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Starting a cleaning
business requires some planning.
Residential
or Commercial or Both?
There's a difference between a residential cleaning cleaning
service (which can be a one- or two-person operation) and
a commercial cleaning business (which may require 4 or more
people for places like banks and offices). Commercial cleaning
will also require more equipment, such as floor scrubbers
and floor polishers. In addition, you will probably require
more insurance for a commercial cleaing business.
What's
The Market Like?
Check the yellow pages and search the web for "cleaing
service (your town)" and "maid service (your town)".
You can also check at Superpages.com
and Yellowpages.com
and you can check your local yellow pages. There are several
commercial cleaing franchises, who may have devoted sales
people and who may be very cost-competitive.
What's
The Going Rate?
Contact a couple of local cleaning services, pretend to be
a prospective customer, and ask them what their rates are.
Or ask them to come to your house to give you a quote for
cleaning. Commercial cleaning rates may be more difficult
to get. You may be able to get some quotes by phone, but in
many cases they will want to meet with you.
Are
You Physically Capable?
Cleaning can be physically demanding. There's the cleaning
itself, as well as the possibility you'll have to climb up
and down ladders and move pieces of furniture.
Do
You Have A Reliable Vehicle?
A car will do, a van or minivan is better.
Marketing:
You'll have to acquire a customer base with marketing. Since
you'll be just starting and will be competing against existing
cleaning services, you may have to offer slightly lower rates.
Or you'll have to present a more professional image.
How to market?
- Network: Tell everybody you know about
your business.
- Business
cards: Distribute them to everybody you see.
- Flyers: Print flyers and distribute them
in neighborhoods.
- Direct mail: Rent a mailing list and send
letters.
- Web: Find local community forums and mention
your business.
- Press release: Send a press release to
all local media,
about
your new business being established.
- Yellow pages (Not
Recommended).
- Establish a website
(highly recommended).
Insurance
and Bonding:
You should have liability insurance and a surety bond.
If you have employees working for you, you may also need to
carry workers comp. insurance (requirements vary by state).
Should
You Buy A Cleaning Franchise?
Personally, I'm burned out on franchises. The success rate
of a franchise is generally no better than a non-franchise.
You may wish to search for "cleaning
franchise complaints" or visit Franchise-Forum.com
or BlueMauMau
for some more insight into franchises.
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