Cleaning Archives - GUJRAT INDIA

How to Start a House Cleaning Business on a Tight Budget

“If you use Emotion and Love to drive your sales and your business, you will create Loyalty Beyond Reason. And I promise you, you will build relationships and enjoy a business that exceeds beyond your wildest expectations”

First of all, before you decide to start your cleaning business, make sure this kind of work is right for you. You will need to be in good physical condition. Cleaning is very hard strenuous work. You will need to have good customer relation skills. You will need to have basic office skills and some accounting skills.

If you are planning on leaving your full time position to start a cleaning business, make sure you have at least six months of savings. Or keep your full time job and start out part time.

Research all the aspects of the cleaning service business. From customer service to advertising, taxes, employees, insurance and bonding, what to charge and how to clean a home professionally. Cleaning your own home and cleaning professionally is totally different. Learning how to clean professionally takes a lot of time. When a client pays for your services they expect to come home and find their home spotless.

Getting those first clients takes time, persistence and patience. You will not get a hundred clients overnight.

Obtaining Those First Clients The hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is obtaining those first clients. Most clients want to know how long you have been in business and want references. The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes, you are new to the business but that you have thoroughly researched all aspects of the cleaning business and assure them that you know what you are doing and that you are quit capable of cleaning their home to their specifications. Be confident. I can’t stress this enough. Clients love to see confidence. It relieves their worries and lets them know that their home is in good hands.

References: To get a few good references when starting out, ask some friends or family members if you can clean their home for free or at a discounted rate. The sound of working for free may not be appealing but it will be worth it to get some good testimonials.

When cleaning those first homes, go for quality, not how fast you can clean the home. Cleaning efficiently takes a long time, but you will get to the point where you can do a thorough cleaning in a short time. After cleaning make sure you go back and double check all rooms to make sure you didn’t miss anything. Impress those first clients and word of mouth will spread soon.

Advertising Your company image is everything. Before you start advertising, decide what image you want to portray on your advertising material. Your image is very important. Be consistent with all your advertising. If you have a logo be sure to use it on all your advertising materials. I think it is best to have a website developed before you start advertising. When advertising, stick with the same logo and colors.

Advertise in Local Paper: Start by running a text ad in your local newspaper. Try to come up with an eye catching ad. Do not sell your services on low rates, sell your services on your quality of work and what you can do for the client that other companies don’t. There is a lot of competition in the cleaning service. You have to stand out from the rest.

Magnetic Signs or Lettering for your Vehicle: Having your business name and contact information on your vehicle is a great way to advertise. We use the vinyl lettering. The lettering looks much more professional than the magnetic signs.

Flyers: You can print nice flyers on your home computer, but I would suggest investing in some professional flyers. Hang flyers at Hair Dressers, Laundromats, Restaurants, Bakeries, Grocery Stores, etc. Put flyers on car windows at local groceries stores and businesses. You can even go door to door in neighborhoods you would like to work in. You cannot put them in mailboxes. but you can put them in the front door.

Door Hangers: Door hangers are a great way to get new clients. Pick the neighborhood you would like to work in and hang the door hangers on the doors. When people get flyers or ads in their mailbox they usually throw them away with the junk mail. But if there is a door hanger on the door they will take the time to look at it.

Business Cards: Start passing out your business cards to friends and family members. You can also ask your local businesses if you can leave some cards on their counters.

Referral Program: A great way to obtain new clients is through a referral program. Offer existing clients a discount when they refer a friend. You can give your existing clients a discount when the friend uses your services three times.

Website: These days people live very busy lives so they use the convenience of the internet to shop for the services they need. A lot of working women will shop for services while at work. Everyone that has a business should have a website. It shows clients that you are serious about your business and allows them research your business in their own time.

Cleaning Products: By using all natrual products, you can offer your clients a healthy cleaning experience and protect ourselves against harsh chemicals. Clients love the natural cleaning products with essential oils. They come home to a healthy clean home filled with the wonderful scents of aromatherapy essential oils.

Tip: Always carry hand sanitizer and wash your hands often while cleaning homes. Wear gloves when cleaning bathrooms. You will be exposed to a lot of different germs in clients homes.

