Cleaning office spaces after hours is a business that can be started from home or a person can buy an existing company Almost any company with an office can use the service as this is a neglected area for most businesses that do not have the service.
Cleaning windows, dusting, emptying trashcans and running the vacuum cleaner is not a very profitable use of office staff. Some owners of a business do it themselves to save money. Others just let it go until it just becomes a severe necessity. If the office is used to hold meetings with customers, the service may well be needed to keep the office in a presentable condition. The restrooms are another area that needs to be cleaned with some frequency. What type of company a customer hires depends on the business and the concern for security. A company that has many secret documents may need to hire a cleaning company that has a well-vetted staff. A business office, which can be secured for the basic security, can hire a person or two who work from their home. A business with many secret negotiations and using sensitive material may need to use a very secure service for their office cleaning. There are companies that can do both or just one or the other.
How to break into the business
One way to learn the business is to work in it for a time to learn the ropes. The learning curve is not very long or steep. Doing the job that is expected is the most important aspect to this business. The customer hires the company based on what is promised and it better be delivered or that company will be replaced by another who will keep their commitments. Hiring personnel with a good work ethic and unquestioned honesty is a requirement that must be kept at all times.
A family could start this type of business and run it from their home while they built the business up over time. The equipment needed is not out of range in cost and can be purchased easily by someone looking to get into the business.
Careful attention to detail is important, as a dusty lamp could easily be spotted. Desk side waste containers that are not emptied would be another area of obvious notice that the cleaning job was done in a haphazard manner. A restroom that is not left as a thoroughly cleaned space would stand out like a sore eye. The way to keep customers and get referrals is to do the job better than expected. This starts with the owner of the cleaning business and is part of the work ethic of the helpers who do the work.
Spot-checking by the owner or supervisor is critical to keeping the work up to the standards promised. Promises made to the customer must be kept all of the time. If weather or an unexpected emergency prevents the work one night or weekend, the customer must be told why and when it will be completed. Communication with the customer is always important in a service business.
Finding a business and the money
Business brokers will be able to help you find businesses in this market that are for sale. The cost of buying a business or franchise is related to the customer base, the reputation of the business and the profitability. Starting one depends on how quickly you want to grow and the number of customers you can sign up to use your service. In either case you will need some money to run and own the business. The business will dictate how much is needed. Once you find a business for sale, the negotiations will be critical if you need the help of the current owner in order to make the purchase. If this is the case, the price will probably be higher to buy the business. Other sources for coming up with the money are relatives and friends, the bank and business lending. Each source has its own problems and pluses. The real meat of the matter is how much extra you will need to make the deal.
Several concerns with this business are apparent. Can another owner assume the customers under contract? How much longer are the contracts in force? Is there a continuation clause in the contract that controls the fees that are charged to do the work? Is there a sales person that is responsible for getting new clients or was that what the old owner did for the company? This is important if the new owner is not a sales type of person. Someone has to speak for the company and make the company grow with new clients.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
How to start an office cleaning business
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