Residential Cleaning

Startup Costs: Under $2,000
Home Based: Can be operated from home.
Franchises Available? Yes
Online Operation? Yes

THE BRIEF

Residential cleaning is a multibillion-dollar industry, and it's not hard to get your piece of this very lucrative pie. Start-up investment and equipment costs are minimal and there is no shortage of work. Job duties include dusting, vacuuming, washing surfaces, mopping floors, and polishing mirrors and fixtures. You may also choose to offer add-on services such as interior window washing and deep cleans. In general, residential cleaners supply all cleaning products and equipment (such as a vacuum or steam cleaner). Ideally, you want to land customers who will be using your service regularly —daily, weekly or bi-weekly — instead of only occasionally. The best way to market your services is with an online ad. It's also easy to expand this business: Simply subcontract with cleaners who have their own transportation and either pay them an hourly rate or negotiate an income-splitting plan. 

ASK THE PROS

How much money can you make?

Most cleaners charge in the vicinity of $15 to $30 per hour. On average, owners of cleaning firms make about $56,000 a year, while 10 percent earn more than $110,000, according to Zip Recruiter.

What kind of experience do you need to have?

"You need to be as skilled digitally as you are with a mop or buffer. The cleaning business may not be particularly high tech, but you don't have time to do estimates, billing, payroll, inventory control and other record-keeping by hand. Your business should also have an extensive online presence with a website, social media accounts and an app (you could contract the building of one out)." — Start Your Own Cleaning Service from Entrepreneur Press

What is the most important thing to know about this business?

“With cleaning, it’s a trust thing. When you trust someone, they’ll refer you." — Kristen Hadeed, founder of Student Maid

Needed Equipment

You'll need to have your own transportation and invest in supplies like a vacuum cleaner, buckets, dusters, mops, rags, cleaning solvents, and a stepladder.