Remember most customers prefer that you bring your own cleaning supplies. That way they do not have to worry about going to the store for cleaning supplies before you clean. Some customers have special cleaners for certain appliances or floors in their houses. These customers usually will have these cleaners on hand for you to use. We almost always use the customers vacuum cleaner. That way you do not have to carry a heavy vacuum from house to house.

What to Charge I mentioned earlier that you should sell your services on your quality of work and not your low rates. If your rates are too low, clients will think that your work is sub-standard and that you are not experienced. Also you want to attract the clients that can afford your services. I made the mistake of pricing my work too low when I first started out. Cleaning is hard work, charge what you are worth. As the old saying goes “You get what you pay for.”

Some companies charge by the hour, some charge by the room, some charge a flat rate per home and some charge by the square foot. I think it is better to charge by the home, not by the hour. If a client knows they have to pay one set fee, they don’t care if you take 2 hours or 5 hours. Also your clients will know what they are paying up front and won’t have to worry about added expenses.

No two houses are the same. And there is no set charge for all homes. You have to clean for awhile yourself to get some experience and to work out a system to clean efficiently. Only you know what you want and need to make. Decide what you need to make hourly to cover all expenses and still make a good profit.

A word of advise: Make sure when you start your company that you charge what you would charge if you had employees. Some people make the mistake of under charging when they start out just to get customers and then later on when they grow and need to hire help they aren’t making enough money on their houses to pay help. Don’t under price your work. Cleaning homes is very hard physical work and you didn’t get into this business to work for nothing.

New Construction Cleaning If you decide to do this type of work you will need more equipment. You will need ladders, window cleaning kits with long extensions, a shop vac, etc. These types of jobs are usually 2 to 3 person jobs. New construction cleaning requires a lot more cleaning. You may have to remove stickers and labels from windows and bathroom showers, sinks and toilets. Some require that you clean the vents to remove dust from construction work. There will be ceiling fans to clean, scrubbing floors, and cleaning woodwork to remove dust. New construction cleaning rates depend on the area you live in.

Insurance and Bonding. You need to be an honest person and somewhat personable. People will need to trust you to be in their homes. Most clients are concerned about having someone new in their house, with good reason. You should be bonded and fully insured. Liability insurance rates depend on your insurance carrier and where you are located. Each person you hire will increase your liability insurance. It’s well worth the cost. You can pay quarterly or yearly. You can purchase your bond through your local insurance company. You will need to renew the bond every year. *Note: if you hire employees and cover them under your insurance, they must be an employee on payroll and not a sub-contractor. If you employ them as a sub-contractor your insurance will not cover them. If they are a sub-contractor they are required to carry their own insurance. You

Hiring Help If you start out cleaning the homes by yourself, you will eventually get to the point where you need to expand your business. Start out with one part time employee. Train her and let her take your place one day a week. Then have her take your place 2 days a week and so on. This will give you the free time that you need to market your business and obtain more clients. After you get more clients you will be able to hire more part time help. Eventually you will be able to stop doing the cleaning yourself and just run the business end, which is the only way you will be able to grow your business. When training new employees, always, either train them yourself or have a lead person train them. Make sure there is a lead person on each and every cleaning job. Employees have a tendency to slack off when they are on their own.

Growing Your Business You will eventually get to the point where you have enough employees and lead people and you will be able to stop working in your business and start running your business. You will find that after awhile it will get to be too much trying to clean everyday and at the same time giving estimates, answering calls, scheduling, doing book work, obtaining new clients, etc.

Remember one of the most important qualifications for a cleaning service is TRUST. A client has to know they can trust you alone in their home. After you acquire a few cleaning positions ask the clients if you can use them for a reference. Most of the time they are more than willing to let you use them for a reference. This is how you build your business and acquire new clients is through referrals. Be dependable. Most clients will want to be set up on an every week or every other week schedule on the same day of the week. Try to always keep this same schedule unless the client asks you to switch to another day. If you have to cancel a cleaning date, make sure you try to reschedule at the earliest possible date to make up the cleaning.

