It may seem obvious, but the things needed to start a cleaning business can be extensive (although important). In fact, the right cleaning supplies, equipment, and resources can change the trajectory of your cleaning business.

If you invest in cheap equipment, you can expect to waste hundreds of dollars each year on repairs and maintenance costs.

Skimping on important tools and resources can also cost you sales opportunities. For example, marketing tools like Facebook Ads for cleaning businesses target the right people in your service area so that you get a positive return on your ad dollars, while growing your business at the same time.

In this guide, you’ll learn the key items, equipment, tools, and resources every successful cleaning business should have. Whether you’re starting a residential cleaning business or a commercial cleaning business, you can turn to this list as a helpful guide when you feel a little lost.

Essential supplies for a residential cleaning service

Residential cleaners serve a wide range of customers, from owners of private homes to renters living in apartments and condos.

As a result, there are many different types of residential cleaning services, from general house cleaning to window cleaning to upholstery and carpet cleaning.

As such, we probably won’t be able to cover every single kind of product or material necessary for specific businesses, but we’ve tried our best to include most of the essentials. When it comes to cleaning floors, these are the things needed to start a cleaning business:

• Mop and bucket.
• Washable mop pads.
• Broom and dustpan.
• Cleaning brushes and scrub pads.
• Tile brush and grout brush.
• Rubber gloves.
• Shoe covers and knee pads to keep floors clean.
• Cleaning apron.
• Large bucket or caddy for carrying supplies.

If you expect dusting to be a frequent task at your business, make sure to pick up a duster as well as microfiber cloths for dusting.

Pro-tip: Make sure you have separate clothes for the bathroom, the kitchen, furniture, and glass).

Beyond this, the following items will also come in handy:

• Plastic scrapers.
• Disposable toilet brushes.
• Spray bottles for different cleaning products.
• Garbage bags.

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive list, check out this full house cleaning checklist.

Residential cleaning products you should always have on hand

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Whether you’re cleaning a single-family home or a high-rise condo, the things needed to start a cleaning business are the same. Here are some cleaning products to stock up on:

• All-purpose cleaners.
• Glass and window cleaner.
• Oven cleaner.
• Bathroom disinfectant and tile cleaner.
• Kitchen disinfectant cleaner.
• Mildew cleaner.
• Floor cleaner.

To be ready for surfaces of all kinds, wood cleaning solution and  leather cleaner are additional nice-to-haves. Other things needed to start a cleaning business are a degreaser, carpet shampoo, a descaling agent, laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid or dishwasher cleaner.

Something that a lot of new cleaning business owners fail to consider is the market for eco-friendly cleaning services or green cleaning. Today, more people are conscious about the products they consume, and whether they’re harmful to the earth.

Even if you don’t brand yourself as a green cleaning company, it won’t hurt to invest in some cleaning solutions that are environmentally friendly. They may be more expensive than the usual products, but they can diversify your client base.

What type of equipment do you need for a residential cleaning business?

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If you’re focusing on residential cleaning, you won’t really need a heavy-duty equipment supply. At the very least, you need just a few appliances, such as:

• A vacuum cleaner — you can get one specially made for carpets and another for hard floors, or one that can handle all kinds of surfaces.
• A handheld vacuum — this is great for cleaning up pet hair from sofas and armchairs)
• Carpet cleaner and a floor waxing machine.

Must-have supplies and products for a commercial cleaning company

You can refer to the lists above when you’re cleaning homes or cleaning offices, but you will need extra supplies if you’re thinking of serving commercial clients. Some of these items will have to be replenished regularly, so be sure to keep plenty of stock for your commercial cleaning jobs.

Here are some things needed to start a cleaning business if your focus is on commercial properties:

• Toilet paper and paper towels.
• Hand soap and dishwashing liquid.
• Trash bags.
• Glass and window cleaner.
• Kitchen counter disinfectant sprays.
• Laundry detergent (for linen cleaning).

Multi-purpose disinfectant for office tables, shared workspaces, chairs, etc. also comes in handy for this type of cleaning. To ensure you’re prepared for commercial spaces, no matter the flooring, carpet cleaning solution and floor cleaning solution are additional must-haves.

Commercial cleaning equipment

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Commercial cleaners have to deal with much larger spaces that see constant activity.

Beyond the above things needed to start a cleaning business, you have to get larger equipment that can handle the rigors of weekly and daily cleaning. Here are some items that most commercial cleaning professionals need.

1. Window washing equipment. Depending on whether you offer basic indoor window washing or more complex, outdoor window washing for multiple-story offices, this can mean anything from a few squeegees and scrapers to climbing equipment and window cleaners’ safety tools.
2. Respirators. These are essential for crews working with heavy-duty chemical cleaners that may be toxic to breathe in.

Other key commercial cleaning equipment include:

• An industrial vacuum cleaner.
• A carpet cleaning machine.
• A handheld vacuum cleaner.
• An industrial floor waxer and buffer.

Other things needed to start a cleaning business

With your inventory stocked and your equipment ready to roll, you may feel ready to get your business going.

If you want to secure potential clients, impress them, and make them repeat customers, you have to do more than load up on some brooms and surface cleaners. Here are some of the best tools and resources to turn your fledgling start-up into a successful cleaning business.

Marketing tools

You can’t get customers if you don’t market your business. Here are the most efficient ways to build brand awareness.

Create a website

One of the things needed to start a cleaning business is a website — since it is your home base online.

This is where your customers will go to learn about:

• What you have to offer.
• What your pricing is.
• Where to find you.

Bear in mind, 38.5% of potential customers judge a business based solely on the quality of its website. The same percentage of people will even stop using a site altogether if they think it is poorly designed.

“38.5% of potential customers judge a business on their website and poor design is enough for this group to leave your site.”

Fitsmallbusiness, 2026.

Set up your Google My Business page

Have you ever looked for a service on Google and found a bunch of listings nearby? Wasn’t it convenient to get a company’s information all in one go?

These are Google My Business listings. They show up because the companies have learned how to optimize their pages for search engines like Google.

Do this and, the next time someone in your service area searches for terms like “cleaning business near me” or “home cleaning service in [location]”, your company should be among the first to appear.

Use social media to your advantage

There are about 4.55 billion active social media users worldwide. According to Hubspot, 54% of social browsers turn to social media to research products. This research shows that social media is  one of the things needed to start a cleaning business and grow it!

Don’t miss out on this massive market — instead set up pages on places like Facebook, Tik Tok, and Instagram. You can use these sites to advertise your cleaning business on users’ feeds with Facebook Ads and Instagram Ads.

Insurance

All small business owners should think about purchasing business insurance, as this will protect you from things like property damage and injury claims, as well as destruction by natural disasters. At the very least, you’ll want to look into the following insurance policies.

General liability insurance

This type of insurance protects you from clients’ and third-party claims of property damage or bodily injury from any employees, equipment, or supplies.

Commercial property insurance

This affords you a payout in case your business building or equipment is damaged by a fire or natural disasters. It also covers you in the case things are destroyed or taken in a burglary.

Workers’ compensation insurance

This allows you to protect employees who may get sick or injured on the job. Workers’ compensation is a requirement for business owners in most states.

Business interruption insurance

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected.

Business interruption insurance can help business owners make up for any revenue lost if a temporary shutdown isn’t necessary. This works in situations of disaster, damage, and, in some cases, events such as pandemics.

Cleaning business software

While this isn’t one of the things needed to start a cleaning business off the bat, cleaning business software plays an essential role in growing your business.

Cleaning service software is a business solution that helps cleaning professionals better manage their businesses by:

• Eliminating manual processes and repetitive tasks.
• Providing a centralized hub for customers, employees, and financial data.
• Tracking time entries for payroll and scheduling jobs.
• Turning your leads into repeat customers.

For example, cleaning business software like Method:Field Services can help with the following areas:

• Customer relationship management.
• Invoicing and payment processing (both in-office and on-site.)
• Inventory management.
• Financial management.
• Custom branding on transaction documents.

So why invest in software solutions?

Administrative tasks can take hours of your precious time — time that can be spent doing other things, like boosting your sales and marketing efforts. For example, a QuickBooks CRM lets you keep track of your financial information as well as your leads and customers — all in the same place!

Aside from that, manually doing things like booking appointments, writing up quotes, and setting employee schedules leaves room for error. Automating these tasks reduces the risk of mistakes and lets you accomplish more.

