Office cleaning is a competitive business and tougher to break into compared to home cleaning business.
To get contracts, potential clients may ask you to go through a bidding process wherein you will compete with more established and bigger businesses in your area. Otherwise, this is a business that will require you to network, network and network some more. Afterall, unlike a home cleaning business, you can’t win clients simply by creating a flyer and inserting it in the front door of an office.
The key is to have a unique selling point. It is hard to market yourself as a general office cleaning business even if you claim to offer excellent quality and total reliability — as all of your competitors claim the same thing. Instead, find a niche that you can effectively do and market that as the unique selling point of your business. Come up with an edge, and market yourself based on that to differentiate yourself from your competitors.
Examples of niches you can do include:
- Disinfecting cleaning business – your focus is not just to clean but disinfect office surfaces as well
- Computer cleaning business – given that most cleaning businesses don’t even touch or go near computers (for liability issues), you can instead offer an onsite computer cleaning service
- Indoor plant cleaning business = covers maintaining plant care needs, putting fertilizers, even regularly rotating seasonal plants and flowers
Research the market to determine if there’s any need for the niche you plan to pursue. You may even need to develop strategic alliances with general cleaning companies who can then recommend your business should their clients require the type of cleaning services you perform.
And of course, don’t forget liability insurance as this is a must-have for this business. Your workers should exude professionalism and look neat and tidy at all times. Most importantly, you all need to have a passion for cleaning.
Some associations that may be able to provide you with assistance and more information include:
- http://www.ascr.org/ — Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration
- http://www.bscai.org/ – Building Service Contractors Association International
- http://www.issa.com/ — International Sanitary Supply Association
Books you can use are:
- How To Start and Operate a Home-Based Janitorial Business by Carla Anderson
- Bud’s Instruction Manual: Learn More then the Basics about Janitorial, Floor Maintenance, Carpet Cleaning, Office Cleaning and More by Richard S. Takasch
- Cleaning Services Bid Estimation: A Resource Guide to Cleaning Services Bid Estimating, Work Loading, and Cost Accounting by Walter Fenix
I am no longer positive the place you’re getting your info, but good topic. I must spend some time studying more or understanding more.
Thank you for great information I used to be in search of this info for my mission.
Thanks for sharing this…
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Really a nice information…
Really Great tips on starting office cleaning business,I will definitely check them out.nice post..
Indeed, putting up an office cleaning business is tough. But in order to be successful in this kind of business, you have to prove your worth. You have to prove (not just say) everyone that your cleaning service is the best.
Great tips on starting a cleaning services business.
finding good office cleaning services are so hard to find, thank you for your words of wisdom here!
Hi,
Thanks for such a great information. In these days its hard to find a honest blog about a Janitorial products and Office Cleaning Services
This is sooo exciting! I love your blog and check it every day.the blog has grown so much. Wish you & the blog more success!
God bless 🙂
I will highly recommend your blog for those whom are starting in this kind of business.
I have been blogging at Start Cleaning Business blog, and offering advices to my readers. I will surely tell them to head over here as you have lots of valuable insights.
Keep ’em coming, Isabel!
Basic costs for starting a office cleaning business will vary depending on the type of services you provide. If your business is offering general maid services, basic costs will include cleaning products such as sanitizers, polishers, all purpose cleaners, plenty of rags, bucket, sponge and a vacuum cleaner with a traveling case. It is a good idea to have some extension cords in case you need them for the vacuum cleaner. If you will be providing a specific service such as carpet cleaning you will have to get heavy duty carpet cleaning equipment.
Interesting article. I would also suggest to a new person starting out to avoid the industry standard practice of underbidding. Saying no to a contract that is priced too low is just as important as securing a profitable one.
Thomas Anthony
Facility Support Services
http://www.acleaningbid.com
Office cleaning staff is word of mouth. Another way is to interview several and select the best of the bunch. The most important thing is that the interview to discuss some key issues, such as controls on the bottom of the above. Of course, should not be anyone's word for it, then, managers should be required for the test.
You’ve provided some excellent tips for a cleaning business. Often when people have their own company do some common mistakes, but having an advice from another professional company will avoid making mistakes.
Great tips on starting office cleaning business, I’ll definitely use them in my office cleaning company. Thanks for the list of books and list of cleaning service associations, I’ll definitely check them out.
Great article and a good list of books. I’ll take a look at some of them.
Terrific post, many fascinating points. I remember 7 of days ago, I have discovered a similar article.
Thanks some very useful tips – I will use them for my cleaning comapny.
Keep up the good work.