How to Start a Successful Housekeeping Business: Essential Tips and Tricks

If you’re starting a cleaning business, your timing is excellent. Clean homes have become a priority for many people, especially in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The industry offers significant growth potential and benefits such as flexibility and low startup costs. 

Whether you’re looking to launch a full-time operation or a part-time side hustle, you may be wondering how to start a housekeeping business. In this article, we’ll guide you through the essential steps of launching and growing a thriving cleaning business. 

Laying the Groundwork

When starting a cleaning business, it’s crucial to invest time researching and planning before jumping in. 

Here’s how to get started: 

Develop a business plan.

The first step to starting a cleaning business is establishing your business goals and financial objections. Setting clear goals and expectations can help you stay focused.

Next, define your target market and the services you’ll offer. Will your clients be residential, commercial, or a combination of both? What services will you provide? Will you offer any specialized services to assist your clients? 

Once you’ve established your business plan, you’ll be ready to create a marketing and sales strategy that reaches your target audience and highlights your unique offerings.

Understand the legal and regulatory requirements.

Before starting a cleaning business, you’ll need to choose a business structure. Will you operate as a sole proprietor or an LLC? If you don’t know the answer, don’t worry. We have a helpful article that explains the difference. 

Like most business owners, housekeepers must have licenses and permits to operate. Check with your city and state to learn more about their requirements. 

Lastly, understand your tax obligations, which may vary depending on your business structure and location. Navigating legal and tax requirements can be tedious, but it’s worth the effort, and we recommend that you speak with legal and tax professionals about your questions. Setting your business up properly ensures a smooth start and helps you avoid surprises in the future. 

Building Your Housekeeping Business 

From equipment and supplies to hiring employees, there’s a lot that goes into starting a cleaning business. 

Here are 4 essential areas of focus: 

1. Equipment and supplies.

Before starting a cleaning business, invest in tools and equipment such as vacuum cleaners, mops, and buckets. To appeal to environmentally conscious clients, choose effective, eco-friendly products. Be sure to budget for ongoing supplies and maintenance costs on your equipment.

2. Pricing and service packages.

Setting competitive and profitable rates can help attract customers and maintain your bottom line. Research the competition to understand their services and prices — then find ways to set your business apart from the others. Create tiered packages to cater to customer needs and offer add-on services, such as deep cleaning or closet organization, to increase revenue. 

3. Hiring and managing staff.

It’s important to know how to recruit employees, even if you’re not hiring right away. Training your team is also essential for building a reliable and skilled workforce. You can ensure consistency and boost customer satisfaction by implementing effective management and clear communications. For more hiring tips, read our article: How to Find the Best Employees for Your Small Business.

4. Marketing and customer acquisition.

Building a solid brand identity and online presence is vital for starting a cleaning business. To attract potential customers, utilize multiple marketing methods such as social media, local advertising, and business flyers. And don’t underestimate word-of-mouth advertising. Customer reviews and referrals can boost credibility and help you gain new clients. Check out this helpful article for more marketing strategies.

Tips for Success and Growth 

Now that you know more about how to start a housekeeping business, let’s explore ways to keep your small business thriving.

Delivering exceptional service.

Customer satisfaction is key when starting a cleaning business. You can build a strong client relationship by focusing on quality, reliability, and understanding your clients’ needs and preferences. When you exceed expectations with a personal touch or complimentary add-on, you’re more likely to maintain loyal clients.

Efficiency and time management. 

Wondering how to be more productive and profitable? Streamline your operations and workflows. Consider using technology and software tools to help with scheduling, route planning, and other tasks to help you deliver more efficient, consistent results. 

Scaling your business.

Growth is good — especially when you’re well-prepared. If you expand your housekeeping service to other areas or add new offerings, consider hiring additional employees to keep up with the increased demand. 

Another way to grow your business is to diversify, which may mean taking on commercial clients in addition to your residential customer base. Diversifying adds more revenue streams, which can create more stability.  

Don’t Forget About Insurance

You’ve gathered tips and tools for starting a cleaning business, and there’s one more to remember: Housekeeper insurance. 

Having the right business liability insurance ensures your hard work is protected. At Simply Business, we partner with insurers specializing in small business coverage to offer a range of policies tailored to your housekeeping business’s needs and budget.

We’ve helped insure over 1 million small business owners worldwide. You can get a business insurance quote with our fast and easy online process in just 10 minutes. We also have agents available to answer your questions, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (ET), at 844-654-7272.

More Tools to Help You Succeed

When it comes to supporting your business, Simply Business goes well beyond insurance. Our Resource Center is packed with expert advice, practical tools, and helpful tips designed to help your housekeeping business succeed.

Here are three more articles we think you’ll like: 

• A Basic Business Plan Template for Small Business Owners
• Invoicing: How to Make Sure You Get Paid
• How to Create a Business Website: Dos and Don’ts