Start A Cleaning Business

Are you looking into how to start a cleaning business?

There's a lot of information out there on how to do it. We'd like to help you in your research. Starting your own cleaning business, whether it's for residential or commercial buildings, is a big undertaking.

One of the biggest obstacles will be dealing with the legality of setting up a cleaning business. Do you have the right permit(s)? What kind of insurance do you need? How do I handle reporting everything to the IRS and keep my nose clean? Setting up your paperwork correctly right from the beginning will save you a lot of headache down the road.

Until we get started delivering some great content and advice to you on starting this kind of business take a look at these websites for some of the essential supplies and tools you'll need.

Do You Want to go Part Time or Full Time in Your Cleaning Business?

When you're starting out thinking about getting into the cleaning business your first thought is probably to jump right in and get a full roster of clients and push for full time. Cleaning houses can't be that hard, right? If you don't have any experience in professional home or office cleaning that might not be the best idea.

There are a few things you should think about before jumping in with both feet...

Do You Have Another Source of Income Right Now?

One big factor in influencing whether you're motivated to land a lot of clients is whether you currently have a source of income. If you're out of work and in desperate need of some cash flow your anxiety in landing cleaning jobs may come through. That will definitely have a negative impact on people wanting to hire you. If your goal is to fill up your cleaning roster then your desperation needs to be kept in check.

Ideally you'll already have a job - even part time. This will help to cover your bills while you build your experience and references. It also allows you to take on new clients at your own pace.

Even if you're working full time you can fit in a client or 2 every week to get your feet wet. Taking it slow at first will also give you an opportunity to see if cleaning houses or office space is right for you.

How is Your Physical Stamina?

Cleaning houses can be pretty physically demanding. There's a lot of bending, reaching, scrubbing, and lifting. If you've come from working a desk job for the last 10 years then cleaning for many hours a day is going to be a big adjustment, to say the least.

Sure, cleaning your own house on a regular basis will give you an idea what you're up against. But, multiply that by 10 to 20 in a single week. Are you up for that?

If you're prone to back or muscle problems then doing the strenuous work of house cleaning could make that situation worse. If you have a small handful of clients each week then you're better able to manage those physical challenges.

Are There Enough Potential Clients?

If you live in a more rural setting this will obviously have an impact on how many cleaning jobs you can land. Not only are there less people and few houses, but folks who live in more rural settings tend to do their own home maintenance and upkeep, including cleaning.

Being in a more suburban or metro area will definitely increase the opportunities for cleaning jobs. This might also increase your competition in the cleaning field. But, competition isn't always a bad thing. If there are a number of other professional cleaning outfits indoor area that means there's definitely a healthy market for your services. You just have to find the angle or niche within that market that suits you best.

Offering Something Unique in Your Cleaning Business

Cleaning houses. What could possibly be unique about that? How many different ways can you dust a shelf or clean a toilet? Granted, there are many many cleaning businesses and professionals out there, so coming up with a unique approach to cleaning houses or businesses is going to be tough. Let's consider why people buy the things they do, whether it's a product or a service. And try and apply that to making your cleaning business unique and appealing.

An Emotional Appeal

Believe it or not people make purchase decisions based largely on their emotional response to a product. Even if it's something as simple as buying a loaf of bread. Then, afterward, they justify the decision with logical reasons. Which loaf of bread has a more appealing label? Which one feels softer when you squeeze it? Which one tastes better when you tried a sample? Which one has better nutrition to keep your body healthy? You may think all those criteria lead to a logical decision, but there's really a lot of emotion behind them. The criteria we use to judge whether we should buy something or not comes down to two factors:

1. Increasing your pleasure

Will buying this product or service increase your pleasure, comfort, happiness, contentment, status, social acceptance, etc.? The pleasure of eating really good artisan bread, compared to a slice of air-filled white fluff, is a significant motivator for many people. How could that apply to your cleaning business? These are some things your prospective customer is going to run through their mind when interviewing you (consciously or unconsciously): Will I have a pleasant interaction with this cleaning provider? Do I trust them to be in my house? Do they have a professional appearance that my friends and neighbors would admire? Will they do a great cleaning job so that I can save time and enjoy a clean house?

