Before starting a new business, you need to plan, make a business plan, make important financial decisions and do other important things. Every benefit counts right now. If you have the necessary tools and know-how, starting a cleaning service for homes or businesses can be a low-risk and low-cost entry into entrepreneurship. This article will guide you on how to start a cleaning business from scratch with no money, which can be done at home or offices, and also if licenses are needed.
How to Start a Cleaning Business From Scratch With No Money.
You can start a cleaning business from scratch at home or in offices with no money with the following guide:
#1. Decide on Your Cleaning Company Name
First and foremost, you must decide on a name for your cleaning firm before proceeding. When naming your cleaning company, think about how potential customers or clients will perceive it. What comes to mind when you think about MerryMaids, MollyMaids, MaidPro, the maids, MaidBrigade, and so on? For you to start this cleaning business from scratch with no money, requires a company name.
What comes to mind when you see or think of Josh’s Cleaning Service? When it comes to perception, there is a significant difference. The franchise names I mentioned earlier are “branded” names, which means they are not tied to a specific person’s name.
Check out this Cleaning Business Plan Template
#2. Legal Requirements
The next step is to talk to the right legal people to find out if your business needs any special permits or licenses. Contacting the appropriate municipal or county government officials should get the desired results. Even if you don’t have any money, you should start a cleaning business, either at home or in an office, with the necessary licenses. The Small Business Administration provides a list of state business license offices that can provide this data.
#3. Cleaning Business Insurance
For janitorial services, you need to have the right general liability insurance or bonds.
Liability in General
Before you enter a customer’s house or office, make sure you have the appropriate general liability insurance amounts for your business. Also, most home or office owners would ask for it, and in some cases, they would need proof of liability insurance before they would hire you. Liability insurance protects you from lawsuits that could cost you a lot of money if your service hurts someone or damages their property. There is a general need for you to have liability insurance when you want to start a cleaning business at home or in offices.
Bonds for Janitorial Services
Make sure you have a janitorial bond when you want to start a cleaning business at home or in offices because it protects the house or office owner in the event that an employee steals on the job. This form of insurance is industry standard, and potential clients will expect you to have it and may even request proof of the bond. Having these various types of coverage is essential for protecting your company from liability and demonstrating to your consumers that you are a professional firm with whom they can do business.
#4. House Cleaning Supplies Checklist
Now that the legal issues have been resolved, it is time to get the cleaning supplies! If you are just starting out and lack the funds to purchase commercial/institutional bulk cleaners, you can get the majority of your cleaning materials from Home Depot, Lowe’s, and a few other online retailers like Amazon.
Instead of purchasing a single bottle of cleaner, I would recommend purchasing cleaning chemicals in concentrated form when you want to start this business from scratch. This saves you both time and money. Purchase a gallon of your preferred cleaning concentration and a 32-ounce empty bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with water after adding the necessary amount of concentrate.
#5. House Cleaning Checklist
You must create a list of the things you need to start your cleaning business from scratch, be it at home or in offices. The best method to do this is to look up other cleaning service websites in your neighborhood and check what cleaning services they provide.
Regular, spring/deluxe, and move-in/move-out cleanings are the three most common varieties. The normal service includes everything that the spring/deluxe and move-in/move-out cleanings typically accomplish, plus extras like wiping baseboards, door frames, window seals, etc.
As your cleaning checklist, open a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet and write down all the things and places you will always clean for the services you will offer. This checklist should be given to the customer throughout the estimate process so they are aware of everything you will be cleaning. This gives your customers peace of mind and helps your business create a method that can be used again and again.
Read Also: Domiciliary Care Business
#6. What Types of Services Will You Offer?
You should be able to know the type of services you will offer when you want to start this cleaning business with little or no money.
House Cleaning & Maid Services
House cleaning firms typically provide three sorts of house cleaning services: regular, spring/deep, and move-in/move-out cleanings. Furthermore, these services are typically provided on a one-time or recurrent basis, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
Small Office Cleaning Services
Small office cleaning is frequently included in the list of services provided by House Cleaning & Maid Services. The only distinction between home and small office cleaning is whether the office wants you to buff and polish the floors and when you will clean. Residential cleaning hours are typically between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You may be asked to clean a tiny office during business hours or after the office closes.
Commercial Cleaning Services
Starting a commercial cleaning service is not the same as starting a residential cleaning service. I own a domestic house cleaning firm and have no direct experience with commercial cleaning.
Post Construction Cleanup
Another potential business model is post-construction cleanup. This is a distinct specialty service, similar to the ones stated above but with distinct cleaning procedures and costs. These services will come in immediately after a new home is built and clean, vacuum, and dust all of the inside surfaces. This is similar to house cleaning, but with a lot more drywall dust. You will also be working with contractors rather than homeowners.
#7. How to Charge for Your Services
It’s necessary to know how much to charge for a house cleaning business even if you start with little or no money. In a nutshell, your pricing is equal to your hourly rate multiplied by the length of time it takes to clean. For example, if cleaning a house takes 4 hours and your hourly rate is $30, you would calculate $30 per hour x 4 hours = $120. (quote you give to the customer).
How to Charge for Commercial Cleaning
Charging for commercial cleaning operations differs from charging for private house cleaning. You will still need to choose your hourly wage as well as your production rates (how many square feet your cleaners clean in an hour). When cleaning larger offices, you must additionally account for different line items. The Janitorial Store has a wonderful post on how to charge for commercial cleaning.