By speeding up your processes and minimizing errors, it’s easier to deliver a higher quality of service to your customers. This is a win for your business as happier customers lead to better business all around!

Cleaning business equipment FAQs

• Should cleaning businesses supply their own cleaning products?
• Should you purchase a cleaning business franchise or start your own company?
• How much should you charge for home cleaning?

Should cleaning businesses supply their own cleaning products?

More often than not, cleaning professionals provide their own cleaning products and equipment.

Start managing your cleaning equipment with Method:Field Services!

However, some customers may insist on the use of pre-approved products, especially if they are particular about using green products in their homes or if they have allergies to certain ingredients. In this case, it’s best to use what the customer provides.

Should you purchase a cleaning business franchise or start your own company?

There are pros and cons to both options. Purchasing a franchise is great if you don’t have a prior business background and want the structure and guidance that a franchisor can provide.

However, when you purchase a franchise, you won’t have the same kind of freedom that you would if you started your own company. You’ll have to adhere to your franchisor’s policies about:

• The supplies and equipment you use.
• How and where you can advertise.
• How much to charge.

How much should you charge for home cleaning?

There is no definitive answer to this, but the ballpark figure is in the range of $100 – $200, or $25 – $90 an hour per cleaning staff. The number will vary depending on a number of external factors, including the size of the area, the number of hours needed to clean the area, any specialized service required, the location, etc.

Closing thoughts on the things needed to start a cleaning business

Cleaners are in high demand these days, so if you’re thinking of starting your own cleaning business, now is a great time. We’ve outlined the essential supplies and equipment needed to get started, as well as some of the most important tools and resources for both residential and commercial cleaning businesses – including key software that can help you elevate your business and impress your customers.

Keep in mind that these lists are not exhaustive, as every business has different needs depending on the services it offers. That being said, this information should give you a good starting point as you begin planning your new venture. Good luck!

Kickstart your cleaning business today with a free trial of Method:Field Services!

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As a house cleaner, you need to be thorough to ensure that no part of your client’s house is left dirty. A house cleaning checklist keeps your cleaning process organized and ensures that your team completes all cleaning tasks.

If you’re looking to organize your house cleaning process, we’ve got you covered. Read on for a comprehensive guide on house cleaning checklists!

Preparing your professional house cleaner business

Professional house cleaning is an entirely different ballgame than cleaning your own house. Clients pay you to be thorough, which means you need to give them your best effort. Here are three important cleaning tips to follow as professional house cleaners.

Prepare your cleaning supplies and tools

Different customers have varying cleaning needs, so you have to be prepared for anything. Stock up on various cleaning supplies and tools that let you tackle any kind of house cleaning problem. Some important cleaning supplies and tools include:

• Microfiber mops and pads.
• Brooms and dustpans.
• Granite cleaners.
• Vacuum cleaners.
• Steam cleaners.
• Scrub brushes.
• Disinfectants to remove bacteria and germs.

Define cleaning routines

Whether you’re a one-person cleaner or employ a team of house cleaners, organizing your routine is key. Write down the tasks you need to do and cross them off as you go through the house. Once you’ve gone through the entire checklist, go around the house once again to double-check that  you didn’t miss anything.

Consider offering extra services

Going the extra step is memorable to your customer. Consider offering additional services, such as:

• Porch sweeping.
• Garbage can pickup.
• Replacing smoke alarm batteries.

Happy customers are more likely to refer your business to their friends, bringing you even more clients. Combined with online ads, providing great service ensures you’ll get a lot of bookings in no time!

Advantages of using a house cleaning checklist

You may be asking yourself: Why spend time making a checklist when you can just start cleaning the entire house right away? Well when you don’t have a game plan, staying organized is tough.  Here are five reasons why checklists improve your house cleaning services.

Service is consistent

Even if you perform regular cleaning of the same house, there’s still a chance that you missed something. Checklists ensure you clean everything that needs to be cleaned every single time.

Customers stay satisfied

Customers love it when they get consistently good service. If they think you provide great house cleaning services, you’re much more likely to get called back to clean for them again.

Look professional

Having a checklist helps you look professional in the customer’s eyes. When the customer sees a checklist in your hand, they’ll immediately think that you’re prepared to clean their home.

Stay organized

Making a house cleaning checklist that flows through the customer’s home keeps your team organized. Instead of jumping from room to room and cleaning whatever’s in view, following a checklist lets you tackle each room thoroughly before moving on to the next one.

Improve accountability

Many customers need reassurance that you’ve cleaned everything they asked you to clean. Having a checklist shows your customers which parts of the house you’ve worked on.

A checklist also ensures that your cleaners are always honest since you can always look at the checklist to see whether they’ve cleaned a certain part of the house.

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House cleaning checklist examples to use

Struggling to build your own house cleaning checklist? We’ve got you covered. Here are several house cleaning checklist examples you can use for your business right away!

Regular house cleaning checklist

Here’s a quick rundown of all the things you need to do on everyday cleaning jobs:

Dust

• Shelves, furniture, and decorations.
• Window ledges.
• Window blinds.
• Lamps and lighting fixtures.
• Baseboards.

Sweep, mop, and wipe

• Doors.
• Door frames.
• Dining room table.
• Cobwebs.
• Hard and tile floors.
• Glass surfaces and objects.

Vacuum

• Floors.
• Carpets.
• Rugs.
• Large upholstered furniture.

Other to-do items

• Tidy and organize shoe closets.
• Make the bed.
• Empty trash basket.

Checklist for deep cleaning

Use this deep cleaning checklist for more intensive cleanup jobs.

Clean:

• The oven.
• The stove.
• The hood fan.
• The refrigerator’s interior.
• The dishwasher’s interior.
• The washing machine.
• Walls behind appliances.
• Ceiling fans.
• Gutters.
• Cabinets and drawers.
• Window sills.

Things to polish:

• Metal appliances.
• Shower tiles.

Wash:

• Bedsheets.
• The inside of windows.
• Carpets.
• Shower curtains.
• Rugs.

Kitchen cleaning checklist

This cleaning checklist ensures your kitchen cleaning goes flawlessly.

Wipe:

• Tops of cabinets.
• Tops of appliances.
• Countertops and kitchen cabinets.
• Stovetop.
• Cupboard fronts, tables, and chairs.

Clean appliances:

• Microwave.
• Dishwasher.
• All appliance surfaces.
• Steel appliances (polish to a shine).
• Stove drip pans.
• Stove burner grates.
• Stove control knobs.
• Kitchen sink (clean soap scum and disinfect).
• Coffee maker.

Other cleaning tasks:

• Sweep kitchen floor to clear out bits of food.
• Clear spoiled food from the refrigerator.
• Replace rugs in the kitchen.
• Empty trash cans.

Checklist for bathroom cleaning

Here is a handy checklist for cleaning customer bathrooms.

Clean:

• Wipe down glass shower doors.
• Clean bathtub and sink.
• Disinfect the entire toilet.
• Clean all reflective surfaces.
• Wipe down cabinet fronts, fixtures, medicine cabinets, and countertops.
• Wash dirty hand towels and washcloths.

Remove and replace:

• Clear out hair from bathtub and shower drains.
• Replace bathroom rugs.
• Replace the shower curtain.

Other cleaning tasks:

• Dust surfaces, including high ones like light fixtures and decor.
• Vacuum floors.
• Mop floors after vacuuming.
• Empty trash can.
• Refill soap dispenser.
• Insert new paper towels into the dispenser.
• Dispose of spent toilet paper rolls.

Checklist for cleaning bedrooms

Follow this checklist for spotless bedrooms.

Vacuum:

• Move furniture before vacuuming.
• Vacuum floors.

Clean and dust:

• Dust all furniture.
• Wipe window sills.
• Wipe window coverings.
• Clean mirrors and reflective surfaces with a mirror cleaner.
• Wipe vanity counter mirror.

Post-cleaning:

• Return furniture to where they were.
• Clean up the bed.

Checklist for cleaning living areas

Living room layouts tend to be different. However, this list helps you clean any kind of living area thoroughly.

Clean and dust:

• Dust the entire room with a microfiber cloth.
• Wipe down frames.
• Clean windows.
• Wipe down light fixtures.
• Clear dust from TV screens.
• Remove dust bunnies from under coffee tables.
• Clean ash from the fireplace.
• Clean and polish hardwood floors.

Other cleaning tasks:

• Remove lint from all furniture with a lint roller.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture like sofas.
• Vacuum carpets.
• Sweep floors.

