Are you about starting a housecleaning business? If YES, here is a complete sample housecleaning business plan template & feasibility study you can use for FREE.
Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a housecleaning business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample housecleaning service marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for housecleaning businesses. So let's proceed to the business planning section.
Why Start a Housecleaning Service Business?
The cleaning industry has two primary market groups: consumer and commercial. The consumer arena consists primarily of residential maid services, along with carpet cleaners, window cleaners and a variety of other cleaning services required on a less-frequent basis.
The commercial arena is dominated by janitorial services, which typically provide a wider range of services than maid services, along with other cleaning companies, such as carpet and window cleaners that target businesses rather than individual consumers.
While it's recommended that you decide on a niche and concentrate on building a business that will serve your chosen market, it's entirely realistic to expect to be able to serve multiple markets successfully. Before you leap into the cleaning business, it's important to look at it with 20/20 vision. Though technology has certainly had an impact on cleaning services, this is not a high-tech business.
But the upside is that you can build an extremely profitable business that will generate revenue very quickly. Most cleaning service businesses can be operated on either a part-time or full-time basis, either from home or from a commercial location. That flexibility gives this industry a strong appeal to a wide range of people with a variety of goals.
Another positive aspect of the industry is that within each category of cleaning businesses are market niches and operating styles that vary tremendously. This means you can build a company that suits your individual style and talents. If you like doing the work yourself, you can stay small and do so. If your skills are more administrative in nature, you can build and manage teams to do the work.
The cleaning industry of which house / residential cleaning falls under provides several different services. Franchises in this large industry mostly fit into one of three areas: cleaning and janitorial services, carpet and upholstery cleaning services, and dry cleaning and laundry services.
In 2010 there were about 50,000 cleaning services operating in the United States and about 9,000 carpet and upholstery companies, which brought in a total of about 40 billion dollars in annual revenue.
About 90 percent of the cleaning revenue is accounted for by cleaning companies, versus about 10 percent by carpet and upholstery. There were 30,000 companies in the laundry and dry cleaning business that brought in about 10 billion dollars in revenue last year, 70% of which were retail laundry and dry cleaning operations, and 30% of which were coin-operated laundry locations.
There were 824,394 workers in the cleaning industry in 2010. The industry is fairly top-heavy – the fifty largest companies account for about thirty percent of the revenue. About 7% of cleaning workers were self-employed. There are both small and large cleaning companies. But small companies tend to be restricted to residential cleaning, since large commercial cleaning requires many employees and specialized skills.
The economic depression of the last few years hit the cleaning industry as it hit most American industries, but the health care industry played a large role in managing to keep the cleaning industry profitable. As the number of elderly Americans increased, there was a greater need for cleaning services.
Low vacancy rates in office spaces are important to the continuing success of both the cleaning and carpet cleaning sectors, as they depend on getting most of their business from offices and commercial buildings. When office vacancy rates went up during the recent depression, business suffered significantly. For residential cleaning, the economy is also important. When incomes are lower, residents will choose to save money by putting off carpet cleaning.
Competition may come to cleaning services from larger catch-all companies who offer cleaning as part of a bundled program of many more services, such as parking, snow removal, and pest control. In-house janitorial services operated by buildings and management companies may also serve as competition.
The cleaning industry is one of the fastest growing service industries in the United States. It is predicted that cleaning services will experience a five percent growth rate between 2008 and 2018, and this growth will be largely due to the health care industry, where elderly care needs will only increase over that period. In addition, personal consumption for cleaning, laundering and repair of clothing is predicted to increase at a compound annual rate of 3 percent from 2015 to 2019.
Just like any other business, the demand for cleaning services usually declined during recession period / economic downturn and this is due to the declining household spending on cleaning services and reduced demand from business clients. As the economy grows, and income increases, there will be corresponding increase in the demand for cleaning related services such as house / residential cleaning.
Over and above, house / residential cleaning businesses all over the world are still enjoying good patronage particularly if they are well positioned and if they know how to reach out to their target market (residential estates and household et al).
The name of our company is Cristobel House Cleaning Company. We are a registered and standard house / residential cleaning business that is incorporated under the law of the United States of America. Our head office will be located in a densely populated residential estate in the heart of Atlanta – Georgia, U.S. We are strategically positioned in between a residential center and a campus community and we are set to services the whole of the community.
Our basic service offerings to our highly esteemed customers as a house cleaning company will revolves around general house cleaning such as swimming pool cleaning & maintenance, parking lot sweeping, drain & gutter cleaning, snowplowing, ventilation duct cleaning, chimney sweep services, window washing, drain, duct and gutter cleaning, pool maintenance, parking lot and driveway washing, and providing other cleaning services.
Although our intention of starting a house cleaning business is to offer only the above stated services, but we will not close our doors to diversification (additional services) as long as it does not affect our core services. This is in a bid to maximize our position as the leading house cleaning company in Atlanta – Georgia.
