It’s no secret that cleaning with an apron saves you time and energy. But what should you look for when buying a cleaning apron?
Please note, this article may include affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure at the bottom of the page.
What is the purpose of a cleaning apron?
The purpose of using an apron for cleaning is that it will hold all of your cleaning supplies while you clean.
For example, when you are dusting a living room and come up to a class table, you can put your duster in your back pocket and grab the glass cleaner and microfiber cloth from your apron.
When you are done cleaning the glass table put your supplies back into your apron, grab your duster out of your back pocket and continue cleaning.
There was no need to come back later with the glass cleaner to clean the table. You are able to clean all surfaces in a room the first time because you are carrying all of your cleaning supplies with you.
Cool huh?!?!?
8 Reasons why you need an apron with pockets
1. To keep your cleaning supplies close at hand.
If you’re wearing an apron with pockets, you can easily keep all of your cleaning supplies close at hand. This way, you won’t have to go searching for them every time you need to use them
2. To be more organized.
An apron with pockets can help you to be more organized while you’re cleaning. This way, you won’t have to stop what you’re doing to search for something that you need. When you place your tools back in the same pocket, you will always know where to reach for it next time.
3. To avoid losing things.
If you’re constantly misplacing your cleaning supplies, wearing an apron with pockets will help to avoid this problem. This way, you’ll always know where they are when you need them. No more wasting time looking for tools you set down or accidentally leaving something behind!
4. To save time.
By keeping your cleaning supplies close at hand in an apron with pockets, you’ll save yourself the time that would otherwise be spent searching for them.
5. To keep your hands free.
Wearing an apron with pockets will allow you to keep your hands free while you’re cleaning. This way, you can use both hands while cleaning. Don’t be stuck holding your cleaning bottle with one hand and a towel with another. This is not an effective use of your time. You will want one hand to move and lift items while the other hand cleans with the towel.
6. To carry other things besides cleaning supplies.
You will need to carry other things besides just cleaning supplies, an apron with pockets can help with this. For example, if you need to carry a dustpan and brush, paper towels, or garbage bags, an apron with pockets will make this easy to do.
7. To look professional.
If you’re trying to give off a professional image, wearing an apron with pockets is a good way to do this. Having an apron as part of your uniform makes you look like a professional cleaner who knows what they are doing.
8. To keep your clothes clean.
If you’re doing any kind of cleaning, whether it’s scrubbing the floors or dusting, you’re going to get dirty. Wearing an apron while cleaning will help to keep your clothes clean and free from stains.
A speed cleaning apron is just a phrase that refers to an apron that helps with cleaning efficiently and helps you clean fast. Speed cleaning aprons are durable, and have pockets and loops to hold all of your cleaning tools while you clean.
What to look for when buying a Cleaning Apron:
Has Pockets
Having a cleaning apron with pockets is an absolute must. The purpose of the apron is to hold your cleaning tools not to protect your clothes.
When shopping, look for an apron with ATLEAST 3 pockets or more. You’ll want to have pockets so that you have separate compartments to place small tools and clean and dirty towels.
A cleaning apron without pockets will be a complete waste of your money and will not do much help for you when cleaning houses.
Has Loops
Look for a cleaning apron that has loops on the side by your hips. Have you ever put your spray bottle down to clean a surface? Then you kept cleaning only to find you forgot where you put the bottle down??? Well, I have and it sucks!
Loops are great to hold your spray bottles. The lever fits nicely into the loops which makes it super easy to have your spray bottle with you at all times. Make sure to get a smaller spray bottle though, the larger ones are more difficult when you are moving around quickly. They have a tendency to bump around on furniture and your legs as you walk.
Is Water Resistant or Water Proof
Cleaning is a messy and wet job. Look for an apron that will hold up to getting splashed with water. let’s face it, you will be washing down showers and have the potential to be of getting wet.
I remember my first apron, it was great had pockets and loops and I thought wow! what a game-changer. But I quickly found that it was not water resistant or waterproof. I remember by the second home, my apron would be wet. My pants would be wet from soaking through the apron.
It was uncomfortable and it did not keep my towels and tools dry while I was cleaning. It did not take me long to invest in a waterproof apron.
Has an Adjustable clip to secure it around your waist
Another mistake I made when buying my first apron was buying one without an adjustable clip to secure around my waist. I had to tie my first apron around my waist.
What happened is my apron would start falling down halfway through the cleaning service. When you start adding your spray bottles and grabbing things in and out of your apron it starts to tug on the apron. If you just have a tie around your waist your apron will start falling.
I would have to keep tying and securing the apron around my waist throughout the cleaning. It was annoying and a wasted time.
Having an adjustable clip securely keeps your apron up around your waist while you are cleaning.
House Cleaning Apron Reviews:
These are my top 3 picks when buying a cleaning apron, read about what features make them great and which features can be improved upon.
The Clean Team Apron has been around for a long time. It is a durable apron that offers pockets for all your tools and gadgets. The Clean Team is the original brand around speed cleaning and they build this apron for just that.
This is a great apron for cleaning, the biggest downfall is that it does not do so well in the waterproof arena.
Pros to the Clean Team Apron
Includes small pockets at the top of the apron which is great for holding small tools such as your small detail brush or scrapers.
Offers customization. You can get your business name or logo embroidered on the apron and comes in 6 different colors to match your brand.
Has loops at the hip to hold your spray bottles.
Comes with an adjustable clip to secure around your waist.
Con’s to the Clean Team Apron
This apron is not waterproof. Though it does come with waterproof liners to help keep some of the pockets protected.
The price is a little higher than other competition. But they have name recognition and are able to charge an additional price.
The Supply Maid apron is a little newer on the market than the Clean Team apron. It was started by a cleaning business owner.
It is a great all-around apron for Cleaning Services. Plenty of places to hold all of your tools for hands-free cleaning.
Pro’s of the Supply Maid Apron
Is very durable.
Has 2 larger pockets below and 3 small pockets at the top for easy access to your tools.
Special tools holder. These are rings that you can attach around the belt to hold things like your duster so you don’t have to put it in your back pocket.