Checklist for cleaning windows

Last but not least, here’s a checklist for cleaning windows.

Clean and scrub:

• Scrub frames with a sponge.
• Clean window tracks with baking soda and vinegar.
• Wipe down external window frames.
• Remove and scrub window screens.
• Remove drapes and wash them.
• Wipe down and dust blinds.

Other cleaning tasks:

• Vacuum window frames to clear dust mites and debris.
• Dry window frames with a microfiber towel.

Creating a house cleaning checklist for mobile devices

Your team can’t carry computers to clients’ homes, and a paper checklist can get damaged or lost.

To simplify the process, consider creating digital checklists with business software. This way, staff can quickly make reports after every cleaning job, so both you and the customer stay updated.

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Cleaning checklists FAQs

Creating and maintaining checklists and daily cleaning tasks is more challenging than it seems. Here are common questions about cleaning checklists, answered!

• What should a cleaning checklist include?
• How do I clean my whole house using a checklist?

What should a cleaning checklist include?

A good cleaning checklist should be as detailed as possible to ensure that your team does a thorough job. For example, a house cleaning checklist should list rooms and the objects in those rooms. However, your list should also be flexible because different homes have different layouts and objects.

How do I clean my whole house using a checklist?

If you already have a checklist for your house, then maintaining a daily cleaning routine is your easiest option. Divide your checklist items based on rooms, and make sure you clear each room before moving on to the next one. Once you’ve finished with every room, run through the checklist again to ensure you didn’t miss any household chores.

House cleaning checklist: Key takeaways

Having a house cleaning checklist makes life easier as a cleaner. In addition to guiding your team through the cleaning process, it also reassures customers that they’re getting their money’s worth. If you’re just starting out in the house cleaning industry, be sure to create a house cleaning checklist as a first step!

Automate your house cleaning checklists with Method:Field Services!

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To garner customers for your cleaning service business, you’ll need to advertise it well. The good news is, platforms like Facebook place your window washing and cleaning services in front of the right people. However, starting a Facebook advertising campaign isn’t as simple as uploading your services and hoping for the best.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to craft catchy social media ads, understand your results, and repurpose successful content for future success.

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What you’ll learn in this guide

Before we jump into the guide, here is what you can expect to learn:

Why use Facebook Ads for your house cleaning business?

To save time and money, many busy households prefer to hire a residential cleaning service rather than take matters into their own hands. With that in mind, you can rest assured you’ll never run out of customers.So why should you still invest in Facebook advertising? Here are a few compelling reasons.

• Micro-target the right audience: With Facebook ads, not only do you get access to 2.7 billion active users, but you can also target the right people. Facebook allows advertisers to create a custom audience based on gender, age, location, income, and other useful demographics.
• Save money on advertising efforts: Of all the pay-per-click advertising services on the internet, Facebook is one of the most affordable options.. On average, the cost per click is between $0.45 and $0.70.

• Get results fast: Whether running a short or long-term marketing campaign, Facebook ads provide conversions and revenue as soon as they go live.
• Study in-depth data: Facebook’s Ads Manager gives you detailed insights into your ad performance and easily pinpoints areas of improvement.

How to begin advertising your house cleaning business using Facebook Ads

While the publishing process for Facebook Ads walks you through every step of creating your cleaning ads, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind before you start.

Stick to your budget

Because Facebook lead ads are so affordable, it’s easy to get carried away with your budget. Depending on your marketing strategy, you might have to invest more money, but a good benchmark to start with is between $20 and $25 per ad.

It’s a good idea to set an end date for your ad but keep in mind that you can adjust your budget anytime.

Prepare your assets

Once you have your budget and marketing goals in place, it’s time to prepare your assets. These include branding elements such as your:

• Logo.
• Color scheme.
• Typography.
• Product photos and videos.
• Customer testimonials.

You don’t want to clutter your ads. Instead, prioritize publishing what your customers want to see most. For example, if you’re launching a new service, ensure that you include important details like pricing, service details, and relevant business information.

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Foundations your website needs before starting Facebook advertising

You’ll want your website running smoothly in order for your Facebook Ads to be as effective as possible. Here are a few ways to polish your website:

• Create an enticing landing page: An effective landing page should entice your target audience to trust and eventually purchase your cleaning services. To craft a high-converting landing page, make sure to include a unique selling proposition, high-quality graphics, and a compelling call to action (CTA).

• Update information consistently: Regardless of whether you are more active on your social media than your website, it should still contain all your business’s updated information. This includes having the correct prices per service and accurate contact information.
• Loading speed: Nobody likes a slow website. Don’t risk losing potential customers because your website takes too long to load.  Here are a few ways to increase loading speed on your website.

Is your Facebook advertising strategy targeting the right people?

Choosing the right audience to target can make or break your campaign. aWith so many possible areas to target, it can be difficult to narrow it down. If you’re not sure you’re targeting the right people, consider these tips:

• Start with the basics: If you are new to online advertising, use basic demographics like age, location, and gender to narrow your market instantly.
• Know what your audience needs: K what your potential customers is searching for to help you create the right graphics and copy.
• Target people already searching for or  using your services: You’ll have better luck targeting customers who are already using your services or interested in similar businesses.

How to use Facebook pixels for retargeting your site visitors

Facebook pixels are a piece of code that collects data based on your Facebook ads and lets you optimize and build audiences  for future Facebook ad campaigns.Other than conversion tracking, Facebook pixels can ensure that you place your ads in front of the right people – especially when retargeting.

For instance, Use your Facebook pixel to show people an ad for the same item they previously abandoned. Alternatively, publish general ads of your services for people who have already visited your website.

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How to install a Facebook pixel on your website

Now that you know how a Facebook pixel works, it’s time to install one on your website.

• Create your pixel: Get started using facebook Events Manager. Name your pixel and enter your website URL.
• Install your pixel: Add your Facebook pixel code to your website and use automatic advanced matching. This feature helps you track conversions more accurately by matching customer data from your website to your Facebook profiles.
• Set up pixel events: Click through to the Open Event Setup tool, enter your URL, and select events to track.
• Confirm your pixel is working: Check your pixel’s functionality with Facebook Pixel Helper. If it isn’t working, a popup will indicate the error.
• Add a notice to your website: Finally, it’s time to let your current customers know you’re using a pixel to comply with Facebook’s terms.

How to create Facebook Ads

Follow these steps to create an effective Facebook ad:

• Pick an objective: Consider whether you want to engage with customers, increase traffic, improve brand awareness, or any other objective..
• Choose your audience: Determine potential customers according to selected demographics.
• Select an ad destination: Decide where you want to run your ad on, whether on Facebook, Instagram, or Messenger.
• Set your budget: Enter a daily or lifetime budget.
• Pick a format: Select between a single image, single video, slideshow, story, carousel, or other styles of Facebook ads.
• Manage your ad: Submit your ad and keep track of metrics to ensure it’s delivered correctly.

The best practices to advertise your cleaning business on Facebook

80% of Americans are active on social media platforms but that doesn’t guarantee that you’ll reach them all. If you want people to subscribe to your cleaning business, keep these best practices in mind.

Set clear goals

When setting ad goals, you’ll want to ensure they’re measurable. For instance, if you want to increase profits, set a goal like “Earn $X in sales.” On the other hand, if you want to increase brand awareness, it’s better to track page follows and website visits.

Develop and engage your prospects

Selling your services without an established audience is not effective. If you are new to Facebook marketing, you’ll want to do thorough market research to ensure you’re advertising to the right audience.

Then, engage your followers s much as possible, keep your content plan consistent, and be responsive. Take lead management to the next level and keep track of your customers with customizable scheduling software.

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Cleaning service Facebook ad examples

Here are two examples to give you inspiration for when you start your content marketing journey:

Go Clean Co

Cleaning business clients love a good incentive, which is what Go Clean Co used to encourage audience engagement. They ran a 12-week cleaning challenge promoting an item giveaway to increase leads.

GreenHouse Cleaning Services

Potential customers like to see before and after photos when looking to buy a service. GreenHouse Cleaning Services published their customer’s reviews with before and after photos as a marketing strategy. Promoting these images in your ads can give your audiences an idea of the quality of your work and encourage sales.

Key takeaways

Now that you know the basics of Facebook ads, it’s time to summarize key learnings:

• Focus on getting to know your audience and tap into their interests to garner conversions quicker.
• Incorporate Facebook pixels into your website to track conversions more accurately.
• Make sure your website is updated to support information that you share through your Facebook ads.

