Step 1: Know the market
When you are thinking about starting a cleaning business, you need to research other companies in the area and the services they offer. If they work in the same market as you, what additional services can you offer them? You might also consider offering incentives in your pricing to encourage repeat customers.
Part of your research should also include reading reviews on Yelp and Google to see what people's top compliments and complaints are. If your customers want more flexible options, you can fill a gap in the market.
Step 2: Choose your specialty
Based on your market research, you need to decide on the focus areas for your business. Is there a high demand for commercial services or residential in your area? Where is there the least competition? The route you choose will determine the type of training you need and the insurance you take out, so choose carefully. please.
commercial cleaning services
Commercial cleaning companies handle spaces such as offices, hospitals, schools, retail storefronts, and other large spaces where businesses operate. This service provides custodians to large companies that need to keep everything clean and tidy so that people can easily move around the space.
Special equipment may be required to clean these spaces. You may also have to work all night to enroll your cleaners in classes or obtain certifications so as not to disrupt your company's daily operations. These are especially important in locations where special precautions against biohazards and sterile environments are required.
Cleaning teams need to have a regular routine and need to know what they are doing. Having a professional, well-trained team is essential for commercial cleaning.
consumer cleaning services
Consumer cleaning involves working in people's homes and living spaces. This is your client's personal space and specifications may vary from week to week, so you may get more direction from them. Cleaners must adapt to and be respectful of the client's home.
Residential cleaners need to be more detail-oriented and always know how rooms are arranged. Because of these detailed tasks, cleaning also takes time. Therefore, you may need to charge higher rates to compensate for the reduced daily business volume.
Step 3: Generalist or Niche?
Even after you choose the consumer or commercial cleaning route, you can choose to specialize in that field.
As a commercial cleaner, we can also specialize in school cleaning and use cleaning equipment that is certified safe for children. If you want to work with hospitals, it's a good idea to stock up on specialized materials and cleaning methods for hospitals.
Providing customers with flexible options of their choice for residential services can also be a great niche service. Families with young children need consistent services, so advertising your services is a good way to build a customer base.
Step 4: Set your rates
There are three ways to price cleaning companies: hourly, flat rate, and square foot. Hourly rates and flat rates apply to commercial or consumer cleaning. It may be wise to start with a residential hourly rate and calculate a flat fee based on the time it takes the cleaner to complete an average single-family home.
For commercial cleaning companies, rates calculated by square footage are very common. For more regular and repetitive tasks, it makes sense to simply calculate how much space you have and how much effort you need to put into it.
Step 5: Budget for transportation, equipment, etc.
When first creating a budget, you need to take into account all the stages that the company's employees go through in the cleaning process. If you need specialized equipment, you'll need to invest in it upfront so you can get started right away. Employee training may also be required for specialized equipment, such as floor waxing machines.
In addition to transporting equipment, you may also need to provide transportation for your employees. However, even if employees are expected to travel to the job site themselves, qualified personnel from the company should supervise the transportation of materials and ensure that employees get from the office to the job site. You should consider your transportation budget early.
Cleaning supplies can be a significant expense. In addition to specialized cleaning equipment, you'll need to keep a large stock of cleaning supplies such as brooms, mops, disinfectants, and protective equipment for your employees. It's important to keep these fully stocked, especially during busy weeks, in case of supply chain shortages or other contingencies.
