American Demographics magazine reported recently that of all households with two adults, over half of them are two wage earning households. For couples with an education above high school the numbers are as high as seventy six percent.
Today, a rising divorce rate has produced large numbers of working single parents--as much as fifteen percent of the American workforce holds two or mote jobs.
These facts coupled with a general dislike for cleaning house has made the residential cleaning industry one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. economy.
"Residential and commercial office cleaning is a multi-million dollar business with no signs of slowing down." Says Marcell Thomas, owner of a Coverall Janitorial Service based in Blue Island, Illinois.
A residential cleaning business has historically been one of the best businesses to start up when you need cash fast. In fact, residential cleaning may be the perfect start up business for those who have lost a job, and are looking for new avenues of generating income. You can start a residential cleaning business on the proverbial shoe string. For as little as one hundred dollars, a mop, a bucket, a broom, some rags, and some old fashion elbow grease you can have an instant business.
What about heavy equipment you say?
You don't need much more than a vacuum, and a long handled duster. Back in 2001, when my wife Ann and I started our Aegis Home Cleaning Service, we found that many of our clients preferred we use their vacuum. When our customers needed carpet and blind cleaning services we rented the necessary equipment, and included the cost of rental in our service charge.
As with most start up business the hardest part of starting your own cleaning service is getting that first client.
"Most clients want to know how long you've been in business and want references," says Thomas. "The best thing to do is let clients know that, yes you are new to the business but that you have researched all aspects of the cleaning business and assure them that you know what you are doing."
To get a few good references when starting out, you can ask some of your friends or family members if you can clean their homes for free. Working for free may not sound appealing but your "freebies for the family" will be worth it to get some good referrals.
Remember the old adage:
"Anything worth doing is worth doing well?"
This applies to those first homes you clean. Do your best work. Forget speed. Think quality. Pull the couch away from the wall to clean. Make sure bathroom porcelain sparkles like diamonds, and always leave the bathrooms smelling fresh.
"After cleaning go back and double check all rooms to make sure you didn't miss anything.," says Thomas of Coverall Janitorial Services "Impress those first clients and word of mouth will spread soon."
Some ideas you might consider to get your cleaning business started are:
· Go to your local janitorial supply store. Ask for advice from the experts there on how you might go about getting your business started. You'll get their help because you'll be seen as a potential customer.
· Get bonded. Some customers will insist on this. Bonding will protect you against liabilities you might incur in your customer's home.
· Put together a professional looking quote sheet to give potential customers, along with your business card when bidding on a cleaning job.
What can you expect to earn from your residential cleaning business? That depends on whether you decide to stay small, or whether you decide to buy into a residential cleaning franchise.
When my wife and I operated our Aegis Home Cleaning Service our starting rates in 2000 were $10.00 an hour. By the time we sold the business in 2009, we were charging home owners as much as $25.00 an hour.
David Kiser who owns and operates one of the most successful home cleaning businesses in America Champagne Services generates substantial seven-figure annual revenues.
Finally, if you see yourself as the CEO of a large residential cleaning business you might want to consider investing in a residential cleaning franchise. Many cleaning franchises include earnings claims in their Franchise disclosure document (FDD) and these earnings can be very impressive. If you research cleaning franchises to the point of receiving the FDD you will be surprised how much people are earning owning these businesses.
Over the past decade, residential housecleaning has become one of the fastest growing industries in the country. According to industry estimates, over twelve million households use paid domestic services.
Residential cleaning franchises you might consider are:
· The Maids Home Services
· Molly Maids
· Maid Brigade
· The Maids Home Services
· Molly Maids
· Maid Brigade
Starting your own residential cleaning business is a great way to generate income if you're out of work, and looking for a new stream of revenue. The demand for your services will be high, and you can grow your business as large as you want and still be home based.
Ronald Ayers own and operates The Home Office Network (HON): http://www.homeofficenetwork.org/wp. HON offers membership, information and counseling to "NEWBIES" seeking to start an internet business. Mr. Ayers also writes a blog: The Home Office: http://aegisbiz.org/wordpress. Mr. Ayer's Home Office Blog provides HOW TO ideas and information to home based entrepreneurs.
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