Has 2 loops at the hip to hold your spray bottles.
Comes with an adjustable clip to secure around your waist.
This apron is 100% waterproof.
Con’s to the Supply Maid Apron
The waterproof material can be warm to wear as it is not as breathable as a basic cloth apron.
Some of the reviews said the buckle did not always stay tight but said they either replaced the buckle or ended up tying the apron.
The Klever House Cleaning Tool Belt is a bit of a less conventional design than the standard apron. It is built more as a belt with extended pockets than an apron.
I added this to my review because it was a little different than the standard cleaning apron. If you like more of the utility belt feel this one is more for you. It still checks off the majority of the must-have boxes when buying an apron for house cleaning.
Though be careful when buying, many of the reviews gave it a poor rating for quality. If this is an apron that interests you, I recommend first buying 1 and trying it out before you invest in multiple.
Pros of the Klever House Cleaning Tool Belt
6 pockets in 3 different sizes to hold different types of tools. 2 of the pockets are more like pouches which are great for keeping your cell phone safe.
Special tools holder. These are rings that you can attach around the belt to hold things like your duster so you don’t have to put it in your back pocket.
Has loop a loop to hold your spray bottles.
Con’s to the Klever House Cleaning Tool Belt
The pockets are not very large, there is not a ton of space to hold extra clean or dirty towels. When I clean I always have multiple clean microfiber towels when cleaning the bathroom or cleaning the kitchen.
The pockets sit more on your hip. This can create more bulk around your waist and make it more difficult to move around furniture.
There were several reviews that said the apron did not get small enough to fit their waist. Even though there is an adjustable belt, it may not get small enough for those with more of a petite build
Several customer reviews also gave in a low rating on the quality of the build.
My Final Thoughts:
All in all my favorite pick is the Supply Maid apron. It is still owned by a small cleaning business owner and it checks off all the must-have boxes. It is waterproof, durable, and has great pockets for efficient cleaning.
My second runner-up is the Clean Team apron. It is a great durable apron as well and is used by many house cleaning companies.
Don’t be blind sided when first cleaning a new house. Questions to ask before cleaning someone’s house. It may seem to be straight forward: A client hires you, you arrive to the clients’ house, clean and then leave.
But often there are many variables through out that process. In the beginning months of my cleaning business, I would sign up a new client, and only collect their basic contact information, how they would pay me and that was about it.
But there always seemed to be some unknown that would cost us money, lost time or client frustration. So I came up with a list of what to ask new clients.
Before we get too far into this…if you are looking for a new client data sheet and new client welcome forms my new client welcome kit is just that. The Kit includes a Customer Data Sheet, a Welcome Letter, Client Policies and Procedures, Cleaning Checklist and a Client Referral Program.
These are done for you forms that are ready to print and use.
Questions to Ask Before Cleaning Someone’s House
Below are questions that I have developed throughout the years with my cleaning business. This allowed us to offer a professional cleaning service and avoid any unwanted costly surprises.
Collecting important contact information:
Ask questions about who your client is and how to get ahold of them during a cleaning or after hours.
Common questions include:
Name
Address
Phone number
Email
Ask if there will be a different name on their forms of payment. Especially if they are paying by check. This will make it easier to reconcile your payments to your client.
Don’t forget to ask if they have a preferred first name.
Always ask for a second contact
If you can’t get ahold of your client and their is an emergency, who should you contact? Don’t assume if you are talking to a female that her spouse is a ‘he’. Be aware and sensitive to all different family make-ups. I like to ask for the Significant Other. Or to make it easy, just say 2nd contact who lives in the house with you.
What is the best number to reach you while we are at your home in the even of questions, emergency, or if we can’t get into the house?
If the client is not going to be at the house while you are cleaning, you will need a contact number to reach them at whether it’s a cell phone or a work number. Anything can happen while you are in the home, and you’ll want a way to get ahold of your client quickly if needed.
Collect important information about the home to help with pricing & cleaning time:
The next set of questions you want to ask about is their home. These questions will help you understand how long it will take you to clean and what types of cleaning products you should be bringing with you to the first cleaning service.
These questions will help you get a better understanding of how long it will take you to clean, so that you can more efficiently price the cleaning service.
When was the last time you had your home professionally cleaned?
This will give you a good idea of how long the first cleaning will take. If they had their home professionally cleaned in the last 4 weeks the first cleaning will not have to take as long.
The first cleaning service will more than likely will take up to twice as long if a client has not had their home professionally cleaned…like ever.
If this is the case, you may want to suggest your client to purchase a deep clean for their first cleaning service and then regular maintenance cleaning after.
These questions will help you understand the size of the home.
Basic questions include:
What is the square footage of the home? You can verify this on Zillow.com
How many bedrooms do you have?
How many bathrooms do you have?
These questions will help you to know what kind of equipment, tools and cleaning supplies you need to bring to the house. These questions are really important so that you can come to the house with the right tools.
Is there 1 or multiple stories. You’ll need to know this because of the extra cleaning time with the stairs. Additionally when cleaning 2 story homes you will approach cleaning a little different as it is more efficient to clean the top floor first then move down to the bottom floor.
Questions regarding Special Cleaning instructions
Ask your new client questions about any special cleaning instructions. These questions are NOT meant to cater your cleaning services for each specific client. Rather you will want to ask questions about any special no-touch items or items they hold near and dear to their hearts. This way you know the whether you should skip cleaning these items or not.
Do you have any special cleaning products you will provide? Where are they located?
The majority of maid services bring their own cleaning supplies to clean client homes. But every once in a while, a client may have a special product they use on a certain piece of furniture. It is not best practice to buy cleaning products specific to every client. Instead, if a client has a special product, they provide it. You’ll want to know where to use it and where you can find it in the house.
Do you have any family heirlooms?
This question is important because you want to know which items hold sentimental value to your clients. These are the irreplaceable items in the home. In my cleaning business these were generally ‘no touch’ items, especially if they were breakable.
