Insider and Expert Tips for Residential Cleaning Business Owners

When you first started your cleaning business, you were probably so preoccupied with writing a business plan, obtaining a tax ID and business license, and hiring employees that you had no time to worry about details. Now that you know your business is off the ground, you may find it easier to start to hone in on small ways to make your business life easier. Let's face it; there is a steep learning curve for any new business owner. On the other hand, there is no need to reinvent the wheel if you don't have to. Here are some simple tips from others who have been in your situation and who have learned a few things along the way. 

Expert Tips to Getting your Residential Cleaning Business Started

1. Never stop looking for new customers. You may have a full schedule now, but you can't count on those clients to be there forever. People change jobs and move, or lose jobs and decide to clean their own houses; perhaps children leave home and the homeowner needs fewer services. Maybe you want to grow your business and hire more employees. Just don't sit back on your laurels - keep marketing and networking.
   
   
2. One way to learn from others and to become part of a like-minded community is to join a networking group. You may find groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Alignable. Check MeetUp and Eventbrite for local networking events.
   
   
3. Take steps to make sure that your current clients stay loyal. There are many ways to do this, but obviously, the most important way is to deliver a strong product at a fair price. You can also stand out from the competition in a variety of other ways:
   

   - Once or twice a year (perhaps on a holiday or on the anniversary or 6 month anniversary of when you first took the job) leave a thank you card expressing your appreciation for their patronage.

   - Leave an occasional token, like a fridge magnet (with your company's logo and phone number, of course!), a small plant, or a company-branded pen.

   - You can find more ideas for ensuring customer loyalty in our article, What Makes a Home Cleaning Business Unique.

4. When you book a new client, have clear communication and set expectations. Make sure that the client has a list of regular services as well as knowledge about extras that can be provided. If a client has a special request, make sure that instructions are specific.
   
   
   
5. Have “The Pet Talk” -- it will take your cleaning technicians longer to clean a home that is covered in animal hair and dander from two Akitas, a German Shepherd, and a white Ragdoll cat than a home with one fishbowl on the counter. Factor that into your pricing. Another issue to keep in mind for pet families is where the pets will be while you or your employees clean? You may need to come to an agreement that the animals are kept outside or in one specific room while you are on the property. Even the sweetest pet in the world can get over-excited (or spooked by a vacuum cleaner) and lash out.
   
   
6. Make sure to provide your employees with training. Even if they have cleaned before, you want everyone to use the same systems so that homeowners can rely on a consistent experience no matter which employees clean their house. My House Cleaning Biz provides members with multiple short How-To videos  so that you can give your employees ongoing training on specific cleaning routines and systems for:
   - Bathrooms
   - Carpets/rugs
   - Home walkthroughs
   - Kitchen/Dining room
   - Living rooms/Family rooms
   - Walls/Ceilings
   - Windows
   
   
   
7. Provide your cleaning technicians with belts, buckets, caddies, or carts so that they can efficiently bring cleaning materials with them from room to room. They can lose a lot of time if they have to keep returning to “home base” by the front door to grab needed items.
   
   
8. Keep all of your equipment in tip-top shape. Vacuum cleaners that are clogged with pet hair (or human hair!) will not function efficiently. You always need clean dusters, mops,  and sponges.
   
   
9. Make a concerted effort to keep your current employees loyal and happy. What does this mean? It means that your interactions should always be pleasant, that you should let them know that they are valued and appreciated and that you make their lives possible with a living wage and health insurance. You can read more suggestions in our article, 7 Tips for Retaining Home Cleaning Technicians.
    
10. Don't allow yourself to be undersold. You indeed need clients but don't be tempted to lower your prices to an unsustainable level. You want homeowners to hire your company because you are reliable and good at what you do. If you lower your prices to ridiculous levels, you will not be able to deliver a decent product and will end up without profits. Don't underprice; overdeliver.
    
    
11. This is another point about avoiding false economies. Don't use cheap products that don't work. You will not end up saving money in the long run because you will have to use much more products than if you had started with a quality cleanser.
    
    
12. One way you can save money on products is to manage supplies more efficiently. For example, if you're still manually measuring and diluting your cleaning chemicals, you may be throwing money down the drain. Start using pre-portioned packets or dilution control systems. Also, you don't need to buy so much in bulk that it puts you in a precarious financial situation. Buy what you need, at least at first. Whenever a vendor offers discounted prices or free shipping -- that's the time to stock up.
    
    
13. It's extremely tempting to want to accept every job that is offered to you but resist that urge. Always do the math. If a job will not earn you a profit, say no. It is okay to say no (you should probably repeat that to yourself a few times). You operate your business to earn a living, and that's the bottom line.
    
    
14. Remember to keep all posts on social media platforms current. Establishing a Google My Business account or starting a Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook page for your business is not the kind of thing you can set and forget. You need to constantly update your pages with fresh content. This may take several forms:
    
    - Photos and short videos are effective at catching the interest of current and potential clients.
    - You could (with permission) photograph before and after shots to show how effective your cleaners are.
    - You could write blogs with helpful cleaning tips and advice.
    - You could add testimonials and reviews from satisfied customers.
    
    
    
15. Plan for things to go wrong and always have a plan B. What could go wrong? Well, anything and everything.
    
    - An employee may call in sick, or have jury duty, or have a family emergency. Do you have a replacement?
    - Your van may break down. What now?
    - The weather may prevent your cleaners from getting to the houses they are supposed to clean. Can you reschedule? - And will you still pay your employees? Snow days don't bring quite the same level of explosive joy that they did in elementary school when you are a business owner.
    - What if a piece of equipment breaks down?