Facebook Ads for cleaning service FAQs

• What are the best places to advertise your cleaning business? 
• How do I find the right Facebook groups for my home cleaning business?
• How much effort should I put into Facebook Ads?

What are the best places to advertise your cleaning business?

Facebook is the best place to advertise your residential or commercial cleaning business, although you can also branch out into Instagram or Messenger depending on where your target audience is more active on.

How do I find the right Facebook groups for my home cleaning business?

The best way to find Facebook groups for your cleaning business is to understand your niche and find out where your customers are. You can also see what groups other company owners are part of to gain a better understanding of which Facebook groups to join..

How much effort should I put into Facebook Ads?

While you don’t need to blow your marketing budget to create a successful Facebook ad campaign, dedicating time to crafting powerful content and monitoring your results goes a long way.

In conclusion

When it comes to spreading the word about your company, Facebook ads for your cleaning service business places you in front of the right people. Use it correctly and garner thousands of leads to drastically improve your bottom line.

If you’re on the market for a tool that can help you manage your customers, invest in Method:Field Services. This all-in-one CRM platform automates repetitive administrative tasks, allowing you to focus on growing your cleaning business.

Strengthen your marketing strategy with Method:Field Services marketing tools!

Maintaining spotless windows requires the right tools, and you’re going to need more than a cloth and squeegee. If cleaning windows is part of your service offerings, investing in the right cleaning products can go a long way for your business.

In this guide, you’ll go through the best window washing tools for your cleaning business and how to pick the right ones.

What you’ll learn in this guide

Here is a quick overview of what you’ll learn in this guide:

The 10 best window cleaning tools

If you want to start a profitable window cleaning business, you need these tools in your arsenal:

Image credit: Nathan Cowley via Pexels

1. Squeegee

A window squeegee is a must for any cleaning business. This tool eliminates streaks and leaving windows spotless and comes in many different sizes for different-sized windows. It’s also a good idea to consider a squeegee with interchangeable blades.

2. T-bar and mop

With the right kind of mop and t-bar, you can keep surfaces shiny and dry throughout the day. Tackle any cleaning job with the right type of bristles and fibers.

3. Bucket

With a bucket, you can easily wash your squeegee blade or apply more water to your windows when necessary. Pick a large enough bucket to hold a lot of water but small enough to keep it portable. Consider purchasing two separate buckets for clean, cool water and one for soapy water.

Pro-tip: Buckets with ergonomic handles will be easier to carry around.

4. Sponge

Sponges are a must-have for any cleaning kit, as they help remove loose dirt trapped in hard-to-reach corners and gaps between windows. Pick one that can hold a lot of excess water at once without ripping.

5. Lint-free cloths

Using a high-quality microfiber cloth or cotton cloth is best for drying a surface without leaving streaks.. Alternatively, purchase a glass cleaning cloth or plastic drop cloth that absorbs more water and smooths out prints.

6. Extension poles

While a ladder or window stool can be a helpful tool when working on properties with multiple floors or high-up windows, having a 5-12 foot extension pole can save you from climbing hard-to-reach places. Ensure that your extension poles or extension handles lock tight so they don’t slide down when you clean.

7. Scrapers

Sometimes known as window razors, window scrapers do an excellent job of removing dirt, paint, tape, dead insects, and other construction debris from windows. Depending on your needs, you can pick a scraper that is adjustable or retractable.

8. Toolbelt

A cleaning tool holster allows you to organize the accessories you use most. Tool belts are an ideal option for keeping your spray bottle, green cloth, and handheld window cleaner within reach.

9. Window cleaning estimating and billing software

If you cater to many clients, having automated billing software removes the headache of manually creating invoices per project. This software teaches you how much to charge, keep track of upcoming payments, and notify clients regarding unsettled bills.

10. Water purification systems

Pure water cleaning systems are an underrated window cleaning tool. They help prevent damage from natural elements like rust and dirty water. Using a water purification system significantly increases the lifespan of your customer’s windows.

Image credit: Aleksandar Pasaric via Pexels

Window cleaning tools buying guide

When shopping for the right window washing tools, consider the following:

• Design: An ergonomically designed window washing tool can help you get the job done without tiring too quickly. Pick something light, portable, and easy to use.
• Battery: If using a battery-operated cleaning tool, consider the benefits of a wireless device versus one that requires an outlet. Having both options expands your customer reach.
• Noise: When working in a residential area, noise might be an irritating distraction that you’ll want to consider when purchasing tools.

Window washing tools FAQs

• What are the best tools to clean windows?
• What is the best thing to wash outside windows with?
• How do you clean high outside windows?

What are the best tools to clean windows?

All the tools mentioned above make an ideal toolkit for a professional window cleaner. If you have a limited budget, consider purchasing multipurpose tools.

What is the best thing to wash outside windows with?

Because outdoor windows are more prone to developing stains, use a heavy-duty window cleaning solution and scraper.

How do you clean high outside windows?

There are different techniques cleaners use for high to reach areas. A telescopic pole makes it easier for you to clean high outside windows.

Closing thoughts

Whether you offer residential or commercial services, this window cleaning supplies starter kit kick-starts your business.

If you’re looking for a better way to manage your customers, keep track of jobs and new leads with Method:Field Services. This CRM software helps you stay on top of daily business operations so you can focus on getting your cleaning jobs done successfully.

Focus more time on growing your cleaning business with Method:Field Services!

Image credit: Khaligo via Pixabay

Running a cleaning business is no easy feat. There is a lot to keep up with, from managing online bookings to dispatching your cleaning crew. The good news is that industry-leading cleaning service software makes your job easier and increases your profits.

If you’re in the market for cleaning scheduling software, this guide lists the best ones and takes you through how they benefit your business.

What you’ll learn in this guide

Before getting down to business, here is what you can expect to learn in this article:

What is cleaning business scheduling?

Cleaning scheduling involves keeping track of your day-to-day operations. Besides making a cleaning appointment with a client, business scheduling involves planning equipment maintenance, invoicing, and billing.

Without the right software, your schedule is susceptible to human error and can negatively impact your bottom line. Investing in these intuitive tools provides useful functions like sending automatic payment reminders, extensive customer history tracking, and more.

What is cleaning job management?

While scheduling is an essential component of job management, it involves overseeing tasks, creating optimal routes for your fleet, keeping track of your client database and job details, and more. Beyond this, knowing how much to charge for your services is key to cleaning job management.

Nowadays, scheduling typically comes with a larger, all-inclusive CRM package.

What are the benefits of cleaning business software?

Using cleaning scheduling software helps you delegate resources, reduce availability conflicts, and optimize schedules. The benefits of which include:

• Increased efficiency.
• Business compliance.
• Lower labor costs.

How does cleaning business software work?

Cleaning business software is great at gathering client feedback and providing you with a house cleaning checklist for each job. At its core, affordable cleaning booking software performs the following tasks:

• Automatically schedule appointments and send confirmation reminders.
• Provide employees with an overview of their weekly workload.
• Create and sort invoices with notifications.
• Send payment-past-due automated follow-up messages.
• Determine which jobs are active or require closing and billing.

Top picks for the best cleaning business software

Here is a list of the top six best cleaning business software on the market.

1. Method:Field Services

Method:Field Services is an all-in-one field service software that automates appointment-setting and invoicing for your entire team. Thanks to Google Maps and Waze integrations, you can plan optimal routes to maximize your schedule efficiency and put time back in your day!

Method:Field Services offers a deep sync with QuickBooks, allowing users to view accounting information in real-time.

Pricing

Method:Field Services starts at $15/ per month per user and comes with a free trial.

2. Housecall Pro

Image credit: Housecall Pro

If you’re looking for a comprehensive cleaning service management software, Housecall Pro boasts core features like fleet dispatching, job scheduling, payment processing, check-in and check-out times, and more. It also has a two-way QuickBooks sync, centralizing all your accounting needs and information.

Pricing

The Basic plan costs $49 per month for one user, while an Essentials plan for five users costs $129 per month. At the top of the pricing range is the Max plan for eight users at $279 per month.

3. mHelpDesk

Image credit: SoftwareAdvice

mHelpDesk is ideal for optimizing workflows through an easy-to-use scheduling calendar for small to medium-sized cleaning businesses. You can even appoint window cleaning jobs with a map view to plan your monthly cleaning schedule.

Pricing

mHelpDesk costs $169 per month per user.