Money can’t buy everything. That holds true to a ceramic vase that has been passed down from 4 generations. You will never be able to replace a family heirloom like you could a lamp that was purchased at a home goods store last year.
What are your no touch items?
There might not be a family heirloom, but some clients may have a no touch item. These items may be expensive, one of a kind or just unique and can’t be replaced. You’ll want to stay clear of them when cleaning the home.
Let the client take the responsibility to cleaning or dusting these pieces. It will save you headache (and heartache) if in the event the items get damaged during the cleaning process.
Are there any rooms in the house we should not venture into?
Sometimes you’ll have clients that may have area’s of the house they don’t want you to clean in. These could be nurseries, offices with confidential information or storage areas.
Usually, they will tell you up front, but it is always good to ask the question. It shows you care and are professional. Make sure you respect the wishes of your client and stay clear of these areas.
Questions about your clients pet’s
Don’t get caught off guard by a large dog. Or let a cat run out of the home when you are arriving or leaving. Ask about any pets your new client may have and what to expect with them.
Do you have any pets?
It is a good idea to know your clients’ pets. You’ll be in the house for a few hours with the pets.
You also don’t want to leave a door open when carrying cleaning supplies to and from the house if they have a cat or dog. The last call I would want to make is that I allowed the dog to run out of the house.
Which leads me to the next question….
Are the pets allowed outside?…Will the pet be locked up?
These are great questions to get a gauge on whether or not the pets are allowed outside. We had clients that had cats that were allowed outside. The cats would roam in and out of the house, and there was a kitty door where they could get back in.
If the client has a large dog or dog that is prone to running out of the house, it is a good idea that you request them to cage the pets during your visit, especially if the client will not be home.
What are your pets’ names?
If they have pets, write down the pets’ name. Pets are often time treated like family and children. Learning and remembering the pets name will help build report with your customer and it will show you care about their belongings.
Questions about getting into the house/locking up
Clear up any questions about how you will be getting into a clients home and how to lock up. This will save you wasting time on or accidently setting off an alarm.
Is there a gate to get into the home or complex?
Some neighborhoods will have a gate or guard at the front. With these many times there are codes that you will need for these to enter the neighborhood.
Where should we park?
This question is not always obvious. Your client will appreciate you asking the question. Answers will vary such on the left or right of the driveway, on the side of the road, on the side of the road across the street. Or if the client lives in an apartment complex or condo there may be visitor parking or service parking.
Some communities don’t allow parking on the side of the road and may result in towing or ticketing. Make sure you clear up any parking restrictions before you arrive for your first cleaning service.
How should we get into the house?
This is an important question. Many clients will not be home when you clean their house. That means you will need to know exactly how you will be entering the home. It is best not to make assumptions here.
Some clients will provide a key, others will have garage door codes you can use, or some may want you to come into a side door rather the front. I even had clients who left a key under a planter or mat and that was how we got in.
If the client says they will leave the door open for you, or that they will meet you on cleaning day to let you in, make sure you make it very clear what time you will be there and how long you are willing to wait. Also, this is a good time to remind them of your lockout or last-minute cancelation policy. (Our lockout/cancelation policy can be found in the New Client Welcome Kit)
One thing to note here; I always presented the question saying most of our clients prefer to provide us with a key. If at any time they termed service, we would provide the keys back to the client. Having a key is the best way to prevent any lock outs or having to wait for a client to meet you at the home.
Is there an alarm/alarm code you will have to shut off when entering the home?
If there is an alarm that will be activated, you will want to get the code so that you can shut it off when entering the home. You don’t want the police showing up because the alarm went off.
Most alarms will allow the homeowner to set a secondary code just for service providers. That way if they terminate service, they can inactivate the code that they give you.
If the client does not want to give you the code to the alarm because they say it will not be set on cleaning day, make it clear that if you walk into the home and the alarm does get activated, that the client is responsible for any costs associate with the alarm going off.
How should we lock up the house before we leave?
If there is an alarm code do, they want you to set it before leaving? If the client meets you at the home to let you into the house, do they want you to lock the door when you leave?
Where is the location of your central trash container?
As part of your cleaning service, you more than likely will be collecting and taking out the trash. Make sure you know where to take the trash out of the house. Most residential homes will store their outside garbage cans in the garage or on the side of the house.
For apartments and condo’s this may be in a different location than the unit.
Essential New Client Welcome Form Kit with fillable and ready to go forms. Just update the area’s highlighted in Yellow with your information and you are ready to print or use on your webpage.
Start a cleaning business in Florida. Florida is a great place to start a cleaning business. With the growing population and high tourism rates, there are plenty of cleaning jobs out there for you.
House cleaners can make anywhere from $25 – $75 an hour cleaning houses in Florida.
The majority of cleaning companies are made up of small businesses. There can be little start-up cost involved and as you grow your cleaning business, you can add on the fancy tools.
How to start a Cleaning Business in FL
This guide includes resources for starting a cleaning business in Florida. Visit the state’s Division of Corporations to learn more about running a business in Florida.
Decide what type of cleaning service you will offer
Here is a listing of Cleaning Businesses that would be successful in Florida.
Recurring House Cleaning
Rental/Airbnb Cleaning
Hotel Cleaning
Foreclosure cleaning
Office cleaning
Move out cleaning service
Restaurant Cleaning
If you live in one of Florida’s coastal cities or anywhere near the Orlando area, Rental cleaning services and Airbnb cleaning services will be in high demand and can be very lucrative.
Choose a name for your cleaning business
When choosing a name, you will want to consider SEO (search engine optimization, how new clients will find you on the internet) and the name should represent what your business does. This way when someone hears your business’s name, they know you are in the business of cleaning houses.
To brainstorm a name for your cleaning business, start with the words Maid, Cleaning, and Service. Put these words at the top of a sheet of paper. If your business is on the coast of Florida, you can add the words coast or coastal. For businesses located in the Tampa Bay area, you can use a variation of ‘Bay Area’ or ‘Best of the Bay’.
Start writing as many adjectives and adverbs that you can think of that match your company or play on Florida’s uniqueness. This will help you to create a list of possible business names for you to choose from.
