Are you looking to start a commercial cleaning business? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about getting into commercial cleaning. From buying a franchise to selecting a legal entity, we’ll provide you with all the information you need to get started. When it comes to commercial cleaning, it’s important to understand that the type of cleaning supplies you’ll need is different than for residential cleaning.
You’ll need to invest in a vacuum cleaner, mop, broom, dustpan, multi-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, sponges, cloths, bucket, protective gloves and a cart to store your supplies. Once you have the necessary supplies, it’s time to start finding customers and protecting your business accounts. This requires all kinds of marketing techniques, from digital marketing to cold calling. According to Cowan, “any service business is a people business, so networking and community participation are essential.” She recommends taking your name out of the community so that you are the first to come to mind when someone thinks about needing a cleaning service.
Before serving a new customer, it’s essential to agree on the expectations of each party and how to protect your business if these expectations are not met. You can do this by asking your customer to sign a service agreement. By entering into a contract with your customer, you can set the price you will pay for your services, which makes it easier to resolve in the event of a dispute. The right price for commercial jobs is crucial but difficult to do online, so Cowan recommends meeting in person with the customer to view the space, discuss their needs and build that relationship with the customer.
As with residential cleaning, job prices are based on the time required for cleaning but you can clean many more commercial square feet per hour than residential square feet. In a retail space, there are many variables that can affect how long a job takes and how it will be priced so in-person estimates are needed. Before starting your business, consider how many nearby businesses need commercial cleaning services and if they are likely to hire you. Insurance for commercial cleaning companies can help protect you if there is an accident or injury while working in a place or if someone accuses you of negligence at work.
Cowan explains that simply dipping your toe in may not require much change but adding an entire commercial division to your business requires a lot more work and planning. Offer free cleaning products to try and consider doing whatever it takes to have a meaningful conversation about cleaning. Check out our interview with Mike about business plans – while Mike is a franchisor for lawn care his advice applies to commercial cleaning services too. For those considering this move, Cowan recommends attending all possible conventions, trainings and events and even hiring a consultant to help them learn how to run a commercial cleaning business. For a residential cleaning company looking to expand into retail space, Cowan says the first decision to make is how much commercial business you’re looking for and if you’re “going to dip your toe in the water and just take whatever comes organically, an occasional office here and there or if you’re going to have a division complete and actually set some goals, set a budget some deadlines and some action plans.”As your business starts growing you can clean larger office buildings as the number of employees increases. Commercial kitchen cleaning companies should consider asking customers to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. When it comes to pricing for commercial jobs it’s best to stick with an hourly rate or flat rate as this will make it easier for both parties involved. We hope this guide has provided you with all the information you need on getting into commercial cleaning. Good luck!.
