Introduction
A janitorial business is a profitable business, especially in developed countries. According to Business hue, janitorial services in the US make an average of $55,949 per year (https://www.businesshue.com/how-much-do-cleaning-companies-make/).
Starting a janitorial business is a great way to enter the cleaning industry, as it involves essential tasks that help maintain cleanliness in commercial spaces. However, if you’re considering expanding your services or exploring other opportunities in the field, it’s beneficial to understand the broader landscape of cleaning services. For more insights on launching a cleaning business with diverse offerings, check out our article on How to Start a Cleaning Business.
Before going through the steps of starting one, it’s important to understand what it entails. A janitorial business involves the daily cleaning and maintenance of offices and workspace environments. This can range from large firms, hospitals, financial institutions, and offices to small workspaces, cafes, and even homes.
Starting a janitorial business takes planning and commitment. Therefore, there are a number of things that need to be put in place before you can successfully start one. Here are some steps to help you start a janitorial business.
Carry Out Market Research
Market Research
Before starting a janitorial business, it is important to understand a few things about the industry in your area. One way to do this is to research the business in your town, country or region. Here are some things to look out for in your research:
● Population statistics: This will help you determine the number of target audiences you have access to in your town or state. This will determine where your business should be located, easy access to potential customers and financial preparation.
● Competitors: The presence and number of competitors will determine how well your business will grow and the number of customers you will have access to. It will also determine the type of services you want to offer to differentiate yourself.
● Demand for the service: A remote area with few firms or businesses will have less. demand than urban areas. However, this also depends on the other two factors above.
● Potential Clients or Customers: It is important to know where your potential customers (offices, worksplaces, industrial firms etc.) are concentrated. This will help you gain easy access to them and introduce your business to them. It can also help to reduce transport costs.
Market research is easier in today’s world as there are many tools available. Most statistics can be found with a google search. Social media polls and surveys can also be useful in your research.
Develop a Business Plan
Once your market research is completed, the next step is to develop a business plan. A business plan involves utilizing information gotten from your market research to develop a blueprint for your company.
In developing a business plan, a SWOT strategy can be used (https://godigitool.com/market-research-cleaning-business/). This means knowing your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.
Identifying these 4 factors can help you develop a business plan. Your business plan should include:
● Pricing
● Scale of your business (large or small)
● The type of services to render (e.g window cleaning, general cleaning etc.)
● Location of business
● Types of clients you want to work with (firms, hospitals, industrial plants, schools etc.)
● Types of equipment you will utilize
● Number of workers to employ
The data gotten from your market research, would help determine these variables.
Obtaining Financing
After developing a business plan, it is time to swing into action. A janitorial business has a relatively low startup cost. However, this depends on the location and scaling of your business.
If you don’t have enough savings to start the business, you can decide to seek financial assistance. Funding can be gotten through bank loans, investors and some co-operative organizations.
Most banks and investors will require you to have a solid business plan before you’re granted the loan or investment. Therefore, it is important to not skip any step and make sure your business plan is convincing.
Registering Your Business
Registering your business should be the next thing on your mind after getting the required funding. In order to register your business, you would need to decide on the name of your business.
Asides the name, you will also need to decide if you want to run it alone or in partnership with someone else. After making these conclusions, you can register your business both locally and federally.
The process of registration varies from one region to another. Therefore, it is important to know the right way it is done in your country or local area.
After the registration, you should be given an identification number from the governing body. It will also enable you to open a bank account for your business. Registering your business is very important and it will save you from any legal problems in future.
Obtaining Insurance
In today’s world, insurance is a very integral aspect of any business. Liability insurance can be purchased from trusted insurance organizations in your country. It is important you read their terms and conditions before signing the contracts.
Asides liability insurance, a janitorial bond is also important. This protects your clients from theft by employees while cleaning.
Acquisition of a janitorial bond and liability insurance have several advantages including:
● Prevents unnecessary debts
● Helps keep your business even after a tragic event
● Builds trust from clients
● Helps you take more reasonable risk
Hiring Employees
As a janitorial business owner, you can’t run the business all alone. It is therefore important to employ the appropriate staff needed to fill different roles in your company. There are are different levels of staffs in the janitorial business, this includes:
● Administrative assistant: This is a person that will help relieve some of the administrative duties you need to do as a business owner. They also help to supervise other staffs
● Marketing staff: This individual helps you introduce your business to the appropriate clients. They also design various creative ways of advertising your business.
● Customer service representative: This is a role that helps you speak to either prospective clients or returning clients. They help to gather feedback, complaints and cleaning requests from clients.
● Bookkeeper: This role helps to keep account of all financial activities in the company. This role is very crucial and must be filed by a very competent and trusted person.
● Cleaning staff: This role is arguably the most important in the business. They are the people that help you deliver cleaning services to your clients.
There are other roles you might need to fill depending on how large your business becomes. Employees are very crucial to the success of your business. Therefore, they should be selected carefully.
Purchasing Equipment
In order to start rendering services to your clients, you will need the right equipment for the job. The equipment needed for your janitorial business may vary based on the scale of your business and the types of services you render.
It is usually best practice to get all your equipment from a trusted supplier. Jesun is a trusted and well established company to help supply the equipment you need. They also have various designs to choose from with good delivery services.
The following is a list of the equipment and supplies needed for cleaning:
● Equipment for floor cleaning:
○ Mops
○ Hand Brooms
○ Dustpans
○ Vacuum Cleaners
○ Buckets
○ Floor Scrubbers.
● General cleaning products:
○ Glass Cleaners
○ Disinfectants
○ Toilet Cleaners
○ Furniture Polish
○ Degreasing Solutions
○ Air Fresheners
○ Detergents.
● Equipment for wet cleaning:
○ Abrasive Scrubs
○ Paper Towels
○ Abrasive Scrubbers
○ Disposable Rags
○ Sponges
○ Buckets
○ Cleaning Cloths
● Equipment for cleaner’s protection:
○ Rubber Gloves
○ Dust Masks
○ Anti-Bacterial Hand Wash.
● All purpose equipment:
○ Spray Bottles
○ Disinfectant Wipes
○ Trash Bags
○ Dusters
○ Glass Cleaners.
All these cleaning equipment can be purchased from Jesun at wholesale prices. Also office equipment for administrative and other office staff will be needed. This can include computer sets, table chairs, telephone desks and so on.
Marketing Strategy
Marketing Your Business
Once you’ve gotten your equipment prepared, it is time to introduce your business to potential clients.
This will involve working with your marketing manager to design strategies to get your business to clients.
Technology has made it a lot easier for businesses to market their products. Therefore, you can market your business through different medium which can include:
● Banners and posters
● Billboards
● Social media promotions
● Social media ads (facebook, youtube, twitter, instagram etc.)
● Creating a referral network
● Meeting with clients one on one
● Email broadcast
Most firms, offices and workspaces already have a janitorial business they patronize. Therefore, it is better to make your business enticing to clients. Enticement can be in the form of pricing, superior or special services and reliability.
Managing Your Business
Getting clients and making profits is one thing, sustaining the business is another. In order to keep your business running, you have to understand what happens everyday at the company. Therefore, proper supervision is needed for the business to thrive.
With the help of your administrative assistant,, you can devise a method of precise feedback and report of the daily activities of the company. This will enable you to plan, upgrade and reach out to more clients.
There should also be proper finance and resources management to aid the growth of the company.
Conclusion
A janitorial business is a profit yielding, low startup cost business. However, it requires adequate planning, commitment and preparations. It is therefore important that market research, finance, insurance, employees, equipment and good marketing strategies are put in place.
Also, a good managerial commitment is needed for longevity of the business.
