Getting Started with Your Residential Cleaning Service


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home | Getting Started

Getting Started with Your Residential Cleaning Service

Getting started in the residential cleaning business can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. Your first thought might be how to find clients; however, before getting that first cleaning customer you should make sure that you are ready.

Begin by realizing that cleaning your own home and cleaning someone else's home professionally are two different things. When clients are paying you for a service they expect thorough and professional cleaning. If you have not cleaned professionally you need to start by getting the proper training. The reasons for this are twofold:

You will be giving your clients a better service
Time is critical! The more productive you clean the more money you can make.

Cleaning the right way will allow you to not only do a professional job, but to get it done in a timely manner.

Our Getting Started articles will show you how to properly operate a cleaning business from the very beginning. The fewer mistakes you make at the outset, the easier your life will be!

Business licenses
Tax information
Marketing materials
Equipment and supplies
Cleaning procedures
Important time-saving forms
Much more!

23 Things That Every Cleaning Business Owner Should Know
Theresa Peterson

In business you should not focus on selling just your services. You should also focus on selling customer satisfaction. Satisfied customers return to spend more money and are more likely to refer new customers to you, whereas dissatisfied customers will not only stop buying from you, they will also discourage potential customers. . . . keep reading

Naming Your House Cleaning Business
Jean Hanson
It's one of the first steps in starting your house cleaning business - giving your new business a name! There are a few ways you can go about it. . . . keep reading

Get Your Residential Cleaning Business off to a Good Start by Avoiding These Common Mistakes
Jean Hanson
As you get ready to start your own residential cleaning business there are literally hundreds of things you have to do - from buying supplies to figuring out your accounting system to finding customers. Your first year in business is full of excitement, but can also bring about a steep learning curve. . . . keep reading

Selecting The Legal Structure for Your Residential Cleaning Business
Jean Hanson
One of the most important decisions you will make when starting your residential cleaning business is deciding which type of legal structure is right for your business. The type of entity you choose will determine the amount of taxes you pay and guide you in the amount of paperwork you will have to deal with. . . . keep reading

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Residential Cleaning Company
Jean Hanson
A business plan is an important document that residential cleaning companies of all sizes should take the time to prepare before signing on that first account. By sitting down to write a business plan you take the time to look at your new business in an objective and critical manner. Once completed, a business plan will give you a path to follow. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #1 - Are You Cut Out to Run Your Own Cleaning Business?
Jean Hanson

This is the first in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This first recording discusses whether or not you're cut out to be an entrepreneur and if you've got what it takes to own a successful cleaning business. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #2 - Why do Cleaning Businesses Fail & Characteristics of an Entrepreneur
Jean Hanson

This is the second in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording discusses why some small businesses fail, and the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. You don't necessarily have to be "born" an entrepreneur - much of it can be learned. But you should possess some of these important characteristics if you truly want to succeed. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #3 - Selecting Your Niche
Jean Hanson

This is the third in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording discusses your niche. Before you start any legal proceedings to get your business off the ground, you need to figure out what kind of cleaning business you want to start. This audio will give some suggestions on drilling down to selecting your niche. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #4 - Choosing a Name
Jean Hanson

This is the fourth in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording discusses how to choose a name for your cleaning business. We also discuss what to do after choosing your name to see if it's available for use. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #5 - Selecting Your Legal Structure
Jean Hanson

This is the fifth in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording discusses your how to select your legal structure. There are many to choose from - Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC Corp, S-Corp, C-Corp. We briefly discuss each type of entity and what you need to know in order to make an educated decision. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #6 - Registering Your Cleaning Business
Jean Hanson

This is the sixth in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording discusses what you need to do to register your business legally, including registering your business name, getting an EIN and sales tax number. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #7 - Paying Estimated Taxes
Jean Hanson

This is the seventh in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording discusses how to pay your income taxes when you own a business. You are responsible for making quarterly payments to the IRS and your state department of revenue. Listen to learn what you need to do. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #8 - Hiring Employees
Jean Hanson

This #8 in a series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording talks about all the taxes you need to pay when you become an employer. You will need to pay employment taxes and unemployment taxes as well as file quarterly and yearly reports. . . . keep reading

Getting Started - AUDIO #9 - Worker's Comp, Insurance and Selecting Your Team
Jean Hanson

This is the ninth and final in the series of short audio recordings (most are under 5 minutes). This recording discusses what you need to do to find out about Worker's Compensation insurance and other insurance as well as how to find your team - insurance broker, accountant and attorney. . . . keep reading

How to Create a Name for Your Residential Cleaning Business
Jean Hanson
Before you open the doors of your residential cleaning business you not only need equipment and supplies, you need a name for your business. The name of your company will be the first thing prospective clients see - whether that is in the phone book, on your company car, in an ad, or on a website. The name symbolizes what your cleaning business represents. So it is important to spend some time on choosing a name that not only fits your cleaning business, but also presents a positive image to customers, suppliers and employees. . . . keep reading

Should You Start a House Cleaning Business With Your Spouse?
Jean Hanson
Running a home-based house cleaning business with your spouse can be a good way to combine business and family activities under one roof. But are you and your spouse the right match to work together as well as live together? Before you invest time and money into starting up a residential cleaning business with your spouse there are several key questions you should ask. . . . keep reading

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"Steve and Jean - thanks a lot for offering this great resource for folks like me who may not yet be in the business but seriously thinking about entering it. Your materials here are truly a Godsend for me. If it were not for your site, I wouldn't know where else to find reliable and honest information about starting and running this type of business.

With all the information I have already gotten from this site, I feel confident that I am better prepared to launch my business and that there are people I could turn to and ask whenever I have questions. For that, I truly thank you both."

Ruben Pifanio
Sunspark Home Cleaning Service
Toronto, Canada

"What a great site! I can easily spend hours and hours reading all the information provided in your site and listening to those valuable audios and yes they are surely beneficial to my running a cleaning business especially since I am only new to the industry. I could highly recommend it not only to my fellow Australians but to everyone in the cleaning industry! Well done Jean & Steve!"

Charity Mezger
Home Therapy Cleaning Services
Geraldton, Australia

"I really enjoy this site. I have found more things in the last two days than I have from others sites I have been a part of. I love the downloads and how simple they are. I have seen some from other sites that made no sense. You have made my life easier and I do not have to make the forms myself. Way to go!!!"

Lori of Lori's Cleaning Solutions
Coatesville PA

"Thank you all, for putting this site together and bringing us such great resources, not only in downloads and information, but in the people resources that you have brought together for us. Keep up the good work!"

Kathy Miller, Owner
pour-la-maison.com
Lakewood CO

"We are very fortunate to have the resources on this site available to us. I was a business executive for many years and thought I knew it all. Thought starting this business would be a piece of cake. WRONG!!! You guys have been a great source of information and support - better than any site I've seen on any topic."

Susan Buckley
Mrs. Green Clean
Ft. Wright KY