2. Avoiding or decreasing your pain

Will buying this product or service decrease your pain, discomfort, unease, dissatisfaction, annoyance, etc.? Buying the cheap, white bread to avoid the discomfort of paying more money for the artisan bread is important to some people. Of course saving money can bring on a pleasure response also, not just avoiding letting go of hard earned dollars. So what kind of pain or discomfort would a prospective (or current) client think about avoiding in hiring your cleaning business? They really don't want to go through interviewing too many prospects, and settle on one of the first people they meet. They don't want to pay too much for a cleaning service. You were recommended by a friend and they don't want to disappoint the friend by rejecting you. They really hate cleaning their house and will take the first person that will do it for a reasonable rate. They had a cleaning person steal from them before so this time they do a thorough background check to avoid that pain again. As you can see there really is a significant emotional component to answering these questions or concerns. When it comes down to it every purchase is decided on to either increase pleasure or decrease discomfort. Sometimes one is a greater motivator than the other. Avoiding pain or discomfort can be a very powerful motivator to get people to do something. But, it's probably not the right one you want to hit when selling your cleaning services. How does offering something unique in your cleaning business fit with these buying decisions? Most people are attracted to "new and improved" anything. The brain sees it as a new chance to experience pleasure. Novelty is pleasurable. Possessing something that is rare, unusual, or unique is also pleasurable. More on this later.

The Warm Fuzzy

Hitting the "warm fuzzy" button with a client will get you far better results, and probably a longer term relationship, than the "cold prickly" button. Even though people will jump to action much more quickly to avoid the cold prickly, a warm fuzzy response will help to build a stronger client relationship. Overall, why not build your business around warm fuzzies for everyone. A pleasant attitude, a holiday thank you card, a smile, a professional air will all contribute to your client continuing to experience them. Racking up the warm fuzzies will help solidify your client relationship. What could contribute to clients experiencing cold pricklies? Being late, working slowly, using foul language, grumbling, complaining about your bad back or your ex or your auto repair guy, wearing soiled clothes or shoes, etc. etc. This is part of what having a professional attitude is: avoiding behavior that sends out the cold pricklies to everyone around you. Granted, this may not be easy to do when you're really having a bad day (everyone has bad days). But, if your bad days outnumber your good days you might want to try a different profession.

How to Apply This to a Cleaning Business

So look around your area at the cleaning businesses and individuals out there. What services do they offer? What are their rates? What is their professional image like? What is their customer feedback like on social media? Also, reflect on what YOU would look for in a person that comes into your home or business to clean? Punctuality? Clean attire? Cheap rates? Well, there are probably plenty of potential clients out there that are looking for the same thing. When talking with a prospective client don't be afraid to ask if they've hired other cleaning people before and had great or not-so-great experiences with them. What did they really like about the last person? What did they think could have been done better? Listen closely!

Ideas for Being Unique

Wear a professional shirt and pants with a unique color scheme.
Send out thank you cards to clients a couple times a year.
Offer a "rewards" programs - a gift for hiring you a certain number of times.
Offer cleaning services at off hours to coordinate with your client's schedule.
Hire a professional to create a business logo that really stands out (in a good way). Put that logo on your car, shirt, business cards, and paperwork.
Leave a flower in a vase after each cleaning job. Maybe leave a mint next to the vase, too.
Offer a referral bonus. If your client leads you to someone else that hires you offer to do one free house cleaning for them.
Try your best to be available on a moment's notice if a client really needs you (without grumbling).
Offer "upselling" services like running to pick up their laundry or do some grocery shopping or take the dog for a walk.

If you have other ideas for making your cleaning business unique please leave a comment! We'd love to add to this list. Because people like new and unique things your business will definitely have an advantage if you can stand out from the crowd. Offering things that no other cleaning professional does in the area will not only get you noticed, but keep your current clients coming back for more.

First Things First - Legally Declaring Your Cleaning Business

It may be very tempting to gather your cleaning supplies, put an ad on Craigslist, and start cleaning houses. Just because many people take this approach doesn't mean that this is particularly the right route for you. Far from it. Getting your business in line legally right from the start will keep you out of hot water in the long run.

Unfortunately, you could get burned very easily by jumping into things so quickly. Not only could you get yourself in hot water with the IRS, but you risk being financially liable for damages that may happen while you're on a job.

For starters, this discussion is limited to setting up a small business in the U.S. Other countries and territories will probably have similar requirements, but you never know until you do your research.

