How do I start my own cleaning business?

Question

Need some advice please. I am 23 and love cleaning, and want to start my own mobile cleaning business. But I have no idea where to start! I have experience of cleaning schools/hotels and homes. Id love to work for myself. Ideally it will just be me for a while and id see about employing any people. Do I buy all the equipment first or advertise first then buy the stuff later? Its just going to start off very small doing it part time until I get more clients, because I have a job now 7.30am-1pm, so i could do it in the afternoon.

Answer 1

I would strongly advise you to take out insurance to cover yourself while working in someone's house (I have a cleaner and wouldn't have one without insurance).  You will need to advertise - perhaps notes through doors of the area you would like to work so you will need to give a phone number and details of what you would clean etc.  You could buy the equipment yourself or use the clients (my cleaner uses all my stuff, hoover, dusters, polish etc).  I think if you provide things to clean, you should charge clients more but if you are using their equipment and products you should charge them less.  At the moment I use an agency £25.0 per hour to the agency and £7.00 per hour to the cleaner direct.  Good luck!

Answer 2

A cleaning business-whether residential or office-is a terrific way to have a stable income. It sounds like you're starting off right, and your schedule fits perfect for starting a cleaning business. 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;

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 do 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);

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 and/or a vinyl wrap for your vehicle.  For commercial accounts, target smaller offices, then either drop by and try to schedule a time to do an estimate or send your intro letter with a follow up phone call to schedule a time.  Keep at it--it will work;

5.  And, most importantly, spend less than $39 on a business cleaning kit (less than that for a residential cleaning kit!) that will give you all the basic contracts, forms for estimates, pricing charts and book-keeping, intro letters, supply list and resources, 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......

Answer 3

Go to score.org and in the upper left hand corner, enter your zip code. On the next screen, you will find the SCORE chapter nearest you. Call them and arrange for a free meeting with a SCORE counselor about starting your cleaning business..

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SCORE was founded in 1964 and is headquartered in Herndon, VA and Washington, DC and has 389 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with 11,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors.  SCORE is America's premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.

Answer 4

Haha, I didn't know people like you existed. I hate cleaning. :\

Well, I'd say you advertise first, and start making a business by yourself. Once you start becoming more well known and having more clients, you should then start hiring and buying the equipment.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Advertise first but have you thought of what jobs you want.

When a friend started a cleaning business I suggested she target specific areas as this cuts down travelling time.

Maybe look around your area and see if there are any developments maybe flats or houses recently built at the top end of the market -

You can leaflet small areas and have ads in local shops.

Hopefully one job will lead to another as people get to know you.

My friend also offers an ironing service and also does some shopping ( groceries) for the young execs she cleans for.

You can also maybe offer a choice of products etc.

I would also suggest that you buy a cheap mobile just for business calls, that way your own phone stays private.