Jacquelyn Lynn - Start Your Own Cleaning Service: Maid Service, Janitorial Service, Carpet and Upholstery Service, and More

Additional titles in Entrepreneurs Startup Series

Start Your Own

Arts and Crafts Business

Automobile Detailing Business

Bar and Club

Bed and Breakfast

Blogging Business

Business on eBay

Car Wash

Child-Care Service

Cleaning Service

Clothing Store and More

Coaching Business

Coin-Operated Laundry

Construction and Contracting Business

Consulting Business

Day Spa and More

e-Business

Event Planning Business

Executive Recruiting Business

Fashion Accessories Business

Florist Shop and Other Floral Businesses

Food Truck Business

Freelance Writing Business and More

Freight Brokerage Business

Gift Basket Service

Grant-Writing Business

Graphic Design Business

Green Business

Hair Salon and Day Spa

Home Inspection Service

Import/Export Business

Information Marketing Business

Kid-Focused Business

Lawn Care or Landscaping Business

Mail Order Business

Medical Claims Billing Service

Net Services Business

Online Coupon or Daily Deal Business

Online Education Business

Personal Concierge Service

Personal Training Business

Pet Business and More

Pet-Sitting Business and More

Photography Business

Public Relations Business

Restaurant and More

Retail Business and More

Self-Publishing Business

Seminar Production Business

Senior Services Business

Travel Business and More

Tutoring and Test Prep Business

Vending Business

Wedding Consultant Business

Wholesale Distribution Business

Entrepreneur Press, Publisher

Cover Design: Beth Hansen-Winter

Production and Composition: Eliot House Productions

2014 by Entrepreneur Media, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond that permitted by Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the Business Products Division, Entrepreneur Media Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

ebook ISBN: 978-1-61308-266-9

Contents

H ave you ever stopped to think about how much time you spend cleaning things? Your house, your car, your clothesthe list goes on and on. And how often have you wished there were some magic way to get your cleaning chores done so you could move on to the activities you really enjoy?

That mind-set is behind one of the most lucrative and recession-resistant industries in America: cleaning. Certainly you look at cleaning in a less-than-enchanted light as youre toiling through your own kitchen and bathrooms on a Saturday when youd rather be going to the movies. But mopping, vacuuming, and polishing all take on quite a different connotation when theyre the foundation for a business that can provide you with a secure financial future. That business is a cleaning service, and the industry is rich with a variety of markets ranging from residential to industrial, from basic to high-tech.

Regardless of the industry niche you choose, one of the appealing aspects of a cleaning service is the opportunity for repeat businesswhen things get cleaned, they usually get dirty and have to be re-cleaned. Its a wonderful, inevitable cycle that means regular revenue for a cleaning business.

You may already know what type of cleaning business you want to start, or you may still be exploring your options. This book will give you the information and tools you need to start a residential cleaning service, a commercial janitorial service, and a carpet cleaning business. It will also introduce you to a variety of specialty cleaning services that will work as independent operations or adjuncts to another cleaning business.

This guide is structured to take you step-by-step, starting with your decision to start a cleaning service through running a successful, profitable operation. It begins with an introduction to the industry, a look at how successful operators got their starts, and some basic business planning elements. Next, it looks at specific types of cleaning services, including a residential cleaning service, janitorial service, carpet and upholstery cleaning service, and other specialty cleaning businesses. Then it discusses various startup and operational issues, such as your legal structure, insurance, location, vehicles, personnel, purchasing, equipment, and financial management.

Its a good idea to read every chapter in this book, whether you think it applies to the particular business you want to start or not. For example, even if youre planning to start a residential cleaning service, you may pick up some good ideas from the chapters on janitorial and carpet cleaning services. And when you read about other cleaning businesses, you may decide to offer similar services.

Because the best information about business comes from people who are already in the trenches, we interviewed successful cleaning service business owners who were happy to share their stories. Their experience spans all types of cleaning service operations, and several of them are examples themselves of how to blend more than one type of operation into a successful business. Throughout the book, youll read about what worksand doesntfor these folks, and how you can use their techniques in your own business.

Youll also learn what the cleaning service business is really like. The hours can be flexible, but theyre usually long. The profit margins are good, but only if youre paying attention to detail. The market is tremendous, but youll have a substantial amount of competition, which means you need a plan to set yourself apart.

Like anything else, theres no quick path to success. The cleaning service business takes hard work, dedication, and commitment. Its not glamorous; in fact, one of the biggest challenges youll face is the industrys menial image. But by investing your time, energy, and resources, you can be the one who is truly cleaning up, both literally and figuratively.

N o matter what it is, if it can get dirty, chances are someone will be willing to pay you to clean it. And thats why few industries can claim the variety and depth of opportunities that professional cleaning can.

The cleaning industry has two primary market groups: consumer and commercial. The consumer arena consists primarily of residential cleaning services (traditionally known as maid services), along with carpet cleaners, window cleaners, and a variety of other cleaning services required on a less frequent basis. The commercial arena is dominated by janitorial services, which typically provide a wider range of services than residential services, along with other cleaning companies, such as carpet and window cleaners, that target businesses rather than individual consumers. While its recommended that you decide on a niche and concentrate on building a business that will serve your chosen market, its entirely realistic to expect to be able to serve multiple markets successfully.