How do I start a cleaning buisness?

Question

I have been thinking of opening a cleaning buisness in my area... About a year ago when I was pregnant and on bed rest, I tried to hire like merry maids or something.. and nothing in my area.. so I have been in the works of trying to get everything I need.. well thinking about it at least..

What do I need to open it? I will do it form my home at first.

credit card machines? bank accounts? license?

how would you charge? per room, per hour, per house? two bedroom, three bedroom?? empty house? full house? any ideas is appreciated.

plus how would I advertise, yellow pages? craigs list? news paper?

Answer 1

you will need to decide what legal structure of busines you want to be before you get started - sole propieter, partnership, etc. If you are looking to take out a loan (which most people need to in order to start any business), you will need to write a business plan, or have one written for you. Writing the plan is a real pain, especially when you get into the number crunching, but it will be well worth it in the long run. You will need to figure out an itemized list of your start up costs -all the way from rubber gloves, to mops, to gas to and from the homes you will clean. Look in the phone book and try to find a mom and pop type place that will be willing to talk with you about how much they charge, how much they profit, etc. You can even secret shop companies and get prices that you can then compare to price your services competitively. Start researching - read books on starting a small business, if you can hire a consultant, do it. The college near me offers free seminars and consultations for entreprenuers, see if there are things like that available to you. Good luck!

Answer 2

Around here they charge by the job. A 3 hr job using 2 people to clean is $80. or about $35 per hr.

You would have to place ads in flyers and local papers and put notices in mail boxes. You will need to have ins. to cover workers who might get injured on the job.

Answer 3

A cleaning business-whether residential or office-is a terrific way to have a stable income. And you're smart to investigate before you try and get clients!

Here's some beginning steps:

1. Check with your city or county clerk's office to see if you need a business license or fictitious name license. These are inexpensive ($25-$50) and usually last 3 or more years.  In the beginning for residential cleaning, you really don't need a DBA until you are closer to being full time-it will help with taxes and deductions;

2. Then, call around to insurance companies and compare prices for liability insurance (sometimes called bond). This protects you if something breaks or gets damaged while you're on the job. And, yes, sometimes you didn't so it, but with this you can keep a client! AND, when you can say to potential clients, "I have liability insurance" it not only makes you professional, but adds confidence. It shouldn't cost more than around $100-$300/yr for $100K coverage (you don't need more than that for now, probably much less-around $50K);

3. Call existing cleaning companies, pretend to be a potential customer, to find out the going rates and services provided;

4. NOW, make a nice flyer and/or introductory letter about your service and start knockin' on doors, so to speak!  Dress nice, maybe have a t-shirt made up with your company name and/or logo at Cafepress.com, too. Think about magnetic signs or a vinyl wrap for your vehicle...they're great mobile billboards.  Just keep 'em simple and easy to remember;

5.  And spend less than $39 on a business cleaning kit, less than that for a residential cleaning kit, that will give you the basic contracts, forms for estimates, pricing charts and book-keeping, intro letters, supplies, customer leads and other valuable tips.  It will save you time and money in the long run!  

This is a general start. There is lots of information available for you below......