Whether your schedule is full or you need help with cleaning after parties, hiring a home cleaner could be a smart choice. When shopping around, ask for recommendations from trusted sources.
This service can make your house sparkle, scrub those hard-to-reach places, and remove stains that seem set in forever. It can also free up your time so that you can focus on your priorities.
Getting Started
For starters, determine the clientele you want to pursue and the services you plan to offer. This is an important step because it will determine how you advertise your business and how much competition you’ll face. Also, if you plan to work from home, it’s a good idea to establish the radius within which you’re comfortable commuting — and focus your advertising on that area.
Before you start scheduling cleaning jobs, decide which legal structure to pursue for your cleaning business. A sole proprietorship is the easiest and least expensive to form, but it also leaves you personally responsible for all risks and liabilities. Alternatively, you can choose to form a partnership or corporation and obtain an employee identification number (EIN) from the IRS.
You’ll also need to purchase supplies and cleaning products for your clients’ homes, such as cleaning solutions and spray bottles, mops and sponges, and protective gloves. Additionally, you’ll need a vehicle to transport your cleaning equipment and supplies between clients’ homes.
Pricing
There are a few different pricing methods for home cleaning services. Some companies charge per hour while others charge a flat rate. It’s important to choose a method that works for your business and clients.
The type of cleaning: For example, you may want to charge more for deep cleaning and scrubbing stubborn stains than for basic mopping and sweeping. Home size: The larger a house, the more time it takes to clean. You may want to charge by the room for larger homes or by the number of rooms for smaller ones.
Your pricing should include your fixed costs, such as payroll, taxes, and insurance, as well as overhead expenses like cleaning supplies, fuel, and advertising. It should also include a reasonable profit margin to help your cleaning business grow. Evaluate your local market and compare prices to competitors to ensure you’re competitive. You can also provide service add-ons to set yourself apart from the competition.
Preparation
Home cleaning services often bring their own supplies, but if you have any specific items that you would like them to use, it is helpful to communicate this to the cleaners before they arrive. This will ensure that the cleaners can get the best results from their work.
It is also a good idea to remove or lock away any items that you don’t want the cleaners to touch. This includes items that are expensive or sentimental. While the cleaning crews are usually vetted and background checked, it is never safe to leave valuable items unattended.
If you have children’s toys strewn around the floor, cluttered shelves, or other items that need to be put away, it is helpful to do this before the cleaning professionals arrive. This will allow them to work efficiently and quickly. It will also save you the time of having to clean up the mess afterward. This is the main reason that people hire professional home cleaners.
Follow-Up
After a client has hired your cleaning service, be sure to follow up and nurture those leads. Nurtured leads will buy more often than unfollowed ones. When the conversation naturally comes to a close, ask them for their business card or contact information.
During your first cleaning, it’s helpful to introduce yourself to the customer and any other family members or pets living in their home. Then leave a Welcome Letter and original Service Agreement on the kitchen counter in a manila folder (this is one of the few times that paper is better than digital).
It is also a good time to provide a list of the services your company provides, such as scrubbing the inside of the refrigerator or washing windows. And be sure to take a note of any issues, such as a stain that won’t come out or a broken item. This will allow you to address them on the next visit.