All About the Feds

Whether you apply for a Federal Tax ID or not depends on what kind of a business entity you want to set up.* If you'll just be working alone and never have employees you could remain a "sole proprietor", not get a Federal Tax ID, and file any income under your regular Social Security number at tax time.

If you anticipate having employees then you need to get that Federal Tax ID, also known as an Employer Identification Number. Also, if you set up your business in an entity other than sole proprietor - like a limited liability corporation (LLC) - you'll need a Federal Tax number.

Go through these questions at the IRS to see if you're in a category that needs to file for an Employer Identification Number.

If you'll always be working by yourself you may wonder why you'd consider any other business setup other than sole proprietor.

Depending on the business insurance your get setting up an LLC will add one more layer of insulation between you and financial ruin (inquire with an insurance agent to see what business entity and insurance policy is most appropriate for you).

Researching Your State's Business Requirements

Nowadays the easiest route to doing research is to do an Internet search. Even if you don't have a computer and Internet connection at home you can visit your local library. If you happen to use your library for research you can always ask questions of the librarians to help you find the information you need.

Even just placing a call to your State's Department of Revenue and asking where to start with setting up a home cleaning business will put you in the right direction.

Local Business Requirements

After you've filed the paperwork at the State level it's time to research what your local government may require. Most counties or cities probably do not have requirements for business registration, but you don't know until you ask.

You could even start by asking the local Better Business Bureau if they know about requirements surrounding setting up a cleaning business. You might find out about a local association or organization of cleaning services that you'd want to join by talking with the BBB.

The Issue of Insurance

If you're going to be spending any time on somebody else's property earning money you put yourself in a whole different legal category than "visitor" or "guest". You've just crossed the line into being liable for any damage you incur while there. Your earnings - and possibly savings and future earnings - could go up in smoke at the slightest mishap.

What to do to protect yourself? Get some business liability insurance. Every insurance company has different nuances in the business policies they offer. It's also in your best interest to shop around. Going to at least a couple insurance agents will give you the best idea in what kind of coverage you can get for a particular premium.

Levels of Risk

In the end you have to decide how much risk you want to take with flying under the tax and insurance radar - or legitimately setting up your cleaning business. Weigh how much you can earn by cleaning houses against what you'll pay for insurance. Paying out taxes and insurance can be a hard pill to swallow, but in the long run you'll be able to sleep at night knowing you've set up a "clean" business (pun intended).

Resources

Hidden Tax Benefits of Sole Proprietorship.

The Many Benefits of Forming an LLC.

Types of Business Insurance, by US Small Business Association.

*This article is not intended as legal advice and is only presented as informational. In the end you have to do your own research.

Creating a Cleaning Business Plan

Not sure where to start with setting up your cleaning business? Start with a plan... a cleaning business plan.

If you've done any research on business plan writing you'll find 2 camps of thought: 1) Yes, a written business plan is a good tool to help visual where you want to go with your business, 2) Don't bother, nobody is ever going to read it, much less follow it, after you create it.

Ultimately, it's up to you to take the time and put some thought into writing a plan. But, like any other tool in business, it's usefulness depends on your level of professionalism, organization, and love of record keeping. If nothing else writing something down on paper about your intended business will help you get a better mental picture of how things will pan out in the months and years to come.

Essentials of a Good Business Plan

These are some basic parts of a business plan:

Overall Summary - this is a snapshot of your business and goals
Market Analysis - who are your competitors, who are your customers?
Company Description - what differentiates you?
Management Structure - will you have employees, and how will they be managed?
Marketing - avenues of marketing you intend to pursue
Services and/or Products - define exactly what you'll sell
Funding Request - this section is for your potential lender
Financial Projections - what are your revenue and profit goals in the next 3-5 years?
Documents & Permits - what do you need for a cleaning business in your area?

Write Your Plan for a Niche

It's generally not a good idea to set up your cleaning business with the intent to clean all kinds of houses and businesses in your town. Being able to narrow down your customer base to specific neighborhoods or clientele will increase your chances of landing jobs.

Start by reflecting on what kind of people you're comfortable talking with. Is it realistic to have a goal of cleaning the 20,000 square-foot mansions on the beach if you're too nervous to talk with their owners? Then again, maybe that's your forte!

After some reflection define a niche within the cleaning industry you feel best qualified for... and what makes you unique to serve that niche. Talk about some of the things you'll do to make your business stand apart and better qualified to serve that niche.

