| Although challenging, it is possible to start | | | | can purchase cleaning supplies at your local |
| a cleaning business in two weeks for under | | | | discount center, grocery and dollar stores. |
| $1,000. Be aware that you may need another | | | | Either store or brand name household cleaning |
| source of income while your business is | | | | products will work, however, compare the |
| growing. If you have customers already | | | | percentage of active cleaning ingredients. |
| waiting for your services you can get started | | | | Avoid products containing bleach as it can |
| cleaning in a few days, then word of mouth | | | | cause damage to carpets and counters. Our |
| might increase your customer base. Keep in | | | | preferred products are: Murphy's Oil Soap; |
| mind that obtaining new customers can be time | | | | Pine-Sol; Soft Scrub (lemon or orange); |
| consuming and costly. In addition, your | | | | Scrub-Free mildew remover; all purpose |
| costs will rise considerably if you purchase | | | | cleaner; furniture polish; toilet |
| liability and worker's compensation | | | | disinfectant/germicide; glass cleaner. |
| insurance. Realistically, you should expect | | | | Purchase mops with machine washable heads; |
| to invest more than $1,000 to keep your | | | | both large and medium size sturdy buckets |
| business growing once you have obtained the | | | | with handles; a large sturdy caddy; 40 white |
| minimal basics. If your goal is to earn a | | | | cotton washcloths for cleaning; medium and |
| substantial living solely from your house | | | | large scrub brushes (use old tooth brushes |
| cleaning business, then you must reinvest | | | | for detailing around sinks and in grout); |
| earnings into the business in order to | | | | toilet brush; teflon scrub pads; lambs wool |
| increase customers and income.How to start a | | | | dusters; extension wand; 13 gallon kitchen |
| cleaning business with minimal investment and | | | | trash bags; and a 3-step ladder.Commercial |
| maximum return.Read all of the articles at to | | | | grade vacuums start at around $250 and are |
| prepare for the adventure. You will find the | | | | well worth the investment. We have found that |
| article "Are You Ready" of particular | | | | Royal brand commercial vacuums, crafted with |
| importance, telling you what to expect during | | | | die-cast aluminum, are the longest lasting |
| your first year of running your own cleaning | | | | and they out clean the competition. |
| business. When you are certain that you | | | | Available in several models, Royal commercial |
| want to start your own house cleaning | | | | vacuums are available through VacLand. Visit |
| business, then visit all of the websites | | | | for the best prices, reputable salespeople |
| listed at the end of this article to learn | | | | and 2 - 5 day nationwide shipping.When you're |
| about government regulations, taxes and | | | | ready to hire employees for your cleaning |
| licensing. You will also find information | | | | business be certain to have your employment |
| about how to establish ownership of your | | | | application, employee policies handbook, |
| cleaning business (corporation, LLC, or sole | | | | cleaning procedures manual, warning |
| proprietor.)Decide on the fee you will charge | | | | certificates and all of the appropriate human |
| for your cleaning services. Research the | | | | resources paperwork. With strict policies |
| local market to determine what your | | | | and procedures to follow, your employees will |
| competitors charge. You must remain within | | | | know that they are working for a |
| the local standards, and you can undercut | | | | professionally run company, and therefore |
| your competition slightly; however, if you | | | | will be less likely to take advantage of you. |
| charge significantly less than the | | | | Also, you will need to keep employee files |
| competition you may end up with low profits | | | | containing tax paperwork and employment |
| and a heavy workload -- defeating your | | | | history including a record of verbal and |
| business goals. Keep your prices within | | | | written warnings. To obtain the appropriate |
| local standards so that as you add employees | | | | tax documents for employees contact your |
| you will not need to raise prices and thereby | | | | accountant or local state employment |
| lose customers. If you want to offer | | | | office.Start-up Costs$100 - Bonding |
| significantly lower cleaning fees than your | | | | insurance50 - Business license75 - Business |
| competitors you should advertise | | | | start-up package50 - Classified ad100 - |
| time-sensitive discounts (i.e. $50 off a deep | | | | Logo110 - Car signs250 - Commercial grade |
| cleaning until the end of next month.)The | | | | vacuum100 - Marketing pieces100 - Cleaning |
| name and logo for your cleaning business | | | | supplies |
| require thought. Your cleaning service | | | | |
| business should have a polished and | | | | $935 - Minimum estimated costs**Minimum |
| professional image to compete in the | | | | estimated costs exclude liability insurance, |
| marketplace. A professionally designed logo | | | | phone expense and marketing piece |
| will help to brand your company in the | | | | distribution as these costs are undetermined. |
| public's mind. Your logo will be printed on | | | | Also, costs may vary slightly depending upon |
| business cards, marketing pieces, letterhead, | | | | location.Before You Start a Cleaning |
| car signs, etc., so carefully consider the | | | | Business:Obtain your local & state business |
| image you want to present, and then choose a | | | | licenses; bonding insurance, and liability |
| name and artwork which will best reflect that | | | | insurance if needed. Prospective customers |
| image. Be certain that the business name | | | | will ask if you are licensed and bonded. |
| you've chosen is not already in use. Visit to | | | | Bonding insurance can be obtained for about |
| create a logo online for only $99.Before you | | | | $100 which will cover $1,000 - $3,000 of |
| start your own cleaning business be prepared | | | | anti-theft coverage. You business license is |
| with customized, professionally written | | | | an annual expense and will cost approximately |
| business forms and letters. You should have: | | | | $50 - $150 depending upon your location and |
