When you walk into a public building you may take for granted how clean it looks — but for the building owners, that first impression is everything. Which is why most companies rely on a commercial cleaning business to keep floors, carpets, surfaces, upholstery, and windows clean and often disinfected.
We’ve all become much more aware of not just cleanliness but the need for sanitization — especially in public places — since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set certain standards in place for cleaning practices in areas where the public gathers. The guidance was not just about keeping areas clean but killing bacteria and contaminants to minimize the spread of germs. Many companies have maintained these protocols because of the continued emphasis placed on disinfecting highly populated places.
Demand is Fueling Business
Even before the pandemic started, there was a rise in commercial cleaning business opportunities — and now it’s booming. This is a service that will always be in high demand. Companies rely on janitorial businesses to maintain a good appearance in their buildings. It means cleaners do what they do best, so that companies can in turn focus on what they do best, without having to worry about cleaning standards.
High demand equates to good business. Taking a look at the numbers from IBISWorld, janitorial services' revenue has grown at a rate of 1.2% over the past five years to $90.1 billion. The potential is there for you to make money. However, it’s tough to gauge how much you will personally make owning an independent commercial cleaning business because of many variables.
Is it Worth the Effort?
For example, your annual income and profit potential are based on factors like how much you have to pay for staffing, the competitive rate to charge your B2B customers, how much your initial equipment costs will be, cleaning supplies, vehicles, and the list goes on. What you do need to know is that creating a startup commercial cleaning business will be costly and involve many steps, including everything from your initial business plan to paying accountants and lawyers for their expertise to get your business off the ground.
To break that down even further, think about the many steps this will take. You will have to choose a business structure and take care of necessary licensing and certification to run a business according to federal, state and local laws.
Once you get things in order, you must determine how you will specialize. Will you clean large office buildings or schools, hospitals, sporting facilities, or stores? You must decide on your specialty. Once you know your market, you have to come up with a way to target your demographic. How will you stand out among the competition in your area? Devising an effective marketing plan is a priority for success.
You will have to hire and train staff, find a supplier for the equipment your crews will need and learn how to use a software program for invoicing.
Better Opportunity Awaits
It’s a lot. But there’s a simpler route you can take that still allows you to enjoy business ownership while taking care of these details for you. With ServiceMaster Clean, you pay an initial franchise fee that serves as an entry fee to utilize an established and proven model for your commercial cleaning franchise.
We’ve been helping customers as a janitorial franchise for more than 65 years and have more than 900 ServiceMaster Clean franchises in 12 countries. As a prospective franchisee, you should feel good about your investment in a brand that shows stability and growth.
As a franchise owner, you benefit from the skills of our development team. They’re dedicated to keeping your business running efficiently so you can meet your business goals. You’ll be positioned to build your business thanks to:
- Recurring revenue model: Customers choose daily, weekly, or monthly service.
- Recession-resistance: This is a high-demand industry that’s always needed.
- Affordability: Low initial investment
- Proprietary products: Developed to better sanitize and speed the cleaning process.
- Ongoing support: We are here for your success.
- Brand recognition: We have worked hard to create high standards.
Starting a commercial cleaning business from scratch is tough stuff. But by becoming a ServiceMaster Clean franchise owner, you have the potential for quicker ramp-up through our operations and training by franchise experts.
If you’re ready to get started on a new career opportunity in a growing industry with a brand that’s earned customer trust over six decades, we’re excited to get the conversation started with you.