Start a Cleaning Business

comments: Hi There- I came across your web page. Loved It- best one on the net and believe me. I have been looking for ideas to get my own independent home cleaning business up and running since finding a decent paying job in this area is very difficult. (I have been on numerous interview that only offer 1/3 of what a former job was paying me.) I was wondering if you had about 5-10 min. to answer me a few burning questions?
My background is zero with cleaning others homes, however my home is spotless. Degree in Psychology and Master’s of College Counseling. Possess PA State Criminal and Child Abuse Background clearences. Work experience primarly in customer service and college/high school swimming coach. So here are my questions if you can indulge me- PLEASE!!
Question 1)
What do I say to a prospective client when they ask about my cleaning experience?
Question 2)
What about insurance coverage? Bond or not?
Question 3) Working under the table until I can get up and running with a full schedule- good idea or bad?

My basic idea is to work until I can not take any more clients and hire at least 2 others and become a legit business on the books.

Thank you - for responding- as I understand time is money.

Warmest Regards- Kathleen

=======

Dear Kathleen,

Question 1)
What do I say to a prospective client when they ask
about my cleaning experience?

Say nothing. Runaway from the subject.
On the other hand, if you establish yourself as an
authority, they’ll never ask you this terrible question.
And how do you present yourself as an authority in
house cleaning? Below I’ll give you some tips.

Question 2)
What about insurance coverage? Bond or not?

Only big offices and luxurious house owners will ask insurance/bond.
Start small with only urban houses and apartments and they’ll
never ask you for insurance/bond.
On the other hand, these people (urban house and apartments residents) will clean only once in a lifetime, or when their mother-in-law (God bless the mother-in-laws of this world) come visit their son again.

Question 3) Working under the table until I can get up
and running with a full schedule- good idea or bad?

According to my experience, less than 15% work according to the books. Normally big cleaning companies working in buildings or some residential cleaning companies that wanted to start the business with the right foot.
They have insurance, bond, and only hire employees with Social Security Number.

Personal comments, and it’s not mandatory you agree with me.

What’s the white woman with a social security # in hands and normally with a bachelor’s degree will want to work for a company getting $8 an hour?

Only immigrants accept to work, and then because they don’t have
S.S.#. As soon as they get the Green Card they jump jobs. I am
talking about New York Metro Area residents.

Perhaps in rural areas and Southern states the environment is different.

So, when you become a cleaning company you will have to face the
problem of hiring legit workers or not, as almost all restaurants
have to face. Those that only hire legit workers have hard times
because they pay all taxes thus their overhead is high. But this
is not the big problem. The problem is to find a worker with
all documents willing to work in this kind of job and receiving
$8/hour.

My basic idea is to work until I can not take any
more clients and hire at least 2 others and become a
legit business on the books.

Well, you have a vision, you know where you’re going to
and show you have a kind of talent for business.
Everything going well, you’ll reach your dream and
fulfill your business plan.

Remember, as in all things in life, especially business, we
never grow fast. And in business, all businesses, the worst
part is not the technical skills but how to get clients,
the marketing part of the business.

If you really want to start a cleaning business, go ahead.
As a tip, go to http://homeservices-directory.com/register.php
fill in the register form, after receiving an email, click where
they ask, and then they will design a free web site for you.

Then read this http://www.dillaservices.com/cleaning-tips/internet-marketing-word-of-mouth/
and this http://www.dillaservices.com/cleaning-tips/house-cleaners/

If you need me, I could send you more tips on how to start and manage a cleaning business.

Professional (paid) help:
Starting a Cleaning Business
http://housecleaningpro.com/

Start a Cleaning Business
http://www.housecleaningbiz101.com/

============================================
With your educational background and previous experience
I wonder why you choose the cleaning business.
you must have your reasons and you know in your area what
are the small businesses in demand.

If you like and there is a demand in your area, you’d rather choose:

tutor, psychology, nanny/babysitter, child care.

Well, but you know what you’re doing and what you want.

Dilla