Marketing Considerations

Take a look at the places your competition is advertising - and not. Popular places to advertise cleaning services are bargain newspapers, Craigslist, posting business cards on bulletin boards, and handing out flyers door-to-door.

If you see people advertising cleaning services month after month in a certain location you can bet that it's paying dividends for the person advertising. Take out a small ad in the local bargain newspaper right next to your competition and watch what happens.

But, you may want to consider other advertising venues your competition hasn't touched. Some places to consider are putting advertising on your vehicle (do this only if you have a spotless, rust-free car!); printing up a handful of bumper stickers and asking family and friends to put them on their cars; creating a lawn sign to put in the front yard of the house you're currently cleaning (ask the owner if you could leave it for a day or 3); start a blog or website.

Include a couple tried and true advertising venues that you will use in your plan as well as ideas for other minor areas you'd like to try. Include an advertising budget as to what you're planning to spend on getting the word out.

Financing Considerations

If you're starting small you probably won't be seeking a loan to start your business out. If you're just cleaning houses by yourself and starting off with cleaning products you already have your start up costs will be very low.

If you're plan is to hire extra help in cleaning the many houses on your cleaning docket you'll probably need to factor in expenses for everything from more cleaning supplies to extra liability insurance. Detail your projected expenses (and profits) to justify why you're asking for a loan.

Including a Mission Statement

Including a mission statement in your cleaning business plan is optional. However, it will give your lender a better idea of why you're going into business. Having a reason for going into the cleaning business may lead to more passion for your work, and therefore a greater chance of success.

Having a clear mission statement will also help you in seeing why you're going into this business. If the only reason is to make money you probably won't be at it very long. Adding in some honest statements about serving your clients so that they will have beautiful, clean homes to enjoy (if that's what you truly feel) can go a long way to improving your client relations. Good client relationships can lead to more and better paying jobs.

The 3 to 5 Year Horizon

Ideally you should write your business plan with a view of what you'd like to happen over the next 3 to 5 years. That's pretty standard. If, however, that's a tough concept to grasp then work on a one-year business plan.

Thinking about the life of your business over the next 3 to 5 years will give you ample time to see what works and what doesn't. Maybe after a few months you'll discover that the niche you wanted to get into isn't right for you (eg. cleaning high-end mansion homes), but there's something else you'd like to migrate toward (eg. cleaning and helping with household chores with the elderly).

And sticking at your cleaning business (even though it may start out slowly) for a couple years will help to show potential clients that you've been cleaning homes for awhile and are more reliable. Just because you don't have a dozen homes to clean every day in the first month doesn't mean you won't be a long-term success. Stick with it for awhile and you may see serious dividends down the road.

Do You Really Need a Business Plan?

As I said at the beginning of this article there are 2 thoughts on writing business plans: a big YES or a big NO.

If you're asking for financing you obviously will have to produce a very thorough business plan for your cleaning business. Any lender will need ample justification as to why they should lend to you. Ultimately, you need to sell yourself and your idea and that it will be a profitable success.

But, even if you're not seeking financing it's still valuable to write down some ideas of what you want to do, where you want to go, what people you want to sell to, what products/services you want to offer, and ideas of where to advertise. It'll give you a clearer idea to help make your new business venture, no matter how small, a success.

Other Resources

Creating a Business Plan at the Small Business Association.

Plan your Plan - some thoughts on creating objectives for your business, at Entrepreneur.com.

A Standard Business Plan Outline - a more detailed breakdown of the parts that go into a business plan, at Bplans.com

Looking for some cleaning supplies for your new cleaning business? Check out CleanFreak.com for great deals on bulk supplies and cleaning equipment.

House Cleaning Business - What's Involved?

start a house cleaning business Thinking of starting a house cleaning business? It might be just the way to earn some extra cash - or even start you on the road to having your own cleaning service. Cleaning houses may seem simple, but there's a lot more than meets the eye when you're learning about setting up your business properly.

The Appeal of an "Easy Job"

Starting a house cleaning business may seem like the easiest job in the world. All you have to do is some dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping, right? What's so hard, even if you have to clean a few kitchen sinks or toilets?

Well, there's a little more to it than that. Yes, the nitty gritty of doing the cleaning doesn't really require a Master's degree in House Cleaning. But, in today's world you really have to consider issues like liability insurance, customer service, business permits, and background checks, to name a few.

