Start a Housekeeping Business

June 22, 2012

Starting a housecleaning business is a great way to earn an excellent income right from the first day. Housecleaning businesses are consistently named one of the best business start-ups year after year. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Top 10 list for starting a Housekeeping business

  1. Choose a name for your housecleaning business.
  2. Insurance is a must, including liability insurance-your clients will be more confident in hiring you, and your personal assets will be protected if you were involved in a lawsuit.
  3. Develop policies and procedures. Consider the following: Do you want to work Mondays-Fridays, but no weekends? From 6 am to 5pm? Will you work in a house that has a dog? Will you be bringing your own supplies or will the client supply his/her own cleaning products? Do you want to be paid by cash, check or money order?
  4. Decide how much you will charge for residential cleaning. The best way to do this is to research the going rate in your area. Decide if you will charge per hour or per job.
  5. Create an information packet for potential employers. It should contain a printout of your policies and procedures, list of references, copies of your insurance information, background check and police record, and a sample work order. A sample work order for housekeeping jobs would tell what work you will do. For example, cleaning a bedroom might include dusting the ceiling fan, dusting bedroom furniture and trinkets, changing sheets, and vacuuming the carpet. Have a list for each room or housekeeping job.
  6. Advertise your housecleaning business with a post on our listings, a display ad in your local newspaper, a notice in your church bulletin, by posting a flyer or your business card on bulletin boards in grocery stores, libraries or community centers, and by word of mouth.
  7. Research the various types of ownership structures:
    • Sole proprietorship
    • Partnership
    • LLC
    • C Corporation
    • S Corporation
  8. Identify the factors involved in choosing a business structure:
    • The number of owners of your business
    • How much protection from personal liability you’ll need, which depends on your business’s risks
    • How you’d like the business to be taxed
  9. You will want to consult with a tax advisor and lawyer to be sure you are handling your income taxes properly. Don’t forget to inquire about home-based business deductions.

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