Choosing the Right Niche in Cleaning

⏱️ 42:47 🎤 Louise Trehearn, Diane Greenwood

AUDIO EPISODE

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Chapters

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0:00

Starting a Cleaning Business

The hosts introduce the topic of choosing a niche in the cleaning industry, prompted by a member's preference for after-builders cleaning over domestic.
2:01

Predictability vs. Specialization

Diane highlights the challenge of building a team around unpredictable work like post-construction cleans, contrasting it with the stability of regular domestic or office cleaning.
5:26

Scaling End of Tenancy

Louise argues that end-of-tenancy cleaning can be scaled into a successful business but requires a different model, often involving self-employed staff and specialized equipment.
12:24

Airbnb & Holiday Lets

The hosts discuss the unique challenges of Airbnb and holiday let cleaning, including turnaround times, weekend work, and the potential for it to evolve into property management.
23:34

Flexibility and Commitment

They compare the flexibility offered by domestic cleaning with the strict demands of holiday let turnovers and commercial cleaning, which often require antisocial hours and high responsibility.
39:15

Commercial Payment Terms

The hosts reveal the often-surprising and challenging 28-day payment terms common in commercial cleaning, which can lead to significant cash flow issues for new businesses.
52:01

Commercial vs. Domestic Pay

Louise and Diane debunk the myth that commercial cleaning always pays more than domestic, attributing misconceptions to underpricing domestic services or a lack of understanding of competitive quoting.
58:56

Commercial vs. Domestic Stress

The discussion shifts to the differing stress levels in commercial versus domestic cleaning, with commercial often having fewer client interactions but domestic requiring more frequent rescheduling.
1:10:51

Profitability of Deep Cleans

The hosts share experiences with deep cleans and after-builders cleans, highlighting their potential for high profitability or substantial losses due to underquoting and unexpected challenges.
1:37:23

Quoting and Client Expectations

They emphasize the importance of effective quoting and managing client expectations, especially for deep cleans and initial domestic cleans, to avoid disputes and ensure profitability.

Speakers

Louise Trehearn

Host

Diane Greenwood

Host

Key Takeaways

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Carefully consider your business model: Decide if you want predictable, recurring revenue (like regular maintenance) or project-based work (like after-builders or end-of-tenancy cleans). Project-based work can be harder to staff consistently but may offer higher individual job profits.

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Understand cash flow implications of payment terms: Commercial cleaning often involves 28-day (or longer) payment terms, which can strain cash flow for new businesses. Ensure you have sufficient working capital to cover operational costs before payment is received.

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Factor in all costs for deep cleans: Deep cleans and specialized jobs like after-builders cleaning can be highly profitable or disastrously unprofitable. Account for unexpected time, specialized equipment, and potential re-work, especially when quoting for difficult conditions.

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Manage client expectations diligently: Clearly communicate the scope of work, potential challenges (e.g., heavily soiled areas, hidden damage), and the time required. Offering tiered quotes (e.g., standard vs. comprehensive) can empower clients while protecting your profitability.

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Be aware of hidden complexities: What appears to be a simple cleaning task (e.g., cleaning a brand-new bathroom post-construction or greasy kitchen cupboards) can often take significantly longer than anticipated due to unforeseen issues like smears, residues, or intricate details.

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Don't shy away from pricing your services fairly: Many contractors underprice their services, especially in competitive markets. Research your local market, understand your costs, and quote a price that reflects the quality of your work and allows for a healthy profit margin.

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Consider the lifestyle implications of your niche: Some cleaning niches, like holiday lets or evening commercial work, demand antisocial hours or high availability. Choose a niche that aligns with your personal life goals and desired work-life balance.

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