| The idea of starting your own cleaning business is | | | | The only way to do this is to know what's already out |
| very attractive as it will allow you to be in charge of | | | | there and to stay one step ahead always. You may |
| your own finances and your own career - it can also | | | | think that a cleaning business doesn't need to 'move |
| be a very profitable undertaking. | | | | with the times', but you'd be totally wrong in thinking |
| But before you can fully 'dive' into your new business | | | | that you don't need to have a flexible back-bone. |
| idea, you need to come up with a viable cleaning | | | | Create a powerful USP and be prepared to think |
| business plan. | | | | outside the box. Outline several ways of competing in |
| A lucrative business idea does not automatically | | | | your cleaning business plan. |
| guarantee you 100% success. Before you jump in, you | | | | Have a Viable Marketing Strategy |
| have to do your research first to avoid the risk of | | | | If you've done a thorough job on the first two points |
| overestimating profits and underestimating your | | | | this should be pretty clear for you now. Remember |
| operating expenses. | | | | that your marketing is your everything in a business. So |
| What are the things you need to include in your | | | | make sure you think through and come up with the |
| cleaning business plan to help ensure success for your | | | | most appropriate and realistic way to market your |
| cleaning business? | | | | services. |
| Here are some helpful tips to guide you in creating an | | | | Don't be tempted to spread yourself too thin - choose |
| effective business plan: | | | | one or two strategies and master them. Once you've |
| Decide How to Position Your Service | | | | got those under control, you can add another and |
| This is very important. You may think that one cleaning | | | | another... If you start out with too many things, you're |
| service is much like another, but you must research | | | | likely to fail at most of them... |
| your market and decide how you want people to | | | | Have Realistic Expectations - Write Your Cleaning |
| perceive your service. Are you going to clean offices | | | | Business Plan the SMART Way |
| of blue chip companies? Or will you rather go for the | | | | Your new cleaning business will need work, |
| small businesses in your area. | | | | consistency, determination, and a SMART business |
| Carefully see what is already there and what's not - | | | | plan. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, |
| then see if there is a service you can provide that can | | | | Actionable, Realistic, and Timely. |
| make stand out from the competition... | | | | And those are the 5 words you should keep in mind |
| How you decide to position yourself in your market | | | | when you are writing your cleaning business plan. Then |
| place will dictate (or help you decide) pretty much | | | | you guarantee yourself maximum success at least at |
| everything from your marketing strategy, tactics, | | | | first. Don't forget that once you've written your first |
| unique selling proposition, your pricing, the cleaning | | | | plan you should review it regularly and should be ready |
| materials you use, your company stationery, and even | | | | to be flexible. Only flexible businesses can make sure |
| the cleaning attire your team will have. | | | | they will survive in the current economic climate. |
| So don't take this step lightly - research, decide and put | | | | Finally, remember that it takes motivation, careful |
| it in writing in your business plan... | | | | planning, SMART work and flexibility to enable your |
| Know Your Market - The Competition & The | | | | cleaning business to become a huge and lasting |
| Current Status Quo | | | | success. |
| OK - so this point leads on from the previous one. In | | | | After all, Rome wasn't built in one day... But if you have |
| today's economic climate you HAVE to provide even | | | | a great executable cleaning business plan, that's |
| more exceptional value to your clients to first get them | | | | written the SMART way you will have a solid map to |
| on board, and then to get them to stay with you. | | | | success. |