Perspective Entrepreneurs’ the From
Multinationals emerging in the major cities of India, namely, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Gurgoan, have been provided with a good opportunity to enter into housekeeping services. A commercial cleaning business opportunity is another niche area requiring a clear identification of the market segment one would like to enter into. This business is actually economy proof, because offices will always get dirty on a daily basis. This business does not require extraordinary trade skills. All it takes is to build a team of committed people, a bit of determination and willingness to get a job well done. One does not even need huge investment, but for certain mechanized equipments. It is a minimal investment for great future earnings!
The only major challenge for a commercial cleaning business is that one has to fetch a contract from one’s potential clients, as it ensures that one has steady clients, not just one-shot ones who may or may not call one back; as long as one is able to satisfy them on a continuing basis. As such, goodwill created with a few clients on account of good service helps one in getting new clients. One can even enlarge one’s clientele base by entering into cleaning home owners, apartment renters, hotels and any place that needs someone to do their cleaning for them. One will never run out of potential clients with this business. Think of a niche that no one wants to clean; one may find oneself to be the only one out there willing to do those dirty jobs.
The word ‘commercial’ can be scary and daunting. However, it is not as hard as the word implies. Contrary to popular belief, one does not need expensive cleaning solutions or equipment to start off with. One can start this business with the items that one uses around one’s home. Clients will generally tell one whether they want specific cleaning solvents or things used, and they can provide these. One can bring along one’s standard cleaning equipment: cloths, brooms, vacuums and one’s trusty solution.
‘Commercial’ does not mean full-time. If one is looking for a way out of one’s mundane job, or wants to become one’s own boss, then this is a great way to test the waters of the business world. Cleaning services have great potential for major earnings in the future. All one needs is a good team equipped with basic cleaning skills.
Perspective Clients’ From
While choosing the right business cleaning service for a company, one needs to clearly assess the cleaning service needs of the organization. This would require a basic understanding of cleaning services.
A commercial cleaning service provider extends services such as disposal of garbage, washing the interior windows, sweeping debris, vacuuming and mopping floors and aisles, cleaning and dusting tables and desktops and cleaning the toilets or bathrooms.
Toilet cleaning is a specialized service, as it involves multiple activities such as mopping floors, scrubbing the sinks and stalls and replenishing the consumables such as tissue and liquid soaps or soap bars for hand washing. Cleaning companies extend all or specific tasks related to toilet cleaning.
The cleaning service requirements differ a lot from company to company depending on the nature of business and the area to be cleaned. For example, a company having just 25 employees may require a cleaning service limited to trash disposal thrice a week, and an occasional vacuuming.
If company size in terms of the number of employees is larger than that, then one may opt for a daily cleaning service as against three to four times a week. There are corporate offices that lay a special emphasis on cleanliness and, therefore, may choose to have multiple cleanings each day, that is, in the morning and in the evening after work. A commercial cleaning business in the present context needs to have a specialty in cleaning all types of commercial facilities. On the other hand, there are typical industries such as hospitals that need highly specialized cleaning services. In such type of industries, entrepreneurs should ensure that one’s business cleaning service provider is well trained in cleaning one’s workplace.
Apart from taking care of the usual cleaning requirements, a good commercial cleaning business needs to provide highly specialized cleaning services such as stripping and waxing the tile floors, dusting the office furniture and pressure washing outside the building. It may also include dusting ceilings and lights that require this type of cleaning. As a customer, one should clearly define their cleaning requirements before signing the contract with service providers. The service provider should also adhere to a timing schedule so that it does not come in the way of performing duty by the employees of the company.
This industry has become highly competitive and, therefore, a company would come across umpteen number of responses, whenever they float tenders for this. While screening or choosing a particular service provider, one should make sure to choose the cleaning company that has well-trained employees and the needed cleaning equipment. The company’s reputation plays an important role while considering prospective service providers for the purpose. A reputed cleaning company takes an extra mile to ensure that their employees do not just provide cleaning services but also love cleaning offices and facilities as if they were their own properties. Customer satisfaction and building relationships should be their top priority in developing the business.
The company’s authenticity is important and a paramount matter of consideration as well. There are deceptive companies that operate illegally in the business and one should be very careful about them. Even if they are able to provide quality service, but as long as they do not conform to the State laws, hiring them for cleaning services could be a risky proposition. It is important to ensure that they possess a business license for the same to safeguard the companies’ interests in case any accidental liability occurs while they clean premises.
It is advisable to count on references in choosing the right business cleaning service agency. Testimonials, reviews and customer references can be very helpful to ensure reliability and dependability of service providers. In agreement with service providers, it is always advisable to incorporate a ‘right to cure’ clause. This would enable one to have a right to demand a review of the cleaning work, in case one is dissatisfied with the cleaning service. One can issue a notice or even revoke the contract with the cleaning service.1
1. What are the variables that one would use for doing market segmentation for cleaning business?
2. What is the difference between home cleaning business and corporate cleaning business?
3. Why has it been said that cleaning business provides a perpetual opportunity?
4. What price fixation strategy can work the best in this type of business?
5. Undertake industry and competitor analysis for corporate cleaning business with a focus on software companies in Bangalore.
6. Prepare a marketing plan for starting a housekeeping business for the three leading software companies in Bangalore.