---
name: cleaning-business
description: |
  Complete guide to starting and growing a cleaning business covering service pricing, supplies and equipment, scheduling systems, hiring and training, quality control, insurance requirements, client acquisition, and scaling from solo operator to team-based operation. Use when the user asks about cleaning business or needs help with related topics. Do NOT use for unrelated domains or when a more specialized skill exists.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "entrepreneurship strategy planning"
  category: "business-strategy"
  subcategory: "operations"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---

# Cleaning Business

## When to Use

**Use this skill when:**
- The user wants to start or grow a residential or commercial cleaning business
- The user needs help with service pricing, supplies selection, scheduling systems, or quality control
- The user wants guidance on hiring, training cleaning staff, or scaling from solo operator to team
- The user needs client acquisition strategies, insurance requirements, or operational workflows for cleaning services

**Do NOT use this skill when:**
- The user wants general small business advice not specific to cleaning (use solopreneur-toolkit or business-planner instead)
- The user is looking for household cleaning tips for personal use (use relevant home-household skill)
- The user needs help with a different service business type (use the relevant business-type skill)

## Process

1. **Gather requirements.** Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.

2. **Analyze the situation.** Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to cleaning business.

3. **Develop the framework.** Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.

4. **Deliver actionable output.** Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.

5. **Address edge cases.** Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.

**Use this skill when:**
- User needs guidance on cleaning business
- User asks about cleaning business best practices or techniques
- User wants a structured approach to cleaning business

**Do NOT use this skill when:**
- A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
- The request is outside the scope of cleaning business
## Questions to Ask First

Before providing guidance, establish the operator's situation:

1. Are you starting out or already operating?
2. What type of cleaning? (Residential, commercial, specialty like move-out or post-construction)
3. Are you currently solo or do you have a team?
4. What is your service area (radius from base)?
5. How many clients do you currently serve per week?
6. What is your average job price and hourly earning?
7. Do you have business insurance?
8. What transportation do you have?
9. What is your target income goal?
10. Are you looking to stay small or scale into a larger operation?

## Service Pricing

### Pricing Models
```
MODEL 1: FLAT RATE (Recommended for Residential)
  Price based on home size, condition, and service level
  Quote after walkthrough or detailed questionnaire

  Standard Clean (Recurring):
    1BR/1BA apartment:    $100-$150
    2BR/2BA home:         $130-$200
    3BR/2BA home:         $170-$260
    4BR/3BA home:         $220-$350
    5BR+ home:            $300-$500+

  Deep Clean (First-Time or Seasonal):
    Add 50-100% to standard pricing
    Covers inside appliances, baseboards, windows, deep scrub

  Move-In/Move-Out:
    Add 75-125% to standard pricing
    Full property, inside cabinets, appliances, walls

MODEL 2: HOURLY RATE
  Solo cleaner:     $35-$60/hour
  Team of two:      $60-$100/hour
  Minimum charge:   2-3 hours

  Pros: Simple, fair for variable jobs
  Cons: Penalizes efficiency; clients worry about clock-watching

MODEL 3: SQUARE FOOTAGE
  Standard clean:   $0.08-$0.15/sq ft
  Deep clean:       $0.15-$0.30/sq ft
  Commercial:       $0.05-$0.12/sq ft (higher volume, simpler tasks)

MODEL 4: PER ROOM
  Per room rate:    $20-$40/room
  Bathroom premium: $30-$50/bathroom
  Kitchen premium:  $40-$60/kitchen
```

### Pricing Calculation Worksheet
```
JOB PRICING FORMULA:
  Estimated time:          ___ hours
  x Target hourly rate:    $___ /hour
  = Base labor cost:       $___
  + Supply cost (5-10%):   $___
  + Travel cost:           $___
  + Profit margin (20-30%):$___
  = QUOTED PRICE:          $___

RECURRING CLIENT DISCOUNT:
  Weekly service:    15-20% discount from deep clean rate
  Biweekly:         10-15% discount
  Monthly:           5-10% discount
  One-time:          Full price

Always quote the recurring rate and show savings vs. one-time
```

### Commercial Cleaning Pricing
```
COMMERCIAL FACTORS:
  Square footage:           ___
  Frequency:                Daily / 3x week / 2x week / Weekly
  Type of space:            Office / Medical / Retail / Industrial
  After-hours requirement:  Yes / No
  Special requirements:     Floor care, restrooms, kitchen

COMMERCIAL PRICING RANGES:
  Small office (<2,000 sq ft):    $200-$600/month (2x/week)
  Medium office (2-5,000 sq ft):  $500-$1,500/month (3x/week)
  Large office (5-10,000 sq ft):  $1,200-$3,500/month (5x/week)

  Commercial contracts: 12-month terms with annual increase clause (3-5%)
```

