Are You Cut Out to Run a Commercial Cleaning Service?
Everybody wants to be the owner of their own business. It’s probably a good thing that most of them never get past the daydreaming stage, because statistics show us that the vast majority of small, start-up companies fail within the first few years. Very few people are willing to risk their safe, weekly paycheck for the uncertainty of being out there on their own.
There is a special breed, though, that sees that paycheck in a totally different light. The trade of security for servitude is not one that they can easily make. Too often, though, in an effort to escape the idea of working for someone else for the next 30 years or more, they leap into the entrepreneurial waters without really looking. To avoid bolstering those failure rates, if you are one of those looking to make that transition, do some research and planning so that the business you start is one that has a fair likelihood of success.
It’s not very glamorous, but an industry that you might want to consider is janitorial for office buildings and light industrial space. Residential cleaning is an entirely different endeavor, with its own unique pluses and minuses, but, in general, you will be able to grow a commercial cleaning service far more than one those focuses on houses.
Start-up costs are minimal compared to other types of businesses and most can be staggered, like equipment and labor, so that they are not incurred until you have a contract that will in turn pay for them. This leaves insurance and the most significant expense, and one that can not be slighted.
The flip side to low cost is the amount of your own time and energy that will be required. Clients can be extremely demanding. Your days will be spent meeting and following up with current client contacts and seeking out new ones. Then evenings and, all too often, nights will require that you are monitoring the performance of your staff. Competition, unions, supply costs and a largely non-English speaking labor force can combine to give you some rather stressful days.
Not everyone is cut out for the demands of providing commercial cleaning services. Others compare it to the prospect of a future defined by a corporate cubicle and see it as a walk in the park.
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