Any advice for starting a cleaning service?

As a veteran bartender (going on 12 years), I'm just about at my burn-out point, so, I've decided to hang up my bottle opener for good and start a nice, quiet, small business.


I've been thinking (for a couple of months now) about starting my own cleaning service, but before I decide to quit my job, and go out buying a ton of cleaning supplies, I'd like some advice on how to proceed with this. Any tips, comments, and suggestions are most welcomed! Please!


P.S. -- I've seen alot of different rates, but, what does the average cleaner make?Any advice for starting a cleaning service?
A cleaning business-whether residential or office-is a terrific way to have a stable income. And you're smart to investigate before you try and get clients! You can do this! Why don't you start by quizzing some of your bar clients that are small business owners as to who they use, what they pay, etc.


Here's some beginning steps:


1. Check with your city or county clerk's office to see if you need a business license or fictitious name license. These are inexpensive ($25-$50) and usually last 3 or more years;


2. Then, call around to insurance companies and compare prices for liability insurance (sometimes called bond). This protects you if something breaks or gets damaged while you're on the job. And, yes, sometimes you didn't do it, but with this you can keep a client! AND, when you can say to potential clients, ';I have liability insurance'; it not only makes you professional, but adds confidence. It shouldn't cost more than around $100-$300/yr for $100K coverage (you don't need more than that for now);


3. Call existing cleaning companies, pretend to be a potential customer, to find out the going rates and services provided;


4. NOW, make a nice flyer and/or introductory letter about your service and start knockin' on doors, so to speak! Dress nice, maybe have a t-shirt made up with your company name and/or logo at Cafepress.com, too. Think about magnetic signs and/or a vinyl wrap for your vehicle. Think about parking your vehicle in areas where you wish to find business and in high traffic locations-street intersections, parking lots, etc;


5. And there's an inexpnsive business cleaning kit (less than that for a residential cleaning kit!) that will give you the basic contracts, forms for estimates, pricing charts and book-keeping, intro letters, supply list and resources, customer leads and other valuable tips. It will save you time and money in the long run!








This is a general start. There is lots of information available for you below......


Any advice for starting a cleaning service?
My wife does this and she charges $15.00 an hour here in N.C.





I would have some flyers made up with your picture on them, go to a well off neighborhood if you see some teenage kids in front of a house visit the parents and ask them if you could pay their child to put the flyers out in that neighborhood.





If you get a couple of houses to clean and you do a good job those people will tell others and you can stop with the flyers.
Is a hard job but very good in money.
Do a comprehensive business plan with market research and benchmarking if any 'comps' are available.





You didn't mention where you are, so the Yahoo crowd doesn't know which niche market you're hoping to serve. I have an old school buddy who does light janitorial, window cleaning, and upholstery cleaning in Calistoga, California. He's well established and earns around 60K per year. He limits his liability by offering only specific services..





Someone who cleans rental condominiums in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, or Destin, Florida might earn a comparable salary, if he or she launders the towels and bedding. Liability insurance and proof of coverage is required.





Start your business planning at www.sba.gov





It鈥檚 provided by Uncle Sam for your personal viewing pleasure. Benchmarking, in your case, is finding out what the competition is doing, how they're doing it, and how well it's working. Clint P provided highly useful information!