If you’re planning on starting your own business this year, a cleaning service franchise is definitely a good idea. Considering the cleaning industry’s market size of $2 billion and the steady growth that it’s expected to enjoy in the coming years, starting a cleaning business can be quite lucrative.
That said, here are some things to think about that can help you succeed in this endeavour:
Think of a Good Name
The name of your cleaning business will be associated with it for a long time (possibly forever), so think of something that will stand the test of time. Try to come up with a unique and catchy name, but make sure that it’s easy to spell and remember. This is especially true when you’re trying to secure a domain name for a website.
It’s also a good idea to pick a name that allows you to grow. Unless you truly want to specialise in just one service, a name like “ABC Carpet Cleaning” or something similar would not be ideal. Instead, choose a name that will suit a multi-service cleaning business.
Identify Your Market
A crucial part of establishing any business is to determine your target market. In the case of a cleaning business, you have to decide whether you’re planning to serve the consumer or residential or commercial market.
For the consumer or residential market, you’ll mostly be servicing homes and private properties for rent. It’s a small portion of the market but there’s still high demand due to many homeowners’ busy schedules. Most also prefer the quality of work provided by cleaning services.
Meanwhile, for the commercial sector, you’re expected to provide cleaning services to other businesses. There’s a higher demand in this market due to the exacting standards required (e.g., health codes and safety regulations). As such, business owners turn to professional cleaners to ensure that their establishments meet the quality demanded from them.
The choice between these two very different markets depends on various factors, the most important of which is your capability. If you’re going solo, it might be more difficult to cater to commercial establishments. It may be a good idea to first start with residential cleaning and then expand later on.
Write a Business Plan
Before you start your business, you should draw up your business plan first. This document will serve as your roadmap, showing you what you need to do and how you can optimally conduct your business to achieve success.
Some of the things you should include in your business are the following:
- Executive summary. This is essentially an overview of your business. The aforementioned target market should be a part of this section, as are your proposed plants for future growth.
- A rundown of your business objectives. This section is where you detail your specific goals and what you need to do to meet them. You should also create a profile of your ideal customer and how you plan to appeal to them.
- A list of your services. What are you planning to offer your customers? Are you going to specialise in one or two areas first, or are you planning to provide comprehensive services right from the start?
- Market opportunities and marketing plans. Present an analysis of your target market in this section, as well as how you can create opportunities based on their demographics and habits. Your marketing strategies, including how you’re planning to stand out from the competition, should also be included in this part.
- Competitive analysis. This should provide a good look at your competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and how your business might be able to compare.
- Financial analysis. This section should include the details of all your expenses, including daily operational costs and even your profit projections.
Through the help of your business plan, you can better fine-tune your business and make sure that you’re always on track with your goals.
Think About the Costs of Establishing a Cleaning Business
A cleaning service requires a lot of investment in the equipment front. You can’t very well provide a top-notch cleaning job if you only have a broom with you. Simply put, you need to think about every expense involved in launching your business.
There are also other costs you need to think about, beyond the cleaning tools and supplies that you need to buy. For example, if you’re planning to hire employees in the future, you need to factor that in in your financial projections. You should also think about one-time and recurring payments such as registration fees, taxes, and the like.
Prepare All Documentation and Other Requirements
Before you’re able to establish a business in New Zealand, you’re going to need to furnish a handful of documents. These include but are not limited to:
- Your business plan
- A DBA
- Incorporation documents
- Permits and/or certifications
- LLC articles
- Apostille
- Tax ID
- Trademark
- Insurance
One of the most important things to do is to register for GST if you meet the income requirement. If you plan on structuring your cleaning service as a company, you’ll also need to register it accordingly.
Reading all of these, it might seem too tedious to start your own cleaning service. However, it’s definitely a worthwhile undertaking when you take into account the flexibility and income opportunities. Being your own boss takes a lot of work but is ultimately a rewarding experience.
Good luck!