How to Start a Cleaning Business – The Cleaning Industry Has Grown 6.6% Every Year Since 2011

If you’re looking for creative ideas for a side hustle or a way to become an entrepreneur, you may have wondered how to start a cleaning business. A cleaning business can be a lucrative opportunity for earning money and jump-starting your self-made career.

However, just like starting any business, you’ll need to take the right steps to make your cleaning company a success. In this guide, we’ll cover how to start a cleaning business with step-by-step instructions that walk you through the process from start to finish. By the end of this article, you should feel ready to build your cleaning empire.

Cleaning Industry Statistics

Cleaning companies have become a crucial part of our daily lives. The demand for cleaning services has increased significantly over the years, making the cleaning industry one of the fastest-growing industries globally. Cleaning companies are not only providing essential services to households but also to commercial and industrial establishments. The cleaning industry has undergone several changes in recent years and is continuously evolving. In this article, we will take a closer look at the cleaning company statistics to understand the growth, trends, and different aspects of the cleaning industry. The cleaning industry has seen a rapid growth in recent years, and it is evident from the following statistics:

Revenue Generation: According to the statistics, the cleaning industry generates revenue worth $51 billion annually in the United States alone.
Employment of Cleaning Companies: The cleaning industry comprises of both small and large cleaning companies. It is estimated that around 20% of cleaning companies have a workforce of more than 100 employees.
Cleaning Services Market: The market for cleaning services has seen a growth of 3.5% annually, which is a significant number.
Customer Demands: The demand for cleaning services has increased due to the busy lifestyle of people, and it is estimated that around 65% of customers require weekly cleaning services.

Trends in the Cleaning Industry

The cleaning industry is constantly evolving, and several trends have emerged in recent years, such as:

Eco-Friendly Cleaning: An increasing number of customers are looking for eco-friendly cleaning services, and cleaning companies are now offering environmentally friendly cleaning solutions.
Technology-Driven Cleaning: The use of technology in cleaning services has become a trend, and companies are now using software and tools to streamline their services and improve efficiency.
On-Demand Cleaning Services: With the advancement of technology, customers can now book cleaning services online, and this trend is rapidly growing.

Assessing Your Skills and Interests Before Starting Your Cleaning Business

Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is essential before starting a cleaning business or any business. This will help you get an understanding of where you need to bring in partners to support.

To begin, try these tactics:

Take personality or skills tests. There are numerous personality tests you can take, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, that can help you determine your natural strengths and weaknesses. You might find out that you’re naturally good at organization, and you’ll excel at managing the administrative side of a cleaning business. Or you might discover that interacting with people is your strength, making you a great fit for sales.
Write down your values. Create a core list of your values and consider how they align with your cleaning business. For example, if one of your values is independence and control over your schedule, this might align with becoming your own boss.
Account for your experience. Think about previous roles you’ve held and what you can bring to the table from those jobs. If you have previous experience working as a cleaner, this can be particularly helpful as you build your business plan.

Now that you have an idea of the role you will play in your own business, it’s time to start researching the cleaning industry. To do this, consider the following:

Industry trends and statistics. Look into the size of the market, the growth rate, and the key competitors in your space. This will give you a good idea of the demand for specific services in the area and what pricing structures are in place.
Research your target audience. Try to gain an understanding of who your key customers will be. Create personas that represent their ages, demographics, and interests.
Connect with others. Jump onto online forums or other digital or in-person communities and connect with other cleaning professionals. This is a great way to ask for advice and learn from those who have gone before you.

How to Start a Cleaning Business: Develop a Business Plan

Next, you’ll want to create a comprehensive business plan to serve as a roadmap for your business. This plan will outline your goals, strategies, and projected financials.

