13 Secrets for Making Your Cleaning Business a Success Get the inside scoop from established cleaning service business owners who share their tips for building a successful cleaning business.
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This excerpt is part of Entrepreneur.com's Second-Quarter Startup Kit which explores the fundamentals of starting up in a wide range of industries.
In Start Your Own Cleaning Service, the staff at Entrepreneur Press and writer Jacquelyn Lynn explain how you can launch a profitable cleaning service, whether you want to offer maid services, janitorial services, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and more. In this edited excerpt, the authors offer words of wisdom from owners of successful cleaning businesses on what you need to do if you want to succeed in the cleaning industry.
Everyone should keep their home and workplace clean and tidy, but not many people want to do this work themselves. That presents a good opportunity for entrepreneurs who don't mind getting their hands dirty to start a cleaning business.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 2.3 million jobs in the cleaning sector as of 2016. The field is expected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026. That presents a good opportunity for prospective business owners in this category.
If you're interested in starting up your own cleaning business, nothing teaches as well as the voice of experience. So we asked established cleaning service owners to tell us what's contributed to their success and what they think causes some companies to fail. Click through the slides to see their tips.
Never stop learning.
The cleaning industry may not be the most glamorous or complex, but established business owners say there's always something to learn. Technology advances affect the equipment you use, safety issues affect the chemicals you clean with, and there will always be ways you can enhance your organizational and managerial skills. Read industry publications, go to meetings and conventions, participate in trade organizations and encourage your suppliers to keep you up to date.
shutterstockTap all your resources.
A wide range of associations serves various aspects of the professional cleaning industry. These groups can help with operational, marketing and management issues. Many state and government agencies also offer support and information for small businesses.
Clean it like it’s your own.
Regardless of what you're cleaning and whether you're doing traditional housecleaning, janitorial work or providing a specialty cleaning service, clean like you're cleaning your own home or office.
Develop systems.
Systems provide a structure that allows you to work consistently and efficiently, and also let you create a company that will continue to run whether you're there or not. Create systems for every function: cleaning, laundry, supervision, reporting, customer service, accounting and management.
Be careful!
Though time is your most valuable commodity, don't rush so much that you get careless. Customers will usually understand when accidents happen, but you're better off if you don't have to fall back on that. Also, the cost to repair or replace something -- in out-of-pocket cash, time lost and damaged customer relations -- is usually far more than the time you might save by working carelessly.
Don’t undersell yourself.
When you're starting out, you may be tempted to try to undercut the competition's prices. A better strategy is to simply outperform them by providing quality work.
Shutterstock.comTake care of your employees.
Your employees are critical to your success; after all, it's the quality of their performance that determines whether your customers are satisfied. Look for ways to make them want to do their best. Train them well, don't micromanage and treat them with respect. Provide bonuses and incentives for top performance, and consider offering perks such as letting them use company equipment in their own homes.
Find a niche.
Don't try to be all things to all people; pick the market you can best serve, and focus on that. For example, if you choose to service smaller office buildings, you may not be able to provide quality work at a profitable price level to larger facilities. Excel in what you're doing and build consistency in the services you provide. When you try to serve too many markets, you won't be successful in any of them.
Develop your digital skills.
You need to be as skilled digitally as you are with a mop or buffer. The cleaning business may not be particularly high tech, but you don't have time to do estimates, billing, payroll, inventory control and other record-keeping by hand. Your business should also have an extensive online presence with a website, social media accounts and an app (you could contract the building of one out).
Track labor costs.
The biggest single expense you have is labor, and you must stay on top of it. If you aren't watching your labor costs every day, they'll get away from you. Compile a daily over and under report, which makes it easy to spot trends before they become major issues. If labor is on the increase, figure out where the problem is. Is the customer asking for extra services you aren't charging for? Did you underestimate the time it would take to do the work? If you're under on your labor estimates, make sure your employees are providing the quality you've promised.
Invest in customer service.
The quality of your cleaning is important, but it's not everything. Building strong relationships with your clients requires a serious commitment to customer service. Don't assume that just because the work looks satisfactory to you that it is to your customers -- or that there's nothing else they want or need. Be sure to follow up with them consistently to find out how things are going.
ShutterstockKeep your eye on the economy.
As long as things get dirty, there'll be a need for professionals to clean them. But economic changes can mean changes in your market. Residential cleaning services, for example, are often seen as luxuries, and an economic downturn could affect your customers' willingness and ability to pay to have their homes cleaned. When business profits shrink, companies look for ways to cut expenses, which means they may examine their budgets for services that can be reduced or eliminated.
Also consider how the world economy can impact your profitability. If oil prices skyrocket, you'll have to spend more to operate your vehicles, and your general utility costs will probably increase. When the cost of lumber goes up, so does the cost of bathroom tissue, paper towels and other disposable paper products you provide to your customers. You may be able to pass along some of those costs, but don't depend on a thriving economy to keep your business profitable. Have plans in place so you can shift your market focus if necessary.
Don’t take every job.
If you can't make money on a job, or if the work is undesirable for any reason, turn it down. It's better to focus your time and energy on profitable work you enjoy.
