The cleaning service business, whether residential or commercial, can be successfully started by just one person. Aside from the name and establishing where your office will be (at home would be best at the beginning), plus getting the equipment you need, the other thing that you need to focus on is how to market your business and sell your cleaning services to prospective clients.

If you decide on a janitorial service, you may

1. Scout for offices and other establishments such as schools, stores and hospitals that are in need of cleaning services or those that are actively looking for one. You can start with one client a day.

2. Print out a one page proposal for your cleaning service. Put your name, your business name, and your contact numbers and address on the page. This should also include the services that you offer, how much time you need for each task and the fees that you would charge. For first time clients, offer a discount, or some services rendered for free.

3. Along with your proposal, have a client’s form too. This would be filled out by the client, the name of the contact person, the contact numbers and the address. This would also include boxes beside the services you offer that the client could just tick off to indicate which cleaning services their space would need. Also have the form include a space for the schedule that the client wants for the cleaning service. This form will help you in creating a data base of your future clients.

4. Always have business cars with you wherever you go. You can give these out while you are in the grocery or in commercial areas. Aside from giving out business cards, try as much as possible to establish communication by getting their names and digits as well. You can e-mail your proposal or call for an appointment.

If you are putting up a maid service, you may

1. Start printing out flyers with your business name and cleaning services and fees.

2. Pick a good day and stroll around neighborhoods that house a lot of working parents and start slipping your flyers in mailboxes. This is a very effective way of catching customers that are not actively seeking cleaning services but may be open to the idea.

3. Give a discount to first time clients. Also, have a continuous discount offer for homeowners that can refer you to other clients that may need cleaning services.

4. Have flyers handy wherever you go. Or you can choose to print out business cards too.

5. You can talk to local grocery owners and other stores around the area, which can display your flyers for their customers to see.

6. Get your friends and family to recommend your cleaning services to their friends and other acquaintances as well.

Marketing your cleaning service is a vital tool in getting you a steady clientele. A few days of giving out flyers or business cards and proposals will likely get people interested to hire for their cleaning needs.

For more: How to start a cleaning service