## Supplies and Equipment

### Starter Supply Kit
```
CLEANING SOLUTIONS:
[ ] All-purpose cleaner (concentrate to save money)
[ ] Glass cleaner
[ ] Bathroom disinfectant
[ ] Toilet bowl cleaner
[ ] Stainless steel cleaner
[ ] Wood floor cleaner
[ ] Degreaser (for kitchens)
[ ] Microfiber-safe detergent

TOOLS:
[ ] Microfiber cloths (30+ in rotation, color-coded)
[ ] Scrub brushes (grout, toilet, general)
[ ] Squeegee (windows and shower glass)
[ ] Dusting wand (extendable)
[ ] Caddy/bucket for carrying supplies
[ ] Spray bottles (labeled)
[ ] Mop with washable pads
[ ] Broom and dustpan
[ ] Rubber gloves (multiple sizes)
[ ] Trash bags (various sizes)

COLOR-CODING SYSTEM:
  Blue: General surfaces and glass
  Green: Kitchen and food areas
  Red: Bathrooms and toilets
  Yellow: Specialty (high-touch surfaces, disinfecting)
  Never cross-contaminate between zones

EQUIPMENT (As You Grow):
[ ] Commercial vacuum (backpack style for speed)
[ ] Steam cleaner
[ ] Floor scrubber (for commercial)
[ ] Carpet extractor (for add-on service)
[ ] Pressure washer (exterior add-on)
```

### Supply Cost Management
```
SUPPLY COST TARGET: 5-10% of revenue

COST-SAVING STRATEGIES:
  1. Buy concentrates, not ready-to-use (50-70% savings)
  2. Buy in bulk from janitorial suppliers (not retail stores)
  3. Use microfiber cloths (reusable 200-500 washes vs. paper towels)
  4. Track usage per job to identify waste
  5. Standardize on a few products (reduces inventory complexity)

MONTHLY SUPPLY BUDGET:
  Solo operator:      $50-$100/month
  Team of 2-3:        $150-$300/month
  5+ person operation: $300-$700/month
```

## Scheduling and Route Planning

### Scheduling System
```
BOOKING SOFTWARE OPTIONS:
  Jobber:        $49-$149/month (best for field service businesses)
  Housecall Pro: $59-$199/month (cleaning-specific features)
  Launch27:      $75-$175/month (built for cleaning businesses)
  ZenMaid:       $49-$149/month (designed for maid services)
  Square Appointments: $0-$69/month (simple, affordable)

SCHEDULE STRUCTURE:
  Monday-Friday primary service days
  Saturday: Premium/overflow (charge 10-15% more)
  Sunday: Off (or emergency/special projects)

  Daily capacity per cleaner: 3-5 standard residential cleans
  Allow 30-45 minutes between jobs for travel and buffer
```

### Route Optimization
```
ROUTE PLANNING RULES:
  1. Group clients by geographic area by day of week
  2. Monday and Friday: Closest to home base (shortest days for energy)
  3. Assign recurring clients the same day/time slot
  4. Stack jobs in a logical driving sequence (minimize backtracking)
  5. Keep 1-2 open slots per week for new clients and make-ups

ROUTE EFFICIENCY METRICS:
  Target drive time between jobs: Under 20 minutes
  Maximum daily drive time: 60-90 minutes total
  Revenue per mile target: $5-$10+

TOOLS:
  Google Maps route optimization
  Jobber or Housecall Pro auto-scheduling
  OptimoRoute for complex multi-team routing
```

## Hiring and Training

### When to Hire
```
HIRING TRIGGERS:
  - You're turning down work regularly
  - Wait time for new clients exceeds 2 weeks
  - You're working 6-7 days per week
  - Revenue exceeds $5,000/month (solo capacity ceiling)
  - You want to focus on sales and management, not cleaning

FIRST HIRE OPTIONS:
  Option A: Part-time helper (work alongside you, 20 hrs/week)
  Option B: Full-time cleaner (take over your existing clients)
  Option C: Subcontractor (independent, they use your clients)

  Recommended: Option A first, transition to B as volume grows
```

