Are you good at cleaning your home? Do you believe that you can make some money out of it? Home cleaning is a popular service offered by several companies these days. It’s also one of the easiest and cheapest business ventures you can start. If you’re thinking of embarking on one, we will show you the steps to make money cleaning houses.
- Determine if this type of business is for you.
- Decide if it will be a side hustle or a full-time business.
- Research the market.
- Choose between franchising or operating independently.
- Find out how to fund your home cleaning business.
- Decide if it will be home-based or you will open a commercial location.
- Get a license.
- Get insurance.
- Gather your cleaning equipment.
- Determine your pricing.
- Market your home cleaning business.
- Know your limit.
Determine if this Type of Business for You
The answer to this question depends on your preferred kind of business. You also need to be committed to making the business work, be willing to meet and even exceed the expectations of your client, and be determined to provide a top-quality cleaning job. You and the other cleaners you hire should be honest, reliable and provide a great service. Keep in mind that you’ll be entering other people’s homes. This is a moral virtue that you and your staff must possess not only in this line of business but as an individual. This is the only way you will get references to get more business as well as repeat business from those who have used your services before.
Determine if it’s a Side Hustle or a Full-time Business
Do you have a regular job but need a side hustle to earn some extra cash? Or are you set on starting a full-time home cleaning business? This is the first question that you need to answer. Your response will significantly affect the other things that you need to do when starting a house cleaning business, such as the equipment you need, the type of cleaning service to offer, and the price for the services you wish to provide.
Research the Market
It’s one of the most important steps when you’re starting house cleaning jobs. Determine the going rate for house cleaning in your area. Research your competition, too. Check residential cleaning businesses online. You can even call them and ask questions about their services just to give you an idea of what you need to do.
Choose Between Franchising or Operating Independently
You also need to choose between starting a franchise business or operating your own independently. A franchise business is a partnership between the original business owner and a franchisee, who wants to purchase the right to use the original business’s trademark, name, concept, and process, and sell their goods and services.
Franchising comes with its pros and cons. Its benefits include having a ready-made business plan, you can get advice from other franchisees, and you’ll get training and marketing support from the original business.
On the other hand, franchising involves higher startup costs. You may have to pay from $50,000 or $75,000 to $200,000 to start a business. You’ll have less flexibility since you need to follow the rules and standards set by the franchisor.
Meanwhile, independent house cleaning jobs will cost you less than the upfront cost of having a franchise. You can come up with your own business name, concept, offered products, and services, as well as the standards that you wish to uphold. Although having an independent operation means you can do things your way, you won’t have any pre-set guidelines to follow. You’ll have to do your own research and you’ll most likely rely on trial and error as you go along.
Find out How to Fund Your Home Cleaning Business
Aside from using your own money or taking out a loan to fund your start-up cleaning business, there are other ways to raise money. You can approach friends and family for financial assistance. But you have to be careful with this kind of arrangement. You need to put everything in writing and you have to make sure that you pay them back as promised.
You can also look for a partner who wants to work with you in your business venture. If you prefer this option, be sure to team up with someone with the financial resources and who is willing to invest in your business. You can also check out government funding programs that support small businesses such as the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Decide if it Will be Home-based or You Will Open a Commercial Location
Home-based businesses are on trend today. Cleaning houses for money is one of the easiest home-based businesses you can start. After all, clients are unlikely to pay you a visit since the work takes place at their houses. If you’re on a shoestring budget or perhaps this is just a side hustle, then operating your business at home is a good option. However, you need to check with your local government to know if having a home-based cleaning business is allowed in your area.
You also have the option to open a commercial location. It’ll give you a professional image and help you make a good impression on potential clients. But you have to consider your budget, the size of commercial space, the number of employees you have, and storage space. This option is ideal if you have a sizable budget to start your house cleaning business, you plan to hire a few employees to help you out, and you’re planning to run the business full-time.
Get a License
You have to get a license for your home cleaning business if you’re planning to operate it full-time. If you’re planning to run a professional cleaning service, you need to be registered within your state. Check the website of your state’s Department of Commerce for further information and for the forms you need to fill out when applying for a license. If it’s just a side gig, you can offer your personal services to your relatives, friends, and neighbors. If it’s just a side gig, you can offer your personal services to your relatives, friends, and neighbors, which means you don’t need to have a license.