How to Start A House Cleaning Business In 7 Simple Steps

One of the main reasons people start businesses is to make money. For some it’s a blessing to make money doing something they love. I’m not saying that you have to love house cleaning in order to have a successful house cleaning business; however it would be a good idea if you didn’t hate it.

How much money you make depends on how big you want your business to be. It could be a one person operation where you set up at home and service areas close to home, or you could set up a commercial office and hire people to work for you.

Here are 7 simple steps to get you started on your own house cleaning business.

1) Decide exactly what kind of house cleaning services you will offer.

Here you decided what cleaning you will do, like making beds, vacuuming, mopping and waxing floors, dusting and so on. Also note what you won’t do, e.g. laundry. You can also decide to specialize, e.g. by cleaning carpets only, or cleaning suspended ceilings only.

2) Pricing your housecleaning service.

To have an idea of how to charge for your housecleaning service, use your competition. Check your telephone directory and the classified ads section in your local newspapers for cleaning businesses, call them up (pretend to be a prospective client) and find out exactly what cleaning services they offer and how much they charge. With this information gathered decide the best price to charge for your cleaning service.

3) Workout startup costs.

For this you need to consider, tools, material, transport, advertising, insurance etc. Write down a list all the tools and material you need, like cleaners, sponges, mops, carpet cleaning equipment etc. Next find out the cost of each item on the list and write it down next to the item.

Transport: you will have to estimate your costs here. You see it depends on where your client is located and your means of transportation to get to your client. (Having your own vehicle would be to your advantage).

Advertising: You can use free advertising (word of mouth) and paid advertising (classifieds, telephone directory ads etc). Phone calls to your local newspaper and the telephone company who publish your telephone directory will tell you the cost of placing ads.

Once you’ve gathered all this information, calculate your total startup costs.

4) Name your business.

Choosing an appropriate name for your house cleaning business is important. Here are a few examples I got of the internet, ‘Maid Brigade’, ‘All Shine Cleaning’, ‘White Glove Cleaning Service’. Please avoid using ‘Your Name Cleaning Services’. Using your own name as part of your business name is over done by many house cleaning businesses. Brainstorm and come up with a name that helps you stand out of the crowd.

5) Learn the zoning regulations of your community.

Check the city clerk’s Office or your local library for a copy for a copy of the zoning laws governing your community. Your reason for doing this is that some zoning regulations prohibit home businesses in a community.

6) Do a few free cleaning jobs.

Well you’re not actually doing them for free. You’re doing them in exchange for references (these add to your credibility for future paying clients and are invaluable). You can offer these free cleaning jobs to friends, non profit organizations in your communities etc.

7) Get your first paying client then get another and another and another and so on.

Tell everyone you know that you’ve started a cleaning business and place ads in the local newspapers. In the beginning you need to spend most of your time and money getting paying clients. However, the more clients you get the less time and money you spend on marketing and more time you spend on cleaning and making your clients happy.

This is just the beginning. Once you start making money take a house cleaning business course to help you better manage your business in terms of growth, accounting, taxes, insurance better marketing strategies and more.

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The House Cleaning Business Startup Manual – Part III

Advertising

Spread the word. Let friends and family know that you have started your own home cleaning business. Ask them to spread the word at work and wherever they go. Personal referrals can help at this level to get the first customers. Serve the first customers as good as you can. These customers can be the make or break foundation. If you treat them like king they might refer you to their friends. Word of mouth is the most successful form of advertising for small businesses of that kind. “Word of mouth” can carry your business further and also help to cut down on marketing expenses.

Business Referral Program: I already mentioned the “word of mouth” advertising. Taking this a step further can really help your business to take off. Implement a referral program. Pay customers if they refer new customers to you. This can be in form of cash or free house cleaning services

Start advertising in local newspapers: Concentrate on the smaller local community newspapers and less on the large metro area newspapers. Pricing will be much more affordable. A local news paper in the area where I live gets distributed to about 75,000 residential customers (not households). A business card sized ad in a reasonable location costs around $95.00 per week. You can also just work with classified ads. These ads run anywhere from $10.00 per week to around $45.00 per week. If you can – don’t choose the weekly run, but go for a monthly or quarterly deal. Don’t try to put too much information into a classified ad. Keep it short, but easy to understand. Example: “Affordable house cleaning services. No job too small. Free estimates. (123)-555-1234”

Magnetic Signs or decals for your Vehicle: If you drive a decent looking vehicle use it for advertising. If you drive an old, rusty looking piece of the 80’s – skip to the next section. Car advertising can be very effective if you follow some basic rules. It has to look professional. The message has to be short and easy to understand. Do not drive like a maniac when having advertising for your business on your car. Magnetic signs can be purchased for around $75.00. Decals are available starting at around $25.00. Look at other cars that carry an advertising message to get ideas of what to do.

