A janitorial cleaning service is one of the best businesses for a hardworking, blue collar person to start from scratch. Every business and every building needs to be cleaned once in a while - in some cases, many times each day. With the overhead involved with hiring employees to provide janitorial services, it is convenient for a company to outsource to a commercial janitorial service provider.
This is where you step in!
If you are reading this article, you are probably looking for advice on how to start a janitorial service. Hopefully the following information and advice will get you moving in the right direction.
Start Up Costs and Financing Sources:
$500 and up
It is possible to get started with almost no investment, but you will be in a much better position if you have a few hundred dollars of basic equipment available. Equipment for a full-scale commercial janitorial service may run many thousands of dollars.
Writing a sound business plan describing how to start a janitorial service in your area - including detailed market research and plans for future growth - may help you to secure some of your initial funding from venture capitalists or angel investors.
Pricing Guidelines for Service:
Base your time at $20 to $50 per hour (before taxes and expenses) and price your services according to the time you expect to spend on each task.
Itemize the exact services you intend to provide. Charging by the hour tends to make clients comfortable asking you to do more and more work for the same money. Be clear that you provide certain services for a certain price. By charging a flat fee, you will continually earn a better hourly rate as you improve and become more efficient.
Advertising and Marketing:
Get listed in the yellow pages under all of the main services you provide. This is more expensive than one general listing, but you can't expect all of your potential clients to look under "Janitorial Services" when they are really looking for "Window Cleaners".
Face-to-face selling can go either way. Some managers and store owners like the fortitude of this very direct way of marketing, but others find it very annoying - especially if they get a lot of people coming in and asking to wash the windows. Always obey "No Soliciting" signs.
Walk around town and identify businesses which look like they really need your help. Send a professional-looking brochure to the general manager.
Essential Equipment:
A janitorial cleaning service can start very small and build up as it grows more popular. It is sometimes possible to start out by using the equipment of the client companies, buying your own equipment with that revenue.
Get a unique uniform - and unique does not mean outrageous! A uniform looks much more professional than jeans, and it can provide a marketing service for you, as well. When people recognize your janitorial cleaning service working at the company down the street, it lends credibility to you when you approach them for a contract.
Much of the following equipment will become useful as your business expands:
Safety Equipment:
General Supplies:
Income Potential:
$15,000 to $60,000 per year, going solo.
There is a limit to the amount you can earn working alone. As you become more successful at negotiating with clients, you can eventually start hiring other people to do the work. The ultimate earning potential is unlimited.
Target Market:
One of the nicest parts about janitorial services is that you don't have to look for new customers week after week. After you secure a few accounts, you will have a fairly steady source of income that only changes infrequently.
Convenience stores, restaurants, grocery stores, strip malls, and office complexes are all great places to start looking.
Tips for Success:
Training, Skills or Experience Needed:
The best training is to have worked as a janitor for some time so you know what you're getting into. It is not easy work. Read a few books on how to start a janitorial service. No matter how much you already know, you are sure to find new information that will help you to be more successful.
Schooling is not usually necessary, but you can earn better money and find more contracts if you learn to maintain HVAC or other common equipment. There are independent classes available for this type of training.
© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.
Randy Wilson has dozens of home based business articles such as Ebay Money Making Tips, Nutrition Home Business and Small Business Web Design.
Many auto detailers fall short in their sales presentations. I... Read More
You can make your trade show experience much easier by... Read More
First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More
The story is told of a tiger chasing some goats... Read More
Canon City, Colorado is known for it's 6 Prisons; State... Read More
It is imperative to have your business legally prepared. How... Read More
A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a... Read More
The following are six essential skills to business success. You... Read More
TACTIC #1 -- Never simply slash your prices, unless you're... Read More
Ok, so next to the taxman, your company payroll department... Read More
SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the... Read More
Under the Securities Act of 1933, any offer to sell... Read More
Many physical therapists in private practice have the appearance of... Read More
I ran a franchise company for many years, a car... Read More
Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have visited every... Read More
Everyone loves a good story. Whether it's the story of... Read More
If you ask most small business owners what priority CRM... Read More
I'll be the first to admit that I went a... Read More
Achieving real success should be the goal of any good... Read More
It behooves every professional mobile auto detailer to stay up... Read More
If you are in a franchise and have a territory... Read More
Buyers want both online and local information about where to... Read More
Over regulation of small business is so intense it is... Read More
What unspoken message are you sending your clients and customers?... Read More
Some marine biologists feel that the concentration of dead marine... Read More
There are countless ways to save your business money. Unfortunately,... Read More
Passion. Passion alone can make your business successful. As an... Read More
For many small businesses, the "S" corporation is the business... Read More
If you own a mobile truck washing, pressure washing or... Read More
We hear a lot of talk about junk mail nowadays.... Read More
As I am preparing for my attendance to the CoachVille's... Read More
Washing manufactured homes, mobile homes, can be a lucrative and... Read More
One of the simplest ways to expand your marketing efforts... Read More
How do we keep track of our business deals?If you... Read More
"Order Now!" "Your Business Will Fail If You Don't Have... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
Introduction: This article is written as a general discussion on... Read More
Doesn't it frustrate you when you've given good service, sometimes... Read More
One of the critical success factors for service-related businesses is... Read More
A Mattress Cleaning Business might be just for you if... Read More
There are many factors to be considered when you are... Read More
After over thirty years advising small business it still comes... Read More
You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together,... Read More
There are almost as many opinions and views on marketing... Read More
Increase your profit potential by identifying ? and avoiding ?... Read More
Every business plan book tells you how the Executive Summary... Read More
Remember the training programs, seminars, and workshops you had to... Read More
As long as you eat and breathe you will stay... Read More
When working properly, computers enable small businesses to make big... Read More
In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it... Read More
What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with... Read More
The stock market is still on a wild roller coaster... Read More
Hogwash!That's what I say to people who tell me that... Read More
Running a business on the net these days can be... Read More
Service Cleaning Businesses must maintain their equipment in order to... Read More
A few years ago, I visited Beijing for the first... Read More
It is most fascinating to study how entrepreneurs spot opportunity... Read More
The Operations Plan is a critical component of any business... Read More
Have you been searching for the perfect home-based business? I... Read More
Frankly, given the legal and regulatory requirements involved in attempting... Read More
Costs of over regulation and over disclosure end up hurting... Read More
When is advice free and when should you charge for... Read More
Continuing from the second article:6. About the aground mathematical model,... Read More
As a home business proprietor, you may already realize why... Read More
Do you like animals? Would you like to work for... Read More
10 Best Practices to consider as your SBIR negotiations approach... Read More
Small Business |