Cleaning Business Startup Costs

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How much it costs to start you cleaning business varies by region, what equipment you can buy used and what tools or equipment you have to begin with. Assuming that you are going to start out with a one ot two person business (two person businesses usually involve married couples) here's an approximation of the cost.

 Equipment and Supplies:     $350.00 to $1000.00 

1 commercial upright vacuum $150.00 to $350.00
1 Wheeled mop bucket and wringer $50.00 to $100.00
1 wheeled janitorial barrel (50 gallon size) and tool caddy $100.00 to $150.00
mops, brooms, 1 push broom
brushes, floor scraper, various small tools
commercial toilet bowl cleaner
sudsy ammonia
cleaner/degreaser
spray bottles
5 gallon buckets
incidentals

The most expensive of these items is a new commercial vacuum. The best way to reduce this expense is to buy a good reconditioned unit. Many vacuum repair centers sell them. Look for one that has at least a one year guarantee with it.

You can also look in the classified section of your local paper for used janitorial equipment, like a good used janitorial barrel. You can also call up local janitorial businesses to see if they have any good used equipment they would like to sell.

To keep your expenses low for supplies (and get good quality) buy in volume at janitorial supply stores or, if you don't have one in your area, places like WalMart but not at local supermarkets.

 Office Supplies:    $25.00 to $525.00 

Brochures for your business $0.00 to $300.00 (you might not need these to start)
Business cards $25.00 to $75.00 (these are an absolute necessity)
Business stationery (letterheads billing forms, etc.) $0.00 to $100.00
General office supplies $0.00 to $50.0

Printing costs vary widely -- really shop around for any printed goods you purchase -- it can save you a bundle.

You can get especially good deals on business cards, if you don't get too fancy, many printers have 'generic' business card formats. If you use one of these formats you can get your cards very cheaply. Of course if you have a computer, a good word processing program and a good quality laser or ink-jet printer, you can create your own stationery.

  Legal/Insurance:    $250.00 to $2050.00 

Business checking account $150.00   (this assumes $100.00 initial deposit and $50.00 for checks)
Business license $10.00 to $75.00
Registering your business name $25.00 to $150.00 Business bond $0.00 to $250.00 (usually about $100.00) Business insurance $0.00 to $1500.00 --this is not an immediate expense, you pay it off on a monthly basis
Setting up your business as a sole proprietorship $50.00 to $150.00

The big expense here is business insurance. In fact, it's the big expense for a new cleaning business. If you have an insurance agent try him first. He will probably get you the best deal both for your insurance and your bond.

Many people decide to start their cleaning business without insurance or a bond. I don't recommend this, having insurance is not only good business practice, if you do business cleans you will find it very hard to get work without proof of insurance and a bond.

 Advertising Costs    $25.00 to $350.00 

Simple ads in one or more local newspapers $25.00 to $300.00
Flyers $0.00 to $50.00. Depending on the size of the town you live in, this kind of advertising can be quite inexpensive. The cheapest, and often the best, advertising you can use, especially for a house cleaning business, is word-of-mouth.

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Copyright © 2003 by The Cleaning Institute.