Then once you have all your insurance and paperwork issues taken care of you'll be free to delve into a worry free job of actually doing the cleaning. Knowing that you're covered if a client accuses you later of breaking something (and not fessing up to it) will take away a lot of the worry about working in someone else's house. Being an "independent contractor" in another person's home puts you at greater risk to claims of breakage or worse, theft.

A House Cleaning Business? How Hard Can it Be?

When it comes down to it someone that's hiring you to clean your house is generally expecting a stellar service of getting everything spic and span. Leaving streaks on mirrors, counters, or appliances, forgetting to clean behind the toilet, or taking a smoke break half way through your job could all be things that lead to not getting asked back.

Core Unbelievable! Spotting Kit
A starter spot removal kit can be a nice addition to your services when setting up your home cleaning business. Available from CleanFreak here.

When a client spends the money to have their house professionally cleaned, even if they're paying a little less for an independent cleaner, they want to have their home spotless. Or, if not totally spotless, to adhere to the specific details about what they want cleaned and how. Just a warning: folks who hire professional house cleaners can have VERY high standards.

So maybe you're first task is to learn about general industry standards of cleanliness. Get a feel for what constitutes "clean". You might even call a cleaning service in your city (or a nearby city if you're in a small town), pose as a potential client, and ask if they have written standards they have for their cleanliness goals.

Making Yourself Look Professional

Appearances can make a world of difference is how clients perceive your professionalism. Everything from your hair to your shoes will be judged, especially on your first house cleaning job. The cleanliness of your body (or not) will say a lot about how well you might clean a client's house.

Hair: Just shampooed and pulled back in a ponytail, braid, or bun. Use hairspray or a headband to keep stray hairs from flying. If after an hour of cleaning house you appear like you've been through a windstorm your homeowner might raise an eyebrow. A neutral-colored bandana might work well, too, if you can tolerate something on your head for an extended period.
Face: Scrubbed clean with a hint of makeup. Leave the smokey eyes and theatre foundation for your night life. Besides, after perspiring a bit from house cleaning your makeup is going to smear and run more easily.
Shirt: A button-down shirt with collar, or a polo-style shirt convey more professionalism than t-shirts and sweatshirts. Avoid wearing clothes with logos or slogans (you'd be surprised what people find offense). Err on the side of plain, solid colors. If you wear a shirt with a logo let it be one for YOUR business.
Pants: No jeans. Who wants to work in stiff denim anyway? A good source for comfortable pants for house cleaning gymnastics is medical scrubs. Comfy fit, nice colors, elastic waists. What's not to love?
Shoes: No dirt or scuff marks. Newer, but not brand spankin' new. You might even want to bring a different pair of shoes to wear around your client's house while you clean. Something with little or no tread is best. Crocs, anyone?
Fragrance: Deodorant yes, perfume no. Also, make sure your clothes don't smell of cigarette smoke, if you're a smoker.
Cell phone: Ok to keep in your pocket for emergencies - like when you have to run to school to pick up a sick child. But, no yaking or texting. Clients want to see you totally focused on your job. Wearing headphones for music MIGHT be ok with a long-established client (ask first what their opinion is!).

Cover Your Assets - Insurance Issues to Consider

You're happily going along your cleaning business with several homes to clean every week when, out of the blue, a client accuses you of a misdeed - the kind that may require a call to the police. Yikes! Where did you go wrong? It may all turn out to be a simple misunderstanding.

Even though you may feel shelling out $300-$500 per year for liability insurance is painful, imagine the hot (and expensive) water you'll be in if you're not covered. That said, insurance doesn't prevent problems and accusations from clients, but it'll make smoothing out the issue MUCH easier.

Telling your clients up front that you're covered with a liability policy can also be a great marketing tool. Some people won't even let an independent contractor in their house without some kind of coverage. And you can charge a bit more for your services to cover that policy that's letting you sleep at night.

Make sure to shop around with 3-4 agents in the area. They'll probably need to know things like what's your projected yearly income, what kind of equipment you'll be using (yours and your client's), and what socioeconomic strata of household you intend to clean in order to give you a quote. Be up front with any information they ask for - being deceptive now could void your coverage when it comes time to make a claim.