4. Jobber

Image credit: Jobber

Supporting over 50 industries, Jobber is a go-to solution for real-time scheduling and dispatching. You can use it to quickly and automatically update information such as completed cleaning tasks and employee locations. Superior staff scheduling features allow you to track who can accommodate new jobs.

Pricing

A Core plan with Jobber costs $29 per month per user, while a Connect plan for seven users costs $99 per month. For bigger teams, the Grow plan includes up to 30 users at $199 per month.

5. Kickserv

Image credit: HomeStratosphere

Built by thousands of service business professionals, Kickserv allows you to manage bids and tasks through an online shared calendar. Its two-way QuickBooks integration prevents double entries, organizes your cash flow, and presents tasks at a glance.

Pricing

Kickserv has a free plan for up to three users. Beyond that, its Lite plan costs $31 per month for three users and the Starter plan for ten users is priced at $79 per month. The Business plan for unlimited users costs $159 per month while a Premium plan costs $239 per month.

6. ServiceM8

Image credit: ServiceM8

Made specifically for contractors and service businesses, ServiceM8 helps you eliminate paperwork by digitizing schedules, contact information, invoicing, and payments. Without a strong focus on cleaning scheduling, this solution remains at the bottom of this list.

Pricing

A Lite plan costs $9 per month, while a Starter plan costs $29 per month. The Growing plan is $79 per month and a Premium plan costs $149 per month.

Cleaning scheduling software FAQs

Does cleaning business software have a mobile app?

How do you organize a cleaning schedule?

How do you schedule housework?

Does cleaning business software have a mobile app?

Yes, most cleaning business software boast cross-device compatibility with a mobile app to equip users with real-time field worker communication and customer contact.

How do you organize a cleaning schedule?

Cleaning scheduling software automatically organizes tasks according to your availability or other filters. You can use it to determine staff availability and learn how to better delegate tasks via real-time insights.

How do you schedule housework?

Housework may be easier to schedule than commercial cleaning, as residential spaces are smaller. You can schedule residential clients for regular cleaning or specialized services.

Final thoughts on cleaning scheduling

If you’re looking for a way to streamline your scheduling process, these industry-leading cleaning service software are the way to go. These solutions are great for those that want to organize cleaning tasks and simplify company operations for the entire team.

Image credit: Friends Stock via Adobe Stock

Knowing how to price a commercial cleaning job can be tricky, especially if you’re competing with other businesses in your area. You have to consider your hourly rate, overhead costs, cleaning supplies, fleet, and building size.

While there is no perfect formula for determining how much to charge for your services, there are ways to determine a fair price and earn a profit. In this guide, you’ll learn how to use cleaning cost factors to determine how much to charge for your services.

What you’ll learn in this guide

Before hopping into the guide, here is an overview of what you’ll learn:

How much does commercial cleaning cost business owners?

How much it costs to start a commercial cleaning business varies but an initial investment costs between $2,000 and $6,000. Use this startup checklist to determine factors that affect your expenses, such as:

• Location and licensing: You may need to purchase an exclusive business license depending on your location. Individual entrepreneurs can expect to pay between $40 and $60, while limited liability companies will have to pay between $100 and $500.
• Equipment: If you offer more than one type of service, equipment costs can stack up. Maintaining a truck or fleet is another expense to budget for.
• Employees: How many employees you hire significantly impacts your costs. Unless you hire employees on a contractual basis, most will charge between $25 and $45 an hour.

Marketing: To reach hundreds of new potential customers, you’ll have to invest in effective advertising strategies. How much you spend will depend on whether you want to invest in digital or physical advertising.

Average commercial cleaning prices

A good way to get an idea of how to price a commercial cleaning job is to look at average rates. Commercial cleaning rates can vary from $0.07 to $0.15 per square foot or between $50 and $100 an hour.

These rates will vary according to what service you provide. For instance, the square foot rates for these commercial cleaning jobs are:

• Stripping and waxing: $0.30 – $0.50 per square foot.
• Carpet cleaning: $0.08 – $0.25 per square foot.
• Buffing: $0.04 – $0.12  per square foot.
• Ceramic tile cleaning: $0.12 – $0.21 per square foot.
• Window cleaning: $2 – $5 per window pane.

Your price per square foot will also depend on how much your business makes on average.

Commercial cleaning cost factors

There are a handful of factors to consider when figuring out how to price a commercial cleaning job. To determine your pricing strategy, look at these elements.

Building size

Naturally, the larger the building, the lower you’ll bid for square footage. Larger buildings also mean more rooms to clean.

Building type

Depending on the type of building you’re cleaning, the property may require specialized equipment or services. For instance, a hospital building may require additional disinfection, while general cleaning may suffice for an office.

This is an essential factor to consider when learning how to price a commercial cleaning job.

Room type

Some rooms like bathrooms or kitchenettes see more traffic, so they take longer to clean and require extra equipment.

Type of cleaning service

Some commercial cleaning services are more expensive than others. For instance, stripping and waxing typically costs more than vacuuming.

Some larger buildings might also require regular deep cleaning as opposed to basic cleaning. In these cases, a retainer is helpful.

Office building conditions

A well-maintained commercial building usually requires basic cleaning, but a poorly maintained building may have stains, dust, and other damage for you to deal with.

Onsite inspections are an excellent way to learn how to price a commercial cleaning job.

Job location

While optimizing your routes can reduce mileage and maximize productivity, traveling farther will still demand more of your time and fleet budget. Keep this in mind when taking on new cleaning jobs.

Demand for commercial cleaning services

While charging a rate based on your specific overhead, offerings, and maintenance is the best way to price your services, it can pay off to study demand within your area.

If cleaning services are hard to come by, charging higher may not make sense. Leave space for your pricing to change according to how frequently clients in your area seek your services.

Cleaning frequency

If you run an in-demand commercial cleaning company, it makes sense to charge less the more frequently you work with a client. The more times you visit an office space, the less likely you’ll have a lot to clean.

Experience

If you are new to the industry and working in an area where cleaning services are frequently in-demand, it can be challenging to price your services up. Instead of underselling your business, consider building your repertoire and charging premium prices as you grow.

How to price commercial cleaning jobs

Now that you know what factors affect how to price a commercial cleaning job, it’s time to start charging with these simple steps in mind.

Step 1: Outline the job details

First, you’ll want to calculate according to the factors you read above. One of the best ways to get project scope is to visit the job site and schedule a consultation with your client.

From there, you can provide a list of potential tasks that your services will cover.

Step 2: Calculate your labor cost

Image credit: Pixabay via Pexels

Calculating labor costs involves more than just predicting how much time it might take to work on a specific site. Consider these factors as well.

Labor hours

Determine how long it will take to complete a specific job by using time-tracking software or referring to previous projects. Then, calculate this number by how many employees it will take to complete the job.

For example, if it will require 100 hours to complete a job with four employees, your labor hours will equal 400.

Hourly labor cost

Calculate your hourly labor cost by accounting for factors like taxes, wages, and employee-related expenses. Most cleaning business owners add 20% to basic wages. Therefore, if you compensate your employees $20 an hour, your hourly labour cost equals $2.

Step 3: Consider overhead, insurance, and equipment

As with your hourly labor costs, adding 20-25% to your overhead costs will help you determine the job’s total cost.

Step 4: Input markup

Markup percentages indicate how much profit you’ll make from the job. This amount will depend on your industry and location, so ensure that you study service demand within your area.

Commercial cleaning job pricing FAQs

• How do you quote a commercial cleaning job?
• How much should I charge per square foot for cleaning?

How do you quote a commercial cleaning job?

When figuring out how to price a commercial cleaning job, keep in mind factors like your overhead costs, equipment, employees, and existing market. You can then charge:

• An hourly rate.
• A flat rate.
• A square footage price.
• An average room rate.

How much should I charge per square foot for cleaning?

How much you charge according to square footage will depend on:

• How long it takes you to clean one room.
• The condition of the building.
• Whether the building requires specialized services.
• How many employees it’ll take to clean the area.
• How far the location is from your headquarters.
• The current demand for your services.

Wrap up: How to price a commercial cleaning job

Learning how to price a commercial cleaning job involves many variables that can be confusing. However, getting to know your industry and what goes into completing a job can help inform your pricing decisions.

To keep better track of your clients and expenses, Method:Field Services is the tool you need. This all-inclusive cleaning solution that automates your:

• Job scheduling and routing.
• Billing and invoices.
• Customer and lead management.
• Employee time tracking.

Focus on aspects of your business that truly matter most with Method:Field Services automation tools!

