The need to keep a business establishment neat is a constant that owners wouldn’t dare to overlook. A business that doesn’t get its fair share of regular and deep cleaning will only suffer. That’s because productivity is more likely to increase when employees work in a well-maintained facility.
The demand for commercial cleaning services will only get higher as more businesses enter the fray. Even though many startups are choosing to operate online, big companies that run large facilities that require constant cleaning offer ample growth opportunities. If you want to enter the cleaning industry as a service provider in the commercial sector, here’s a short guide to help you get started and stay grounded:
1. Develop a business model
Like any other business, your idea for a commercial cleaning service should start with a blueprint. With a well-thought-out business model, you should be able to specify the ways and means of running your business. It should also include a conceptual foundation that determines the industry and the types of business you will be catering to.
All of these require sound research, so analyze your immediate market and find out which cleaning services are in demand. In the healthcare sector, for instance, you might find that there’s a growing need for disinfection services that could cover large areas or rooms.
2. Build a brand image
Once you have a working model for your cleaning service, you will need to craft a unique identity. Considering the number of cleaning services operating within your preferred niche, it helps if you’re able to build a cleaning brand that sets itself apart from all others.
For this, develop a brand kit that outlines the vision and mission of your business along with a compelling story of how and why you started it. Visual content is also an important aspect of brand-building, so come up with a list of specifications on the colors, graphic design elements, and even tone of writing you will be using in your promotional materials.
3. Build an effective marketing campaign
With your brand kit, develop a series of materials you can use to promote your cleaning services online. With a well-thought-out digital marketing campaign, you will be able to retain existing customers and generate new ones through brand awareness. All you need is to publish your promotional materials through the right channels.
As you start your cleaning business’s social media page presence on Facebook and Instagram, consider crafting a diverse range of content. In addition to photos and online posters, you can also publish videos explaining in detail how your team can provide the services needed by clients. You can also use email marketing in case your primary client base is composed of business owners and professionals. Just make sure to use the right email marketing platform such as Mailchimp and ensure your mailing list is clear of duplicates and bad addresses.
4. Gather resources and manpower
When building a cleaning business, it pays to know the ingredients that guarantee success. The first of these is financing. If you lack the capital to get the ball rolling, look for small business loans with beneficial terms or pool your money with contributions from friends and family members who would like to invest in your business concept.
Aside from funding, you will also need to recruit and train the right people who will serve as front-liners and back-office administrative staff. The key is to implement a stringent screening process that will help you weed out any bad apples.
5. Use the right tools and software
When it comes to offering high-quality cleaning services, it’s important that your front line staff is equipped with the right tools. You wouldn’t dispatch your cleaning team if they’re only equipped with rags and mops. Show your clients that your services make use of advanced vacuums, power brushes, and non-toxic disinfectants for the job. It also matters to provide your staff with a manual of procedures that will make sure they’re optimizing the tools they’re using.
Aside from hardware, you should also invest in software that will help streamline your back-office operations. To eliminate possible scheduling and job conflicts, you can use platforms like Zenmaid that lets you set up an automated booking system. Other platforms like Connecteam have staff tracking and task management features that will help make sure your on-site cleaning staff are working within schedule.
6. Make the most out of existing clients
Growing your cleaning business isn’t just about acquiring new clients. As any marketer would know, acquisition costs more time and money compared to closing repeat sales. Your cleaning business has a better chance of succeeding by keeping current clients happy.
You can achieve this by addressing client concerns and problems immediately the moment you learn about them. Increase their satisfaction by providing them with solutions that work to their advantage. You can also encourage repeat sales by rewarding past clients with discount vouchers every time they refer a new client from within their close circles.
7. Be ready to network and partner
The first few months will be a drag to your commercial cleaning business, but that’s expected considering that you haven’t built a strong following. However, one way you can amplify your business’s growth is by working closely with other brands that can help you set up new services.
If you’re planning to start an HVAC cleaning business, find a brand in that area and see if they could supply you with the training and equipment needed to offer HVAC maintenance and cleaning to your customers.
8. Monitor your gains (and losses)
Part of growing your business is knowing if it has the potential to grow beyond the current community it’s serving. You wouldn’t want to expand your services if it lacks the time and resources it needs to make the transition.
For this, consider how much your business is earning and losing over a six-month time frame. Earning record profits during this period would indicate that you’re getting closer to the goal. On the other hand, if you notice an alarming downtrend in earnings, find out what’s wrong and make adjustments from there.
Endnote
Like starting any other business in an in-demand sector, expect challenges to come your way. By keeping this guide in mind, you should be able to understand the most basic process that puts you closer to success.