Choose a Business Structure for your Cleaning Business
Before registering your new cleaning business, you will need to know what legal structure you will register your business in Florida. The different structures include sole-proprietor, partnership, corporation, s-corporation, or limited liability corporation. You can learn more about each business structure here.
The structure will determine how your cleaning business will file its tax returns and how you as the owner will be taxed on your earnings as well. It’s extremely important that you become familiar with and understand the different structures and how taxes are paid and filed with each.
When choosing your business structure, consult with your Florida tax professional. They can also help you file all the necessary paperwork.
Apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Getting an EIN for your cleaning business is a must if you will be hiring employees.
If you will be operating as a sole proprietor and not hiring employees, you may be able to use your personal social security number when filing taxes and such for your business. But it is always best to talk to your tax professional to see what you will need.
To apply for an EIN you will file an SS-4 with the IRS. It is free and you can do so on the IRS website. If you file online you will get your number right away.
If you are not ready to file as a Corporation or an LLC, you are able to operate as a sole proprietor. To file your cleaning business in Florida as a sole proprietor you only need to file a fictitious name through Sunbiz.org. The Fee to file a fictitious name in Florida is only $50.00. For more instructions on filing a fictitious name in Florida visit sunbiz.org’s webpage for filing a fictitious name.
While the state does not require licensing, you need to check with your individual county, city, or local municipality. Some may require a general business tax, licensing, or other filing requirements for business. Call your local municipality office and inquire if this is required.
Get Business Insurance
Insurance protects you and your business’s assets, or money in the event of an accident or other unplanned event.
Types of insurance your cleaning business may need include liability insurance, bonding insurance, and commercial car insurance. If you hire employees you may also be required to carry Workers’ Compensation in the state of Florida.
The easiest way to shop for business insurance is to start with an insurance broker and they will do the shopping around for you to find the best deal.
Additional Resources to start a cleaning business in Florida
The Florida Chamber of Commerce has lots of resources for small businesses in Florida. They offer online training, new and existing business counseling, as well as business training and events.
Florida Small Business Trends is a publication that offers information and resources to small businesses operating in Florida.
Next Steps to start your cleaning business.
Now that you have taken care of the boring (but oh so necessary) legal steps to getting your cleaning business official, you can now start with the Cleaning!
Below are resources on how to operate a cleaning business successfully.
Purchase cleaning supplies and equipment
You’ll need to get all the needed supplies to start cleaning your first client homes. I have that taken care of for you.
You can’t start cleaning houses if you don’t tell people you have a cleaning business.
Your first step to marketing will be to tell all your friends, family, and contacts in your phone and email that you have started a house cleaning business and you are currently taking new clients.
Next, get your business online. Most homeowners now search for services online before hiring a business. Make sure your business is visible online when a homeowner searches for cleaning services in your area.
Claim your My Business google profile. By claiming your My Business google profile your business will show up in searches when someone searches Cleaning Businesses in Florida.
Start a website. You can start a website using this link for just $2.97/ month. Use your business name as your domain name. Once you register a Domain Name, apply a free Word Press template. There are several cleaning service templates that you can choose from.
As soon as you apply a template, you are ready to enter your business information. Make sure to add your contact information, a list of your services, and an about me page where you introduce yourself. Include high-quality before and after images of your cleaning.
Activate a Facebook Business Profile. Ask to join local groups that are meant for local businesses and homeowners in your local Florida city. Actively participate in the groups and always maintain professional communication etiquette
Price your cleaning services
Decide whether you are going to price your cleaning services by the hour or by a flat fee. Most Florida cleaning businesses make between $25 – $75 an hour.
Charging by the hour for house cleaning services:
It is best to charge by the hour when you are offering services that will take longer to complete and when the tasks can vary each time you clean a house. When your cleaning times vary it becomes much more difficult to charge a flat fee per clean.
It is best to charge by the hour if you plan to offer the following tasks similar to the following:
laundry
dishes
picking up clutter/toys
organizing spaces
personalizing cleaning service to each client
Charging a Flat Fee
Charging a flat fee is the best way to streamline your business and start building more profits. But a HUGE disclaimer: Only charge a flat fee if you are completing the same cleaning service for each client.
This means you define the checklist and tasks that you will complete at the home. If you do not follow the same cleaning checklist for each client and each time you clean, DO NOT charge a flat fee to clean.
Check out the following articles for more information on Pricing Cleaning services:
If you plan to hire employees you will need to make sure you have filed for an EIN (Review step #4) and have proper insurance (Review step #7).
You will also want to have a training plan in place. In my experience, it is best to have a 3-step training plan in place.
Have your new employee read through or watch a video that you have put together on how to clean your way.
Next, have the new employee follow you while you clean. Talk through all the steps they should be taking for each task and room in a home.
Now, you shadow the new employee for a few houses. It is important to correct any movements that do not fit into your cleaning strategy. For this step, you are helping your new employee to develop the same habits to clean the home your way.
Well Kept Clutter helps aspiring entrepreneurs start their own cleaning businesses and start making money right away.
Start a cleaning business in New Jersey. Asking yourself how do I start a cleaning business near me?
No matter where you decide to start a cleaning business, if there are houses in the area, someone will want to hire a cleaning company.
The majority of cleaning companies are made up of small businesses. There can be little start up cost involved and as you grow your cleaning business, you can add on the fancy tools.
When choosing a name, you will want to consider SEO (search engine optimization, how new clients will find you on the internet) and the name should represent what your business does. This way when someone hears your business’s name, they know your are in the business of cleaning houses.
To brainstorm a name for your cleaning business, start with the words Maid, Cleaning and Service. Put these words at the top of a sheet of paper. Then start writing as many adjectives and adverbs that match your company. This will help you to create a list of possible business names for you to choose from.
Verify your name is available in New Jersey by searching the Businesses on the DORES of NJ. If your business name is not already registered in New Jersey then you are ready to register your business.
Choose a Business Structure for your Cleaning Business
Before registering your new cleaning business, you will need to know the legal structure for your business. This structure will determine how your cleaning business will file its tax returns and how you as the owner will be taxed on your earnings as well.
