Tips
Pretend you are your client at least one time before you do anyone else. Time yourself, see what products you use, critique yourself.
Be friendly and on time. Let the client know they can tell you if they wanted something done differently or something done that was not done.
Some clients will be very picky, others not so much. The most important thing is to know your client.
What you want more than anything is positive word of mouth by your clients. Your business can grow as large as you like it to, as long as you have clients telling other people how great you are.
Don’t take on more than you can handle. Start off slow and grow.
If you plan on making this a business that will grow, look closely into the licensing and/or bonding laws in your state.
Also, consider incorporating or becoming an, "LLC," to help protect you and your business. Consider your personal legal or criminal history. Many potential customers will consider you unwelcome to work in their homes, businesses, or near their children if you have a criminal record, or you are going through a serious dispute with another person.
Clear up any legal loose ends before applying to work for someone.
Always carry hand sanitizer and wash your hands often while cleaning homes. Wear gloves when cleaning bathrooms. You will be exposed to a lot of different germs in clients homes.Remember most customers prefer that you bring your own cleaning supplies.
That way they do not have to worry about going to the store for cleaning supplies before you clean. Some customers have special cleaners for certain appliances or floors in their houses. These customers usually will have these cleaners on hand for you to use. You can use the customers vacuum cleaner.
That way you do not have to carry a heavy vacuum from house to house.If you decide to to do new construction cleaning you will need more equipment. You will need ladders, window cleaning kits with long extensions, a shop vac, etc.
These types of jobs are usually 2 to 3 person jobs. New construction cleaning requires a lot more cleaning. You may have to remove stickers and labels from windows and bathroom showers, sinks and toilets.
Some require that you clean the vents to remove dust from construction work. There will be ceiling fans to clean, scrubbing floors, and cleaning woodwork to remove dust. New construction cleaning rates depend on the area you live in. Normally they run from .12 cents per sq .ft. to .25 cents per sq .ft. depending on where you are located.
Be sure to estimate houses not only by square footage, but by number of occupants, cleanliness of occupants, contents, and pets. Square footage alone does not indicate the time it takes to do a deep cleaning or the regular ongoing service.
Warnings
Be prepared for how to respond to an unsafe work environment. From something as simple as a broken stair-step, to finding weapons or illegal drugs. Working in a private home or business can expose you to any number of unsafe situations. Establish in advance with your client what hazards you are not willing to face in your work environment.
Remember one of the most important qualifications for a cleaning service is TRUST. A client has to know they can trust you alone in their home. After you acquire a few cleaning positions ask the clients if you can use them for a reference.
Most of the time they are more than willing to let you use them for a reference. This is how you build your business and acquire new clients is through referrals. Be dependable. Most clients will want to be set up on an every week or every other week schedule on the same day of the week.
Try to always keep this same schedule unless the client asks you to switch to another day. If you have to cancel a cleaning date, make sure you try to reschedule at the earliest possible date to make up the cleaning.
Work with a service agreement to state what you do and do not perform at each appointment. This should include your guarantee and exceptions.
Many people will try to cash in on your insurance for damage and/or breakage, cancel scheduled appointments at the last minute, have you work when there are sick people in the home and make claims that things were missed on an appointment.
You need to decide beforehand how you will handle these situations.