Creating your own cleaning business can be a rewarding experience, but it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for everything that comes with it. This includes starting a cleaning business checklist.

Below is a comprehensive list that you can use as your cleaning business “starter kit”. It includes everything you need to do before launch, so read on to learn more!

Starting a cleaning business: The ultimate checklist

These are the seven steps you have to take before you can start your cleaning business:

1. Determine the types of cleaning services you want to provide

When planning your business, the first thing to do is decide what type of services you’d like to provide. This will narrow down the supplies and equipment you need and determine what you should look for in future employees.

A residential cleaning business will likely only need inexpensive and basic cleaning supplies. In contrast, a company that offers specialized services for commercial establishments (say, high-rise window cleaning) requires more expensive equipment and specialized training for workers.

Below is a breakdown of the two categories cleaning services are divided into.

Residential cleaning

Residential cleaning service involves cleaning houses, apartments, condo units, and other domestic dwellings. The most common types of residential cleaning solutions are:

• General home cleaning.
• Deep cleaning and spring cleaning.
• Upholstery and carpet cleaning.
• Basic window cleaning.
• Chimney sweeping.
• Pressure washing.
• Pool cleaning.

Commercial cleaning services

Image credit: Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash

You may be surprised by how different commercial cleaning is from residential cleaning. For one, the working hours are very different.

Home cleaners often work during the day or standard business hours. Commercial cleaners, on the other hand,  usually work after business hours to not disrupt office staff.

Customer expectations are also very different for these types of cleaning services.

Residential clients may be more detail-oriented, especially if they are particular about their space. But when it comes to office cleaning, you don’t have to worry so much about the small details.

As mentioned above, the kinds of cleaning supplies and equipment you need also vary. For example, if you work for a hospital, you need medical-grade disinfectants. On the other hand, large offices that need weekly cleaning require industrial-grade vacuum cleaners and floor buffers.

Finally, you’ll notice a stark difference in cash flow.

With a residential customer base, you can charge an hourly rate and expect to be paid at the end of each cleaning session. And if you provide consistent service for a commercial client, you’re likely to be paid monthly.

Here are some commercial cleaning services you can offer:

• Office cleaning.
• Janitorial cleaning.
• Window washing.
• Medical cleaning.
• Sports cleaning.
• Sanitization and disinfection.
• Post-construction cleanup.

2. Write your business plan

Starting a cleaning business checklist would be amiss without a business plan. Think of this as a blueprint of what you want your business to look like.

Writing a business plan helps cleaning business owners define goals and the scope of work. It ensures you understand the cleaning industry and find market opportunities to scale your business.

Without going into too much detail, here’s a summary of what your business plan should include.

Executive summary

This short section (usually one or two pages long) includes your business’ vision and mission, a description of your services, a summary of the market and your competition, and your competitive advantages. Essentially, this part serves as an outline for your entire business plan.

Company description

This is where you’ll describe your business in more detail. Your company description should include:

• A registered cleaning business name (bonus points if it’s catchy).
• Your business address.
• The names of the key people and roles involved in the business.
• Your company history.
• The nature of your business.

Management structure

Part of starting a cleaning business checklist is nailing down the structure of your soon-to-be business.

Will you be operating your business as a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation? Who are the key members of your business? And what are the percent ownership and level of involvement of each owner?

Think this through and then include these details in your business plan.

Market analysis

Before starting a cleaning business checklist, it’s critical to do competitive research. Get to know what:

• The cleaning industry is like.
• The market is like in your prospective service area.
• The themes and trends are.
• You can do better than your competitors.

This will give you an edge and help you carve out a place in the market.

List of services

This is where you talk about the services your cleaning business will offer. This is the part where you figure out your pricing model and reflect on what makes your business different from (or even better) than your competition.

Consider these questions:

• Will you charge clients an hourly rate or a fixed fee?
• Will you bill based on the number of cleaning staff or per square footage?
• Will you sell bundled services at a discounted rate?

Pro-tip: If the subject of pricing cleaning services confuses you, this guide on how much a commercial cleaning business makes will help you.

Sales and marketing plan

Starting a cleaning business checklist is never complete without thinking of how to make money.

Once you know where your strengths lie, figure out how to market your business to your potential customers. Here are some of the things you can include in this section:

• Your company logo.
• Your branding guidelines (What colors, fonts, and imagery to use on your business cards, flyers, posters, website, etc.).

Your marketing plan should use the vast social media and digital marketing tools at your disposal. Most customers expect businesses to have a well-designed website, a Facebook and Instagram page, and to be registered in at least one of the following directories:

• Google My Business.
• LinkedIn.
• Yelp For Business.
• Local.com

Financial analysis and projections

Image credit: Avel Chuklanov via Unsplash

Starting a cleaning business checklist includes asking yourself the following questions:

• How much funding will you need in the next five years?
• How will you use your capital?
• Where will you get funding?

Be sure to detail how your funds will be used and make a list of the cleaning supplies, equipment, cleaning solutions, office rental costs, company vehicles, employees’ salaries, and bills your operation will have.

Finally, you have to include your projections for your financial outlook for the next five years. Some experts suggest using monthly and quarterly forecasts for your first year.

3. Register and insure your cleaning business

Before running your business, you need to get permits, a license, and insurance. Here’s a list of some of the things you absolutely must have before you can operate legally:

• Employee Identification Number: Also known as an EIN, businesses need a Federal Tax Identification Number for tax filing.
• Vendor’s license: This is your primary business registration license that renews annually.
  • Doing business as (DBA) license: This license allows you to conduct business with a different name than your legal name. This is renewed every five years.
• General liability insurance: This protects your cleaning business if a client tries to sue you for any injuries or damages that happen while you conduct business with them.
• Workers’ compensation insurance: This type of insurance covers any medical bills your staff has to pay if  they encounter an accident or injury in the workplace.

At this point, it’s also good to get a lawyer and an accountant to help you sort all these requirements.

4. Find the right cleaning equipment and supplies

The right supplies can make or break your cleaning business. Cheap equipment can cost you hundreds of dollars in repairs while using an effective cleaning agent could impress clients enough to get you customer referrals!

Here’s a short breakdown of some of the essential cleaning supplies and equipment you’ll need to get started:

Ideal cleaning supplies checklist

• Mop, bucket, and washable mop pads.
• Duster, broom, and dustpan.
• Cleaning brushes and scrubbers.
• Microfiber cloth and rubber gloves.
• Garbage bags.
• Toilet brushes.

Cleaning products checklist

Image credit: Anna Shvets via Pexels 

At the minimum, you will need a multi-purpose cleaner, bathroom disinfectant cleaner, kitchen disinfectant cleaner, dishwashing liquid, and glass cleaner. Other things you need when starting a cleaning business checklist are:

• Carpet shampoo.
• A descaling agent.
• Floor cleaner.
• Laundry detergent.
• Wood cleaning solution.

Cleaning equipment checklist

• Vacuum cleaner.
• Handheld vacuum.
• Carpet cleaner.
• Floor waxing machine.

Other important tools

• Cleaning caddy.
• Respirators.
• Company vehicle.

5. Hire additional employees

You may not hire employees in the early days of your business, but it’s still good to know when and how to hire people.

One clear indicator that you need more staff is when your customer service falters. When you miss appointments, are unable to answer customer inquiries, or disappoint customers with your service quality — it’s time to grow your team.

Some of the roles you’ll likely need to fill as your business expands are:

• Office manager.
• Office assistant.
• Cleaning staff.
• Marketing and sales representatives.
• Customer service representatives.
• An accountant.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Check out this article for how to hire workers and grow your cleaning business.

6. Advertise your cleaning business

Starting a cleaning business checklist means thinking about getting more customers. The first step here is to advertise your business.

After all, you can’t expect to make appointments if people don’t know about you in the first place. Here are some of the first steps you can take towards successfully advertising your business.

Build your brand

Branding is all about having a cohesive story about your business. You want to convey who you are and what services you provide through your brand name, logo, website, etc.

Don’t know where to start with branding? A good first step is to hire a professional to design a uniquely yours logo. From there, you can build your brand around the themes and feel of your logo.

Create a website

In 2026, you can’t have a successful business without a website.

Your website is your online home base — a place where potential customers can learn about you, communicate with you, and even book an appointment.

With a strong SEO strategy, your website is a great digital marketing tool to rank your website high on search engines to create brand awareness and drive sales.