### Training Protocol
```
NEW HIRE TRAINING (40 hours minimum):

WEEK 1: Shadow and Learn
  Day 1: Company overview, policies, safety, supply training
  Day 2-3: Shadow experienced cleaner, observe techniques
  Day 4-5: Clean alongside trainer, receive feedback

WEEK 2: Supervised Cleaning
  Day 1-3: Clean independently with trainer checking work
  Day 4-5: Solo clean with post-clean inspection

QUALITY STANDARDS CHECKLIST (Per Room):
  Kitchen:
  [ ] Counters clear and sanitized
  [ ] Stovetop and backsplash clean
  [ ] Sink scrubbed and shining
  [ ] Appliance fronts wiped
  [ ] Floor swept and mopped
  [ ] Trash emptied, new liner

  Bathroom:
  [ ] Toilet inside, outside, base, behind
  [ ] Shower/tub scrubbed, no soap scum
  [ ] Mirror streak-free
  [ ] Counter and sink spotless
  [ ] Floor mopped, corners clean
  [ ] Fixtures polished

  Living Areas:
  [ ] All surfaces dusted (top to bottom)
  [ ] Floors vacuumed or mopped
  [ ] Couch cushions straightened
  [ ] Light switches and door handles wiped
  [ ] Baseboards spot-checked
  [ ] Trash emptied

TRAINING DOCUMENTATION:
  - Written cleaning procedures manual
  - Photo examples of "done right" vs. "needs improvement"
  - Video library of techniques
  - Signed training completion acknowledgment
```

### Compensation for Cleaning Staff
```
PAY STRUCTURES:
  Hourly: $15-$22/hour (starting), $18-$28 (experienced)
  Per job: 40-50% of job revenue
  Salary: $28,000-$42,000/year for full-time

  Bonus opportunities:
  - Perfect quality inspection: $25 bonus
  - Client compliment/5-star review: $10-$25 bonus
  - Zero callbacks in a month: $50 bonus
  - Referral bonus (new hire): $100-$250

BENEFITS TO CONSIDER (for retention):
  - Paid time off (even 5 days goes a long way)
  - Mileage reimbursement
  - Supply kit provided
  - Quarterly team appreciation event
  - Annual raise tied to performance metrics
```

## Quality Control

### Inspection System
```
INSPECTION FREQUENCY:
  New cleaner: Every job for first 2 weeks
  Standard: Random inspection 1-2x per month per cleaner
  Post-complaint: 3 consecutive inspections

INSPECTION METHODS:
  1. In-person walkthrough (scheduled or surprise)
  2. Post-clean photos (cleaner photographs key areas)
  3. Client feedback surveys (automated after each clean)
  4. Mystery client (have someone you trust book and evaluate)

INSPECTION SCORECARD:
  Kitchen:           ___/20
  Bathrooms:         ___/20
  Bedrooms:          ___/15
  Living areas:      ___/15
  Floors:            ___/15
  Details:           ___/15
  TOTAL:             ___/100

  Passing score: 85+
  Below 70: Retraining required
  Below 60: Reclean and performance warning

CALLBACK POLICY:
  Client reports missed area → return same day or next morning
  No charge to client; document for cleaner review
  Target callback rate: Under 3%
```

## Insurance Requirements
```
REQUIRED INSURANCE:
  General Liability: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
  Covers: Property damage, bodily injury at client's home
  Cost: $400-$800/year for solo, $800-$2,000 for teams

  Workers Compensation: Required when you have employees
  Covers: Employee injuries on the job
  Cost: $500-$2,000/year per employee (varies by state)

  Commercial Auto: If using vehicles for business
  Covers: Accidents while driving to/from jobs
  Cost: $1,200-$3,000/year per vehicle

RECOMMENDED:
  Bonding (Surety Bond): $10,000-$25,000 bond
  Covers: Employee theft (huge trust builder for marketing)
  Cost: $100-$300/year

  Umbrella Policy: $1M additional coverage
  Cost: $200-$500/year

MARKETING VALUE:
  "Licensed, bonded, and insured" is a trust signal that
  separates professional cleaners from casual operators.
  Include this in all marketing materials.
```

## Client Acquisition

### Marketing Channels (Ranked by ROI)
```
1. REFERRALS (Lowest cost, highest conversion)
   - Ask every happy client for referrals
   - Offer: "$25 off your next clean for every referral who books"
   - Referral card or text with booking link

2. GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE (Free)
   - Complete profile with photos of work
   - Collect reviews aggressively (ask after every clean)
   - Post weekly updates
   - Target: 50+ reviews, 4.8+ rating within first year

3. NEXTDOOR (Free/Low Cost)
   - Business page and neighborhood recommendations
   - Respond to cleaning service requests
   - Encourage clients to recommend you on Nextdoor

4. FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM
   - Before/after photos
   - Cleaning tips content
   - Local community group engagement
   - Targeted ads to homeowners in service area ($5-$15/day)

5. GOOGLE LOCAL SERVICE ADS
   - Pay per lead (not per click)
   - "Google Guaranteed" badge builds trust
   - Cost: $15-$40 per lead

6. THUMBTACK / YELP / ANGI
   - Lead generation platforms
   - Higher cost per lead ($10-$50)
   - Good for getting initial clients

7. DOOR HANGERS / FLYERS
   - Target neighborhoods where you already clean
   - Include specific offer ("First deep clean $99")
   - Low tech but effective in residential areas
```

