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Wanting to start a home cleaning service?

I'm wanting to start a home cleaning service, it's not going to be a place that has employees, just basically myself, I have some things that I will be doing: Will Vacuum, sweep, mop and dust Clean all bathroom's Clean all mirror's, blinds, and windows Mop all title floors Clean all bathrooms and kitchens plus counter's and sinks Dust desks, tables, end tables, night stands, TV stands, coffee tables, dressers, cabinet's/china cabinets Clean up rooms left by mess children, will put away toys, will put away video games, game consoles, remote controls, game controller, DVDs Start early as either 8am or 9am Accept cash only Will offer a 20% discount to new customers Will give out a free demonstration Will clean up dirty dishes Will clean picture frames and furniture Will charge $15, $30, $40 or $60 Can work on Weekends and/or Holidays upon request Will empty out trash in all rooms Will clean lamps/lamp shades Will only use customer's cleaning supplies in the very beginning then will use my own cleaning supplies Will clean up after animals It's not going to be a big business or anything, nor am I going to want a store for anything like that for the place. The clients can call my cell phone make an appointment with me. I don't know where to start, or how. I don't have the money to buy my own supplies yet. I'm mostly looking for residential places to do this. For those people who just don't have the time to clean themselves..can anyone think of anything that I could add to my list or where I could start? Thanks for reading this!!

Public Comments

1. Before you even have your first customer, be sure to buy a Janitorial Bond (insurance). This is not expensive ( as low as $50 per year) and it is essential. You need to protect yourself in case of breakage, accusations of theft, etc. Sounds like you are trying to offer as much service as possible. Few things on your list are not customarily done by a regular cleaning service. Hope you charge extra for those sevices (e.g. cleaning up after animals; holiday service). Also, do not be giving away your services just to attract customers (20% discount to new customers). Have fair & reasonable rates and do an excellent job...that will make them call you again.
2. Instead of saying what you will do ask the customers what they want. Some only want you to use their cleaning supplies so they can control the chemicals in the home. When I hired someone I didn't want them to do laundry but some might want that. I wanted things like the inside of the refrigerator or windows done occasionally. My brother has his housekeeper change the bedding on our mom's bed but he does the laundry, they don't ever have dirty dishes or children messes since the youngest person in the house is 60. Charge by the half day and give a good 4 hours labor doing what they want and you can charge a good price and keep customers. Don't give a new customer discount, new customers have twice the work, once you get the house clean it is easier but that is where you lose the customers because you start to slack off.
3. as said start by registering your business , then buy insurance , then select a name then start advertising your business , call all your friends and relative to tell them about your service , then create a facebook page for your business and suggest it to all your friends and tell them to post it to all their friends it need trust in this business so start with poeple who already know you
4. If you came to my humble and modest house, I wouldn't expect you to do half the things on your list. A sweep and mop takes me about an hour and a half, and I have a method. Which is bad for you. You are doing a lot. Maybe too much. And way too cheap. I would stay away from doing the dishes, giving free demos, and picking up after messy children. The idea here is that you are the maid, not the lil beotch. Imagine if you say you'll do the dishes and you show up and theres no dishwasher, or any dish soap. I would also take checks. And not give too high of a discount for new customers, yet give incentive for old customers to stick around. But like I said, the important thing is to teach good habits to your clients. For instance, in my lawn care biz, I mow around dog poop, unreeled hoses, bbq pits, kids toys, etc. You can bet that all of those things get picked up the next time im out to mow again, because I ain't your beotch. Its not being rude, its sending a message saying "Hey, I'll give you a thorough job if let me do it."