Before you think about how to start your own house cleaning business, consider why this could be a good move for you. There is money in it for a reason that will never change: very few people actually like to clean their houses. Most people enjoy a freshly cleaned house but they don't care for the work. As you have no doubt noticed, houses keep getting dirty, day in and day out. It just keeps happening and it always will. So no matter what the economy is like, no matter how hectic their lives are, people need to get their houses clean, at least now and then!
This is where you come in. If you start your own housecleaning business, you can have clients whose houses you do weekly, biweekly, or even monthly. You can set your schedule around your own needs, too, saying for example, "Sorry, I am not available on Tuesdays."
Now for some tips on how to get going:
1. Consider your cleaning supplies. You may have everything you need already. In any case, don't spend much getting tools and equipment at this stage... save that for when your business is generating the income to improve your gear.
2. Do a few house cleaning jobs for friends, in exchange for written testimonials they will give you, with permission to use their names or at least their first names. This step has two purposes: the testimonials will be good for advertising, but even more important, you will have a chance to be sure that you do in fact want to start your own house cleaning business.
Because this point is important, I will expand on it a little. If you discover that you really dislike doing the work, then stop right there and go look for something else to do. You will only be successful at starting this business if you find satisfaction in the work. I am not saying you have to love it all, but overall being self-employed means you have to have a certain amount of energy to get going. That energy comes much more easily when you do work you like.
3. Using a word processing program, make and print out some flyers. If you can get some colored paper for them, they will stand out better. Things to put on the flyer include your name or business name, your phone and maybe your email, what if anything you specialize in cleaning, and those testimonials, or at least their best parts. Give your rates, and before you decide on them, find out what the going rates are locally. Post the flyers on bulletin boards and wherever else you think of.
4. Get a business license if you need one. This is usually quite straightforward, with a small fee. You may need a tax ID number too, in some communities.
5. People generally realize that they need to log income and expenses for eventual income tax purposes, but there is another good reason to get a notebook and write it all down. This will show you how much profit you are actually making.
