• Tweet
• Email
• Sharebar

• Tweet
• Email

Nothing can be quite as rewarding, or rather difficult, as starting your own cleaning business.  The recompenses of hard work and perseverance can be bountiful, while the price of unpreparedness and idleness create steep bills to pay.  Many entrepreneurs put precious time, money, energy, and all available resources into their dreams only to see those model ideas fail, and ruin them financially in the process.  Statistically speaking, one in three new businesses will flop within the first two years.  This is especially true of cleaning businesses; these companies are often a dime a dozen riddled with fly by night schemers that disappear as quickly as they appeared.

I Started My Own Cleaning Business

From my personal experience of starting and running a successful cleaning business let me share how to get started in 6 easy steps!

Obviously, authentic entrepreneurs want their business ventures to be raving successes and don’t want dissipation to be the fate of their company; happily, there are a few things that can be done to adequately prepare both operators and their businesses for the difficult years ahead.  Breaking into the cleaning industry can be nigh impossible without ample support and planning, but if you think you are ready to start your own cleaning business, use the following advice to avoid common pitfalls and give your business the head start it deserves.

Step One:  Get Experience

Believe it or not, this is a step that many first-time business owners commonly overlook.  They believe that with enough time and energy invested in their dream, others will recognize this vision and also believe in their potential; thus their business plan will miraculously become a reality.  Unfortunately, the corporate world fails to recognize charisma and business philosophies as sufficient substitutes for hands-on experience.  If you start your own cleaning business without an adequate amount of professional contacts, customer testimonials, or work experience don’t be surprised when your venture fails to be a booming success.  No one wants to take a chance on an unproven cleaning company owned and operated by a newcomer to the cleaning industry.

Spend some time training with experienced professionals that can teach you proper protocols and procedures.  Whether you decide to provide residential, commercial, or both types of cleaning services, working with knowledgeable and skilled specialists provides a steady foundation upon which to build your janitorial resume.  As an added bonus, working with established professionals helps you to create business contacts and make a name for yourself among industry circles – both of which are important when striking out on your own.

Step Two:  Solo or Joint Business Venture

When you start your own cleaning business, it is important to determine whether you should go it alone, or develop a partnership with a trusted colleague.  Of course, there are advantages and drawbacks to each approach, so the outcome of your business strategy and future success will be greatly affected by this decision.  If you decide to cultivate an occupational alliance, be sure each of you complement each other’s business style, can supplement strengths as well as weaknesses, and share the same goals.  A successful partner will be one that has experiences that you do not; for example:  if you have the cleaning experience, business contacts, and reputation, then your partner should have a marketing background and business management experience.  A fabulous business idea will go nowhere fast without sufficient groundwork in all of these areas to help catapult it to greatness.

Employing the use of a partnership will increase the chances that all the business operation basics are covered, but also escalate the likelihood of disagreements and professional disputes.  If you decide to open a partnership when you start your own cleaning business, the first thing on your agenda is to have a meeting to decide on a common set of objectives and guidelines to which both parties will adhere.  Nothing will tear a company apart quicker than disagreements underwritten by misunderstandings.

Of course, if you decide to be the sole proprietor, you must make certain that you are experienced in all startup areas, or at least be fully equipped to handle any problems that may arise in areas of which you are unproven.

Step Three:  Research & Education

Most first time business owners are in their early twenties and fresh out of college with a hope, a dream, and a prayer.  Although these are important aspects used to keep up morale in difficult times, it takes a bit more to establish a business and keep it afloat.  If you plan to start your own cleaning business, research similar companies in your area and take note of their strengths and weaknesses to better educate yourself on the dos and don’ts of the industry.

Do they have a killer marketing approach?  How do they determine their service rates?  What points of contact do they employ (i.e. newspaper ads, social networking sites, etc.)?  These are a few examples of excellent areas that you can easily research without being too invasive or overly overt.  Focus on what makes these companies great and employ these strategies to vamp up your business venture, while also noticing their shortcomings so that you may avoid the same hazards.  Learning from the triumphs and faults of others will only enhance your chances of success when you start your own cleaning business.

Step Four:  Get Advice

Even if you have had previous startup business experience, when you start your own cleaning business it is important to have some type of mentor or business adviser at your disposal.  This person doesn’t necessarily have to be experienced in the cleaning field, but does need to be well-versed in small business matters.  This will be the person you turn to when you need a different take or advice on commercial decisions, and could be anyone from a former instructor to a counselor at your local chapter of the Small Business Administration.

Also, the Internet can provide guidance, tips, and strategies for small or moderately-sized decisions.  Utilize online chats, message boards, and virtual communities to connect with other proprietors to share experiences and ask advice.  Once again, learning from the successes and failures of others can help stabilize your business project.

Step Five:  Have a Plan

Whether you call it a business plan, venture outline, or project blueprint you need some type of commerce strategy on paper.  This vital document serves several purposes when you start your own cleaning business.

• A business plans serves to solidify your resolve; this is your chance to prove, not only yourself, but to the rest of the world that you are serious about your plans.
• Allows you to identify problems before you encounter them in real-world situations; this is crucial so that you may have protocols and procedures in place to handle the unexpected or simply avoid them in the first place.
• Immediately permits potential financers to see the significance of your tenacity and chief responsibilities you are willing to shoulder; nothing will sell your company quicker than a credible outline that is well thought out and executed.
• An operational business plan will positively showcase your cleaning services, projected profits, and possible team members that will all combine to make your business a raging success.
• Allows you to accurately estimate startup costs, determine a break-even analysis, and establish long-term goals for your company.

If you are at a loss for where to begin, find samples online that can easily be adapted to fit your unique situation.  Be sure to showcase your originality while committing your plans to paper – no one will take your business plan seriously if it is copy and paste type document.  Starting your own business is your dream, so let your vision shine through while remaining goal-oriented and direct in your writings.

Once you’ve established a well-written blueprint, discuss it with your mentor and fellow entrepreneurs to ask for ideas and suggestions on improvement.

Step Six:  Hoard Money

Once you start your own cleaning business, you will need some type of seed money for the company and stockpiled cash for personal uses.  Both are important for two reasons:  private and commercial finances should remain completely separate entities and both areas will likely suffer a cash flow drought for the first few months.

It is quite rare for companies to show an immediate profit, but you will still be responsible for utilities, supplies, communications, and a myriad of other costs.  Also, a healthy business account will allow you to focus on growing and expanding your business, instead of which creditors will be paid and which accounts will lapse into default.  Moreover, launch monies are easier to raise before you actually get the company underway, so use this as the perfect opportunity to prepare for the upcoming months.

As far as personal finances are concerned, the best advice is to save money, cut costs, and stick to a strict budget.  Oftentimes, entrepreneurs have just the one job with no other source of additional income.  If you start your own cleaning business, and it doesn’t show immediate profits, you could be in a world of financial trouble.  Once you’ve decided to start your own business, immediately begin setting money aside to fund your private costs until the business becomes a viable source of income.

Important Tips for After you Start Your Own Cleaning Business

Once you’ve established your company, collected a loyal clientele, and ascertained a reputable business status, it is not the time to relax.  Continue to follow your business plan and expand it as necessary; having set goals in place will ensure that your company remains motivated and profitable.  Nothing is sadder than an entrepreneur that put all of his blood, sweat, and tears into a business just to succeed and then let it fall into disarray.  For your cleaning business to remain the crème de la crème you must not waiver in your resolve or determination; stay focused and your company will be around for years to come.