It’s extremely important that you become familiar with and understand the different structures and how taxes are paid and filed with each. When choosing your business structure, consult with your tax professional. They can also help you file all the necessary paperwork.
The state of New Jersey requires that all businesses register with the Division of Revenue within 15 days of starting your cleaning business to allow time for paperwork to be completed.
You can file your business with New Jersey 1 of 2 ways:
Online directly with the Division of Revenue Business Registration in New Jersey. Depending on which legal structure you choose, you will have to file the appropriate paperwork to register your business. You can find the forms to register your new cleaning business in New Jersey online here at .
Through a 3rd party who takes care of the filling for you. IncFile.com offers free filing service for LLC’s. You’ll just have to pay the state filing fees. There is a small fee for filing Corporations.
Using a filing service will ensure your filing is done correctly the first time which will help ensure no delays.
Getting an EIN for your cleaning business is a must if you will be hiring employees.
If you will be operating as a sole-proprietor and not hiring employees, you may be able to use your personal social security number when filing taxes and such for your business. But it is always best to talk to your tax professional to see which you will need.
To apply for an EIN you will file a SS-4 with the IRS. It is free and you can do so on the IRS website. If you file online you will get your number right away. If you don’t feel comfortable filing the form yourself, you can use a company like IncFile.com who can file for your EIN.
Insurance protects you and your business’s assets, or money in the event of a accident or other unplanned event.
Types of insurance your cleaning business may need include liability insurance, bonding insurance and commercial car insurance.
The easiest way to shop for business insurance is to start with an insurance broker and they will do the shopping around for you to find the best deal.
Additional Resources for starting a cleaning business in New Jersey
The Small Business Development Center has lots of resources for small businesses in New Jersey. They offer online training, new and existing business counseling, as well as business training and events.
The state offers Small Business Workshops to help you in the process of how to register your business in New Jersey. How to report business income in the state. If you have employees, they also provide workshops on employer responsibilities in New Jersey.
Next Steps to start your cleaning business.
Now that you have taken care of the boring (but oh so necessary) legal steps to getting your cleaning business official, you can now start with the Cleaning!
Below are resources on how to operate a cleaning business successfully.
Purchase cleaning supplies and equipment
You’ll need to get all the needed supplies to start cleaning your first client homes. I have that taken care of for you.
You can’t start cleaning houses if you don’t tell people you have a cleaning business.
Your first step to marketing will be to tell all your friends, family and contacts in your phone and email that you have started a house cleaning business and you are currently taken new clients.
Next get your business online. Most homeowners now search for services online before hiring a business. Make sure your business is visible online when a homeowner searches for cleaning services in your area.
Claim your My Business google profile. By claiming your My Business google profile your business will show up in searches when someone searches Cleaning Businesses in Town Name.
Make sure to add your contact information, a list of your services, and a an about me page where you introduce your self. Include high quality before and after images of your cleaning.
Activate a Facebook Business Profile.
Price your cleaning services
Decide whether you are going to price your cleaning services by the hour or by a flat fee. Most cleaning businesses make between $25 – $75 an hour.
Charging by the hour for house cleaning services:
It is best to charge by the hour when you are offering services that will take longer to complete and when the tasks can vary each time you clean a house. When your cleaning times vary it becomes much more difficult to charge a flat fee per clean.
It is best to charge by the hour if you plan to offer the following tasks similar to the following:
laundry
dishes
picking up clutter/toys
organizing spaces
personalizing cleaning service to each client
Charging a Flat Fee
Charging a flat fee is the best way to streamline your business and start building more profits. But a HUGE disclaimer: Only charge a flat fee if you are completing the same cleaning service for each client.
This means you define the checklist and tasks that you will complete at the home. If you do not follow the same cleaning checklist for each client and each time you clean, DO NOT charge a flat fee to clean.
Check out the following articles for more information on Pricing Cleaning service:
If you plan to hire employees you will need to make sure you have filed for an EIN (Review step #4) and have proper insurance (Review step #7).
You will also want to have a training plan in place. In my experience it is best to have a 3 step training plan in place.
Have your new employee read through or watch a video that you have put together on how to clean your way.
Next, have the new employee follow you while you clean. Talk through all the steps they should be taking for each task and room in a home.
Now, you shadow the new employee for a few houses. It is important to correct a any movements that do not fit into your cleaning strategy. For this step you are helping your new employee to develop the same habits to clean a home your way.
Well Kept Clutter helps aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own cleaning business and start making money right away.
A cleaning business needs insurance to protect their assets when the unplanned happens. Accidents happen, right? I know you don’t really want to admit it….But they do.
That is why you carry car insurance, health insurance and house insurance. So why would you not get house cleaning business insurance?
Please note, this article may include affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure at the bottom of the page.
Reason’s why you need house cleaning business insurance
Accidents happen, and when they do you want your business to be prepared and protected. Below are just a few reasons why you need business insurance for your cleaning business.
You could get into a car accident on the way to a clients home.
An employee could spill a harsh cleaner on a clients wood floor and ruin it.
An employee could be stepping on a ladder dusting a high area and fall.
You could be vacuuming and back up into a table holding a very expensive vase that cost more than your car!
If you don’t carry the right kind of insurance, you could be financially responsible for injury or property damage caused by your cleaning service. It is important that you protect you and your business from the first day that you start a cleaning business.
Here is a list of the different types of insurances you should carry and how they protect your client, your employees and yourself.
What Insurance do I Need for a Small Cleaning Business?
GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE
What is liability insurance for a cleaning business?
Business liability insurance is coverage that protects your company’s assets and pays for liabilities incurred because of business operations.
What that means for you as a cleaning business owner is it will cover costs for damage you or your employees caused while cleaning your client’s house, up to the limits of your plan. It will cover the costs if something breaks or is damaged while you are cleaning.
When cleaning multiple homes a day, you and your employees will come across many different surfaces and valuables. Using the wrong cleaning supplies or equipment can damage your client’s property.