At Cristobel House Cleaning Company we are passionate in the pursuit of excellence and financial success with uncompromising services and integrity which is why we have decided to start our own house cleaning business; we are in the industry to make a positive mark.
We are quite optimistic that our values and quality of service offering will help us drive our house cleaning business to enviable heights and also help us attract the numbers of clients that will make the business highly profitable. We are a company that will be dedicated to establishing good business relationship with our clients giving them value for their money and reasons for them to hire our services over and over again.
We are in the cleaning Industry to favorably compete with other leading brands in the industry both in the United States and other parts of the world. Our corporate business goal is to be among the top 10 house cleaning brand in the United States of America.
As a company, we are willing to go the extra mile to invest in some of the finest professionals we can find and also, we have put, process and structures in place that will ensure that we are always at the top of our game when it comes to excellent and detailed services deliveries. We have been able to secure permits from all relevant departments in Georgia.
We are quite aware that in order to become the number one choice in our city, we must continue to deliver quality house cleaning services and that is exactly what we will do. We are open to the use of latest technology in the cleaning industry. No doubt our excellent customer service and detailed cleaning services we offer will position us to always welcome repeated customers.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is owned and managed by Mrs. Cristobel Ian – Robinson and Family. Mrs. Cristobel Ian – Robinson has well over 15 years of experience managing some of the leading cleaning companies and industrial cleaning brands in different cities in the United States of America prior to starting Cristobel House Cleaning Company.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is a standard and well – equipped house / residential cleaning company that offers a wide range of services that revolves around the cleaning industry and other complementary services. We intend giving our customers every reason to always hire our services which is why we have customized our services. Basically, our services will involve us going out to services of clients' needs.
Our Vision is to become the number one house cleaning company in the whole of Atlanta – Georgia with active presence in major cities in the United States of America and Canada.
Our mission as a house cleaning company is to develop a highly successful, profitable all round house cleaning business which provides quality services in our community and to become a standard for an ideal house cleaning business not only in the State of Georgia but also throughout the United States of America and Canada where we intend selling our franchise.
We are quite aware that the success of any business lies in the foundation on which the business is built on, which is why we have decided to build our house cleaning company on the right business foundation.
As a matter of fact, we are set out to build a house cleaning business that will be a standard for the house cleaning industry in the United States of America and Canada. We want to build a business of dedicated workforce who will go all the way to ensure that our customers are satisfied and they get value for their money.
In other to achieve this, we aware that it takes a business with the right employees and structure to achieve all what we have set to achieve, which is why will be putting structures and processes in place that will help us deliver excellent services and run the business on auto pilot. The success of our house cleaning business will be anchored on the team not on any individual.
With the wide range of our service offerings and the plan to sell franchise, we are only expected to employ more than it is required to run a conventional house cleaning business. Definitely, we will have various employees to man the various services offering of Cristobel House Cleaning Company.
Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization's vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization's strategy.
Oversees the smooth running of the daily activities of organization.
Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of projects.
Helps to increase sales and growth for Cristobel House Cleaning Company.
Serves as internal auditor for Prime Cristobel House Cleaning Company.
Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
Maintains a clean working area by sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning of glass doors and windows, etc. if required.
Handles any other duty as assigned by the manager.
House cleaning business is one of the many businesses that can easily generate business deals with little stress as long as they are well positioned and equipped to carry out their services. We are building a standard house cleaning business with variety of services which is why we have decided to subject our business idea (company) to SWOT Analysis.
Ordinarily we can successfully run a normal house cleaning business without the stress of going through the required protocol of setting up a new business including writing a detailed business plan, but because of the nature of the kind of house cleaning business we want to establish, we don't have any option other than to follow due process.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is centrally located in a densely populated residential estate in Atlanta – Georgia; our location is in fact one of our major strength. We are also one of the very few house cleaning companies in the whole of Atlanta – Georgia that is well equipped to carry out a wide range of services as it relates to house / residential cleaning.
Another strength that counts for us is the power of our team; our workforce and management. We have a team that are considered experts in the house cleaning industry, a team of hardworking and dedicated individuals.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is a new business which is owned by an individual (family), and we may not have the financial muscle to sustain the kind of publicity we want to give our business and also to attract some of the well – experienced hands in the cleaning industry.
We are centrally located in one of the busiest area in Atlanta – Georgia and we are open to all the available opportunities that the city has to offer. Our business concept also positioned us to be a one stop shop in the cleaning industry.
The truth is that there are no standard and well – equipped house cleaning businesses within the area where ours is going to be located; the closest house cleaning company to our proposed location is about 6 miles away. In a nutshell, we do not have any direct competition within our target market area.
Some of the threats that is likely going to confront Cristobel House Cleaning Company is unfavorable government policies, seasonal fluctuations, demographic / social factors, downturn in the economy which is likely going to affect consumers spending and of course emergence of new competitors within the same location where ours is located.
