The idea of starting a cleaning business is appealing on a number of fronts. Not only does it require a relatively low startup cost, but the overheads are also very manageable. In addition, professional cleaning services are always in demand because many homeowners and business owners tend to rely on professional cleaners for their services. (1)
However, to start making a decent profit from your cleaning business, you need to be in a position to organize your administrative duties effectively, and market yourself to your audience in a way that as many people as possible learn about the services you are offering in your target area.
In essence, a cleaning start up requires just as much careful business planning as any other if you want it to succeed in the long run. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Types Of Cleaning Businesses
Before you dive into taking the steps to start your cleaning business, familiarize yourself with the types of cleaning businesses that you could consider offering.
- Residential cleaning: This involves cleaning properties such as single houses and apartment units.
- Commercial cleaning: The focus here is on cleaning commercial spaces like offices, factories, warehouses, and retail outlets.
- Special cleaning: This involves offering special cleaning services based on a client’s specific needs (e.g., pressure washing, disinfection, dry cleaning)
After you’ve figured out which type of cleaning business best fits your niche, you can start working on a plan for launching your very own company. Keep in mind that the cleaning services industry can be very competitive so make sure you have a clear position on how you will stand out in your area.
Don’t know how to get started?
- Know your customers
Before anything else, get familiar with who your intended customers are. Will it be business owners and their commercial spaces, or homeowners and their houses? Knowing your customers will help you plan your materials and marketing strategy. Furthermore, your target market will also guide you in deciding which cleaning services to offer and how to meet their needs. (2)
Trying to cater to as many types of customers as possible without a concrete business plan will only be a recipe for your company’s downfall. Since you’re still a startup, the most reasonable option is to start small and focus on one primary type of client. With a clear target market, it’ll be easier for you to decide and plan how to meet or exceed their needs. Then, when your cleaning business is more established, you can think about expanding your target market. (2)
- Identify your target geographical area
Once you have identified your intended customers, you’ll also need to determine your target geographical area. Your chosen area will not only serve as the location for your commercial space, but this will also be the vicinity of where you’ll provide your services. However, you’ll need to consider several factors to help you pick the best geographical area for your cleaning business.
Do you want your cleaning business positioned in a well-populated city? This could be a great option if you’re aiming to cater to commercial owners and want to have nearer and better access to business buildings and commercial spaces.
If you’re launching a residential cleaning business, you may want to position your business somewhere close to your hometown or any area with plenty of residential properties around.
After selecting your business site or target service area, research the existing competitors in the area. Remember: the more cleaning companies are established near you, the tighter the competition will be.
(3)
You may also need to consider investing in industry specific job management software for cleaning businesses, such as Jobber. Job management software can help manage your internal administrative systems as well as your team, especially when scheduling them to different locations or sites. Keeping track of everything going on will help ensure that you are able to provide an excellent customer service and boost your company’s ability to succeed. (3)
- Offer fair prices
It’s common for many startup businesses to offer low prices and undersell their services as their main tactic to attract customers. Although this may work during the first couple of months of your business operation, you may soon find that underquoting and underselling your services is unsustainable in the long term. This is why you should take your time calculating your charges, taking into account all business expenses then adding an acceptable level of profit margin on top to come to your service rates. (4)
If your rates are too low, you won’t be able to turn a profit. If your prices are too high, people simply won’t accept your services unless you’re offering them something unique. (4)
Do a price check with your competitors and compare your prices. You can even call them and ask for a quote and consider this as your framework when making your own prices. (4)
- Establish a marketing strategy
Now that you have a target market, a business address, a list of cleaning services, and prices, you can establish an effective marketing strategy to attract your first set of clients and spread the word about your business. There are many ways you can advertise and market your cleaning business without spending too much money. (5)
Some of the marketing tactics you can try are:
- Referrals: Get the support of your friends and family to help spread the word about your cleaning business to their social circle.
- Social media: Create social media accounts from different platforms and name them under your business name. Then, regularly fill your accounts with valuable content to drive more traffic and encourage them to avail themselves of your services.
- Networking: Socialize with your local community and give business cards to potential customers you meet.
Launching a successful marketing strategy will be easier if you know your target market and what they’re looking for from a cleaning business. Most importantly, don’t forget to highlight your selling points, so your potential clients will understand why your cleaning business is better than the others. (5)
- Gather the necessary cleaning supplies and equipment
When buying your cleaning supplies and materials, make sure to purchase the ones you’ll primarily use. Spending too much money on your cleaning supplies and materials in the beginning will only drive up your startup costs. Better yet, you can also ask your customers if they have some of the basic cleaning supplies (e.g., buckets, broom, dustpan) available to reduce your expenses. Once you’re getting recurring revenue, you can invest in your own cleaning materials and provide even better cleaning services for your customers.
- Hire the right employees
Most startup cleaning businesses start by doing all the services themselves to reduce their labor costs. But as the demand for your services grows, you may want to consider getting employees. Remember that the quality of your workforce could make or break the success of your business. When hiring your workers or cleaners, make sure you take time to choose the most suitable ones, as your employees will represent your cleaning company or brand.
Key Takeaway
The success of your cleaning business depends on the quality of your services. Give your business the best possible start by planning carefully from the beginning, identifying your target audience and their wants and needs, and investing in business management software to organize yourself in a way that you can service your customers in the best way possible. Price your services fairly and then ensure that you are marketing your business in such a way that as many people as possible can find out about what you do. Getting the right supplies, equipment and team can be built up over time.
References:
- “Why Start A Cleaning Business?”, Source: https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/hub/why-start-cleaning-business/
- “Identify Your Target Market”, Source: https://business.gov.au/marketing/identify-your-target-market
- “Things To Consider when Choosing A Location For Your Business”, Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299849
- “Price Your Product Or Service”, Source: https://www.infoentrepreneurs.org/en/guides/price-your-product-or-service/
- “How To Create A Marketing Plan For Startups”, Source: https://www.business.com/articles/startup-killer-marketing-plan/