You will not want to be in a situation where your business is liable for damage and you can not afford to fix it. You will certainly lose that client. But on top of that, they will tell all of their friends, co-workers, and family members not to use your service.
Your clients will understand that accidents happen. But what will make you more credible and stand out from your competitors is how you handle mistakes. And if you are not properly insured to pay the cost to correct damage to your client’s property you will quickly develop a bad name for your business.
How much is liability insurance for a cleaning business?
According to Insureon, 16% of cleaning businesses pay less than $500 per year on liability insurance, while the majority pay between $500 – $1000 a year. That works out to be an average cost of less than $100 a month.
The factors that go into the cost of insurance for a cleaning business are the size of operations and the amount of coverage you purchase. If you are a small cleaning business or solo cleaner, your liability insurance will be on the lower end of the cost. If you have multiple employees cleaning houses each day, your costs will be on the higher end.
How much liability insurance should I buy for a cleaning business?
In my cleaning business, I purchased a policy limit of $1 million per occurrence and a $2 million aggregate limit. Come to find out, 90% of companies purchase the same limits.
BONDING INSURANCE
What is bonding insurance for a cleaning business?
Having bonding insurance for a cleaning business will help cover costs for any fraudulent activities like theft, and the insurance company will pay up to the amount of the bond you purchase.
What it means for your cleaning business is that if an employee commits theft inside a client’s home, after a claim gets filed and proven liable, the bonding company will cover the amount of the loss.
Bonding insurance is very standard for the cleaning and janitorial industry. Carrying Bonding Insurance (or being Bonded) will help keep your cleaning business credible and build trust with your clients. It is a great selling point and helps eases the
How do you get bonded for cleaning business?
You will purchase your bonding insurance with the same insurance company that you purchase your liability insurance from. When getting quotes, it is best to get a quote for both liability insurance and bonding insurance.
CAR INSURANCE
If you are driving your own car, make sure you contact your current insurance provider. You will want to verify that you are covered for traveling between cleaning jobs. Not all personal car insurance will cover accidents that happen during business operations.
If you are purchasing company cars and having employees driving, you will 100% need to obtain coverage for the vehicle and for your employees. Having business-specific car insurance coverage will help to cover the costs of any damage your business is found to be liable for during a car accident, up to the limits of your plan.
WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE
Workers’ compensation insurance is only needed if you have employees. This insurance will cover the costs of injuries to your employees while they are working.
So now you know what types of insurance is out there for your cleaning business. Here are the reasons why you need liability insurance when you start a cleaning business.
WHY YOUR CLEANING BUSINESS NEEDS INSURANCE
1. Stand out above the other ‘so-called’ cleaning companies
I have come across more ‘companies’ like this. They are not a ‘REAL’ business… they don’t register a business with their state, they don’t pay taxes (another topic for another day), they take cash under the table, and they don’t carry insurance.
You will prove yourself a credible business when you can say you carry Business Insurance. This leads me to reason #2!
2. Use it as a selling point
I can’t tell you how many contracts we received over other companies because we carried liability insurance. Customers loved hearing that they were protected if we damaged their property or if our employees were dishonest.
You can justify your price point (I hope you are not under bidding your competition, you’ll never profit successfully!) if you have insurance and Susie House Cleaner does not, you will more likely land the job.
As you are growing your client base and meeting new clients (psst… here are some awesome low-cost ways to grow your client base!), they will not know you apart from the next stranger on the street. So telling them that you are insured, can give them peace of mind, build trust and assure them that you are a responsible business owner and can protect their stuff….which leads to point #3
3. Protect yourself
I am sure you started your cleaning business to make money…am I right??? Carrying insurance will help you to protect your assets. If you don’t carry the proper insurance when your cleaning business is liable for damages, you can be held liable. You don’t want to work hard at growing your business just to lose it.
How to Get Insurance for Cleaning Business
Now that I have talked you into getting Insurance for your Cleaning Business you need to go out and get some! Make sure to get 3 insurance quotes for a small cleaning business (just like you would for your car insurance).
Start with your current Car Insurance company.
I recommend starting with your car insurance company. You already have a working relationship with them, and you may even get a discount for carrying both personal and business insurance with them.
Visit a local Insurance broker.
Brokers will reach out to several different insurance agencies to get the best price and coverage for you. The insurance broker will create a package for your cleaning business insurance needs.
When you are carrying different types of insurance and using different agencies, it will be easier to funnel all through one broker. And most of the time they can lower the cost of insurance for your cleaning business.
Next Steps for your Cleaning Business: Read my post for Bookkeeping for Maid Services and get a list of common tax deductions specific to Cleaning Businesses.
Types of cleaning services entrepreneurs can easily start with little money. Check out this list of different types of cleaning services you can offer. Choose the right types of cleaning services for your newest business venture.
In this article:
Foreclosure Cleaning Services
Post Construction Cleaning Services
Move-Out Cleaning Services
Residential House Cleaning Services
Vacation Rental Cleaning Services
Different Types of Cleaning Services to offer:
Please note, this article may include affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure at the bottom of the page.
Starting a Foreclosure Cleaning Business
When deciding on the types of cleaning services to offer, keep in mind that foreclosure cleanings will be one of the most labor-intensive cleaning services you can offer. Many foreclosed homes have been abandoned and left in ruins.
What to expect when cleaning foreclosure cleanings
Cleaning foreclosures will not be a glamorous job by any means. A foreclosure is where homeowners default on their mortgage and are forced to move out. When a homeowner is past due with their mortgage banks take legal proceedings to take back the home.
To give some perspective, when I was in College my grandmother bought and sold foreclosures. She hired me to help with the cleaning. We cleaned houses where families left all their belongings. When I say all belongings, I mean furniture, closets full of clothes, and even albums filled with family photos. We had to rent large dumpsters and haul all the belongings out of the home.
Some homes we cleaned had been broken into and trashed. There would be graffitied walls and items left behind were scattered everywhere. We would find broken bottles and at one home we even found a pile of human feces….YUCK! So as I said, these types of cleanings will not be glamorous and will require heavy-duty cleaning.