Flyers: You could print nice looking flyers on your home computer, but I recommend to rather spending a little money on professional printing. Design a flyer first. Then talk to local print shops for pricing. You can also check out Internet printers like http://www.gotprint.com. 1,000 (color print) flyers at Gotprint.com will set you back around $125.00 + shipping. Try to beat that with your home computer. Paper, ink, time, and wear and tear will cost you 2 or 3 times as much. How to distribute the flyers? Start with hanging flyers on bulletin boards in supermarkets and coin laundries. Ask store owners in your area if they are willing to show the flyer in their store somewhere (if appropriate).

Do not put flyers on car windows at local groceries stores and businesses. You might violate local laws or property owner’s permissions. Rather spend a morning in large residential areas and walk from door to door and place the flyers at the front door (bring plenty of scotch tape). You can even go a step further and ring door bells and drop of flyers in person and mention that you are expanding your services to that area to see if people are interested. DO NOT put flyers into mailboxes – that is against federal law.

Have you ever seen those advertisement door hangers? Pre-printed door hangers are pretty much an extension of hanging flyers at front doors. They are already shaped with an opening for the doorknob so that they can easily be put on a doorknob when walking by. Scan the Internet for best pricing or talk to local print shops. We do not endorse a specific shop, but we have seen prices for about 5,000 door hangers for $189.00.

Business Cards: Business cards can be a very effective marketing tool. Check out different websites on the Internet. Often these websites (like Vistaprint.com or Gotprint.com) have online tools to design your business cards on their website. Always carry business cards with you and use them frequently to market your business. Keep in mind – it is a little more cumbersome reaching a large group of people with business cards compared to using flyers.

Internet: Get a good domain name and have a website build for you. More and more people search for service providers online. It starts when being in need of handymen and does not end with finding a reliable house cleaning service. A website and an email address also leave a good impression on your business cards. Statistics show that a lot of working women shop for services around their house online while at work. Purchase an online listing in your local yellow pages. The Yellow Pages are still a great way of advertising your business. The online version on the Internet is gaining more popularity compared to the print version and a listing online will help you to get more customers.

Private Jet Detailing And Aircraft Cleaning Entrepreneurs Have Good News For 2017

The general aviation sector has been in the doldrums for quite a while. Some blame this on increased FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations, much of which occurred after 9-11 to protect airports from potential terrorists, unfortunately these increased security requirements and increased regulations have stifled the general aviation (GA) sector. The economic crashes of 2000 and 2008 didn’t help, although in 2003 the economy was flying high thanks to Bush Tax Cuts and stimulus, then it hit a wall again and didn’t really do well until the run-up just before the 2008 crash.

The GA sector has only slightly recovered since then but not back to its 2003 highs. When Obama got elected he railed against Corporate Jets and Corporate Fat Cats which hurt jet sales and new aircraft sales. Remember when congress went after the Auto Makers for flying their corporate jets to Washington DC to beg for bailouts? Public sentiment against GA was at an all-time low.

All of this had hurt aircraft cleaners and jet detailers – it made it tough to make money, but it looks like things are changing and the number of GA Aircraft is increasing. This new Trump Administration is pro-Aviation unlike the Obama Administration. Cutting corporate taxes will also help GA and jet sales. It looks like clear skies ahead for those in the General Aviation services business.

There was a great article in AIN – Aircraft International News – December Edition titled; “UBS Bizjet Index Sees Post-election Surge,” by Chad Trautvetter posted on December 12, 2016 which noted the following facts; The new Trump Administration in the U.S. is widely seen as a positive, with 61 percent of those surveyed expecting the outcome of the U.S. presidential election to ultimately be positive for the business jet market, while 11 percent don’t see a positive impact and 28 percent are uncertain.