Get Insurance
It’s also important to have insurance. You’ll have coverage in case you damage or break expensive items at your customer’s house while cleaning their place. Plus, your customers will be assured when they find out that you are both licensed and insured to operate your cleaning business.
Gather Your Cleaning Equipment
You need to gather all the equipment you need for your home cleaning business. The supplies you’ll require may change as you progress. The most common ones you need to get started are listed below.
- Cleaning uniform with apron
- Disposable gloves
- Short and long duster
- Microfiber cloths and dusting mitt
- Vacuum cleaner
- All-purpose cleaner
- Disinfectant cleaner
- Sponges
- Broom and dustpan
- Cleaning bucket
- Caddy
- Spray bottles
- Garbage bags
Determine Your Pricing
How much should you charge for your home cleaning business? A house cleaner salary ranges between $20 and $50 per hour for cleaning a house. But there are factors you need to consider when determining your house cleaning prices.
- Size of the house – The bigger the house the more you should charge for your cleaning service.
- Type of cleaning – A standard cleaning service is more affordable than a deep cleaning service.
- Condition of the house – The dirtier the house, the higher the price of your cleaning service.
- Location of the house – You should charge more if you need to travel to reach your client’s home especially if it’s located far from your office or home business.
- Demand in your area – Check the average home cleaning rate in your area to get an idea of the minimum amount you need to charge.
- Frequency of cleaning – You can offer discounts to clients that opt for frequent cleaning than those that choose a one-time cleaning service.
- Your experience – If you’re new to the business, you can start with minimum rates just to get your foot through the door and build up your experience and clientele. You can increase your cleaning rates gradually as you acquire more experience.
Here are some methods of pricing your home cleaning services:
- Hourly rate – House cleaners get paid an average of $25 to $90 per hour. But the price may vary based on your location. Don’t price your cleaning service too low just to attract more clients because doing so means you won’t earn any profit. Your business won’t survive if your home cleaning business is bleeding money and you’re not earning anything in return.
- Flat fee – A flat fee means you offer a cleaning service for a set price. The average cost of cleaning a house in the U.S. is $90 to $150. This method allows you to earn a fixed amount regardless of how fast you finish the job or how big the home is.
- Per-room rate – This method lets you price every room according to the length of time you need to clean a room. The average price ranges from $30 to $50 per room. Master bedrooms and bathrooms are priced higher than regular rooms. The kitchen and the living room also cost more to clean.
- Square foot rate – The average cost of cleaning a house that is less than 1,000 square feet is $90 and $250 if it is more than 3,000 square feet. The bigger and dirtier the house, the higher the house cleaning cost.
Market Your Home Cleaning Business
Marketing is essential to help you spread the word about your home cleaning business and get more clients. You can market your home cleaning business in different ways, such as the following:
- Word of Mouth – It remains to be one of the best and most effective ways to get long-term clients. Referrals from former clients helps establish trust especially when it’s based on top quality services and affordable prices.
- Website – An increasing number of consumers are turning to the internet whenever they need a certain product or service. That’s why you should have a company website so potential clients can find your business online.
- Social Media – It is an excellent way to reach more people and promote your home cleaning business. You can use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to attract new customers and keep your existing clients updated about promotions, discounts, and new services, if any.
- Email Marketing – Emails remain one of the easiest and most affordable methods of reaching your target audience.
- Flyers – A lot of people are looking for professional home cleaning help. Distributing flyers door-to-door or leaving them in mailboxes can help you reach potential customers.
- Bulletin Boards – Find bulletin boards in coffee shops or supermarkets where you can post flyers about your home cleaning business.
Know your Limit
Avoid agreeing to jobs that will cost you too much gas or time unless the profit you’ll make is worth it or if your customer can refer you to at least two other clients in that area. Determine what types of jobs you can take and the conditions that you’re ready to work in.
Conclusion
Starting your own house cleaning business can help provide you with the extra cash you need. But before you leap into this business venture, you need to do your research first. You have to know whether you want a franchise or an independent operation. What equipment do you need? Would you rather have a home-based location or do you prefer to rent out a commercial space? Can you do it on your own or do you need to hire other employees? What about the price? How much will you charge for your cleaning services? Always remember that there’s no glitz or glamor for this type of business. It’s a demanding job that requires your time and effort. But with careful planning and preparation, this type of business can be very profitable.
Aidan has been writing about personal finance for over 6 years. Prior to this, he worked as a Corporate Finance Analyst where he specialized in Due Diligence, Company Valuations and more. He is a CFA charterholder.
