What Type of Cleaning Business Should I Start?

Jul 24

Ten Tips for Cleaning Business Owners

You must first assess your personal qualities to start a cleaning company.

Anyone can open a cleaning business. However, it is possible to have certain skills and attributes that will make you stand out from the rest. Although you don't have to be a certified cleaner, it helps if you are able to demonstrate the following:

Perfectionism Cleaning:

It is best suited for those who have a keen eye for detail and are not satisfied until the job is completed 'just right.

If you are passionate about organization, then tidying up and organizing will be a rewarding outlet.

Stamina Cleaning:

It is hard work. It's essential that you are fit and able to keep up with the pace.

Solo working:

To start with, you might be the only person at your company. Clients will likely be out so you will be cleaning up. It can be good to have a love of solitude.

You won't be bored:

Some tasks can be repetitive and un-stimulating, so mental stamina may be just as important as your physical health.

Trustworthiness:

If you spend a lot of time in someone else's house or office, they must trust you with their belongings and house keys.

Friendly and likable:

If you are rude or pushy with your clients, they will not recommend you to others or return for repeat business.

Administration skills:

Being self-employed will mean that you will have to sort out taxes, wages, invoices, etc. It is important to be proficient with numbers and papers.

Time-keeping:

Nobody likes waiting, and it can also look unprofessional. It is therefore vital to be able to track appointments.

Creativity:

This will allow you to promote your business. Unique marketing ideas will make your brand more memorable and help you get noticed.

Which type of cleaning business should I start?

Before you start to buy soap and polish, you need to make the first decision about what type of cleaning company you want to start. You might want to focus on these three areas:

Domestic Cleaning:

This involves cleaning someone's home while they are away. Although you can either work alone or hire help, the tasks are usually small and manageable. You may want to specialize in bathrooms and kitchens, focus on vacuuming and cleaning, and offer other services such as washing and ironing. You can choose to use your own products or have the client supply you with them. There are very low start-up costs.

Commercial Cleaning:

This involves cleaning commercial premises such as shops and offices, often outside of normal business hours. Commercial cleaning is more difficult than domestic. The premises are often larger than your home. This type of business may require you to be more involved in the management and higher start-up costs if you have to purchase specialist cleaning equipment or transport.

Specialized Cleaning:

This can include a variety of cleaning tasks, depending on your chosen specialty. You might choose to concentrate on cleaning windows, car cleaning, or graffiti removal. Although the start-up cost for a specialist cleaning company may vary, it is likely that you will need to purchase specific cleaning products and equipment. It is important to determine if you are able to do the cleaning yourself or require equipment.

Do you want to tidy up or clean?

Although it is quite simple, it is something you should consider before starting your cleaning business, especially for commercial and domestic customers.

Have you ever offered to clean the client's office or kitchen? Did you sweep the floors and wipe down the surfaces? Have you ever offered to clean the dishes or tidy the papers before mopping the floors?

Although it may seem small, having to clean up someone's coffee table before they can clean it can add up quickly and cause lost production time. You must clearly define what services you offer and what you don't.

Imagine that you arrive for a 2-hour cleaning time and find out that half of the time is spent cleaning up children's toys. To complete your cleaning tasks, you will need to stay another hour or return on another day. You may have to leave early or return later.

Take note of the tasks that the client requested and ensure you get this information right away. The last thing you want is to play a guessing game with important papers and end up cleaning out their bedrooms.

Tips for Market Research in Your Local Area

Market research is a crucial first step in starting a business. Without it, you might find yourself struggling to stay afloat because of a lack of demand.

It is impossible to assume you know all about your target market. How can you find out what they are looking for and how much they will pay? These important questions can be answered by market research, which will prevent you from making costly errors.

But where should you begin? Get to know your customers. Call your neighbors and knock on their doors. Talk to people you want to become clients. You'll be amazed at the number of people who are open to talking to you if you smile and act friendly. Be sure to ask the following questions:

Are you interested in hiring someone to clean your house?
What tasks would you be willing to help with?
What would you pay for this service?
Do you prefer a flat hourly wage or a range of prices depending on the task?
What time would you find the most benefit from this service?
Do you prefer to bring your cleaning products?
Is there anything that you would not want a cleaning service to do?
Do you want a company to offer a cleaning service that isn't offered?

Asking everyone the same questions will allow you to compile the results and determine which options are most popular in your region. This will allow you to spot potential opportunities for growth in your market.

Have several people mentioned that they would love to have someone vacuum their stairs and hallways? Maybe people suggested they needed a cleaner company or someone more cost-effective.

Another way to market research is to look at your competitors. You can also look in the phone directories and local business guides. Or simply ask your friends and neighbors if they know of any cleaning businesses in your area. Here are some things to keep in mind:

What cleaning services are available?
Is there any service that isn't available locally?
What are the prices charged by other companies?
What companies are most popular, and why?
Which advertising methods do they use?
Are there any distinctive selling points (USPs)?

This information can be used to determine how your cleaning company fits into the picture.