Starting A Cleaning Business

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What Is Involved In Running A Cleaning Business?

The owner of a cleaning business must first assess the damage by visiting the home or office they are to clean to get an overview of the job. Often the home of business owner will have a list tasks that they want the cleaning business to complete.

If such a list is not offered, the cleaner will begin with the toughest tasks that take up the most time in order to get the most out of time spent. As a cleaning business owner, you may need to supply your own cleaning equipment or it may be supplied by the client.

A house cleaner will typically begin a job with the task of changing bed sheets and doing laundry. The cleaner continues to do the laundry throughout the day as they manage other tidying tasks. An office cleaner will usually begin by emptying all of the trash cans and replacing trash bags throughout the office.

In the bathrooms, the cleaner washes and rinses sinks, counters, tubs. The mirrors are cleaned with glass cleaner and a rag. Toilets are typically scrubbed with a toilet brush and the outside wiped with a rag.

The cleaner also dusts all of the surfaces, and vacuums and mops all of the floors. Before leaving for the day, the cleaner puts all of the cleaning supplies away and takes all the collected trash out to the outside cans or dumpster. After one more look around to make sure all tasks were completed, the cleaner moves on to another job or to the office to take care of administrative and managerial tasks.

Equipment Necessary To Run A Cleaning Business:

Trash cans
Trash bags
Mops
Brooms
Cleaning solutions
Rags and towels
Computer with Internet access
Website
Van to carry supplies to and from cleaning jobs

The Cons Of Running A Cleaning Business:

Physically demanding job
Extended exposure to cleaning product that may be harmful
Some clients will hover over you as you work, or you may have to deal with cleaning around pets and children.

The Pros Of Running A Cleaning Business:

The more services you offer the more money you can earn
An easy way to earn money
Cleaning is a service that is currently in high demand
Friends and loved ones can come to work with you from time to time if you need a hand
Low startup cost
Supplies and mileage is tax deductible
Low advertising costs
Clients typically leave you to do your work in peace
Solitary work with significant income potential

Skills Necessary To Run A Cleaning Business:

Cleaning experience
Ability to move and lift furniture
Ability to manage cleaning supplies and equipment
Ability to follow instructions

Licenses Necessary For Running A Cleaning Business:

Contact local municipalities to determine which licenses and permits are required to run a cleaning business in your area

Associations:

Global Cleaning Association

Association of Residential Cleaning Services International

International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association

Employees & Job Requirements

As your business grows, you may wish to hire a team to help with bigger or more jobs. You many also want to hire an assistant to schedule meetings with clients and other administrative duties.

Approximate Minimum Start Up Cost

If you hire a lawyer to help you with your cleaning business legal fees and license fees, you can expect to pay around $500. Insurance should cost about $600 and another $500 can be spent on products and equipment for your business. Depending you the cleaning business you run you can expect to pay between $500 to $2,000 dollars for start up.

12 Steps To Starting A Cleaning Business

Before You consider a Cleaning Business , see 16 Questions to Consider Before Starting a Business

1. Ensure A Cleaning Business is for You!

You have a choice as to what business you're going to start, so start one that's right for you. Getting into the right business can dramatically increase your success. Get into the wrong business and your success rate drops. Read Five Secrets to Getting into the Right Business for more information.

2. Understand How A Cleaning Business Operates

How can you run a Cleaning Business if you don't know much about the business? What if you run into an issue that you can't or won't deal with? Then what? You're in a business that you hate working in and that's a problem. See Understand How a Business Operates for more information.

3. Make Sure there is a Profitable Market for Your Business

What's the use of starting a Cleaning Business that is not profitable? You'll be putting all your effort in something that can't support itself or you. There are a variety of issues when it comes to setting the stage for profitability. See Tips for Identifying a Profitable Market.

4. Create a Business Plan For Your Cleaning Business

A business plan is a must for any size business because it helps you stay focused, see the big picture, and get funding. It's something that you create when you start your business and then update as your Cleaning Business evolves. Read our free online guide on How to Write a Business Plan

5. Set up your Business Team

Setting up your team includes finding the right employees and professionals that will help you run your Cleaning Business .

You don't need to employ everyone you work with, but you will need a team of people you can depend on, which could consist of a lawyer, accountant, banker, and consultant, as well as professionals in your industry. See Creating a Business Team for more on this subject.

6. Get a Small Business Loan if You Don't Have the Money to Start

If you don't have the money to get started, then you'll need the necessary financing or you won't have the opportunity to start your Cleaning Business . This can be done as a small business loan, a personal loan, or other small business financing options.

For more on financing your Cleaning Business see our guide on Financing Your Small Business

7. Legalize Your Cleaning Business

In order to run your Cleaning Business legally you'll need to abide by government rules and regulations on the state and local level.

You'll need to do your research, determine what type of business (sole proprietorship, corporation LLC, etc.) to register, create and register your business name, and register your Cleaning Business with state and local authorities.

To go through the business registration process, see Chapter 6: Making Your Business Legitimate, starting with 6 Easy Steps to a Good Business Name.

8. Get Equipment for Your Cleaning Business

In order to run your Cleaning Business successfully and efficiently you'll need to acquire the right type of equipment. How can you run an online business without a computer? You can't! This is an important issue. See Acquiring Equipment for more on this topic.

9. Insure Your Cleaning Business

Make sure you have the proper insurance for your Cleaning Business . Without the right coverage you could lose everything you've worked for. For tips on insuring your Cleaning Business , see our free online guide: Insuring Your Small Business.

10. Prepare To Accept Money

You'll need a way to accept money, you can't depend just on cash or checks. You'll need to accept plastic: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. To do that you'll need to apply for a merchant account. See Setting Up a Merchant Account for more on this topic.

11. Set up Your Accounting System

Running a Cleaning Business requires you to collect taxes, and report your earnings. So it's best to set up an accounting system in before you start your Cleaning Business . See Setting Up Your Accounting System for more on this topic.

12. Acquire Customers for your Cleaning Business

In order to exist, every business needs customers. Getting customers is one thing you'll need to be good at. If you can master the tasks of getting customers, it's just like turning on a cash machine almost any time you want. See Acquiring Customers for more on this topic

See Also: Our Free Online Guide to Starting A Business

Cleaning Business Issues's:

Estimating Startup Costs - Find out if you're forgetting something

Business Location - Choosing A suitable one For Your Cleaning Business

Build or Buy A Business? - Buying an existing Cleaning Business

Cleaning Business Research:

Here are some popular terms people are looking for online. These may help you during your research.

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Business Builders For Your Cleaning Business :

Business cards for Your Cleaning Business

Business Plan for Your Cleaning Business

Business Insurance for Your Cleaning Business

Small Business Loans: Finance Your Cleaning Business

More Business Ideas:

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