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.
Showing posts with label expanding janitorial business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label expanding janitorial business. Show all posts
Wednesday
Marketing your Janitorial Service
Marketing your Janitorial Service: From Homespun to Number 1
Unfortunately,this article will not teach you everything you need to know about marketing a janitorial business. That will come only from a lot more study and years of experience. This article will show you how to get your business off to a great start and how to save a lot of money on your advertising costs.
1) The more creative you are with your marketing, the further you can stretch your advertising budget and the more likely you are to succeed. To be successful you need to do what everyone else is doing and what they are not. If you are on a shoe-string start-up, you have to be even more creative. One thing you could do is go to several business networking groups or a rotary clubs. When you are there, try to see if anyone in the group is looking for your janitor service. The more fiends you make, the more potential clients you have. Keep in mind that only friends will refer you to friends. A larger professional network is a great way to get jobs. Whey you use advertising always offer something for free or something unique. I knew a lady the successfully started a house cleaning business simply by offering to clean the first time for free. Clients had a risk-free way to evaluate her and her potential clients felt more obligated to give her a chance. This could also include a free evaluation or $100 off of the first 6 months or service.
2) Online advertising is also a very effective way to generate business. I have successfully generated 1000s of dollars of additional monthly income for several service businesses just by getting ranked on google and also putting up a free add on Google maps. I want to develop a separate section devoted to this soon because it is really a lot of fun and an effective way to make money if you know what you are doing.
3) Quantify the value of each lead, especially with paid advertising. If a new add costs $200 a month and generates 4 leads, this type of advertising costs $50 a lead. Conversions are what you are really shooting for, but taking leads is a good way to know quicker whether or not a particular method will work.
4) Customer referrals are great. You will normally have a higher percentage of these sales close and you will often not be bidding in a competitive atmosphere.
5) Help others, exchange leads, and get as close to referral centers as you can. One example of a referral center is a commercial real estate leasing broker. He has access to 100s of potential clients which could virtually help you get your business up and running in very little time. Since he meets knew business owner that are either moving or moving up, there is a lot of opportunity to get good janitorial leads. Also return the favor by referring the broker to your clients if you know they are looking to move or upgrade their facilities.
More to come. Wife is having a baby . . .
Unfortunately,this article will not teach you everything you need to know about marketing a janitorial business. That will come only from a lot more study and years of experience. This article will show you how to get your business off to a great start and how to save a lot of money on your advertising costs.
1) The more creative you are with your marketing, the further you can stretch your advertising budget and the more likely you are to succeed. To be successful you need to do what everyone else is doing and what they are not. If you are on a shoe-string start-up, you have to be even more creative. One thing you could do is go to several business networking groups or a rotary clubs. When you are there, try to see if anyone in the group is looking for your janitor service. The more fiends you make, the more potential clients you have. Keep in mind that only friends will refer you to friends. A larger professional network is a great way to get jobs. Whey you use advertising always offer something for free or something unique. I knew a lady the successfully started a house cleaning business simply by offering to clean the first time for free. Clients had a risk-free way to evaluate her and her potential clients felt more obligated to give her a chance. This could also include a free evaluation or $100 off of the first 6 months or service.
2) Online advertising is also a very effective way to generate business. I have successfully generated 1000s of dollars of additional monthly income for several service businesses just by getting ranked on google and also putting up a free add on Google maps. I want to develop a separate section devoted to this soon because it is really a lot of fun and an effective way to make money if you know what you are doing.
3) Quantify the value of each lead, especially with paid advertising. If a new add costs $200 a month and generates 4 leads, this type of advertising costs $50 a lead. Conversions are what you are really shooting for, but taking leads is a good way to know quicker whether or not a particular method will work.
4) Customer referrals are great. You will normally have a higher percentage of these sales close and you will often not be bidding in a competitive atmosphere.
5) Help others, exchange leads, and get as close to referral centers as you can. One example of a referral center is a commercial real estate leasing broker. He has access to 100s of potential clients which could virtually help you get your business up and running in very little time. Since he meets knew business owner that are either moving or moving up, there is a lot of opportunity to get good janitorial leads. Also return the favor by referring the broker to your clients if you know they are looking to move or upgrade their facilities.
More to come. Wife is having a baby . . .
Upgrading your Janitor Service and Upselling
Once you have established a loyal base of customers with your janitor service business and you feel confident that you know what you are doing, it is a good time to expand the number of services you offer.
Often the key to expanding you janitorial services business is services your customers already need such as carpet and drapery cleaning, heating and air conditioning, plants and landscaping, laundry, window cleaning, lighting, herbicides and pest control. Some clients will only be interested in one or two of this extra services, other will want you to do many of them. One easy way to expand is to offer these services on you business card or on your invoice. Often the easiest way to do it is to be vigilant, if you notice they need another service, such as carpet cleaning ask them if you can give them a bid.
Expanding your janitorial service base will do three things to increase you revenues or your bottom line. The first thing it will do is increase you average revenue per customer. The next thing it should do is increase the average dollar per hour you or your employees can make at a job. The third thing it will do is decrease your advertising expense since you will not need to advertise as much because you are making more money per client. If you are still in the growing phase, keep advertising the same amount. The last benefit is that the client sees you as more reputable and they know that you can help them do other things.
Janitorial Services outlook
The breakdown of large corporate America and the creation of many new smaller businesses have made outsourcing janitorial services today cheaper alternative for many companies. These companies don’t want to spend their time staffing high turn over janitor positions or providing health benefits and pension plans for these employees. They would rather let some one else take care of it. These companies wish to use their resources to do what they do best and let you do what you do best.
The janitorial business is steadily growing and according to some experts, it has recently surpassed the 100 billion dollar mark about 5 years ago and by 2008, experts predicted it to be worth about $128. (http:// www.bscai.org/about/default.asp). Industry demand they predict will continue to grow at a rate of 7%. There is a lot of room for new start ups in this industry and there are a lot of successful franchises.
Anyway you look at it now is a great time to start your next janitor service business.
Often the key to expanding you janitorial services business is services your customers already need such as carpet and drapery cleaning, heating and air conditioning, plants and landscaping, laundry, window cleaning, lighting, herbicides and pest control. Some clients will only be interested in one or two of this extra services, other will want you to do many of them. One easy way to expand is to offer these services on you business card or on your invoice. Often the easiest way to do it is to be vigilant, if you notice they need another service, such as carpet cleaning ask them if you can give them a bid.
Expanding your janitorial service base will do three things to increase you revenues or your bottom line. The first thing it will do is increase you average revenue per customer. The next thing it should do is increase the average dollar per hour you or your employees can make at a job. The third thing it will do is decrease your advertising expense since you will not need to advertise as much because you are making more money per client. If you are still in the growing phase, keep advertising the same amount. The last benefit is that the client sees you as more reputable and they know that you can help them do other things.
Janitorial Services outlook
The breakdown of large corporate America and the creation of many new smaller businesses have made outsourcing janitorial services today cheaper alternative for many companies. These companies don’t want to spend their time staffing high turn over janitor positions or providing health benefits and pension plans for these employees. They would rather let some one else take care of it. These companies wish to use their resources to do what they do best and let you do what you do best.
The janitorial business is steadily growing and according to some experts, it has recently surpassed the 100 billion dollar mark about 5 years ago and by 2008, experts predicted it to be worth about $128. (http:// www.bscai.org/about/default.asp). Industry demand they predict will continue to grow at a rate of 7%. There is a lot of room for new start ups in this industry and there are a lot of successful franchises.
Anyway you look at it now is a great time to start your next janitor service business.
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