Cleanliness is a basic human need. It is demanded daily by homes and neighboring communities like companies, facilities, and organizations of all kinds: customers are wide. If we dedicate ourselves to this activity, it will be necessary to define what we want and what we can purify in advance. Here you can read the keys to starting a cleaning business.
In this sector, it is possible to distinguish between three types of cleaning services.
1. General Cleaning
The first is general cleaning: one-time or occasional. Some cleaning companies are dedicated to providing their services at private homes and companies, commercial premises, and other facilities that do not require special care. It also includes cleaning at the end of construction work, thorough cleaning, or demands cleaning.
2. Sectorial Cleaning
The second method is special cleaning in the business sector that needs extraordinary care. There are areas of demand that require special cleaning plans with adequate materials, technology, machinery, and staff. These characteristics mean that maintenance cleaning also has a variety of specializations. In some cases, quite complex cleaning is required: industrial premises require floor cleaning; hygiene practices are very strict in clinics; in the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors, staff must be adequately qualified; while industrial refining and nuclear power plants are at the top of the pyramid of specialization.
3. Technical Cleaning
The third type is specialized technical cleaning. The maintenance cleaning service does not cover cleaning certain items that require regular special treatment, such as air, upholstery, blinds, or ventilation systems, among others. In the same way, special situations require special interventions, such as removing chewing gum, graffiti, tiling and polishing floors, decontamination services, disinfection, environmental odors, pottery, etc.
It’s up to you which cleaning service you can deliver better. There are many multi-service companies, but they are based on expertise and have succeeded with great effort. You may have to work hard to compete with them.
Starting a cleaning business requires a bit of effort, initiative, and knowledge regarding marketing and licensing. Of course, as with any business, there are certain steps you need to take to begin this business journey.
How to open up a cleaning business step by step?
We share our instructions on 7 simple steps to start a cleaning business.
1. Find out if you are a good candidate for a cleaning company
The first step is to find out if you are a good candidate for this industry. Although most people carry out cleaning projects in their own homes, this does not mean that their methods and results meet customer standards.
So how do you know if it’s right for you?
One easy way is to offer your free close family or friends your services. Ask about all the services you will offer your customers in exchange for cruelly honest opinions and comments.
If you are very happy with cleaning, this will indicate what the cleaning industry is for you. If they’re unhappy with your job, you know cleaning companies may not be the best option. But don’t be discouraged. There are still plenty of profitable industries to choose from.
2. Decide on the structure of your business
Are you going to do all the cleaning yourself?
Would you prefer to own the business and hire employees to do the cleaning?
Are you starting a business from scratch or prefer to buy a franchise?
These are all the questions you need to answer before continuing with this guide. The answer to each of these questions will largely determine how you proceed in the next steps.
Also, you need to decide on the legal structure of your business. Will it be a private company or an LLC?
3. Decide what makes you unique
Your potential customers probably have many options when choosing a cleaning company. That’s why it’s so vital that you decide what sets you apart from your competition. Once you decide on your specialty or value proposition, you can start looking for potential customers.
- Do you charge less than the competition?
- Does it offer better service, and if so, how can you prove it?
- Are the products you use greener than the competition?
- Do you offer additional services, such as window washing, oven fittings, etc., that your competitors do not offer?
Establishing what makes you unique is crucial in any business, but especially in cleaning.
4. Determine the price
You need to study how much you charge for your service in your area. An excellent way to do this is to find out what your competition charges and then lower the price slightly.
As you are a new entrepreneur in the market, we recommend offering more affordable prices than your competitors but not offering poor quality service. This is a way to show potential customers that you are an ace choice.
5. Check the required license
A specific license is required to start a business. It is crucial to investigate the specific license required for a cleaning company in your area.
Each state has its own rules and regulations regarding licensing. Whether you need a regular or commercial cleaning license and a deposit depends on it.
6. Make a plan to acquire customers
In addition to calculating prices and unique value propositions, you need to determine how to attract customers: broad marketing and advertising planning.
But this does not mean that you have to spend a lot of money. Thanks to technology, you can reach many potential customers through social media without spending a lot of money.
Regardless of which social network you decide to use to attract new customers, it’s important to have strong and proactive marketing and advertising plan.
7. Make sure you have capital
Cleaning companies don’t usually require a lot of start-up funding, but you need to make sure your business is well funded. To do this, you need cash, or you can borrow from family, friends, or financial institutions.
The exact amount depends on the size, scope, size, and structure you choose for your business.
Regardless of the structure of the cleaning company, the initial costs include licenses, deposits, transportation, consumables, equipment, and marketing.
These 7 tips are a great way to have a successful cleaning business. Remember that owning your own cleaning business requires a lot of effort. But in the end, you get an enormous reward. With a small initial investment, you can get full control over your daily schedule, stay flexible, and maintain all of your income. At the same time, there is great personal satisfaction in being able to start your own successful business.
