning.

Consider whether you wish to specialize in a niche market like window washing, carpet cleaning or simply a general housekeeping job. Think about the supplies that you will need depending on the niche you choose. Will you need simple cleaning fluids or heavier equipment? It is always wise to keep your overhead as low as possible. As well as cleaning supplies, you will want to consider the cost of advertising. Business cards, flyers and newspaper ads have all proved very beneficial. You might consider the level of professionalism that you wish to reflect and how each of these methods of advertising will accomplish this. High profile janitorial cleaning may not suggest the use of flyers, where as a small housekeeping service might not afford media advertising.

Good planning is a must for any successful business. Think about what your potential client will want from you. We live in a society where criminal conduct is prevalent and so any credentials that you can provide to prove your trustworthiness will greatly increase your probability of being hired. Why not obtain a background check on yourself and liability insurance to add to your portfolio along with any references you may have. Anyone can present a reference even if it’s only a family member or friend whose home you cleaned once for free and did an excellent job.

Once you get start obtaining clients, be dependable! Make sure that you arrive to the job when you say you will be there and that you work hard and conscientiously to the very best of your ability. Use good customer service skills with your client, answering their questions and handling all issues in a kind and professional manner. You will want to keep good clients for a long time, so work hard to secure their continued business. Good communication beforehand will help reduce any misunderstandings about the job expected and it’s best to put things in writing.

Now that you are self-employed, you will be responsible for paying taxes. You should refer to any tax laws in your state and federal requirements to ensure that you don’t have any surprises the following year. Ignorance is no exception to the law, so they say. Some states still require a business license, some don’t. Find out what is required where you live. Many resources of information are available on the internet with regard to tax laws and licensing issues. Consideration of tax issues when setting your prices for services rendered will aid in getting the most profit. For example, if you charge $20 an hour for cleaning, keep in mind that about a fifth of that will go toward the different taxes that are required. So you might really be making only about $16 an hour.

Operating a cleaning business has many benefits other than the good pay. You can enjoy the freedom that being self-employed brings. You will be able work at your own pace, you can set your own schedule and once the work is done there is no reason why you can’t take off to the lake for the rest of the day. So if starting a cleaning business seems right for you, then come aboard and join the ranks of millions of successful entrepreneurs.

Thank you to Suzanne Leavitt for this "Start a Cleaning Business" article.