Showing posts with label housecleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label housecleaning. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Starting Your Own Cleaning Service - Do You Have What it Takes? By P. Williards

Housecleaning is a dirty word for many home owners but for those who don't mind a little scrubbing and dusting it can be a money maker. Millions of Americans cringe at the though of spending their free time cleaning house and that makes maid services extremely popular. Starting a maid service can be an excellent way to make money while utilizing your organizational and cleaning skills. Thinking of starting your own cleaning service? Ask yourself these questions and make sure your on the right track to maid service success.

  • What Kind Of Service Will You Offer? It's not enough to decide you want to create a business by cleaning. You need to determine what type of cleaning you will do. Will you do laundry? Wax floors? Do you want to stick with only homes or do you want to extend into commercial services. It's important to consider what you are capable of and what you are willing to do for your clients. Having a clear cut definition of your services is an absolute must for growth and development.
  • How much will it cost to start your company?Every entrepreneur starts their dream with the hopes of making money in the future; but to be successful you must account for start up costs. Among your costs you will need to include things like advertising,insurance, tools and suppliers as well as transportation. Don't be tempted to cut costs by cutting out start up essentials. Starting with out these things can minimize your chances for success.
  • How much will you charge for your services?First time business owners may find it difficult to find a reasonable price for their services. In order to set prices for your cleaning service, take a quick survey of other companies offering similar services in your ares. Use their prices as a guide. It's important to take into account the extent of the services they offer so you can gage your prices. If you offer a little extra or less, be sure to take that into account when coming up with a final price.
  • What will you name your business? The name of your business is important. While witty names are great and can be very catchy, it's important to keep it simple. After reading or hearing your companies name, possible clients should have a simple understanding of what services you offer. It make take a few brainstorming sessions before you come of with the perfect name so be patient. Test it out on friends and family to get some feedback before commit to a name.
  • How will you create a buzz? A new company will flop if no one knows about it. Getting the word out there that you're the premiere house cleaning service is simple but it can require a little stealth. Offer a free cleaning for influential members of your community. If you do a great job they will tell their friends and word will spread by mouth. You also will want to advertise. This can be a simple as a flier, or you can spend some extra money on radio, television, or billboard in an area with heavy traffic. Your options don't end with mainstream advertising means. Get a little creative and see what unique ways you can come up with to get your name out there.
  • What rules, restrictions and regulations will you need to abide by? Each community has different zoning regulations. Check with city hall, your local library, or other business owners to find out what stipulations your company must follow in order to lawfully operate. This is an extremely important step since those who don't follow the rules won't be able to operate their business. Make it a point to get a copy of zoning laws before you invest in your company.
About Author

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Considering Hiring a House Cleaner? By Valerie Garner and Rachel Ray

Thinking about hiring a house cleaner? To some it may seem like a total luxury, but to others it can be a survival strategy.

There are lots of reasons people hire house cleaners. Many people put so many hours into their careers that their precious little free time is consumer with household chores. Quite often it is worth every cent to pay someone to clean your home, so that you truly do have free time, helping to create a better work life balance.

For others it may also be a major time issue, for some it is health issues that they need help, and many of the elderly also hire someone to clean for them.

There's a couple of suggestions when deciding what's best for your situation. Do you want to hire a cleaning company, or an individual who has their own business? There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

If you opt to hire a company, sometimes the rates are higher as they usually have higher overhead they need to clear. The other drawback is if you find someone that you like and trust, you may not necessarily get the individual on other cleaning appointments. However, they usually have supervisors you can complain to if you are dissatisfied with the job for recourse. Many of these companies train their employees to a certain standard.

On the other side, sole propriety owners that do their own cleaning can be a great option too. It's their reputation on the line so they usually work hard to keep that good reputation that is priceless, and to keep their customers are satisfied. Find out if they are bonded and insured. If they are not, you have to decide if that's a chance your willing to take or not.

When you interview your potential person here are some sample questions to ask.
What is their rate? What does this include? Do they supply the cleaning products, or do you? Ask for references and check them out. Do they clean while you are home or away?

It's very helpful for them if you have an idea of what you'd like, such as which tasks, how often and any of your expectations.

It's often surprising how reasonable costs are to hire housecleaning done, especially in light of your overall work load and taking into account work life balance issues. It may be worthwhile to do some research into this. Many people find it worth every cent!

About Author

By Valerie Garner - Exploring work life balance issues and topics related to creating a more comfortable life. Tips on career development are also at her site, grab some coffee and drop by today.