Truth be told, starting your own business entails a certain cost or amount of money. But if you do not have enough money to start a business with, you might want to consider starting a cleaning service business. This type of business does not require a huge sum of money and you can therefore put it up easily and be successful with it in no time.

The most logical thing to do when it comes to buying your supplies, is to buy wholesale items. Buying wholesale supplies can save you money if you look at the bigger picture. However, it isn’t advisable to purchase cheap supplies as sometimes cheap supplies can be more expensive because they are not of good quality. Remember, you need quality products to do quality cleaning job. Doing quality work can impress your customers, which makes them come back to you and they can also recommend you to their family and friends.

Keep in mind that there are different types of cleaning services. Initial cleaning and maintenance cleaning differ in nature. It will take you much time and effort cleaning a messy place than to a place that is being cleaned on a regular basis. If you are asked to do initial cleaning, you can price it about 50% above your normal rate for the same job. If you charge about $75.00 for a home with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, if you are asked for initial cleaning for the same type of home, you have to charge about $125.00.

Check out the rates of your competitors before you set up your own rates. That way you will be able to know the ideal charge that will also be acceptable to your clients. It would also be advisable to get information about your competitors, the services and prices they provide. You have to set up your own price list for different houses’ sizes and you can base it with your competitors’ prices as well. Per additional 1000sqft, you have to add $10.00 or $20.00, in order to cover your time and your expenses.

Remember, with standard house cleaning jobs, window cleaning, refrigerator cleaning and oven cleaning are not included. So, if they ask you to clean it up, you have to put additional prices. You can charge $5.00 per normal sized window and about $15.00 to $20.00 for oven and refrigerator.

Actually, prices will really differ depending on the types of cleaning your clients will require of you. All you have to make sure is to provide them with reasonable prices in order for you to establish your niche with them and in order for you to be able to make sure that you will have them as regular clients.

Don’t ever think of increasing your rates if your business does not do good at the beginning because this will even make your business fail. Make sure that you maintain a reasonable pricing for your services at all times and at all costs.

See: How to start a house cleaning service

A firm business competition is really great for consumers. They can get higher service quality and lesser service prices. Today’s cleaning service business is alive with a healthy competition. Whatever the specialization is – home, office or industrial, it is always important to stay in line with your competition.

All cleaning service provides almost the same services, there are carpet cleaning, residential cleaning, move in and out cleaning, cleaning for a new home, commercial, turn key, pressure wash and window cleaning. Most probably too, they are using the same set of equipments to execute the tasks. So is there a chance for a new cleaning service company to get their share of action and clients? There are actually a lot of ways to achieve that, here are some of them:

Snoop around. Check out who are your closest rivals and if you can allow for a lower service price, then do so. But always consider the maintenance of your equipment as well as the rates of your employees.

Come up an attractive business name. Think of something that can easily come to mind and if you can, get a contact number that is easy to memorize. It is very important that clients can recall your business details easily.

Recommendations could mean a lot. Ask for your friends’ assistance. Once your business gets highly recommended by a trusted friend, and even if your prices are at par with the more established one, you have higher chances of getting a cleaning job.

Present a variety of services. Be creative and come up with customized services to satisfy each client. Offer maid services, six or twelve month packages, or follow up services. This could take a little more effort but it will most probably pay off in the end.

Take initiatives in extending services. These things you do for clients, however small they are will never be overlooked. Say it’s a first timer bonus or a loyalty bonus.

Maintain a professional level. Some customers don’t like the extra unnatural way that you treat them. Try and establish rapport with your clients. Be open to special requests and instructions. Be prompt in delivering these requests, and do the job excellently.

Join affiliations. Join in trustworthy association to add credence to your business and see your business expand. You might even get recommendations from your fellow members in the association.

Be organized. List down all the services that you offer in your business and put an estimated time required for each task. This way, your clients will have an idea on the length of time that they have to allocate for the cleaning service and this will also keep your staff’s progress in check.

Update your knowledge base. Provide trainings for your self as well as your staff. Do you need a new equipment to further improve your services? And does your staff need training? Are they ready to utilize new cleaning facilities?

And lastly, don’t offer cleaning services that you cannot excellently complete. Try doing dry runs in your own home as much as possible. This way you will know if your business is already up to the task. If not, don’t do it at all. You might only end up ruining your business name due to a new service poorly done.

See: How to start a cleaning service

Stiff business competition is actually good for the consumers. It makes way for higher quality of service and lower service prices. The cleaning service business is alive and well because of competition. Whether you specialize in home, office or industrial cleaning service, it is important to be at par with your competition.

Almost all cleaning services offer the same thing: carpet cleaning, residential cleaning, move in/move out cleaning, new home cleaning, commercial cleaning, turn key cleaning, pressure washing and window cleaning. And most probably, they are also using the same equipment to perform these tasks. So can one new cleaning service company get into action and get a part of the clientele? There are many innovative ways to do that, the following are some tips:

• Ask around. Find out who your closest competitors are and if you can offer a lower service price, do so. You need to consider the maintenance of your cleaning equipment and the rate of your staff.

• Think of an attractive business name. Something that is easy to remember and if possible get a contact number that is easy to memorize. Recall is important.

• Get the help of friends. Recommendations can mean a lot. If a cleaning service company is highly recommended by a trusted friend, even when your prices are just the same as the more established names in the business, the higher the chances that you’ll get the cleaning job.

• Offer varied services. Maid services, six-month packages, follow up services—be creative in your services. Customize services to satisfy every client. It takes a little more effort but it will pay off in the end.

• Small things that you do for your client will never go unnoticed. Take the initiative in extending your services. Call it a first timer bonus or a loyalty bonus.

• Keep everything on a professional level. Some clients don’t want the extra unnatural treatment that you do for them. Establish rapport. Pay attention to special requests and instructions. Do your job excellently. Be prompt.

• Get affiliated. Is there a trustworthy association that you can join to add credence to your business? Join in and expand your network. You may even get recommendations from your co-members.

• Get organized. Make a list of all the services that you offer and put an estimate timetable on each task. This will give the clients an idea about the length of time they need to allocate for cleaning services and keep the progress of your staff in check as well.

• Provide good training to your staff. Always update your knowledge base. Are there new equipment to buy to improve further your service? How about the training of your staff, are they ready to use these new cleaning facilities?

• Don’t offer cleaning services that you are not ready to perform excellently. As much as possible have a dry run in your own home. You would know if your company is already equipped with skills. If you can’t do it very well, don’t it at all. You may only end up tainting your good name because of a sloppy new service.