Starting my own cleaning business

Blondie32_2

Hi all,

My OH came home from work the other day and says 'How do you fancy starting a cleaning business, cleaning warehouses, factories etc'.

My initial thought was :rolleyes: but he has been speaking about it non stop and would really like to give it a go.

Only thing is he does not know where to start!

Can anyone give me any info on websites etc that could help so I can check it out to see if it is worth doing (as I have a funny feeling I would have to do most of it for him:rolleyes: )

Many Thanks

Blondie32

Savvy_Sue

If I had that funny feeling, I'd let my other half do his own research! As long as he was just talking about it, I wouldn't be doing the cleaning! :rotfl:

I don't know of any websites, but for starters he'd need to think about

insurance - in case anyone broke anything, injured themselves or anyone else while at work, or anything appeared to go missing

staff - unless it's just him and you doing the work, getting reliable, trustworthy staff who will turn up when they say they will and do a good job on what will presumably be not much more than the minimum wage will be a challenge

marketing - you have to find someone willing to pay you to clean their warehouse or factory

pricing - you have to work out how long it will take you to clean the premises (which must be a black art in the early days) and then work out what margin you can put on to ensure you make a profit after you've paid your staff

equipment - not just buckets and brooms but any electricals will need to be regularly tested, protective clothing, cleaning chemicals need to be safely stored and used, Health and Safety will be a bit of a minefield ...

waste disposal - if you're emptying bins will you be responsible for disposing of the contents? If so, you'll probably need a waste transfer license. If you're just using containers on site provided by the client you may need to sort rubbish to ensure that things which can be recycled, are. That's a minefield too.

transport - getting your staff and equipment to and from jobs

timing - will you do this while the premises are empty? finding staff to work antisocial hours will be interesting. Or while they're in use? H&S issues either way.

but like I said, if he wants to do it, he needs to work out how to start! If he can't do that, how likely is it that he can keep a business going?

Oh, and on the whole 'running a business' thing, Businesslink come highly recommended.

Bean_Counter

Blondie32 wrote: »

Only thing is he does not know where to start!

Try haveing a look at the starting up section of the government's business link website here.

Blondie32_2

Thanks for the replies.

Savvy_Sue, The idea that he has in mind is to employ people to clean the place where he is working at the moment. He said that his boss is not happy that the cleaners employed there are not turning up. One of the cleaners employed there at the moment would come and work for him if he decided to do this.

He seems to think that we would just have to submit a quote to his employers and that would be it. I keep trying to tell him about all the other things that he would have to do (or I would have to do like employing people, wages stock etc).

This is ALL he seems to talk about, but seems to forget that it would be me doing most of the work as he says he would continue working until (if) it took off.

I am trying to research it so that I can inform him of all the things involved (maybe to put him off the idea, but seems to be having the opposite effect).

Thanks for the info and I will have a look at that website Bean Counter.

Blondie32

Savvy_Sue

OK, so you'd have to do PAYE - which isn't rocket science, but you do have to get it right. HMRC are very helpful, but at the end of the day, if you don't pay your staff on time, every single week or month, they get rather unhappy! You can't go on holiday or be too ill to do it, it just has to happen!

And you'd need relief cleaners for when your regulars were on their holidays or sick (for which they'd need to be paid, and your relief cleaners would also accrue a small entitlement to paid leave ...)

Has he thought WHY the boss isn't happy? Because cleaners aren't turning up? So what's to say they'll turn up if HE employs them? In any field, getting rock solid reliable staff is the biggest hurdle, IMO.

I don't know your OH, but I think I'd be telling him things he needs to investigate, and agreeing to discuss it further WHEN he's done his investigations ...

barrymung

What area are you based in?

Blondie32_2

Im in Scotland Barry!

barrymung

That's OK! Just wanted to check you weren't setting up a rival company!!

The main problem, as other have stated will be finding reliable staff. Unfortunately, most people these days take a bit of a relaxed attitude to work, especially in relatively low paid jobs such as cleaning.

I personally concentrate on carpet cleaning as it's high profit for low investment. The downside is that it takes a lot of work to get the jobs in.

By contrast, "normal" cleaning is low profit but the jobs are easier to come by.

Send me a PM and I'll send you a link to a cleaning forum where you'll be able to pick up lots of advice; I assume that I'm not allowed to post links to other forums on here?

There are definitely niche markets for a RELIABLE cleaning company and once you have found your niche you should be well away.

Have you thought of specialising in maybe upmarket properties? Luxury yachts (If there is a marina near you)? Hotels? Children's Play centres? Trauma clean up (You need a strong stomach but the profits are HUGE)

The possibilities are endless if you set up a cleaning company that specialises in a particular area..

Email me..