If there’s one thing that everyone can be sure of, it’s that there will always be a need for cleaning. It’s only natural that if things always need to be cleaned, then there will always be a market for cleaning services. Some people don’t have the time, energy, physical ability, or they want to clean on their own, and they are willing to pay others to do it for them. Some studies even show that hiring a cleaner can make people happier.
If your goal is to open a cleaning business, then it’s a good industry to enter. However, you want to make sure that you set your business up for success before you launch. Starting a business of any kind isn’t easy, and cleaning services will have competition. You just need to do whatever you can to prime your company to grow over the long haul. Here’s the ultimate checklist for starting a cleaning service that you should be following.
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Choose a Niche
Sometimes it’s best to start small and build from there. When it comes to a cleaning service, this is often a good approach, especially if you are starting out with only yourself doing the work. First, choose something that you think you can excel at. It can be residential indoor cleaning, pool cleaning, office cleaning, or exterior cleaning, as some examples. You can even get more specialized, such as making upholstery or carpet cleaning your focus.
When you focus on one thing, you can get very good at it and build a reputation with your clients and the community. Eventually, you can branch out to other things to grow your business. But, on the other hand, if you try to be everything to everyone, you are more likely to do mediocre work and not get the repeat business you need.
Have a Plan
A cleaning service is a business that is relatively easy to start. You can invest in equipment and supplies and put an ad or two on social media. You may find success right off the bat. However, it’s always good to start out with a plan. This will help you stay on track as you grow your business, move between phases, and guide you on how to run your operations best. Your business plan should include what will make you stand out from your competitors, what the market is like, and what your projected costs and revenue figures are.
You need to have it paid out plainly so that you can efficiently move through your plan until launch and then seamlessly transition into a functioning entity. Your plan should be very clear about what will make your business successful and what strategies you will use to be efficient as you operate.
Invest in the Right Equipment and Supplies
You can put in the elbow grease, but you will need the right supplies to get the job done properly. As a cleaning business, it’s always good to get high-quality supplies. This doesn’t mean the most expensive but just does the best work. For example, if your vacuum isn’t powerful enough, then you may have to re-vacuum the same spaces over again. This will waste your time and energy when you could have moved on to cleaning something else. If you are marketing yourself as an eco-friendly cleaner, then it’s also crucial that you follow through and purchase environmentally-friendly cleaning solutions.
Get Insured
As a cleaner, you will come into contact with your clients regularly. In addition, you will be in their homes, which means there are opportunities for injuries or property damage. If you don’t have protection, then you could be on the hook for compensation. For example, a client could slip on an overly wet floor, or you could damage the drywall when moving furniture around.
Don’t take chances and assume that you can be careful enough to avoid issues. Learn more here about general liability insurance and other coverages that you might need. The last thing you want is for a mistake to ruin your business entirely. If you are hiring people to help you, then you will need workers’ compensation coverage as well. Since you will probably drive a vehicle to and from work sites, you may need commercial auto coverage. Check with your personal vehicle insurance provider to make sure.
Branding
Every business, no matter how small, needs a brand. That’s the image and personality that you want to project to your customers and prospects. Your branding includes your business name, your logo, your color palettes, the fonts you use in your content, and the personality displayed through your social media. Branding is what will draw the audience in and keep them engaged.
Often the branding can be about what makes your business different from the competition. For example, if you are eco-friendly, then your business name should reflect that, as should your colors and logo. On the other hand, if you want to give off a professional vibe, then something modern and cutting-edge for your brand will be appropriate. Make sure your branding is consistent between your website, uniform, advertising, and any brick-and-mortar location you might have.
Advertising and Marketing
As a small business that’s just starting up, you need to be efficient with your marketing and advertising dollars. That means that broadcast media might not be a great use of your budget. However, the good thing about a cleaning service is that you have a well-defined marketing area. You certainly aren’t going to advertise to an international market or even one that’s more than a few miles away.
That means that you can use targeted social media ads and search engine optimization to your benefit. For example, if someone wants to hire a cleaner, they will search for “cleaning services” within their area. You need to show up on the search engine rankings when they do. Optimizing your website can help you rise through the ranks and leave your competition in the dust.
For paid advertising, you can start with the location and then target certain niches. For example, if you want to clean pools, then you can help people above a certain income bracket. Or, if we use the eco-friendly example, you can target users in certain groups that correspond to your brand, such as climate change activists. This will make your advertising more efficient as you will be targeting people more likely to purchase your services.
Once you’ve got everything set up, then a cleaning service is very much built on hard work and great results. If you are hustling and providing your clients with spotless cleaning services, then you will no doubt find success. They will keep hiring you and recommending you to their friends.