Decided to start a cleaning business, but unsure where to begin? Successful cleaning companies in the janitorial industry follow a few key steps and stock up on plenty of must-have products so they are fully prepared to please clients with impeccable work.
If you’re unsure which steps and products you’re going to need, this article will help. Learn how to start a cleaning business with the information below.
5 Steps for Starting a Cleaning Business
Before purchasing any cleaning products or equipment, don’t miss these steps to start a cleaning business successfully.
Invest Funds into the Cleaning Business
You’ll need to invest funds into the cleaning business, which might require taking out a business loan. The funds required may range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the size of your own cleaning business.
You could alternatively seek funds from family or friends, or invest/spend on credit to get your business started. Don’t forget to also set up business insurance to protect your business in the event of property damage or similar issues.
Select a Market
It’s important to consider the market, as this will determine costs such as transportation for your cleaning business. If you’re staying local as a residential cleaning business, you might want to ensure you can walk to the client’s location. Walking will help you save money, which you could invest back into the business.
If the market covers a larger radius, factor in transportation costs and include them in the budget and startup costs.
Specialize in a Specific Line of Cleaning Work
You might start by offering general, basic cleaning services, but it might make sense to specialize in a specific niche. It’ll help you purchase particular products and know what to expect.
For instance, you might only clean commercial kitchen appliances or business restrooms. Or you may consider specializing in office kitchen tiles. Getting jobs like these means you’ll not need to invest in a vast range of cleaning products — just the items needed for these specific cleaning tasks.
Register Your Business
You’ll then need to register your commercial cleaning business for income reporting purposes. Options for registering your business include a sole proprietorship or a partnership with other individuals. The process involves following your state's business registration requirements and registering for an employer identification number, which you can obtain from the IRS.
Find Clients
You’ll now need to find clients to get your cleaning business underway. Getting good referrals or reviews online through Facebook pages can make it easier to find clients.
You can also maintain clients by establishing set rates so your customers know what to expect. If you’re cleaning an entire family home, or specialize in domestic cleaning, for instance, you may set rates of between $120 and $150.
7 Key Product Types Your Cleaning Business Needs
You’ll now need cleaning products for your business, so here are the main options you should consider:
#1 Disinfectant
Multisurface disinfectant is a staple cleaning item that’s ideal for its versatility. Options such as the Pine-Sol CloroxPro Multi-Surface Cleaner Disinfectant are doubly concentrated and eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and germs.
Ideal for:
Cutting through grease and grime.
Sanitizing stainless steel, vinyl, chrome, and other surfaces.
Freshening surfaces and leaving a pleasant scent behind.
#2 Floor Cleaner
Various types of floor cleaners are available, which you can buy from BuyDirect. Order the Boardwalk Neutral Floor Cleaner or the Betco Green Earth Daily Cleaner , and you can remove soils from various types of flooring. Both clean coated flooring without ruining the finish because of their gentle yet powerful formulas.
Ideal for:
Cleaning tiled flooring in office breakrooms.
Mopping types of flooring that have a shiny finish.
Dispersing stubborn grease in kitchens and bathrooms.
#3 Carpet Cleaner
Buy the Diversey Carpet Cleanser or the Boardwalk Industrial Strength Carpet Extractor and you can remove tough stains. The Diversey Carpet Cleaner works with a scrubbing action and contains a soil repellent element, while manufacturers designed the Boardwalk Industrial Strength Carpet to be used with a carpet extraction or steam cleaner machine.
Ideal for:
Scrubbing tough stains from carpets in communal spaces.
Removing odors from carpet fibers.
Loosening soils quickly to be vacuumed from the carpet.
#4 Restroom Cleaner
Purchase restroom cleaner products such as the LYSOL Brand Disinfectant Toilet Bowl Cleaner or the Betco Kling Toilet Bowl Cleaner , and you can keep toilets sparkling clean. The LYSOL toilet cleaner destroys 99.9% of germs without harming septic systems, while the Betco toilet cleaner contains 9% hydrochloric acid for a thorough clean.
Ideal for:
Removing hard water mineral deposits from a toilet bowl.
Eradicating Salmonella Enterica, Escherichia Coli, Rotavirus WA, and other viruses.
Leaving behind a fresh and pleasant scent.
#5 Trash Bags
Cleaning jobs often require you to tidy and throw away items in the trash. Buy the Boardwalk Recycled Low-Density Polyethylene Can Liners , or the Heritage Reprocessed Resin Can Liners , and you can easily collect waste since these bags have secure, leak-free features.
Ideal for:
Disposing of 60 gallons of waste.
Lining deep trash cans.
Avoiding leakage when throwing garbage away.
#6 Cleaning Tools
You’ll need several types of cleaning tools to scrub away soils, sanitize surfaces, wipe away grime, or freshen workspaces with a clean scent. Purchase the Boardwalk Stainless Steel Scrubber or the Scotch-Brite Heavy-Duty Scour pad , and you can make light work of cleaning surface stains or grime in company kitchens thanks to the abrasive texture of these tools.
Ideal for:
Deep cleaning commercial kitchen ovens.
Removing floor scuff marks.
Removing baked-on food from pots and pans.
#7 Mops & Buckets
Sealed concrete floors, tiles, linoleum, and shiny hard floors need to be mopped periodically for health and safety reasons. Buy solutions like the Rubbermaid Commercial Invader Fiberglass Mop Handle , the Rubbermaid Commercial Web Foot Finish Mop , and the Rubbermaid Commercial WaveBrake 2.0 Bucket from BuyDirect, and you’ll be ready to sanitize floors and minimize hazards.
The mop handle is a durable solution, while the mop features four-ply synthetic yarn, and the bucket features a wringer feature to remove excess water from the mop.
Ideal for:
Mopping commercial kitchen floors or completing commercial cleaning services.
Removing soils from kitchens in office buildings.
Freshening spaces with thorough mopping processes.
Start Your Cleaning Business and Purchase the Right Products from BuyDirect
The most reliable cleaning products can make a significant difference to the success of your cleaning business. Ready to search for your first client and offer high-grade cleaning services?
Whether you’re a home cleaning business owner offering house cleaning services or a commercial cleaning business, make sure you have all the right cleaning products and cleaning equipment so that you are prepared to complete the cleaning job well. Join the cleaning industry. Offer high quality services with the best cleaning supplies from BuyDirect.
FAQs
Check the FAQs below to learn more about cleaning businesses.
What is the Advantage of Having a Domestic Cleaning Business?
This is mainly repeat business, which you can achieve by offering high quality services and building a rapport with your clients. Specializing in one area can also help you familiarize yourself with the cleaning process and ensures you do an excellent job.
How to Complete Cleaning Business Market Research?
This needs to be a thorough process as it will guide your business plan. Make sure you complete market research on your competitors, which will help you set the right prices for regular cleaning services as a new business.
What Is a Professional House Cleaning Business Checklist?
This includes cleaning surfaces, disinfecting light switches and sanitizing door handles, cleaning carpets and hard floors, and cleaning ceiling fans. You’ll also need to clean windows with a glass cleaner and make sure appliances are sanitized with an degreaser, which we sell at BuyDirect.