### Client Onboarding Process
```
STEP 1: INQUIRY (Respond within 1 hour)
  - Phone, text, email, or online form
  - Ask: Home size, # of bedrooms/bathrooms, pets, frequency desired

STEP 2: ESTIMATE
  - In-person walkthrough (best), virtual video tour, or phone questionnaire
  - Note: Level of clutter, pet hair, special surfaces, access instructions
  - Provide written quote within 24 hours

STEP 3: BOOKING
  - Client accepts quote
  - Collect payment info (credit card on file)
  - Send welcome email: What to expect, how to prepare, access instructions

STEP 4: FIRST CLEAN
  - Deep clean (sets the baseline)
  - Walk through with client afterward if possible
  - Confirm recurring schedule

STEP 5: FOLLOW-UP (24 hours later)
  - "How did everything look? Anything we should adjust?"
  - This catches issues early and shows you care
  - Ask for review
```

## Scaling From Solo to Team

### Growth Stages
```
STAGE 1: SOLO OPERATOR ($0-$5K/month)
  Focus: Build client base, perfect your process
  Revenue: $3,000-$5,000/month
  Capacity: 15-25 recurring clients
  Priorities:
  - Get insured
  - Build online reviews
  - Create cleaning checklists
  - Set up scheduling software

STAGE 2: FIRST HIRE ($5K-$10K/month)
  Focus: Duplicate yourself
  Revenue: $5,000-$10,000/month
  Team: 1-2 cleaners
  Priorities:
  - Document every process (training manual)
  - Quality control system
  - Workers comp insurance
  - Uniforms and branding

STAGE 3: MULTIPLE TEAMS ($10K-$25K/month)
  Focus: Systems and management
  Revenue: $10,000-$25,000/month
  Team: 3-8 cleaners, 2-3 teams
  Priorities:
  - Team leads for each route
  - Office manager or virtual assistant
  - Payroll and HR systems
  - Fleet management
  - Consistent marketing pipeline

STAGE 4: OPERATIONS MANAGER ($25K+/month)
  Focus: Strategic growth
  Revenue: $25,000+/month
  Team: 8+ cleaners, dedicated management
  Priorities:
  - Hire operations manager (you step out of daily cleaning)
  - Commercial contracts for revenue stability
  - Multiple service lines (carpet, windows, pressure washing)
  - Consider franchise or additional territories
```

### Financial Benchmarks
```
MONTHLY P&L:
  Revenue:                       $________
  Direct labor (if team):        $________ (target: 40-50%)
  Supplies:                      $________ (target: 5-10%)
  GROSS PROFIT:                  $________ (target: 45-55%)

  Operating Expenses:
  Insurance:                     $________
  Vehicle/fuel:                  $________
  Marketing:                     $________ (target: 5-10%)
  Software:                      $________
  Phone/internet:                $________
  Accounting:                    $________
  TOTAL OPERATING:               $________

  NET PROFIT:                    $________ (target: 20-35% solo, 15-25% with team)

KEY METRICS:
  Revenue per cleaner per day:   $________ (target: $300-$600)
  Client retention rate:         ________% (target: 85-95%)
  Average client lifetime:       ________ months (target: 18-36)
  Client lifetime value:         $________ (monthly rate x lifetime)
  Cost per new client:           $________ (target: under $50)
```

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not getting insured before your first client
2. Underpricing to win business (race to the bottom kills profitability)
3. No written service agreement with clients
4. Skipping the deep clean on the first visit (hard to maintain without a baseline)
5. Not asking for reviews (reviews are your #1 growth tool)
6. Hiring before you have documented processes
7. Using personal car insurance for business driving
8. No cancellation or lockout policy (costs you money)
9. Trying to clean everything yourself past $5K/month
10. Not tracking time per job (you can't improve what you don't measure)


## Output Format

Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.

```
[Cleaning Business deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timeline
```


## Example

**Input:** "Help me with cleaning business for a mid-size project."

**Output:** A complete cleaning business framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.


## Edge Cases

- **Incomplete information:** Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
- **Conflicting requirements:** Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
- **Scale mismatch:** Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
- **Domain crossover:** When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
