Stanley Profile picture
Aug 27, 2019 20 tweets 4 min read Read on X
HOW TO START, SETUP AND RUN A CLEANING SERVICES BUSINESS.

I promised this thread some time ago. Here it is.

Quick question: is this business model a profitable one?

Quick answer: Yes!

But as with all businesses, there are things that MUST be done to succeed.

Let's see them.
The first thing to do:

1. Research the Market.

This is ultimate. You can't and should never ignore it. In doing this, find out:

1a. Who are the people likely to pay for your service?

Where do they stay?

What is their income and lifestyle?

Where and how can you reach them?
1b. Who are your competitors? What are they doing?

Who are they serving?

How are they promoting their business?

What method do they apply in seeking new clients?

These questions will reveal a lot to you.

You MUST study the market to fish out your ideal clients!
2. Niche Down!

In other words, decide on a target market.

Who do you want to serve?

Residential buildings? Commercial buildings? Industrial buildings? Factories?

You can niche down further.

Instead of just rendering general cleaning services, you can specialize
in window cleaning, furniture cleaning, carpet cleaning, restrooms, floor tiles, wall tiles, curtains, gardens, flowers etc.

There are many options available.
TO SET UP THE BUSINESS

3. Register a business name.

It isn't difficult or expensive to do these days. A business name gives you some level of professionalism and can engender trust.

4. Get the necessary equipment.

The niche you choose will determine the equipment.
What you'll need to clean a residential building is different from what you'll need for an industrial space.

What you'll need for window cleaning will be different for cleaning toilets.

You get the point?

So get your equipment ready.
5. Start small

This is very important. Don't pump money into something you have not tested.

Start small and when you see huge signs of success, you can scale.

But start small.

Again,

Start Small!
6. Clarify your Unique selling Proposition!

What makes your brand different? What is the one satisfaction you will bring your clients?

You need to be clear about it and let it feature prominently in all your promotional materials or discussion.
Don't think too hard about it.

Just focus on what your client needs most. Then use that as your USP.

HOW TO SOURCE FOR CLIENTS

This is the lifeblood of your business. A fancy website, classy logo and all that don't mean shit unless you have a flurry of clients you serve.
Focus on client acquisition. Very important.

How to do that?

7. LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

This may sound strange right?

This is not a business you do with laxity if you want to succeed.

You must leave your comfort zone and get active. Done, how then do you prospect?
7a. Send out cold mails.

Be brief, be direct and offer value. There are many templates to use.

7b. Carry out cold calls.

Dress impressively, step out with your business card, walk into your target organisation and ask to speak with the manager!

Yes, ask to speak with them.
Be bold, be confident, but be courteous and respectful.

You may get rejected, but don't let it get under your skin. You'll hut your pay day.

8. Run ads on social media.

Basically this is to put your business in the faces of people and have your brand somewhere in their heads.
HOW TO RUN THE BUSINESS.

Now you have everything set up. You have your first job. What to do?

9. Hire extra hands.

Don't go cleaning an office space by yourself. That'll be ridiculous.

Get workers and supervise them.

They could be hired on contract basis.
It is important to get honest and hardworking people. Don't get people who will go steal something and bring your brand to disrepute.

Train them on what your brand stands for and get then to represent that value.
You can print your logo on T-shirts and have them wear it, if you can afford it.

If you are on a tight budget, just keep it simple. A Top and a pair of jeans will do.

10. Stand out with your USP

What is that thing that your client may not expecting you to do?

Do it!
You specialize in cleaning restrooms? Buy rolls of toilet wipes and put it in the toilets

Yu clean floor tiles? Get a nice-smelling but MILD fragrance, put it in the cleaning water such that as you clean the while place comes alive.

Just go the extra mile.
11. Ask for referrals.

Yes, these business a lot on referrals. Do a good job and you'll probably get them.

However, still ask!

12. Agree on a retainer.

Focus on getting repeat jobs and not just a one-off deal.

With this, you are sure of a monthly income.
13. Promote your business.

As you get jobs and get clients, promote your business using channels that will reach your ideal clients.

YOU SHOULD NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Focus on getting new clients.