To get started, be sure to include these key elements in your cleaning business plan:

An executive summary. This is a quick overview of your entire cleaning business plan. It should include your business purpose, target market, and unique selling points.
A company description. Create a snapshot of your company, including the name, registered location, and legal structure (e.g., LLC or corporation).
Your industry and market analysis. During your research stage, you gathered data on the local and national cleaning industry. Include this information here, and list out your competition.
Your services. Create a list of the services you plan to offer. Include any equipment or supplies you’ll need to enable these services.
Operational plan. Describe how you will operate your business. Include your management structure and the roles and responsibilities of team members.
Financial projections. To the best of your ability, create a financial projection for the next three years. Include projected income, cash flow, expenses, and break-even analyses.

Remember, a business plan is a living document. Don’t stress out about perfecting your first draft. This document should be flexible and adaptable, changing as you grow your business.

Once you have all this documentation in place, you’ll want to register your business legally, as well as acquire any necessary certificates or licensure based on local regulations.

How to Start a Cleaning Business: Secure Financing

Next, you’ll need to determine how you’ll finance your cleaning business, which begins by estimating your start-up costs.

To estimate the start-up costs for your cleaning business, consider expenses such as equipment, supplies, insurance, marketing, and initial operating costs. Research the price for each item, and create a budget. Leave yourself a little cushioning for unexpected costs.

Now, it’s time to determine how you’ll finance your cleaning business. Consider any of the following methods:

There are numerous types of loans you can use to fund a small business, including small business administration (SBA) loans, personal loans, and equipment financing loans. Explore your options and compare rates.
Crowdfunding. By asking a large number of people to contribute small amounts, you can fund your business through the investment of others. This is a great option if you have a strong online presence or a large network of supporters.
Bootstrapping. This method involves using your savings or assets to finance your company. This is a great option if you don’t want to take on debt or give up equity in your business.

Building Your Team

With your cleaning business up and running, it’s time to find and hire your employees. To build your team, follow these steps:

Define your job roles and list out responsibilities, qualifications, and experience.
Post the positions to online job boards and share them with your network.
Check references and conduct background checks.
Interview potential hires and make offers.
Provide training to new employees.

Marketing Your Cleaning Business

With your team ready to go, it’s time to drum up business. To market your cleaning business, you can use multiple strategies. First, make sure you have a quality website and social media pages built for your company. Create a strong brand with a recognizable logo and specific color scheme. Make sure all your marketing materials align with your brand values and mission.

From here, consider investing in marketing in the following channels:

Pay for ads on social media and Google
Ask your friends and family to spread the word
Network in your area with other entrepreneurs
Hand out flyers door-to-door
Use email marketing
Attend festivals and events and offer first-time promotions

Ultimately, get creative with your marketing. The goal is to build brand awareness and reach your target audience. In the beginning, you might need to add incentives and special discounts to convince your first customers to become loyal clients. Once you have gained a few happy customers, make sure to ask for reviews and share client testimonials across the internet.

Managing Your Cleaning Business

Once your cleaning business is up and running, it is time to turn your focus to managing your business. To keep your business running smoothly, implement these strategies:

Create a schedule. Keep yourself on task by creating a schedule that includes time for cleaning, admin tasks, and marketing.
Keep things organized. Make sure you carefully track finances, inventory, and customer info. Keep this all in a central location, such as a customer relationship manager (CRM).
Communicate early and often. Keep your employees and customers in the loop. Make sure you continually communicate any changes in schedules, policies, or pricing.
Stay flexible. Your business will probably need to adjust as you learn more about your local market and team. Keep your eye on the competition and be ready to adapt.
Provide continual training. Keep giving your employees the chance to grow and develop new skills. Always keep customer and employee safety at the forefront of your mind and hold refreshers on important cleaning safety tips.
Reward your top employees. When your staff goes above and beyond, be sure to provide them with a reward, such as a bonus, promotion, or raise. This will help keep your quality staff engaged and motivated.

Become Your Own Boss

Being an entrepreneur comes with great risks, but it also comes with great rewards. Starting a cleaning business is a great way to earn more and take control of your finances. We hope you feel empowered to take the next step in building your dream career!