These reasons are why you can charge hundreds/thousands of dollars to clean foreclosures.
Equipment/Supplies needed to clean foreclosures.
As you can imagine from the picture I created above, foreclosure cleanings require heavy-duty supplies and equipment to help clean up the mess. Equipment you will want to get will include a heavy-duty shop vac to vacuum up debris, a heavy-duty steam cleaner to disinfect and clean walls and surfaces to remove built-up grime, and a truck or trailer to help haul away furniture and garbage.
As far as cleaning supplies, foreclosure cleanings will require a heavy-duty degreaser, mildew remover, lime, and rust remover. When cleaning with these cleaners, make sure to have good ventilation and wear a mask to lessen the amount you will inhale.
How much you can make cleaning foreclosure
You can charge $100s or $1,000’s to clean a foreclosed home. the amount you charge will depend on how dirty a home is, how much you will need to haul away, and the size of the home.
It can take a week or longer to clean a foreclosure. When first starting out, it is best to estimate the number of hours it will take to clean and charge an hourly rate. Then add a disclaimer, letting the owner know that your price is an estimate and can vary.
Before pricing a foreclosure clean, make sure to do a thorough walk-a-round to avoid many surprises. Take note of any equipment rentals you may need and add the cost of the equipment rental to the cleaning service price. For example, if you have to rent a large dumpster bin to haul junk add the cost of the dumpster to the cost of the cleaning service.
How to market foreclosure cleaning services
With foreclosure cleanings, you will not be marketing to homeowners. Instead, you will want to market to banks and realtors. Look for local realtors who specialize in foreclosures and begin building relationships with them. Contact banks and speak with their foreclosure departments, find the person in charge of cleaning contracts, and start building a relationship.
It is also helpful to attend local networking events with your chamber of commerce. Realtors and banking professionals almost always attend these types of events to network with local businesses. Find your local professional realtor associations and attend their networking events. You can even develop a training presentation on property cleaning restoration.
Starting a Post Construction Cleaning Service
With Post Construction cleaning you will be cleaning homes just after they have been built or renovated. You will be cleaning up after the construction crews have left.
If you specialize in construction cleaning, you can offer to clean both the inside and the outside of the home. Many contractors will also hire cleaners to clean the home in 2 phases.
The first clean would be after all the carpentry is completed and just before finishes like the flooring go in. The second clean would be the final detail clean, just before the homeowner moves in.
What to expect when cleaning post-construction homes
Cleaning post-construction homes require hard work and detailed work. If you choose this type of cleaning service to offer, you will be cleaning up construction debris. This may require hauling the debris off the site as well.
To give you an idea of the cleaning think about when you last hung a picture. When you put the hole in the wall, you probably noticed the drywall dust just from drilling that one hole. Well, after a construction crew leaves, the home is covered in that drywall dust and it will be your job to clean it up.
Your job will be to remove the sawdust, paint or glue from all surfaces including walls, doors, baseboards, appliances, cabinetry, windows and windowsills, light fixtures, and of course the flooring. Things like excess grout may need to be removed from tiles, paint splatters may need to be removed from cabinetry, the glue may need to be removed from laying wood floors, and factory stickers may need to be removed from newly installed windows.
Equipment/Supplies needed to clean foreclosures
Post-construction cleaning will require heavy-duty equipment to help you to haul the debris away and clean up the construction residue. A good quality shop vac that can pick up the construction dust with a good filter will be needed. Make sure the shop vac has attachments so you can vacuum inside cabinet drawers, window sills, and other hard-to-reach areas.
Bring cleaning supplies that can remove leftover glue, grout, or other finishing residues without ruining the surfaces. Make sure you know what surfaces the cleaning supplies are safe to use on. When I first started, I cleaned cabinets with a cleaner that scratched the cabinetry. Some of the doors had to be replaced, it was not a fun situation to be in.
Having a truck and trailer will be useful if you have to haul large debris from the construction site. Bring a tall ladder to reach light fixtures or tall windows.
How much you can make cleaning new home/post-construction cleaning
As you can see, cleaning a post-construction home can involve several man-hours due to the tedious tasks of cleaning construction dust and chemicals left behind by construction crews. It can take more than 1 day to clean depending on the size of the home and would require more than 1 cleaner. Because of this, you will be able to charge more for these types of cleanings.
According to Home Advisor, the national average for these types of cleaning services is $445.00. Your price will of course vary on the size of the home and the scope of work that will be expected. You can also add additional tasks such as exterior cleaning of windows, yard waste, or pressure washing.
How to market new home/construction cleaning services
For new home/construction cleaning services you will want to market to construction firms, general contractors, handyman services, and other construction-related businesses. These businesses will contract directly with you to clean homes that they have built or renovated. You will rarely get hired by the homeowner for these types of cleans.
To market to construction-related businesses, it is helpful to make calls or visit in person to meet with either the contractor or whoever oversees hiring subcontractors. The idea is to build a solid relationship with these businesses so that you can service all of their projects that they finish.
It is also very beneficial to visit local chamber events to network and make connections with local contractors. It may be easier to start with smaller firms if you do not have the crew to service multiple projects a week. As your reputation builds you can land larger clients and hire more employees.
Starting a Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning Service
Move-In/Move-Out will be less manual labor than foreclosure cleanings and construction cleaning businesses. Homeowners generally leave the home voluntarily whether they are selling the home or if they are ending a lease/renting agreement.
In each case, there is an incentive to leave the home in good condition. But these types of cleanings do take longer to clean than a regular cleaning service where you come in every 2 weeks to clean.
The homes will be empty or should be when go in to clean a move-in/move-out clean. They will take longer to clean than a recurring house cleaning service would take. You’ll be expected to clean out cabinets/drawers, and remove smudges off walls, doorways, and trim. Dust and clean high-to-reach areas such as vents, ceilings, and ceiling fans. Expect to clean windowsills and window tracks.
Equipment/Supplies needed to clean Move-In/Move-Out Cleanings
Move-In/Move-Out Cleanings require some heavier tools. For your cleaning supplies make sure you have a heavy-duty all-purpose cleaner, mildew remover, and rust stain remover.
