Business plan to start a cleaning company
The outsourcing of companies and the new way of building open up a whole range of possibilities for entrepreneurs Cleanliness is a basic human need. It is demanded daily by homes and neighborhood communities as well as companies, facilities and organizations of all kinds: the range of clients is wide. If we plan to dedicate ourselves to this activity, it will be necessary to previously define what we want and what we can clean. Here you can read the keys to setting up a cleaning services company.
In this sector, it is possible to differentiate between three types of cleaning services.
The first is general cleaning: punctual or sporadic, they are aimed at both private homes and companies, commercial premises and other facilities. This also includes end-of-work cleaning, in-depth cleaning or cleaning of claims.
The second modality is the specific sectorial clean -ups. There are demand sectors that require specific cleaning plans, with adequate materials, techniques, machinery and personnel. These peculiarities mean that in maintenance cleaning there are also various specializations, in some cases quite complex: industrial buildings require cleaning at heights; in health centers hygiene procedures are very strict; in the agree-food and pharmaceutical sectors, staff must be suitably qualified; while industrial technical cleaning and nuclear power plants are at the top of the specialization pyramid.
The third type is specialized technical cleanings.
The maintenance Rengøring Erhverv does not cover certain elements that require specific periodic treatments, such as ceilings, upholstery, blinds or air conditioning ducts, among others. In the same way, there are special circumstances that require specific interventions, such as the removal of chewing gum, graffiti and graffiti, diamond polishing and polishing of floors, rat extermination, disinfection, environmental deodorization, sewerage, etc.
Industry figures
Although general cleaning can be a good way to start in this activity, specialized technical services and sect oral niches constitute a very good positioning opportunity to stand out from other companies in the sector. And they can generate significant demand, if an attractive, useful and differentiated offer is created in a traditional and mature sector.
According to the most recent data from the INE (2020), the number of companies dedicated to cleaning activities amounts to 34,649 (1,618 more than the previous year) and employment to 3,337,646 people. In 2018, the total turnover amounted to 10,790 million euros (1.8% more than in 2016). Although the sector is highly fragmented – 95% of it is made up of micro-enterprises, with zero to ten workers – the turnover of the top 10 operators is around 20% of the total and large companies (with 250 employees or more) generate 61% of billing. The large companies mainly provide services to the Public Administrations, while the micro-companies are especially active in the household market.
Keys to shine in the sector
Experts in this market highlight the following aspects as especially relevant to success in it:
They are the “soul” of the business and it is a particularly critical point in a sector characterized by a high rate of absenteeism, high turnover and low attachment to the profession. Training, motivation and the remuneration system are the tools to achieve employee satisfaction and ensure their productivity. In addition to the cleaning staff, commercial profiles, as well as organizational profiles, cannot be missing to achieve adequate work planning.
This aspect is vital, since cleaning services are provided periodically. Sandra Moreno, manager of Cleanliness Castile , puts it this way: “Would you leave the keys to your house to anyone?”. Its people management policy has been key to its longevity. “Many ladies (the majority of their staff is female) have been with us since the beginning. Feeling valued and managing to reconcile their personal life has been decisive,” explains Sandra Moreno.
Machinery, techniques, treatments and modern products
Being at the forefront in this area and even innovating, as well as good purchasing management, in quantity and quality, can represent considerable cost savings and productivity increases.
Attention to regulations. It is necessary to know and strictly comply with current environmental regulations, storage and handling of chemical products, as well as the regulations for subrogation of personnel, in the event that a contract changes ownership.
Getting notoriety is essential for any business, especially in the early days. This implies time and resources, so it will be necessary to have an adequate initial budget. It will be necessary to fine-tune a good mix of activities, both online – web, social networks, SEO, SEM – and offline, such as advertisements in the media, posters and signage, commercial visits, public relations (press releases, sponsorships, networking ,), etc.
