Starting up a cleaning business is a great investment. There will always be a market and multiple niches to branch into. It’s also one of the few businesses that doesn’t require a huge upfront cost. 

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However, several key factors must be considered when starting a cleaning business from scratch. We’ll go over all these factors to ensure your cleaning business gets a solid headstart. 

How to Start a Cleaning Business

Cleaning businesses have many moving parts. It’s not as simple as grabbing supplies and hitting the road. You need a strategy, people need to know your company exists before they can fill your calendar with appointments. Let's take a closer look at getting started and implementing a few simple marketing strategies.

Choose Your Niche

Before you grab a mop or launch a website, you have to decide what type of cleaning business you want to run. Picking a niche helps you focus your efforts and attract the right clients.

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Here are some conventional options:

• Residential Cleaning: Houses, apartments, or Airbnb rentals. Perfect if you enjoy detailed, hands-on work and building relationships with homeowners.
• Commercial Cleaning: Offices, retail stores, or industrial spaces. These contracts tend to be bigger but may require after-hours work or a team.
• Specialty Cleaning: Carpet cleaning, window washing, post-construction cleanup, or move-in/move-out services. 

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Think about your skills, physical ability, equipment needs, and availability. You don’t have to stick to one niche forever, but starting with a specialty can help you build a strong foundation.

Handle the Legal Stuff

Let’s talk paperwork. Nobody loves this part, but it’s non-negotiable if you want to operate legally and professionally. Here’s what you’d need:

• Business License: Check with your city or county to see what’s required for your area.
• Liability Insurance: This protects you if you damage a client’s property.
• Bonding: Reassures clients they’re financially protected if something goes wrong.

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Clients often ask if you’re licensed, insured, and bonded before hiring you, so it’s worth the upfront investment to build trust. 

Budget and Price Your Services

Working solo and focusing on essentials can help you keep costs low. Buy only the supplies and equipment you need for basic jobs. 

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Remember, the costs of running your cleaning service (overhead, labor, materials, travel, and marketing) should be considered when establishing your pricing.

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If you look at forums like Reddit or Quora, the general consensus among those who own a cleaning business is to aim for at least a 20–40% profit margin after covering expenses.

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You should also consider the pricing model. Will you charge an hourly rate, a flat rate, square footage pricing, or offer a subscription package? 

Stock Up on Supplies and Tools

Always invest in the right gear. If you’re still starting, you can use basic cleaning supplies: all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, disinfectants, sponges, and microfiber cloths. 

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Buying in bulk saves money. Look for wholesale cleaning suppliers online or check local warehouse stores. Keep supplies organized and portable, especially if you’re working solo. 

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But if you want to do more in-demand cleaning jobs, you’d like to invest in heavy-duty equipment like vacuum cleaners, carpet shampooers, steam cleaners, and pressure washers. 

Start Small and Deliver Great Results

Every business has to start somewhere. You don’t need a team of employees or fancy equipment to get started. Many cleaning businesses start as a one-person operation.

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Since you’re just starting out, it’s best to keep overhead low. This lets you focus on the quality of your work. When you get a job, show up on time. When you finish a job, follow up with clients. 

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Thank them for choosing your service, and don’t forget to ask for reviews or feedback. 

Plan for Sustainable Scalability

As your business grows, you’ll have opportunities to expand. Start by hiring and training employees who can meet the same high standards you’ve set for yourself.

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This lets you take on more clients without sacrificing quality. Once you’ve mastered the basics, consider offering additional services like deep cleaning or pressure washing.

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To stay on top of everything, invest in lead generation, customer engagement, and invoicing tools to streamline your operations. And the best way to scale is with solid marketing strategies. 

Market Services and Gather Leads

With all the pieces ready, you can market your service, find leads, and reach out to potential prospects. Consider basic SEO, social media lead generation, and inbound marketing.

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But managing all these leads from different platforms can be a hassle, especially if you’re starting out.

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Chekkit can aggregate all customer messages from Facebook, SMS marketing, Instagram, or a textable landline in one lead inbox.

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What to Focus On Once Your Cleaning Business Starts Growing

Getting your cleaning business off the ground is a huge accomplishment. But landing those first few clients is just the start. It’s time to focus on long-term success. Here’s what to consider:

Client Retention is Everything

It’s cheaper to retain and nurture existing clients than it is to look for new ones. Make sure clients call you back by delivering consistent quality that exceeds expectations. 

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At the same time, you have to be proactive. Don’t just wait for the customers to call you back. Follow up with them after a month and ask if they need a cleaning service. 

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Chekkit automates this process for you. It can send timely follow-ups to all leads, and track scheduling, appointments, ask reviews, and even payments in one app.

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Remember, the more convenient the process is for customers, the more likely they’ll return. 

Watch Out for Red Flag Clients

If you’re in the early stages of your cleaning business, you might be tempted to get every client that comes your way. But not every client would be a good fit. Look out for clients who:

• Constantly haggle over prices.
• Are overly demanding or unreasonably picky.
• Consistently cancel or reschedule last minute.

Continue Marketing Your Business

Even with steady clients, you can’t stop marketing. People move, businesses switch cleaning services, and you’ll always want to fill gaps in your schedule.

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Invest in a solid inbound marketing strategy. Leverage tools that can help you collect lead information, answer customer queries, reach out to prospects, and respond to reviews. 

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With Chekkit, you get all three. We can help you grow your cleaning business from the ground up, from customer engagement to invoicing. Contact our sales team today!

Key Takeaways

Starting a cleaning business isn’t easy. But once you get the ball rolling, it’s a business that you can scale fast, even with minimal investments. To recap, here’s a rundown of what you need: 

• Choose your niche 
• Handle all the legal documentation
• Create a budget and price your services
• Stock up on supplies and tools 
• Plan for sustainable growth 
• Market your services 

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Growing and maintaining a cleaning business requires the right strategy and tools. The good news is you don’t need a big marketing team to do both—especially with Chekkit.

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