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geanie35t · Mar 1, 2008, 10:14 PM

I want start My own cleaning business

Do you have to have a business degree or a license to start such a business,And where do I start?
Thanks Virginia Taylor::D

N0help4u · Mar 1, 2008, 10:18 PM

I think you can just go and apply for tax identification numbers, licenses, insurances and any papers your state, county, city may require.
You have to pay for a name search if you are naming other than YOUR name
Insurance and other requirements for any of your employees,
Also check into LLC.
Some customers may require you to have your own insurance, bonding, etc...

You also have to put notices in some publications but they will tell you that when you apply for these things.

Sometimes you can look through businesses for sale in the paper and buy one that already has established customers and expand on that.

Stringer · Mar 1, 2008, 10:54 PM

No degrees are required to start your business. The information in Nohelp4U's post is good, listen.

Not to discourage you but 3 out of 4 new businesses fail. They fail because; under funding, little or no planning, no experience in the business, because no sacrifices are given to succeed, etc.

I would suggest that if you do not have experience in the cleaning business (besides just the cleaning part of it) that you go to work for a cleaning company in a management position or work your way up to management. Then learn everything you can, ask many questions, observe. This experience is comparable to a college education and will certainly aid you in your own new business.

Again, research the all the threads for "businesses" on the Desk, you can begin there. Also check out the threads and responses to the "Sales" threads.

If I may help further, let me know...
Stringer

N0help4u · Mar 1, 2008, 11:08 PM

They also fail because they try to start too big (and expensive)
Also you might try starting a clean out business where you get landlords and/or real estates that will allow you to clean places where people have been evicted or foreclosed.
Sometimes you can even take the stuff the people leave behind and make money.
I take any appliances/scrap metals to the scrap yard and the household items to the flea market.

You can also do clean ups for landlords that are doing remodeling. I charge by the hour and the cost for going to the dump.

You would most likely make better money too.

I have all the good ideas but no money or resources to get a good start,

edith of olay · Mar 2, 2008, 07:15 AM

As the owner of a 16 year old, seven figure a year cleaning business, here's my two cents.
First off, ignore the advice of these previous posts. Get excited! The cleaning business is a wonderful career choice! Get this book: Cleaning Up for a Living, by Don Aslett and Mark Browning. It has wonderful advice, and is easy to understand, without a lot of clutter.

I started my business 16 yrs ago by cleaning houses, and later became a commercial cleaning service. Residential cleaning is a fantastic opportunity for you. Remember, if you are going into a service business, you are there to serve. If you don't offer fantastic service, you don't have anything to offer. A great training for you would be to apply for and work for a local residential cleaning service first, to learn the ins and outs. Then many newspapers have a service directory, where you can place an ad and begin getting your own customers. (Do NOT be unethical and try to steal the service's customers away from them) The average customer has you come every other week, & pays cash, (avg: $65-85 our area) With superior service and patience, you can easily be on your way to a good living before too long. You do NOT need a business degree, or any type of license in many areas, only good common sense, and a desire to work.

If you start hiring employees, the rules change dramatically, and you will be subject to a lot more headaches, such as paying for workman's compensation insurance, withholding, FICA, FUTA, SUTA, etc, etc, etc. Besides that, the minute you hire somebody, YOU are responsible for their omissions, neglect, and if they break or steal something, YOU are going to be held accountable.

Keep it simple. And if you have anymore questions, call your local Chamber of
Commerce, and ask about SCORE.

Good Luck!

N0help4u · Mar 2, 2008, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by edith of olay

As the owner of a 16 year old, seven figure a year cleaning business, here's my two cents.
First off, ignore the advice of these previous posts. Get excited! The cleaning business is a wonderful career choice!

So you are saying she doesn't have to get insured in case a customer feels they have some reason to sue her? Or she doesn't have to file for business licenses and business related tax status stuff?

What you are suggesting sounds more like what I do. Sounds like where I am at as I am trying to get it together to start my own business which I really do not consider a business at this point because I have not done any official paperwork yet.
I figured she was asking how to get an actual official business going not a preliminary work for somebody or do it yourself under the table thing.

Starting with the preliminaries I would say buy a van, cleaning supplies, make up business cards and fliers and start cleaning.

P.S. How do you steal customers?

Stringer · Mar 2, 2008, 10:15 AM

Good response Nohelp4U...

This "new" poster has little concern for reading others responses and doing some research on threads already posted on this subject. Actually quite narcissistic to say "ignore the advice of the previous posts" without doing that research.

I don't have time at the moment, but I will respond in depth later to her post on this subject.

Edith of olay, you were rude and rash in your comment. You are suggesting that only you have the correct advise for this question? And then you duplicated my suggestion that she go to work for a cleaning company to get experience? You couldn't have taken the time to read them before blasting them.

You gave some good advise, I am not suggesting that you didn't. But your methods leave much to be desired and sound pompous. Great for you that you have been in the cleaning business 16 years and are making a seven figure income. Well, that would qualify you I guess.

Oh, by the way, I have owned three Commercial Cleaning Companies for the last 15 years with over 400 employees and have an income in the mid seven figures. So, should she ignore my advice? Possibly.

A LOT of great advice has been posted on almost every faction of this question, as suggested a little time spent researching would have been beneficial. Take advantage of the great information this Desk provides on an on-going basis.

Stringer

Stringer · Mar 2, 2008, 10:27 AM

Nohelp4U... clear your PM's please...
Stringer

Stringer · Mar 2, 2008, 11:19 AM