| A part-time or full-time cleaning business may be one | | | | clean effectively and make sure you clean each room |
| of the easiest businesses to start on a shoestring. | | | | thoroughly. Many professional cleaners recommend |
| Here are some tips on starting a cleaning business to | | | | starting at one corner of each room and working your |
| get you started. | | | | way around it. That way, when you get back to your |
| 1. Buy your cleaning supplies at a wholesale or discount | | | | starting point you'll know you cleaned the entire room |
| club. You can get much better deals on bulk cleaning | | | | and didn't miss anything. |
| supplies at a warehouse club like Costco, and they'll | | | | 7. Listen to your clients. Some of them may be picky |
| last longer because they come in bigger sizes. | | | | about what cleaning products you use, or how you |
| 2. Print flyers and hand them out in your neighborhood, | | | | clean their homes. They may have precious antiques |
| to friends, and at businesses in your area. You can | | | | or mementos. If they have special requirements, write |
| buy professional looking stationery online or at office | | | | them down in a small notebook and keep it with your |
| supply stores, and print your own flyers on your | | | | cleaning supplies. Listen to their concerns and likes and |
| computer's printer, keeping the costs down. | | | | dislikes to keep them satisfied customers. |
| 3. You don't need a vacuum to get started. If you can't | | | | 8. Be on time, and always be professional. You may |
| afford one, offer a small discount to the customer if | | | | develop friendships with some of your clients, but |
| you use their vacuum. | | | | always act professionally anyway. Don't be late, and if |
| 4. Here's one of the most important tips on starting a | | | | you have to cancel or change an appointment, give |
| cleaning business. Research other cleaning services in | | | | them plenty of notice. |
| your area, and find out what they are charging for | | | | 9. Look for the details. Don't be in such a rush that you |
| homes and businesses. Keep your price competitive | | | | leave a client's home "half" clean. Check for cobwebs, |
| when you give quotes for a job. If you're too cheap, | | | | dusty baseboards, dirty lamps and light fixtures, and |
| people may not trust the quality of your cleaning, and | | | | clean them on a rotating basis. Your client will thank |
| they may not use you if you're too expensive. | | | | you and tell others about your good work, too. |
| 5. Learn how to clean professionally. If you do a | | | | 10. Keep good records and pay your taxes! Keep |
| shoddy job, you won't keep your customers for long. | | | | good business records, and claim your income on your |
| Consider working for a cleaning service for a while to | | | | tax return. You can take off the cost of expenses |
| see how they do it. You can always use at least | | | | and other items related to your business, but always |
| some of the wages you earn as your start-up cash | | | | check with an accountant before you file your taxes. |
| for your own cleaning business. | | | | These tips for starting a cleaning service should help |
| 6. Any tips for starting a cleaning business should | | | | get you on the way to owning your own business in |
| include organization. You need to be organized to | | | | no time. |