Cleaning-Service Business Start-Up - Advice (fee, insurance, small business, jobs)

[BKSnook]

Hello all,

I'm looking to start a small cleaning-service business in New York City.

This would be my first entrepreneurial endeavor.

Do you think a house-cleaning/maid service, a commercial/office cleaning service, or a foreclosure/clean-out service would be best and for what reason?

Any tips or advice would be appreciated, either on starting a small busines or this specific business.

Thanks!

[rfr69]

Originally Posted by BKSnook

Hello all,

I'm looking to start a small cleaning-service business in New York City.

This would be my first entrepreneurial endeavor.

Do you think a house-cleaning/maid service, a commercial/office cleaning service, or a foreclosure/clean-out service would be best and for what reason?

Any tips or advice would be appreciated, either on starting a small busines or this specific business.

Thanks!

I would start just a general cleaning business and then market specifically to those areas.

A good way to start getting some jobs right off the bat would be to check otu the gigs section on craigslist. I see lots of office cleaning jobs posted.

[BKSnook]

Originally Posted by rfr69

I would start just a general cleaning business and then market specifically to those areas.

A good way to start getting some jobs right off the bat would be to check otu the gigs section on craigslist. I see lots of office cleaning jobs posted.

Thanks for the feedback. I checked Craigslist to assess the competition

[Dport7674]

This is different than what you're looking to do, but....

I have an uncle in the Seattle area who cleans out rental properties for landlords who rent to college kids. He charges a flat fee for the cleaning and the kids leave behind desks, college books and all kinds of stuff. He sells it all on craigslist.

He makes a killing doing this. It might be worth it to look into college areas.

[BKSnook]

Originally Posted by Dport7674

This is different than what you're looking to do, but....

I have an uncle in the Seattle area who cleans out rental properties for landlords who rent to college kids. He charges a flat fee for the cleaning and the kids leave behind desks, college books and all kinds of stuff. He sells it all on craigslist.

He makes a killing doing this. It might be worth it to look into college areas.

Interesting idea. This would entail having moving trucks/dumpster removal trucks. Thanks.

[SifuPhil]

There is a professional cleaner / consultant named Don Aslett that has some great books on starting and operating a janitorial service. His advice was very helpful to me when I started mine. Not only does he cover the basics such as start-up costs and equipment needed, he also gets into estimating, customer service techniques and specialization.

[BKSnook]

Originally Posted by SifuPhil

There is a professional cleaner / consultant named Don Aslett that has some great books on starting and operating a janitorial service. His advice was very helpful to me when I started mine. Not only does he cover the basics such as start-up costs and equipment needed, he also gets into estimating, customer service techniques and specialization.

Thanks. I've read two books about starting a cleaning business, but I feel they were written by people who have started businesses, not necessarily cleaning service businesses.

I'll see if the public library has some books by the author you recommended.

[BKSnook]

Two areas that I am particularly concerned about are accounting/tax and legal/insurance. Does anyone have any advice about these, either with a cleaning service business or general small business?

[INTN]

Most places will want you to be bonded.

[BKSnook]

Originally Posted by INTN

Most places will want you to be bonded.

Thanks, and I agree. I think nowadays, most customers expect you to be bonded.