Fuel costs are on the rise, and everything we purchase is getting more expensive. Some people are struggling to pay the bills, and finding a second job at eight dollars per hour won’t make much of a difference. You can earn extra money as a side business or career by taking on a few cleaning clients.
Fuel costs are on the rise, and everything we purchase is getting more expensive. Some people are struggling to pay the bills, and taking on a second job at eight dollars per hour won’t make much of a difference. You can earn extra money by taking on cleaning jobs as a side business or career. Cleaning businesses can be classified into two categories: residential and commercial. Residential cleaning has become a highly sought-after skill and even a profession for some. Some people are too busy to clean their homes and come home to a mess every night. Some of these people make more money, and paying $50 a day for you to clean their homes is a great deal. After establishing a schedule, it can take just 1 to 2 hours to clean and organize your home. You could earn an additional $3000 a month by doing light cleaning and organization for 2 to 4 hours a day. Start your own cleaning company for $500, including tools, supplies, and permits. You will need a few items to start your own cleaning company, but taking the right steps now can save you a lot later.
You must register your cleaning business in the state where you live. It is illegal to receive income without paying taxes. People are caught cheating on the IRS every year. Play by the rules, and you will come out on top. Register your business as an LLC to protect current assets. You are defending yourself against a lawsuit by shielding behind a limited-liability company in the event that something happens to your cleaning account. You could be held responsible for a missing item or a fire that starts while you are cleaning. In most states, it costs about $100 to create an LLC. It’s well worth the cost if something goes wrong. Next, you will need to be insured and bonded. You can be protected from making mistakes like staining someone’s new hardwood floor with acid bowl cleaner or ruining their countertop. Ask for quotes from local insurance companies. Let them know that you are shopping around to find the best deal.
You’ll also need clients to start a cleaning company. This is the most difficult part of setting up your cleaning business. You can create a cleaning plan by making a list of all the chores that you perform in your home. Then, type it up so you can give your clients a menu from which they can select their cleaning tasks. Every client is different, and they will all expect more detail from a particular cleaning task depending on the cleanliness of their home. Advertising is much easier than people believe. Networking and telling others about your cleaning business is the easiest way to promote it. Most of the time, someone knows someone looking for a cleaner to work part-time in their home. You can also advertise by placing a small ad locally in the weekly shopper or having magnetic signs made to stick on your car. This is a great way to get noticed and costs as little as $75. You can print simple flyers to hand out in middle-to-upper-class neighborhoods in your town if you own a computer, which you probably do if you are reading this article.
Once you’ve secured a few clients, it’s now time to determine a price. Present your list of cleaning services to clients. You should get a sense of the size of the area you will be cleaning and the level at which they expect the task to be completed. Write down the cleaning requirements for each task and a fair price. Cleaning tasks include cleaning surfaces and windows, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, toilets, and cleaning showers and bathtubs. Start simple, as you can add more cleaning tasks at a later time for an additional fee. You can refer to the record of your client’s cleaning expectations if you have any questions about a task you are performing.
You’ll also need basic cleaning supplies. If you run your own cleaning business, keep the cleaning supplies to a minimum. You will probably need a vacuum, surface cleaners (such as a window cleaner), cleaning towels, a bucket for a mop and window squeegees, and bathroom cleaning products and utensils. Check your list of cleaning tasks to determine if it is really necessary. Buy a standard vacuum that will do the job. At this stage, you don’t want to spend money on a commercial vacuum. A two-motor upright vacuum with all its bells and whistles would be overkill. Ask for help if you are unsure what to purchase. The majority of cleaning supply companies and janitorial suppliers are happy to guide you and will do so even if you have a limited budget.
It’s now time to get to work. Once you have your cleaning supplies and have set up a schedule for your clients, it’s finally time to start. You’ll want your first cleaning job to be a success. If you do an excellent job, the word can spread quickly, and more clients could be coming your way soon. If you do a poor job, the word will spread fast, and you may be out of business in no time. Always be honest with your client and keep communication lines open. Don’t be fancy when it comes to billing your client. A bill that is written on paper will do just as well as one that is professionally typed. Your work will speak for you if you do an excellent job. You could even quit your job to become your boss and only work half as hard.