In fact the article went on to note that there was an increase of between 44-49% increased orders for private jets over last year. Many of those aircraft will be delivered by 2018, and the backlog will increase used aircraft sales and current new inventory. More aircraft certainly means more aircraft to clean and more new aircraft means more corporate detailing customers as well. Meanwhile, along with the fractional jet market, we see jet air-taxi services on the increase as well as Uber style aircraft ride-sharing plans smaller companies can buy into. All of this means the GA sector is ready to take off again and that’s good for business.

The Need for Carpet Cleaning Training

If you are thinking of engaging in the carpet cleaning business, then carpet cleaning training is in order. This is especially so if you have limited knowledge and exposure in this area. And in order to make your skills more marketable, it is advised that you take an IICRC accredited course. Upon completing this and passing the exam, you will be awarded a certificate. This is proof of your knowledge and competency in the accepted procedures in carpet cleaning.

Although many are of the belief that carpet cleaning is a simple process of applying shampoo and using a strong vacuum cleaner, those in the know are aware of the complications. Applying the wrong chemicals or using an inappropriate procedure may ruin the carpet permanently. This will lead to replacement, which is more expensive. For this reason, certified cleaners are sought by commercial establishments requiring consistent professional results. And more often than not, these professionals have undergone some form of training in order to acquire the necessary procedural and equipment handling skills called for in carpet cleaning.

The Scope of Carpet Cleaning Training

The training includes an in-depth discussion of different types of carpets – the construction, material, and dyeing. Identification of the different types of fiber used is also taught. Knowledge of these factors is essential since they have a bearing on how the carpet should be cleaned as well as how spots and stains are removed.

The training curriculum also includes customer handling. In the business world, this is quite important since a faux pas in this area will ruin your reputation and it will reduce your chance of success. For this reason, the proper explanation of the procedure, the risks involved, and the management of customer expectation is covered in the training.

Spot and stain removal is given emphasis. In the household setting, it is usually the stubborn spots and stains which prompt the homeowner to seek professional help. These unsightly marks are even more plentiful in the commercial setting. Naturally, it is expected that the cleaner has the capability of removing these unwanted and ugly blemishes.

Carpet cleaning training will not be complete without a discussion of the equipment and chemicals used. In this regard, it is best that you choose a training provider which does not sell or promote a particular line of equipment or chemicals. This will ensure that there is no bias in the discussion of these topics.

Other Related Courses

Most training providers also offer related courses such as Advance Stain Removal, Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning, and Water Damage Training. Your decision to take up any of these courses should depend on the demand for that particular skill. If your area is prone to flooding or there seems to be a large requirement for water damage restoration, then taking specialized training in this area is in order.

There is a lot of earning potential in the carpet cleaning business. You may go into it on your own or via franchise. But regardless, it is best that you are knowledgeable of carpet cleaning procedures and skills. Hence, training is advised.

Factors Directing You to the Best House Cleaning Services

With the schedules being highly hectic nowadays, people do not find enough time to clean their homes. Thus, a majority of people, especially working couples, prefer to hire professional cleaning services. The same proves to be cost-effective and saves on money incurred by hiring permanent staff to clean your house, which is comparatively expensive.

When it comes to hiring a professional maid service, a few factors are needed to be taken into consideration before a final decision is reached. Numerous housekeeping service providers are available today. But, it is influential for you to choose the best from among them all to get your residential or commercial space cleaned in a proficient way. It is crucial on your part to evaluate the house cleaning company based on its quotes and its professionalism level. There are a number of companies offering quality cleaning solutions at fair prices, but before you go for one, you have to settle on your personal requirements and budget. Determining this factor will allow you to select an apt house cleaning service that best suits you. Below are some other factors, which are needed to be considered by you to enjoy the advantages of professional house cleaning services that ensure clean and tidy surroundings all the time.

Type of cleaning products they use: – Usually, cleaning products include toxic chemicals, which can have a harsh effect on the environmental health of your home/office. Cleaning service providers select inexpensive products while providing the best possible results. But, an effective cleaning product may not mean that it is good for health too. Thus, you should not sacrifice with the quality of the cleansing product. It is important for you to ask the cleaning company to use only eco-friendly products to clean the house/office in order to safeguard the health of your family members or the office staff.