The house cleaning market is a market that is dependent on loads of factors. The fact that it helps keep our environment clean, and also help in saving energy gives room for people to patronize the business. As a matter of fact, it is now common and trendy to find house cleaning companies and industrial cleaning companies leveraging on 'Climate Change and Save Energy' to market their services.
Of course house cleaning business responds to the increase in household spending and improvement in the economy which is why it is trendy to find house cleaning businesses and industrial cleaning businesses located around areas where residence and businesses can show that they can afford the services.
Another common trend in the cleaning industry is that in the bid to survive global economic melt – down and to ensure steady flow of income to effectively run the business, most house / residential cleaning companies engage in other related services. Some of them even go as far as establishing a car wash, snow removal services and a carpet cleaning business simply because they all fall within same line of business.
Before choosing a location for our house / residential cleaning business, we conducted our feasibility studies and market survey and we were able to identify those who will benefit greatly from our service offerings.
House / residential cleaning business is an easy to set up business that does not require formal training to achieve; anybody can set a house cleaning business if they have the required startup capital and informal training on how to operate the various presser washers.
It means that the possibility of house / residential cleaning businesses springing up in the location where ours is located can't be ruled out. We are aware of this, which is why we decided to come up with a business concept that will position us to become the leader in Atlanta – Georgia.
Our competitive edge is that we are a standard and well – equipped house cleaning business that has loads of complimentary business offerings that can easily assist us in attracting both corporate and individual customers within the radius of our business operations.
We can confidently say that the location of our house / residential cleaning business will definitely count as a positive for us amongst any competitor that might start a house cleaning business or any other related cleaning business in same location where ours is located.
For the time being, Cristobel House Cleaning Company has no real competitors that can compete with the quality of services we offer and our business offerings et al. Our customer service will be customized to meet the needs of all our customers.
Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups house / residential cleaning business and other related cleaning businesses in the United States) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.
The marketing strategy for Cristobel House Cleaning Company is going to be driven basically by excellent customers service and quality service delivery. We will ensure that we build a loyal customer base. We want to drive sales via the output of our jobs and via referral from our satisfied customers. We are quite aware of how satisfied customers drive business growth especially businesses like house / residential cleaning and related services.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is a house cleaning business that is strategically located and we are going to maximize the opportunities that is available which is why we spend more to locate the business in a location that will be visible and accessible to our target market.
Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of Cristobel House Cleaning Company.
Our goal is to grow Cristobel House Cleaning Company to become the leading house / residential cleaning company in Atlanta – Georgia which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with in the house cleaning industry.
Introduce our house / residential cleaning business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to corporate organizations, households and key stake holders in Page – Arizona.
Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
Advertise our house cleaning company in relevant magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
Join local chambers of commerce and industry to market our services.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the cleaning industry and we are going to go all the way out to ensure that we do all it takes to attract both individual clients and corporate clients on a regular basis.
One thing is certain; there would always be corporate organization and individual clients who would need the services of house / residential cleaning business.
We are well positioned to take on the available market in Atlanta – Georgia and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow our house cleaning business and our clientele base.
We have been able to critically examine the house cleaning industry – market and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Atlanta – Georgia.
N.B: This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the house / residential cleaning industry and with the assumption that there won't be any major economic meltdown and there won't be any major competitor offering same additional related services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.
Our pricing system is going to be based on what is obtainable in the house cleaning industry, we don't intend to charge more (except for premium and customized services) and we don't intend to charge less than our competitors are offering in Atlanta – Georgia.
Be that as it may, we have put plans in place to offer discount services once in a while and also to reward our loyal customers especially when they refer clients to us. The prices of our services will be same as what is obtainable in the open market.
In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no itches.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is set to create a standard for house / residential cleaning business in Atlanta – Georgia and throughout the United States which is why we will go all the way to adopt and apply best practices to promote our business.
Good enough there is no hard and fast rule on how to advertise or promote a house cleaning business. The challenge is that most house cleaning companies do not have the required money to pump into publicity and advertising. The cash they have will be reserved to take care of overhead and operational cost.
Ensure that all our staff members wear our customized clothes, and all our official cars and trucks are customized and well branded.
This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business.
The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked. As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a standard house cleaning company; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money.
The Total Fee for Registering the Business in Atlanta – Georgia – $750.
Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits – $1,500.
Marketing promotion expenses (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
Cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,000.
Insurance (general liability, workers' compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $30,800.
Cost for leasing a small office facility – $70,000.
Cost for facility remodeling – $30,000.
Phone and utility deposits – ($3,500).
We would need an estimate of $200,000 to successfully launch our house cleaning business in Atlanta – Georgia, US.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company is a business that will be owned and managed by Mrs. Cristobel Ian – Robinson and Family. They are the sole financial of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major sources.
N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 (Personal savings $80,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $100,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.
The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won't be too long before the business close shop.
One of our major goals of starting Cristobel House Cleaning Company is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running. We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our house cleaning services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.
Cristobel House Cleaning Company will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company's corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.
As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.