| a sales script memorized to perfection | | | | annual revenue. (When you hire employees you |
| whether you do in-home estimates or estimates | | | | may also need worker's compensation |
| by phone; cleaning fee estimate calculator; | | | | insurance.) The Small Business Administration |
| fee estimate letters; follow-up letters for | | | | is a great source of information, start up |
| quotes not booked; new customer letters | | | | paperwork, free business plan templates and |
| stating hourly fees for cleaning services and | | | | links to other informative websites. |
| payment policies; a customer database and | | | | Internal Revenue Service website offers a |
| accounting system; information sheets listing | | | | wealth of information for small businesses. |
| vital details for each customer; cleaning | | | | You'll find start-up guides, information on |
| service checklist form to leave with | | | | tax credits and business deductions, advice |
| customers after each service; and customer | | | | on record keeping and choosing an accounting |
| survey forms for every new customer to | | | | method, employee tax issues, and more. The |
| complete and return. At you can purchase a | | | | most up-to-date tax information is available |
| cleaning business start up package for $75, | | | | through the site, as well as forms, |
| or a complete cleaning business system for | | | | publications and instructions for filing |
| $1250.To obtain your first customers you can | | | | taxes. tax information can be found at |
| advertise under "services" in the classified | | | | which provides links to the Department of |
| section of your local newspapers. Keep it | | | | Revenue for every state.Other Websites You |
| short and ad your logo if you can afford to. | | | | Should Visit:Cleaning Business Forms and |
| Your ad might read "Quality housecleaning | | | | More: - provides free information for |
| with integrity. Call ###-#### for a free | | | | cleaning service businesses, both start-up |
| estimate." $25 - $100 should cover running | | | | and established. You can purchase a complete |
| your ad for 2 weeks depending upon your | | | | cleaning business system, or an economical |
| location and size of the ad.It is of utmost | | | | start up package which includes a cleaning |
| importance that you have a voice-mail system | | | | fee estimate calculator; lists of resources; |
| with a professional message which reflects | | | | a full color tri-fold customizable brochure, |
| your business image. Also, your phone system | | | | and over a dozen customizable forms and |
| should capture incoming numbers as callers | | | | customer letters. There is also a guide to |
| may not leave a message, or may forget to | | | | hiring and managing cleaning business |
| leave their phone number. Be certain to | | | | employees, an employee handbook and cleaning |
| return calls within 2 to 3 business hours. | | | | procedures manual; performance reviews and |
| Because most people have sufficient home or | | | | warnings; and a payroll template.Business |
| mobile phone systems the cost of this will | | | | Law: - Complying with business laws and |
| not be included in our general start-up | | | | regulations can be a burden. To help small |
| estimate.Marketing pieces may be hand | | | | businesses overcome this, the Small Business |
| delivered or mailed. Your choices are door | | | | Administration (sba.gov) in cooperation with |
| hangers, brochures or postcards. We prefer | | | | multiple Federal agencies developed |
| brochures or postcards rather than door | | | | BusinessLaw.gov, an online resource designed |
| hangers because they can be used as handouts | | | | to provide legal and regulatory information. |
| and as mailing pieces. You can develop your | | | | Topics covered on this site range from |
| own brochure or postcard using Microsoft | | | | choosing a business structure to hiring an |
| Publisher software, or you can purchase a | | | | attorney. The site also provides links to |
| pre-designed template. The pieces can be | | | | federal, state and local agencies.Employment |
| printed in-house if you have a high quality | | | | Law: - This guide describes the statutes |
| printer, or printed at a local print shop or | | | | and regulations administered by the |
| copy center. PIP, Staples and Office Depot | | | | Department of Labor (DOL) that affect |
| all have high speed copiers that will produce | | | | businesses and workers. The guide is designed |
| professional quality marketing pieces at very | | | | mainly for those needing "hands-on" |
| reasonable prices. Insist on seeing a sample | | | | information to develop wage, benefit, safety |
| from the copier before you have the job | | | | and health, and nondiscrimination policies |
| completed. You MUST deliver high quality | | | | for businesses in general industry.Compliance |
| marketing pieces in order to make the best | | | | Laws: - Statutes and regulations |
| impression on your prospects. Flimsy paper | | | | administered by the Department of Labor (DOL) |
| with lopsided print, ink rubbing off and | | | | that affect businesses and workers.Copyright |
| jagged edges is not the professional image | | | | © 2004 MaidDocs(R) ~ All rights |
| that will make your prospects eager to call. | | | | reserved.Walter L. Gibson, Jr. and Gwynneth |
| $100 should cover your costs for 100 | | | | Sawyer-Berkeley are co-owners of and they run |
| brochures, 200 postcards, or 250 door | | | | a successful cleaning business, Maid in North |
| hangers.Magnetic car signs are a great | | | | Carolina, Inc. MaidDocs offers a very |
| advertising tool which can be made by a local | | | | affordable, non-franchised, house cleaning |
| sign maker for $25 to $50 a set, plus an | | | | business system and a-la-carte documents for |
| initial set-up fee of approximately $60. Be | | | | residential cleaning businesses. Maid in |
| certain that your signs fit on both compact | | | | North Carolina, Inc was established by Walter |
| and full size cars and that you use no more | | | | L. Gibson in 1989. With MaidDocs you can |
| than three colors. When designing your signs | | | | start a house cleaning business and keep it |
| keep in mind that bold lettering and brief | | | | growing. Visit or call 1-877-779-6955 for |
| wording works best. Remember to include your | | | | complete information. |
| logo for name branding.For around $100 you | | | | |