For tools and equipment, you’ll need a razor blade (a professional tip: this is a great way to remove years of built-up soap scum). Shop vac with hose attachments. This will come in handy when needing to vacuum out cabinets and heavy-duty debris that you don’t want to ruin a residential vacuum with.
A quality high-powered steam cleaner that can help clean surfaces and floors quickly and efficiently. If you get one that has some pressure behind it, you can blast out grim in crevices like faucets, drains, and toilet seats. A carpet cleaner is not necessary but would be a great upsell if you have a machine to clean carpets with.
How much you can make cleaning move-in/move-out cleaning services?
According to Home Advisor, a move-out clean can start at $110 for a small apartment and up to $650 for a larger 3,500-square-foot home. The larger the home, the longer the cleaning service will cost. You can also do upsells such as carpet cleaning, baseboard painting, and small handyman work such as filling in holes in the wall, replacing doorknobs, fixing cabinet doors, etc.
How to market Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning
For Move-In/Move-Out Cleanings you will want to market to Realtors, property management firms and apartment complexes. These businesses will be the ones handling most move-ins and out transactions. For apartment complexes do research on their unit sizes. Start by sending in a letter introducing your business and quoting a price per unit.
Property management firms manage rentals of single-family homes, and reach out to them to service their rental properties. Relators are either buying or selling homes. Visit local chamber events to network and make connections with local realtors to service their home listings.
Starting a Residential House Cleaning Service
Recurring house cleaning services will be the easiest homes to clean. For the most part, there won’t be many surprises, or heavy-duty cleaning. You will clean the home either on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. Therefore, the cleaning will be regular and will not require a lot of heavy-duty cleaning supplies and labor.
This type of house cleaning business is the easier to build a consistent income. When a customer signs up for weekly cleaning at $90/week, you can count on that income each week. That one client will make you $4,680/ year. With each new client that you bring on, your business will continue to grow.
Instead of building relationships with other businesses, you will build relationships with each of the homeowners. Provide a quality, trustworthy and friendly service and you will be able to exponentially grow your business with each new client.
Equipment/Supplies needed to clean recurring house cleaning services.
The great thing about only cleaning recurring house cleaning jobs is you will not need to invest in expensive equipment since you will not be cleaning heavy-duty jobs. Therefore, a residential vacuum and a steam mop are all you will need in the way of equipment. For cleaning supplies, a good all-purpose cleaner and microfiber towels will go a long way for these types of cleans.
You’ll want to get good quality dusters one that will reach high places such as ceiling fans and a small hand duster for surfaces. Because you will be cleaning the home frequently, there will be little need for heavy-duty dusting with wet clothes and cleaners.
How much you can make cleaning recurring house cleaning services?
Each cleaning service will bring in anywhere from You will make less money with each cleaning service. $65 – $200 a cleaning service. The less frequently you clean, the more you will charge, and the larger the home the more you will charge.
To scale this type of business, it is best to develop a cleaning checklist that you will perform at each visit. This will make it easier to set your cleaning prices. Any services outside of that checklist you would charge more for. This way too, you can charge a flat fee based on the size of the home and charge the same rate for each cleaning service.
How to market for residential house cleaning services
To market your recurring house cleaning business, you will target homeowners. Networking events that are more focused on homeowners and working professionals will be your target. Local online marketing will be beneficial. Creating a website and linking to local review sites will be great exposure to the market to homeowners looking for recurring house cleaning.
You can also target and network with large employers. Reaching out to HR departments to create a relationship and possibly offering free cleaning service to the employee of the year.
Starting a Vacation Rental Cleaning Service
Vacation rental types of cleaning services are more common in high tourism areas. Where I live on the coast of Florida, most of the homes lining the beaches are vacation rentals. So, cleaning businesses can focus solely on cleaning vacation rentals.
Vacation rentals generally have to be cleaned in a very tight timeframe. If you think of a hotel, they have check out at 10 am and by 3 pm the new renters are checking in. Therefore, with these types of cleaning services, you have to clean all areas of the home, plus change out linens and make beds. In addition to cleaning, you may be asked to stock supplies such as soap and paper products.
To save time, some cleaning services will bring clean linens with them and bring back the used linens and wash them after the cleaning. This way they are not doing laundry on top of cleaning.
For the most part, these types of cleaning services are predictable and don’t require heavy-duty cleaning. Most renters want to get their deposit back so, the home is generally left in a clean manner. There may be the occasional mess, we once cleaned after a 4th of July weekend. There were bottles left everywhere and smudges on walls and surfaces. We had to do a thorough deep clean, and there was so much trash we had to haul bags and bags away.
Equipment/Supplies needed to clean recurring house cleaning services
With vacation rental cleanings you will not normally have to use heavy-duty cleaning materials. Most supplies used for recurring house cleaning will suffice for vacation rental cleanings. If you clean in an area where most floorings are tile, it would be a good idea to invest in a good steam-cleaning mop. Not like the upright steam cleaners, but those that use steam vapor. These types of steamers cut your mopping time drastically.
A larger industrial broom is also helpful if you have to keep outside patios or garages swept.
How much you can make cleaning vacation rental cleaning services
Vacation rentals do take longer to clean than recurring residential house cleaning does. Not because the cleaning is harder, but because of the time to replace the linens and restock supplies.
Because of this, the cleaning services will cost slightly more than what can be charged for recurring house cleaning services. Vacation rental cleaning fees can range from $75 – $200 per clean. This depends on the size of the home and the scope of the cleaning. If you are expected to stock paper products and soups, you will add the cost of the restocking to your cleaning price. It is normal to charge a flat fee for this. For example, $10 to restock toilet paper, and $5 to restock soap.
How to market for residential house cleaning services
To market your vacation rental cleaning business, you will target realtors who specialize in managing vacation rentals. Like move-in/move-out cleanings, you will be working more with realtors than with homeowners.
To find individual rental owners, such as those listed on Airbnb you can list your business on a listing site such as TurnOverBnB.
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