subject: Tips and Tricks for Starting Your Own Cleaning Business [print this page] Tips and Tricks for Starting Your Own Cleaning Business
Not everyone is enthusiastic about cleaning, but everyone likes it when their surroundings are tidy and sanitary. As a result, there will always be work opportunities for individuals that either enjoy cleaning, or are particularly meticulous and efficient at the task. If you find yourself in a camp with the latter group, then you may be a good candidate for starting your own cleaning business.
If you have decided that owning a cleaning business interests you, you first have to identify what aspect of cleaning you excel at, and are interested in pursuing for business purposes. For instance, the two broadest categories in which a commercial business can specialize include residential cleaning, such as housekeeping services, carpet cleaners and window washers, who go to individual homes and generally work on a contract basis with their homeowner clients, and commercial cleaning, which could include janitorial-type work, and may require special equipment and additional training. Once you have identified the area of cleaning that interests you, you will have a clearer vision of how to reach out to potential clients, and how to hire the appropriate and most qualified staff.
You will also need to identify whether you are interested in starting your own business from scratch, or whether you are interested in buying a commercial cleaning franchise such as Jani-King. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. The former gives you, as the business owner, the most freedom; you could choose to work from home, you can determine how many employees to hire, you can offer specific hours, and you could conceivably remain small scale and work on a very localized level. The challenge will come in staying ahead of your competition, and establishing your business as the most reliable source for the specific services you offer.
Owning a commercial cleaning franchise requires some capital. It involves purchasing a cleaning business that already has an established name and multiple locations. You would be the owner and operator of your specific store or office location, and would be subject to the rules and standards put forth by your namesake organization. Advantages to this option include the fact that you will not have to work to be recognized, since your name will already be known in the larger cleaning community.