#8. How to Give Estimates or Bids
Also, find out how to give an estimate:
How to Give House Cleaning Estimates
Once you’ve determined how long it will take you or your employees to clean a property and the amount of your hourly cost, you can begin providing house cleaning estimates to potential customers.
Other factors to consider when providing estimates include how much you will charge for extra square feet, hard floors vs. carpet, master bath vs. full bath, one-time cleaning vs. recurring cleaning, regular vs. spring cleaning, and so on.
As with many other service-based businesses, you have three options for delivering the estimate to your customers: in-home, over the phone, and/or through estimate request emails on your website. Instead of trying to guess or figure out prices in your head when on the phone with a customer or doing an in-home estimate, you should make a pricing sheet or use an estimate calculator.
How to Give Commercial Cleaning Bids
Giving commercial cleaning quotes, like private house cleaning, requires knowing how long it takes your personnel to clean various rooms and activities. However, when it comes to commercial cleaning, you must also consider production rates (how many square feet can be cleaned in an hour). To help you start, The Janitorial Store has a how-to-bid article and bidding calculators.
If you have a substantial initial investment and are looking for a franchise cleaning service opportunity, Entrepreneur.com has compiled a list of the finest residential and commercial franchises.
#9. How to Market Your Cleaning Business
Being identified where potential consumers are looking for your services is the key to promoting your cleaning business. Google is one of the first sites where prospective clients look for service providers. So, your first step would be to go to Google and search keyword terms like house cleaning, home cleaning, maid services, cleaning services, and so on, as well as your city/town. House Cleaning Boise, for example.
Other than the other cleaning services in your area, the sites and links that appear on the first page of Google are where you want to be found and listed. Before wasting time on these platforms, develop a cleaning business website. A website will help you establish trust with potential customers and distinguish yourself from competitors. It allows customers to learn about your business, contact you, and request an estimate.
Before you begin marketing your services, inform your friends and family on Facebook that you have recently launched a cleaning business and encourage them to spread the news. On Facebook, you can also join local garage sales and neighborhood groups. The aim is to become a valuable member of the group and the go-to person for cleaning.
Is it worth Starting a Cleaning Business?
It’s definitely worth beginning a cleaning business if you have a solid, firm plan and are ready to fill a new market niche. Cleaning services are also in high demand and always necessary, so you’ll almost certainly have some money coming in.
Can you start a Cleaning Business by Yourself?
You are on your path to making money if you can differentiate yourself from competitors through quality services, unique ideas, marketing skills, a reputable business structure, a specific niche, a solid public reputation, and so on.
How Do I Get My First Cleaning Client?
There are a few things you should know about how to obtain clients for a cleaning service before you begin.
- Developing a Marketing Plan. …
- Customer Referrals. …
- Coupons/Discounts. …
- Recycling Marketing Campaigns. …
- Optimize Your Website Content. …
- Social Media. …
- Building a Professional Network.
How Do I Become a Self-Employed Cleaner?
- Get experience.
- Determine business requirements.
- Choose a name for your business.
- Get insured.
- Buy equipment and supplies.
- Set your rates.
- Make yourself known.
What to Know Before Starting a Cleaning Business
List of things to do to start a cleaning business
- Create a Business Plan.
- Choose a Business Structure.
- Determine Your Business Costs.
- Name Your Business.
- Register Your Business and Open Financial Accounts.
- Purchase Equipment for Your Cleaning Business.
- Market Your Cleaning Business.
Do Cleaners Need to Be Registered?
You will need a vendor’s license in addition to a Doing Business As (DBA) registration in order to get your cleaning business up and running before anyone else may hire you.
Can I Pay Cleaner Cash In Hand?
It is not against the law to give cash to your housekeeper as payment.
Risks to Consider Before Starting a Cleaning Business
Cleaning enterprises, like other sectors, are not without danger. There are various risks that you could encounter, both financially and health-wise. First and foremost, you will be dealing with filthy environments infested with viruses and bacteria. You or your staff may become unwell if you are not prepared to work in such an environment. Make sure you have all of your safety equipment, notably masks and gloves, on hand.
Another risk you should consider is competition. New enterprises enter this lucrative sector because the equipment is cheap and the work doesn’t require professional training or education. These dangers, however, should not deter you from starting your own cleaning service. You have nothing to worry about if your business plan is adequately established, executed, and monitored.
FAQs
Do I need a license to clean houses
Residential house cleaning companies must apply for a business license at local municipal and county clerk’s offices.
What are the 5 steps to cleaning in order?
To be effective, cleaning and sanitizing must follow the following steps: (1) Clean the surface of any food or filth; (2) wash the surface; (3) rinse the surface; (4) sanitize the surface; and (5) allow the surface to air dry.
Is there good money in cleaning?
Small cleaning enterprises make $35,000-50,000 annually. You make $100,000 a year as your business grows. Your earnings depend on a steady flow of clients and good resource management.
Related Articles
- Cleaning Service Business: How to start from scratch (+ Practical Ideas)
- Dry Cleaning Business: How to Successfully Run One (+ quick guide)
- DRY CLEANING BUSINESS: How to start (+ dry cleaning business plan)
- Public Liability Insurance For Self-Employed: All You Need
- Housekeeping Duties: All You Need To Know
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