2. MANAGE YOUR FUNDS WELL!!!

3. Be smart about payment negotiations
A part payment upfront is ideal.

Some clients are EVIL, sorry to say.

Be smart.

4. Again:

Focus on getting clients

MANAGE YOUR FUNDS WELL!!!

I hope this thread enlightened you.

Take action and see how it goes for the next three months.

2019 is still yours for the taking.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Stanley

Stanley Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @RealNaijaGuy

Jul 7, 2022
You don't need to have all the information, knowledge or skill before you start that business.

There are three things you need to have to start and grow a successful business.

I'll share them with you.
1. An Open Mind.

This is the first thing you need.

Many of your currently beliefs will be violently attacked.

You'd need to unlearn and abandon some 'truths' you have held for a long time.

If you are not willing to do this, you are not ready to start and build a business.
For instance, to start and build a real and successful business (online), your FIRST priority is getting paying customers.

But no, some persons will insist on getting the best logo first

Or the cutest website or sticky brand name.

You'd learn eventually.

Open mind. Numero uno
Read 9 tweets
Jun 25, 2022
Many people fail in business because they don't have the right mindset.

If you want to build a successful business, here are five truths you need to keep in mind:

A thread.
1. You don't get what you deserved in business.

You get what you demand and negotiate.

Play small and you'll earn small.

Play big and earn big.

No one cares how long you suffered to learn the skill.

Can you demand the fee and negotiate for it?

That's what counts.
2. In business, your emotions don't affect reality.

Business will teach you the hard way that the what you feel doesn't affect results.

What you do does.

It doesn't matter if you feel it is wrong, if business says it is tight, better listen!

The market always wins.
Read 8 tweets
Jun 22, 2022
If you are at a point where you feel it is too late to start chasing your dreams,

Or that time has passed you by,

Or that you are not ready...

Read this story.

This story involves me, a vendor and an author.
Several years ago, I visited a friend at Yaba, Lagos

On my way out of his house, I asked him to direct me to a bookstore where I could buy some books.

This was the year I was a book whore.

Yes, I read everyday for hours.

But this isn't about my love for books, so follow me.
He directed me to this store owned by a man who looked like he was in his thirties.

This man was light skinned, had brown eyes and a permanent smile that never seemed to leave his face.

I liked him instantly.

He asked me what book I wanted.

I read non-fiction at the time.
Read 14 tweets
Jun 11, 2022
Let's talk about why it is difficult for people who are close to you to buy from you.

And why it seems strangers are more disposed to buy from you.

Shall we?

It's a thread.
First,

Have you ever experienced this:

You have a good product.

People close to you refuse to buy from you.

But strangers?

Na dem dey rush you?
Or this one,

where

your friend reaches out to you and asks you to offer your service to them for free?

Or at a ridiculous discount?

After all, what are friends for?

I can bet you've experienced this and, boy!, it is annoying.
Read 13 tweets
Dec 14, 2021
Is it possible to have sex today, get pregnant tomorrow and deliver the day after?

Not possible right?

In fact, the question sounds ridiculous.

But this is what we do when we start a business.

We start a new business and expect to hit millionaire status the next day.
I've come to realise that lack of patience is why many people don't achieve the results they desire.

Let me share a simple framework that can help you make important decisions and hit your goals.

I call it the 4 P's of achievement.
The first is

1. Purpose.

Before starting, ask yourself why you are doing this.

What is the motivating factor?

Are you doing it because you've seen others do it?

The problem with doing something 'just because others are doing it' is that, you don't actually pay attention to
Read 12 tweets
Jul 25, 2021
14 Killer Ways To Present Your Offer To Your Customers To Trigger Them To Buy.

This should be one of the best threads yet.

Let's gooo.

Day 9/30

(Thread)
At this time, you should know that what you present to your customer isn't your product.

What you present to them is an offer.

Question now is, what is an offer?

An offer consists of:

Your promise + Benefit + Call to action strategy.
That simple equation is what makes up your offer.

Not your product.

But

- Your promise to them
- the benefit they'll get
- every other thing that will male them take action.

It is that simple.

Today's thread will deal with the third part.

Every other thing to get them act.
Read 19 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(