If you have other major demands on your time – such as caring for a sick relative or going to school part time – you might want to consider if this is the best time to start your own business. Although the cleaning industry generally has low start-up costs, you will still need a minimum of $5,000 to purchase equipment and insurance, hire a lawyer to protect your legal interests, and get an accountant to run your payroll division and sort out your taxes. [2] X Research source You need to understand people and technology to start your own service. [3] X Expert Source Regina DeCorteResidential Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 11 February 2022.
Your budget may also help determine if you will join a cleaning franchise (like Molly Maids, Merry Maids or Vanguard Cleaning Systems). Franchises often require expensive joining fees (usually between $30,000-$50,000), but they also help cover some structural needs like marketing, employee training, support for franchise owners, etc. [4] X Research source
For example, will you offer eco-friendly cleaning supplies? Will you offer carpet or rug cleaning services? Do you offer hours on the weekends or evenings? Write down three or four words that will define the core values of your brand. What three words do you want your customers to remember when they think of you? Some key words might be loyalty, trust, care, reliability, spotless, pristine, etc.
Consider special incentives you can offer to your most loyal clients. You could start a referral program where your clients get 10% off if they refer your services to a friend or family member. [8] X Research source
Charge by the hour. [10] X Expert Source Regina DeCorteResidential Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 11 February 2022. Some cleaning services change by the hour. The national average for house cleaners is $14/hour, but cleaners in large cities average prices between $18-20/hour. You might find this is the best route to go when you have new clients and don’t know how long it will take to complete a project. [11] X Research source Charge by the room or square footage. You might also consider charging by the physical amount of space in the home or office. If you have a very large home to cover (like a vacation home that needs to be prepared after months of being unoccupied), this might be the smartest method to choose. Set a flat rate. Many cleaning services also just set one flat rate for each visit, especially if they clean the house more than once a month. If you clean weekly, or even multiple times a week, you will find that charging a flat rate will be more effective than charging by the hour. However, if you only clean for the client once a month or less frequently, then you will have more work to do. [12] X Research source You should factor in other things to your fee, such as the cost of transportation to different clients’ homes and the cost of repurchasing cleaning supplies and appliances like vacuums or carpet cleaners. You should also have a clear billing system in place. If you are working through a franchise like Merry Maids, it is likely they will have a system put into place already. But if you are working independently you should decide if you are going to have an invoice system where you send your customer a bill, if you will accept checks or credit cards on the spot, or if you will take payment at the beginning or end of the month. [13] X Research source
Talk to your lawyer about the legal categorizations of workers. In most industries, you are not allowed to legally take on part time, contract workers when they actually complete the essential work of your business. [15] X Research source
Create brochures that you can leave in high-traffic areas, like community centers, gyms, churches and other places where your potential clients meet. Outreach to potential clients through a Facebook page, Twitter or other social media page. You could use these to feature “Before” and “After” pictures of your work, promote special deals, or create content relating to your business. Market yourself locally. Join the listservs of different neighborhood associations or websites like Nextdoor to advertise your services. Some websites like Handy and Homejoy function as a space where you can list your services through their web site directly (like AirBnB). However, some of these websites have been shown to charge very high rates to their customers, but not give the same wages to their maids while also not allowing their maids to list their services on other web sites. Use caution when listing on these sites – you might make more money on your own. [16] X Research source In all of your promotional materials – like brochures, flyers, web site design, business cards, etc. – use a consistent logo and color palette. You want to position your business as a brand experience, where your customers get a consistently superior service. You can also consider having your employees wear a particular uniform, such as slacks and a polo shirt with your company’s logo on it.
Look for unmet needs in your local cleaning market. Perhaps there aren’t many cleaners who offer environmentally friendly products. If this is the case, position yourself as filling a void for your clients.
If you are an S Corporation you can still be an employee (or cleaner) and get the benefits of begin on payroll while you are also the owner of the business. If you are an LLC, you cannot do this. [19] X Research source
To get certified, you will need to pay a $500 application fee and a certification ($995 if you are already a member of CIMS, $1695 if you are nonmember). A CIMS assessor will then visit your business to inspect your cleaning processes to make sure they fit their standards. The price for this is $1500 for each assessment date required.
Make sure you keep your insurance as you take on more workers. If your employees are working with harsh chemicals, then you should make sure you have liability insurance and also offer worker’s compensation for your employees. [22] X Research source