Advertising Your House Cleaning Business

The old standby of word-of-mouth references will probably be your best bet for landing (and keeping) new customers. Other forms of advertising you might want to consider are business cards (always carry a handful to tack onto bulletin boards around town), vehicle window stickers (these can be kind of pricey, so make sure you know exactly what you want before it goes on your vehicle), and a website (check out blogger.com or wordpress.com for free options). You can even make a short, commercial-type video to post for free at YouTube.

Brochures are probably over-kill for a one-person operation. If your business evolves into hiring employees printed materials like brochures or customer information packets might be warranted. Printing costs can get high very quickly, though. At that point it might be more cost-effective to invest in a professional website that holds all the information your clients could possibly want.

Conclusion

Setting up a house cleaning business can be both easy and time-consuming. Doing your homework now and setting up your business structure appropriately right from the beginning will set up sailing on the right path to long-term customers and income in this field. Good luck!

For more information on house cleaning business go to CleanFreak.com for more information and terrific deals on hardware and supplies. Our Resource Center is another great place to pick up more information related to the cleaning industry.

Cleaning Service Business

Are you thinking of starting a cleaning service business? You're not alone. Starting a cleaning business comes to mind for many people in need of increasing or supplementing their income. To many it seems like an easy job, or at least one that doesn't require special training or classes.

Starting a cleaning service business is often seen as needing little or no start-up money. A few different cleaners, a few different scrub brushes, some rags, a carrying tray, a bucket or 2, and rubber gloves are often all that's needed to get started. And sometime, for those more persuasive, the cleaning supplies already in a home can be used - just bring along your own gloves.

Paperwork

Keeping clean with the IRS (and your State's small business division) right from the beginning should be a priority. Nothing kills your enthusiasm for being self employed more than being called on by the IRS for not filing the right paperwork and taxes. Sure, nobody likes taxes (or paperwork), but getting into trouble with tax and permit laws is even less fun to deal with.

Start with your State's departments of revenue and/or small business. Do an online search for something like "set up business in [your State]". If you can't find what you're looking for online go ahead and call the help line in these departments. "Hi, I'm thinking of starting a cleaning service business and wondering what kind of permits I need." There might be paperwork that needs to be filed with your county/township/parish etc. so let them know where you live and where you plan to do most of your work.

Ask a lot of questions. Keeping a spiral notebook with a record of who you called, when, and what they said might be a great way to keep track of the paper trail. This notebook could then become your record of jobs you've done, how much you were paid, and expenses you incurred along the way. Although you MUST keep receipts for any expenses you have. The IRS requires you to prove your source of expenses.

You may also want to have 2 large envelopes or manilla folders to hold your receipts for the year - one for revenue, one for expenses.

Getting Clients

Asking friends and family for anyone they know who might need household cleaning done should be your first step. Word-of-mouth networking and advertising is usually a sure route to securing new clients.

Starting with friends and acquaintances will also give you a possible source for testimonials. After you've cleaned someone's house a half dozen times, and you feel you've done a really good job, don't be afraid to ask for a testimonial or review. You can then use this in your other sources of advertising.

Another route to consider is the free advertising on craigslist.org. Describe the services you offer, have a friend take a few pictures of you cleaning and smiling and post them, and put up those testimonials you've worked hard for.

There are even places where you can set up a free website or blog. Blogger.com and Wordpress.com are 2 of the biggest ones. Maybe barter your cleaning services with someone who can set up that simple website for you.

Buying Supplies

When you start getting more clients you may want to expand the services you offer. Sometimes specialty services will be just the thing to attract a new customer. Things you may want to consider are:

Window cleaning. A window cleaning kit can get you started and allow you to do larger windows that home and business owners don't want to deal with.
Pet clean up. There may be pet stains that a homeowner doesn't know how to deal with. Get a pet & other stain removal package or a spotting kit and be the cleaning savior to your client. (Make sure to test any spot remover on a hidden part of the carpet or upholstery to make sure it's color-safe before treating a spot in a high traffic area.)
Miscellaneous stain removal. Acquiring an assorted carpet chemical package will give you a cleaning arsenal that not many home cleaners have.

Get Started

When it comes down to it just make some calls and get cleaning. To entice a new client you may want to consider offering the second cleaning session for free (offering one cleaning session for free will get you a lot of un-paying looky-loos). If they hire you for the first cleaning session, you'll come back in a week or 2 for a follow up. It might be a great way to get your foot in the door.

Resources

See CleanFreak.com for more on janitorial supplies.