Cleaning agency advice?

Eternity_2

Hi all.
I'm looking at starting up a local domestic cleaning agency, and wondered if anyone here can give any helpful advice. Im planning on finding some reliable people who would be willing to work if the work was there, and then advertising the cleaning services through word of mouth but also local papers/billboards and any other avenues that appeal. I think I could reasonably have 5-10 employees working seperate houses or paired together,whih is a bit of a guesstimation but a conservative one as there is a large demand for cleaners in my area.
The image Id be trying to create is
a) reliable
b) proffessional
c) affordable
I would provide all of the equipment and I'd also provide transport for the cleaners by driving them personally to the clients houses. I figure the business requires a low start up cost of just the equipment and advertising (plus time and effort recruiting and securing clients etc) My profit would be the difference in the employees wages and the clients charges.
I've just basically outlined my plans above, posting on here is kind of a spur of the moment thing so my apologies if its just been a vague, random and pointless outburst, but I would really appreciate ANY advice as I'm only 20 and have very little knowledge of starting a business.
Thankyou for your time

Eternity_2

As if I wasnt babbling enough I went and double posted this.
Sorry :rolleyes:

chinup_3

really really not trying to be negative eternity, cos i aint, but my cousin spent a very frustrating 2 years getting momentum on her cleaning biz going but eventually conceded defeat. this was mostly due to the sheer near impossibility of finding conscentious reliable staff: to be fair when you can only pay around the minimum wage ish its kinda understandable. you need to be different and project a profeesional and honest service in a crowded market, something coz didn't enough actually despite my nagging! smart quality paper flyers,fold up better,freephone number and dedicated [hosted say] email address. competetive so transport and mareials cost eats in to the tightish margin. guess i'm trying to say like all business don't think profit comes that easy- certainly doen't in contract cleaning.

youngie

providing transport for your cleaners could be impractical you would have to plan the logistics very carefully to get the right people in the right place at the right time and you could be running around like a blue a***d fly.may be you need to find 2or 3 people who would be interested in working for you and build up slowly don't forget about nayional insurance contributions,tax and insurance