Sign up for social media

Like a website, an active social media page is also vital to making it big. With 2.89 billion active users and the ability to create targeted ads, Facebook is your best bet.

You can also advertise the traditional way, with flyers, billboards, and TV spots. But bear in mind that these can cost you a small fortune.

For small businesses starting, digital marketing is a much more budget-friendly approach.

7. Invest in tools and resources that improve your business

Starting a cleaning business checklist is an excellent first step but if you want to grow quickly, cleaning service software is the way to go. This business solution is designed to help cleaning professionals:

• Automate key workflows to maximize productivity.
• Instantly schedule, route, and dispatch jobs.
• Handle day-to-day operations with ease.
• Track employee hours for accounting and payroll.

CRMs or customer relationship managers serve as a centralized hub for customers’ data, transaction history, contact information, messages, and other essential details. These help your business provide fast and consistent customer service.

There are also field service software solutions made for businesses that send workers out on fieldwork. Field service software can help you book and schedule appointments, track cleaning crews’ locations and hours while out in the field, monitor inventory, and create invoices from one central hub.

How to start a commercial cleaning business

Starting a commercial cleaning business requires strategic planning and execution. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you kickstart your commercial cleaning business up and running:

1. Market Research: Identify your target market, understand client needs, and analyze competition. This research guides your business strategy and helps you stand out in the commercial cleaning industry.

2. Business Plan: Develop a comprehensive plan outlining your goals, services, pricing strategy, and financial projections. A well-thought-out plan serves as a roadmap for your business and enhances your chances of success.

3. Legal Compliance: Register your business, obtain necessary licenses, and secure insurance. Ensuring legal compliance builds trust with clients and protects your business and reputation.

4. Equipment and Supplies: Invest in quality cleaning equipment and supplies necessary for efficient service delivery. Reliable tools are essential for providing top-notch commercial cleaning services.

5. Marketing and Branding: Create a strong brand identity, develop effective marketing strategies, and establish an online presence. These efforts are crucial for attracting clients and growing your commercial cleaning business.

Cleaning services FAQs

• How much money do I need to start a cleaning business?
• How much does a cleaning service owner make?
• How do you charge for house cleaning?

How much money do I need to start a cleaning business?

You have to invest $2,000 to $10,000 to get a cleaning business off the ground. This should cover business permits, licenses, insurance, supplies and equipment, initial labor, and advertising costs.

How much does a cleaning service owner make?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a cleaning business owner in the United States is $55,949 a year or $27 an hour.

How do you charge for house cleaning?

Cleaning professionals can choose from several methods, including:

• Per square footage.
• Per hour.
• Per room.
• A flat rate.

Then, you can look up how much your competition charges with your chosen method to give yourself a baseline.

Closing thoughts on starting a cleaning business checklist

Congratulations, you’re now ready to start your own cleaning business! It’s not an easy task, but it can be enriching. We hope the information in this blog post has been helpful and that you are feeling ready to take on the challenge. Good luck!

Start automating your daily workflows with Method:Field Services!

Image credit: Sablinstanislav via Adobe Stock

If you’re thinking of starting a successful cleaning business, you’re probably wondering how much income you can make in a year. Ultimately, your income varies according to the services you offer, your location, and how many customers you have.

In this guide, you’ll get a breakdown of the average income for cleaning business owners and how to increase your revenue over time. Read on to learn how much you can earn in your first year of business! ​

Why start a cleaning business?

You have a passion for doing quality work for customers and know that your next step is to become a business owner. Here are some reasons to start a cleaning business:

• Low start-up costs: Starting a commercial or residential cleaning business is relatively inexpensive. A bare-bones business plan, accounting software, and standard cleaning supplies go a long way to help you build customer relationships and expand your reach.
• High demand for cleaning services: No matter where you are, cleaning services are always in need.
• Entry-level workforce: Your workforce doesn’t require formal education to enter most roles in the cleaning industry. Plus, you won’t have to spend too much on training or recruitment as you can train new hires yourself.

Complete control: Starting your own office or house cleaning business puts you in control of day-to-day operations and marketing efforts. You decide what to call your business, what your hours are, and what kind of services you want to offer.

Average yearly income for cleaning businesses

How much your cleaning business makes will depend on how much growth your company has experienced. For instance, a small business can expect to make between $30,000 and $50,000 a year. As you hire additional cleaners, you can increase profits to $70,000 a year.
Expanding services offered to increase revenue streams is one of the best things you can do. Offering additional services, such as carpet cleaning or floor waxing, for an additional is common. With the most revenue potential, you can make roughly $100,000 a year.

Image credit: Antonius Ferret via Pexels

Residential vs. commercial – what earns more?

Generally, commercial cleaning services will earn more than their residential counterparts. However, it’ll ultimately depend on your:

• Startup costs.
• Customer base.
• Potential revenue.
• Average operating expenses.
• State and federal taxes.
• Production rate based on square footage.
• Marketing costs (B2C and B2B).

In most cases, business owners typically find it easier to start with residential cleaning services, eventually scaling into commercial.

Income potential with one cleaner

In the U.S., the average rate for single business cleaners is between $25-40 an hour. Suppose you start working for 20 hours a week and charge $30 an hour. In a single week, you can make $600. Eventually, you can scale up to 40 hours a week with a little over ten clients, with an earning potential of $1,200 per week.

Income potential with a team of cleaners

If your weekly hours surpass 40 a week, it may be time to consider hiring more individual contractors. During this phase of business growth, you’ll likely be catering to regular customers. Tracking customer acquisition and retention rates can be helpful in calculating income potential.

Keep in mind that what you charge your clients will not be what you pay your employees. For instance, if you charge your clients $30 an hour, you’ll likely pay your employees $15 or $20 of that rate.

Income potential for a commercial cleaning business

When it comes to cleaning commercial properties, your highest potential for earning is between $70,000 and $100,000. However, this number may depend on the number of employees you hire and the size of the buildings you clean.

Cleaning a 3-story building, for instance, costs a customer between $1,000 and $1,500 and requires three or more cleaners. Make sure you’re adjusting pricing based on the size and complexity of the cleaning job and adjusting pricing based on the type of property (eg, office building vs medical facility).

Image credit: Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels

How to calculate your salary as a business owner

As a business owner, you might be wondering how much to pay yourself. You can calculate this number in a few easy steps:

• Calculate your business expenses: Note how much it costs to acquire a business license, manage a fleet, and pay taxes. Factoring in overhead costs, such as equipment and supplies is essential in getting an accurate breakdown.
• Add up your profit: Subtract your expenses per month from your average earnings. For instance, if you earn $5,000 a month with expenses of $1,200, your highest potential earnings will be $3,800.

• Consider employee wages: Another business expense you’ll have to account for is employee wages. At the same time, hiring more employees can increase your overall potential salary.
• Think about marketing: Whether you choose to invest more in traditional or digital marketing, advertising can easily become expensive. However, it brings you quality leads that increase your profits in the long run. Evaluating the effectiveness of marketing and advertising campaigns is crucial in determining where to spend your money.

Tips on increasing your cleaning business income

To earn more, you’ll have to spend more. Here are a few tips for to increase your income:

• Advertise: Ultimately, investing in marketing efforts will increase the number of customers you can cater to. For franchise owners who want to keep their advertising budget low, consider using social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. These advertising channels are virtually free, though investing in pay-per-click advertising provides a significant return of investment (ROI). Alternatively, you can go the traditional route with brochures and flyers. Monitoring industry trends and adjusting business strategies as needed is useful here.
• Maintain a good reputation: The truth is, word-of-mouth is far from obsolete. Most potential customers will base their decisions on the opinions of others, so maintaining an excellent reputation and offering discounts for repeat customers or larger contracts does wonders. Make sure to acknowledge any negative reviews online and turn a disgruntled customer into a returning one!
• Outsource services: Administrative tasks can take away time spent focusing on more significant tasks like acquiring leads or expanding your services. Instead, you can outsource individual contractors to manage repetitive tasks like scheduling, invoicing, and billing.

Expand to other areas: If you have the time and budget to branch your services out into other locations, consider areas where industrial cleaning services are in high demand.

Image credit: Priscilla Du Preez via Unsplash

Should you start a cleaning business?

Analyzing revenue and expenses to determine profitability is important. Overall, if you have the skills, budget, and business know-how to do it, starting a cleaning business is very profitable. So long as you have a flexible and intelligent business plan and maintaining a positive social media presence, running a cleaning business sets you up for success.

