Do you want to start a cleaning business, but have no money? You long to b your own boss, your great at cleaning and people trust you, so how do you start a cleaning business when your broke?
So, is there a way for you to start a cleaning business without having to spend hundreds of dollars you don’t have?
There is! The good news is, there are FREE options and opportunities that can help generate cash to fund your new cleaning business. You don’t have to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars to start a cleaning business. It is impossible to start a cleaning business when your broke!
Please note, this article may include affiliate links. You can read the full disclosure at the bottom of the page.
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Run a Groupon Campaign and Get Cash Up Front
Ever wonder how Cleaning Businesses sell their services on Groupon and how it works? Well, I can tell you from experience it is easy to get set up and you can can run a campaign even if your a newbee business. I did, and I made $1,600 doing it!
When I first started my cleaning business, I needed a way to get cash up front and I wanted to get more exposure for me newly started Cleaning Business.
Below is a summary of what how I got cash up front with my Coupon Campaign.
- I applied to run a coupon campaign
- Within a few days a representative called me to set up, schedule and create my campaign.
- My Campaign was scheduled for a 2 week window (I wanted to keep it short for my first run. I did not want to get more purchases than I could handle.
- The Campaign ran and I sold just about 100 discounted coupons. (I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT!!!!)
- I started getting calls to book the cleaning services
- 2 weeks after my campaign closed I received a little over $1,600 in my bank account!!! It was enough to purchase my vacuum and some other equipment I was looking forward to buying and I had some left over.
- I also gained 6 new repeat clients that signed up for bi-weekly or monthly cleaning service with me.
You can read more about my experience in running the campaign and my lessons learned in my blog post Selling Your Cleaning Services on GROUPON.
If you are ready to start your first campaign, you can create your merchant account here.
Here is a look at a sample campaign …
Free Marketing for Your Cleaning Business when your broke
Just because your broke, does not mean you can’t create an online presence for your new Cleaning Business. You will have to market your cleaning business if you want to get clients. But how do you do that when you have no money?
Create a Facebook Business Account for Free
There are about 2.7 million Facebook users. This makes Facebook a great platform to market your business, and its FREE!
Now I am not saying that you should not have a website once you start making money. The Facebook Business Page is not a replacement for a well developed website. But it is perfect for when you start a cleaning business when your broke and you have no money to spend on webhosting.
The FaceBook Business page has all the necessary information needed for an online site. There is a tab where you can list services, reviews, photos of your work and more.
Customers are able to interact with you on your Facebook page. When you clean a house, always ask for a review and point them to your Facebook page. This will help to build your reviews and build trust with potential customers.
Make sure to post often on your Facebook page and be authentic. When marketing to services it is important to build trust and let your customers get to know you. Building trust will build long lasting relationships and your customers will keep coming back for more for years to come.
You can create your FACEBOOK Business page here.
Sign up for Google My Business
Google My Business is a free tool for you to use to manage your listing in Google Searches and Google Maps. It is a great way for local service companies to get their name listed in Google Searches.
When a homeowner searches for Cleaning Companies in your area, your business name and listing will show in the first page results!
I searched for Cleaning Businesses in Boulder Colorado, and this is what shows at the top. A map with listings of Cleaning Companies. When you sign up for Google My Business your Cleaning company Name will be listed here.
When some clicks on your business name your business and contact information will show. Here is an example of one I clicked on.
This is great Free advertising when you start a cleaning business when you are broke. A website is not needed to create a Google My Business profile. Customers are able to leave reviews here. They can also ask questions and interact with you as well.
I have a blog post that takes you through a step by step guide on how to create a Google Business Profile
Free Online Booking & Scheduling Software
Start Scheduling clients with a free online scheduling software. Keep all of your clients data in one system, send email reminders to clients before scheduled cleanings and keep a calendar of all of your scheduled cleaning services.
PickTime Scheduling Software is a free online scheduling platform. It allows you to schedule your clients. You can store your clients data, track your earnings based on your appointments. PickTime even has the ability to send email reminders to your clients prior to their appointment.
This online software is a big win in helping your company look professional even when your broke. There is no charge for this software. The company is new, and for the time being you can get their plan for free.
Free Email Marketing
Mail Chimp
Looking for a way to send all of your email clients newsletters each month? And have professional looking templates? Mail Chimp can help you do that. Their free plan is a basic plan that offers up to 2,000 subscribers and the following:
This is perfect for when you are first starting out. As you start networking and gathering emails of interested prospects you can add them to your email list.
A great way to build your email list is to participate in a local even where you provide a giveaway for your cleaning services. When participants sign up for the drawing, you collect their name and email.
Send out monthly newsletters letting your email list know what your business is doing that month. Provide any updates on services or promotions. The idea is to keep your email list engaged so that when they are in need of a cleaning service they think of you!
Buying Supplies when you start a cleaning business and your broke
Cleaning Supplies for Free
A Cleaning Business can’t cleaning houses with out cleaning supplies and equipment. You will need to get purchase some supplies and equipment before you clean your first house.
So how do you purchase cleaning supplies when you are starting a cleaning business when your broke? You sign up for Swagbucks and earn the money.
Sign up for Swagbucks and earn gift cards to purchase your cleaning supplies. Swagbucks is an online reward site where you earn points for online searches, taking surveys, playing games shopping and more. It is FREE to sign up and you can cash in your points for gift cards.
This is a great way to purchase your cleaning supplies without spending your own money!
How much can you make with Swagbucks?
You will not get rich for sure earning points with swagbucks, but you can certainly cover the cost of your cleaning supplies with it. Most users can earn between $20 – $200 a month with their online activity. This is enough to cover the cost of your cleaning supplies. Or even save up for a vacuum cleaner.
Here is a sample of surveys you can take and the points you receive.
Below is a sample of the coupons you have access too. If you make purchases using the Swagbucks coupons you can earn cash back on your purchase in addition to the savings.
Starting a cleaning business IS possible when you are Broke!
Be sure to use these resources listed in this blog post to help you grow and run your cleaning business without having to shell out cash up front.
Have additional resources you have used or have heard about? Comment below to share with everyone!
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