Trained professionals – Make sure the company you are hiring has a team of well-trained professionals. The company should insure its whole staff against damages/injuries caused while working in your space. If a company lacks to do so, it shows carelessness on its part to prove that the services offered by it are not worthy.

Company sends the same cleaning maid every day: – This is actually a major factor when it comes to considering a professional cleaning service, for constancy is a vital ingredient in this business. If the house cleaning company hired by you sends the same team or maid every day, it will mean that she is getting comfortable with your home, which is necessary too. Not only will the same allow her to work with ease at your place, but you will also not need to instruct the maid every day.

If the company you are hiring is insured: – This will provide you safety in case you seize one of the cleaners stealing something from your house. Knowing that the company is insured will help you get peace of mind. You should also ensure if the company will cover accidents caused by its staff in your space. Last, but not the least, go through the contract papers thoroughly and if you find yourself comfortable with the same, only then go ahead to hire that company.

If the company screens its staff members:- While you are allowing strangers to come to your home for house cleaning, who would remain in and around your house, you need to ensure that they are reliable and trustworthy. You must ask the company if an analysis has been done by them on their staff’s background to check if they have a fair/clean record. Apart from this, drug screening should also be done on them.

Keeping the aforementioned in mind, you can easily hire a reliable housekeeping service provider for your residential or commercial space.

Key Success Factors For Starting Your Own Commercial Cleaning Franchise

Having your own commercial cleaning franchise may seem like a very promising idea, but it involves careful and strategic planning and decision-making in order to maximize your business’ growth potential.

And the first key decision you have to make is choosing the right commercial cleaning franchise.

Some franchises promise high return on investment, while others promise full advertising support. While these factors are definitely very important they are not so powerful in isolation. You have to look for a franchise that offers you ‘the full package’ before you can make your decision.

Here are the key success factors you need to pay attention to that will help you make a success of any commercial cleaning franchise.

1. The Overall Reputation of the Cleaning Business.

This makes a lot of common sense. If the franchise has a good reputation with its existing customers, you will have a much easier time getting clients of your own in your area.

You can use client testimonials and referrals to help you get started, then form your own loyal client base to keep bringing in new clients.

2. Business Development Support.

It’s important that the franchise owner gives you 100% support to ensure that your business will have long-term success. Business development support includes: training and seminars, giving advice on which locations are best for you to set up your business in, and comprehensive market research statistics.

3. Marketing Support – Expertise and Materials.

Successful franchise owners provide adequate advertising support to franchisees. You should look to be getting pre-defined marketing materials for all necessary mediums – online and offline. These marketing materials should have been tried and tested ready for you to just customise and use straight away.

This minimizes your risk of spending a lot of money on working out what marketing works in your area and what doesn’t.

4. Detailed and Tested Business Processes.

This is critical! If you are looking to buy a commercial cleanining franchise, you must make sure you are getting good usable processes with the business package. These are the things that will enable you to “hit the ground running”.

Processes create a fail-safe environment, and allow you to get on with the more important things in your new business – like getting clients – as opposed to having to worry about teaching your employees the correct way to clean a kitchen…

5. Business Goals Alignment.

You and the franchise owner should work towards achieving a common business goal. Remember, it’s ultimately a joint venture – both of you have high stakes on it.

Look for a franchise owner who immediately conveys his long-term plans with you. This means that the franchise owner is not looking for a ‘quick buck’, but is rather confident about the long-term success of the business.

6. Customer Support.

Although customer support is often overlooked, it is one of the critical elements in choosing the best commercial cleaning franchise.

Does the customer support immediately respond to your queries? Does the customer support attend to your needs? Since customer support is essential to this type of business, the franchiser should set an example.

Having your own commercial cleaning franchise requires hard work, motivation and determination. In return though, you’ll get financial freedom and the opportunity to create your own future, as opposed to working for someone and relying on their ‘good grace’.

If you spend good time preparing and researching the different aspects of owning a business, you should increase your chances of success.