Starting a janitor service is an excellent home business opportunity. It is a relatively low-tech profession with minimal overhead. All you really need to get started is a strong work-ethic and some basic cleaning supplies. However, to get your business off the ground, you will need to employ some smart business strategies. Here are seven tips to help you get started:
1. Do Your Research – Before you begin your janitorial business, you should have a thorough understanding of the services typically offered by janitor services, the tools needed to complete these services, and the going hourly rate. You should also find out how many other janitorial services there are in your area, the services they offer, and the markets they target. Try to determine if there are any markets where the demand is higher than the supply and if you could reasonably enter said markets.
2. Establish Start Up Capital – As you do your research, determine your startup costs. These should include buying supplies and tools for the job, investing in marketing materials and business cards, paying for business licenses and insurance, and hiring employees, if you plan to do so. Remember that you will not usually get paid right away, so you will need enough money to get you through at least the first month of business, possibly longer if it takes a while to establish several clients. Take the time to build up your capital before you start your business so that you have a cushion if things do not go well at the beginning. This may mean delaying the start of your business, or only operating on a part time basis at first while maintaining a full time job.
3. Start Simple – It might be tempting to offer all possible janitorial services right at the start so that you can reach the largest market. Instead, start with the basics – mopping, vacuuming, dusting, emptying garbage cans, cleaning bathrooms – and target a defined group to begin with. Choose tasks that require relatively low-cost supplies and tools that require no additional training to operate. Doing a few things really well will earn you a better reputation right from the start. You can always expand your services once your business has been established.
4. Get Liscensed, Bonded and Insured – It may seem unnecessary at first to shell out the money for a business license and for insurance, but these are critical elements to having a professional business. Not only do you protect yourself from potential liabilities, you also appear more professional to clients.
5. Invest in Quality Products – It will be tempting to buy a cheap vacuum and the cheapest cleaning products you can get your hands on to increase your margin of profit. Instead, research your options and invest in products that will offer the best results. Put some money into a high-quality, industrial vacuum. Buy a few different floor cleaners and mops and figure out which ones work best. Using high quality supplies will not only improve the work you do, it will also make you more efficient, allowing you to do more in less time.
6. Focus on your Reputation – Make your customer service a top priority. Janitorial businesses are built around repeat and long term clients so make sure that you not only do an excellent job cleaning, but that you present yourself and your employees as professional, honest, hard-working, and client-centered. Clients want to hire people they trust to be in their facilities after hours, without having to worry about things getting broken or stolen. Make your business policies client-friendly and try to resolve any disputes with future business in mind.
7. Don’t Rely on Fliers – Or newspaper adds, for that matter. Those are passive methods of advertising – you post something and wait for the clients to come to you. Instead, employ some active marketing strategies. Take note of newly opened businesses in your area and give them a call – better yet, stop by and introduce yourself. You can also offer to clean for free the first time, or offer a discounted rate for signing up for several months at a time. To encourage word of mouth referrals, offer incentives to current clients for every new client referred.
Following these easy tips will help your new janitor service find success quickly.
Friday
How to Find a Reliable Janitor Service in Your Area
When you need a local janitor service that you can count on to be timely, professional and do a quality job, it can be difficult to know where to start or how to go about it. Try these quick and easy ways to find just what you are looking and enjoy your quality service sooner than you think.
1. Word-of-Mouth. Referrals from people you know and trust are the best way to locate a good company. Try to get as much specific information as they can. Focus on details and perspectives you would have a hard time getting anywhere else. Besides letting you know about their good experience, they can also tell you about any bad ones and steer you away from unreliable services or ones with poor work performance.
2. Local businesses. Go into businesses near yours and ask about who does their cleaning. If they hire a janitor service and love how the work gets done, they will be sure to rave about them. Chances are they use a local service that will also work well for your business.
3. Google maps. If you are unable to get a good referral from a friend or local business, the internet has some great options for finding services. On the Google maps site, first put in your location, then type in “janitor service.” Up will pop a map of several locations and a list of some of the companies near you. Included will be addresses, phone numbers and websites. You can get directions will a click of the mouse. If anyone has reviewed the company, you can read that, which will let you know a little more about a company you are considering. When you find one that looks good, be sure to ask for references when you contact them in addition to discussing what services they offer and what their rates are. Go look at some of the businesses they clean to see what kind of job they are doing.
4. Yahoo local. Similar to Google maps, you just type in “janitor service” and your city and you get a map of companies with a list that includes all their information. It is a good idea to try both sites because there are usually some companies listed on one that are not on the other.
5. Yellow pages. While the phone book may seem a bit outdated now that the internet is so easy to access and has so much information, it is still a great source for finding companies. It is quick to call several services with their information all on the page. Sometimes there are coupons or special deals in their advertisements. It is a good idea to ask plenty of questions, get references and do a little research on your own, as you would regardless of how you find the business. Always check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if there are unresolved claims or a history of poor performance or customer service.
1. Word-of-Mouth. Referrals from people you know and trust are the best way to locate a good company. Try to get as much specific information as they can. Focus on details and perspectives you would have a hard time getting anywhere else. Besides letting you know about their good experience, they can also tell you about any bad ones and steer you away from unreliable services or ones with poor work performance.
2. Local businesses. Go into businesses near yours and ask about who does their cleaning. If they hire a janitor service and love how the work gets done, they will be sure to rave about them. Chances are they use a local service that will also work well for your business.
3. Google maps. If you are unable to get a good referral from a friend or local business, the internet has some great options for finding services. On the Google maps site, first put in your location, then type in “janitor service.” Up will pop a map of several locations and a list of some of the companies near you. Included will be addresses, phone numbers and websites. You can get directions will a click of the mouse. If anyone has reviewed the company, you can read that, which will let you know a little more about a company you are considering. When you find one that looks good, be sure to ask for references when you contact them in addition to discussing what services they offer and what their rates are. Go look at some of the businesses they clean to see what kind of job they are doing.
4. Yahoo local. Similar to Google maps, you just type in “janitor service” and your city and you get a map of companies with a list that includes all their information. It is a good idea to try both sites because there are usually some companies listed on one that are not on the other.
5. Yellow pages. While the phone book may seem a bit outdated now that the internet is so easy to access and has so much information, it is still a great source for finding companies. It is quick to call several services with their information all on the page. Sometimes there are coupons or special deals in their advertisements. It is a good idea to ask plenty of questions, get references and do a little research on your own, as you would regardless of how you find the business. Always check with the Better Business Bureau to determine if there are unresolved claims or a history of poor performance or customer service.
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