Tips on how to start a cleaning business with little to no money for; small businesses?
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 at
10:12 pm
Also need tips on pricing, what supplies to get and the best clients to target? Also any other advice would greatly be appreciated. This is a one man operation.
Tagged with: Business • Businesses • Cleaning • little • money • Small • start • Tips
Filed under: Small Business Tips
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Since you are a one man operation you should be targeting small businesses, small office buildings, churches, bank foreclosures and home builders. (I think most homeowners that use cleaning services are thinking of something like Merry Maids and cleaning women — not cleaning men.)
You can get a pretty good idea of what you will need by doing a web search on “janitor supplies”. Your biggest expense items will be equipment such as a floor machine and possibly a small van or SUV. Since money is an issue you should look into used equipment and check out the possibility of renting equipment (check out the local supermarket and equipment rental places) or subcontracting for jobs that don’t have to be done very often (for example carpet cleaning in an office building).
As far as generating business is concerned you just have to go around and knock on doors and try to sell your services. You should also try networking. For example if you are using the local Stanley Steamer franchise for carpet cleaning ask him to refer any hard surface floor and general cleaning business to you.
Hope this helps
Jerry-the-bookkeeper
That’s some pretty good advise and I really stress targeting small offices or office complexes. Look for businesses that have repeat clients themselves…lawyers, insurance agents, accountants. Check with property managers, too.
These types of businesses generally do not need the type of cleaning requiring the kind of equipment the other poster mentioned. Basically you need a vacuum that doesn’t weigh much (more important than you realize), cleaning formula you can make up yourself or buy cheap, rags, trashbags, broom, mop…well you get the idea.
You need to look into liability insurance to protect yourself against claims of damage, etc. Call around to insurance agencies (be sure to ask thm who cleans their office) and get the best price. Start off with a small amount of coverage, increase as business grows.
I have lots of informtion and a link to an ebook that will give you everything you need-forms, letter, how to start with little or no $ and more-on my Squidoo lens below.
Go for it and good luck!