Commercial Cleaning Business FAQs

How much money do you need to start a cleaning business?

How much do small cleaning companies make?

How do you find clients for your commercial cleaning business and retain them?

How much money do you need to start a cleaning business?

In most cases, it cost between $2,000-6,000 to start a cleaning business. Factors that can affect this number include:

• License and insurance: How much you pay for business registration will depend on whether you are an individual entrepreneur or a limited liability company (LLC). For the former, expect to pay between $40-60 for a license, while the latter costs between $100-500. Depending on where you source your insurance, you pay anywhere between $550-3,500.
• Equipment: When starting out, equipment like a mop, broom, bucket, disinfectant, power washer, vacuum, wipes, and more are essential. Depending on what tools you want to prioritize, equipment costs can add up to $500 or more.
• Fleet: Depending on how many vans you choose to maintain,  expect to pay between $5,000-35,000.
• Employees: Perhaps one of the most significant expenses you should expect to cover is employee wages. Most independent contractors charge between $25-40 an hour, which may vary depending on whether you hire your employees on a part or full-time basis.
• Marketing: Marketing does not just involve your social media presence. For a startup, it involves budgeting for a logo, website, and other branding materials.

How much do small cleaning companies make?

On average, small cleaning businesses make anywhere between $35,000-50,000 a year. As your business expands, you make a more sizable $100,000 a year. Your earnings will ultimately depend on whether you have a consistent stream of customers and are managing your resources well.

How do you find clients for your commercial cleaning business and retain them?

If you are new to the cleaning industry, finding and retaining customers can be daunting. As much as possible, don’t bite off more than you can chew. Start with a small, dependable number of customers and eventually work your way up to more.

One of the best ways to acquire and maintain regular customers is to take advantage of social media. Use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to post photos of your work, engage with potential clients, and provide updates.

Another way to garner customers is to incentivize them. For existing clients, consider establishing a referral program. After all, new customers are more likely to trust existing ones. Alternatively, give new customers a first-time discount or engage them in a sign-up giveaway.

Finally, you’ll want to build your professional network by attending conventions or networking events. Maintaining helpful connections furthers your career.

In conclusion

Through this comprehensive guide, we hope we’ve provided an answer to the question “How much does a cleaning business make?” With the right business mindset, skills, and goals, starting a cleaning business is a profitable journey.

Make the process even simpler with Method:Field Services, a complete CRM software that helps you track tasks and clients.

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In this digital age, almost every aspect of marketing your cleaning business is done online. However, flyers are still used by business owners to this day because they are relatively cheap to make, and customers get a physical reminder that your business exists.

But how do you make effective cleaning company flyers? Read on for important tips and cleaning flyer examples to ensure you make the most memorable and impactful flyers!

Do flyers work for cleaning service businesses?

You may be asking, do flyers still convert leads into paying customers  in this digital age? You might be surprised to know they still do! Flyers are cheap, easy to print, and quick to distribute. Once you have a design ready, you can print them and spread the word about your business within days.

Moreover, flyers have a physical presence unlike digital ads. Even if a customer doesn’t book a cleaning appointment when they first receive a flyer, there’s a chance that they’ll do so in the future when they come across the flyer again.

The advantages of using cleaning services flyers

Still on the fence about investing in cleaning service flyers? Here are three main benefits of marketing with flyers:

Increase awareness

To even be considered by customers, they need to know your company exists. Flyers are a powerful branding tool to spread awareness by publishing your company’s name and logo in public. Even if they don’t need cleaning services now, they may recall your company name and contact you for a booking later.

Entice customers

Put in promotions like 10% off the first cleaning job or a free cleanup for every successful referral. This creates an incentive for people to book or otherwise engage with your services.

Market to certain areas

It’s very simple to market to a certain area with flyers. All you need to do is do flyer drops in areas you’re marketing to. This gives you control over your marketing reach and lets you target specific neighborhoods.

How to make a professional flyer for cleaning services

Now that you’ve decided on making flyers, here’s a quick four-step guide on how to make your cleaning service flyer:

• Look for inspiration: Look up cleaning flyer templates and designs from other companies to get yourself started. Keep the audience in mind and think about what elements they might like.
• Brief your designer: Compile the information you need to convey and what graphic design elements should be included in a document called a brief. This brief should contain everything you or your designer needs to bring your flyer idea to life.
• Evaluate the design: Once the design is done, check it against your brief. Some key points to examine include the information placed in the flyer and whether the design fits your company colors.
• Proofread and print: Do some final checks before you send the design to the printer. After you’re 100% sure that there are no typos, they’re ready to print!

What should you put on a cleaning services flyer?

Your advertising flyers should contain everything a prospective customer needs. Here are several important things to put in your flyer:

• Company name and contact details: This one is self-explanatory. If people don’t know what your company is called and how to reach you, they won’t even consider booking your services.
• Short description of services: You only have so much space in a flyer, so just include key information you think potential customers need.
• Service breakdown: In smaller font, break down the services you provide. For instance, if your flyer advertises kitchen cleaning, you can include things such as appliance cleaning and utensil polishing.
• Call to action: A call-to-action tells the readers what to do next. Calls to action typically tell people to either call a number or visit a website.

• Pricing and discounts: You don’t have to include your whole price book. Advertise your discounts and special offers so potential clients are more curious.
• Specializations: What sets your company apart from the others? Highlight the uniqueness of your company like the cleaning products used or a specific service you offer that others don’t.

How to design appealing cleaning services flyers

To get the most bang for your buck, you need to know how to design effective cleaning flyers. Here are three ways to ensure your flyer catches people’s attention:

Know your potential clients

Pick a target market and design your cleaning company flyers according to their preferences. This way, you’ll make flyers that resonate with your target audience. For instance, a modern flyer with bright color graphics is more likely to attract the attention of young people while traditional designs are better suited to older people.

Make attention-grabbing flyers

Most people only spend several seconds looking at a flyer. If you don’t catch their attention with an interesting headline or a great offer, you’ll potentially lose out on a customer. Craft catchy headlines or use big, attention-grabbing font choices that pique the reader’s curiosity and make them want to read the rest of the flyer.

Keep it concise

There’s only so much space on a flyer. You don’t have to include everything you want to say because that usually results in an overly wordy flyer. Instead, simply offer a quick overview of your house cleaning service in easily readable, clean fonts and end with a call-to-action directing readers to your hotline or website. If they want more info, they can get it from there.

Image credit: Karolina Grabowska via Unsplash 

Six excellent cleaning services flyer ideas

Need more references to craft your cleaning service flyers? Here are some cleaning flyer templates and examples you can take inspiration from, as well as why they’re good:

Sky Blue Cleaning

Image credit: Sky Blue Cleaning

This flyer clearly separates the company’s services into two segments: residential and commercial cleaning. It also provides information that it offers green cleaning services.

Diamond Cleaners

Image credit: Diamond Cleaners

The simple, eye-catching flyer design focuses on what you can get by contacting the company. It also clearly provides its email and phone number so customers can contact the company right away.

Bron’s Window Washing

Image credit: Bron’s Window Washing

This flyer shows the company’s services as well as its prices at a single glance. Moreover, its big discount sticker will entice more potential customers to contact the company.

JG Window Cleaning

Image credit: JG Window Cleaning 

The large call-to-action for a free window washing quote is bound to catch a lot of eyes. In addition to that, this company also provides multiple contact points so people can choose to call, email, or go to the company’s website.

John’s Disinfecting Service

Image credit: John’s Disinfecting Service

The title of this flyer accurately describes the house cleaning services provided, giving readers that information instantly. Reading further down, it also lists four key selling points of the business, convincing people to call.

ChemDry Duct Cleaning

Image credit: ChemDry Cleaning

This flyer clearly outlines what the company offers as well as the benefits it offers. It also provides cutaway coupons you can use to get discounts on its services.

Frequently asked questions about cleaning business flyers

• How do cleaners advertise?
• How do you make a good flyer?

How do cleaners advertise?

You can advertise cleaning businesses in numerous ways. Some of the most popular ones include:

• Word of mouth.
• Flyers.
• Online ads.
• Social media presence.

How do you make a good flyer?

Once you get the hang of it, making cleaning business flyers that attract your audience isn’t hard. You just need to remember these three things:

• Create a pleasing design in a color scheme that fits your target demographic.
• Attract their attention at first sight.
• Keep it concise and lead them to your hotline or website.

Discover how you to strengthen your cleaning company marketing strategy with Method:Field Services!

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