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In this article, I’ll share 3 things you should do before you start a business
Before you start a new business, you must know that there are many people who are already doing it successfully. In order to compete with those experienced people, you have to know the rules of the business really well. Take the time to learn what it takes to succeed in this particular area.
As you start your own business, the overwhelming anxiety might take over you before you even take your first step. It’s a competitive world out there and there’s just so many distractions and competitors that you tend to compare yourself with. But if you are open to learning from others, you will have your fair share of success before you know it.
Network
Meet new, like-minded people who share the same passion for business and success as yours. Listen to their stories, how they began, what they did to get to where they are, and why they choose to still do what they do. Listen, take down notes if you must, and keep an open mind that if they were able to do it, there’s no reason for you not to!
Where to Network
Local Meetup and Facebook groups are a good place to start. Look into the groups that are available in your city or in the cleaning niche you’re interested in and join in the conversation. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. One of the most informative and active groups on Facebook is Strategies for Success. They are a group of carpet cleaning businesses, but their posts are very informative and will show you what it takes to run a successful business. They are hard-core business owners!
Research
Do your own research. Starting your own business is actually very scientific and methodical. There are guidelines and principles that have been the backbone of many successful brands and corporation and it wouldn’t hurt to refer to these, too.
Where to Start Your Research
The Internet is loaded with people who are sharing information about how to start a cleaning business. Before you get overwhelmed, have some idea of what type of cleaning business you want to start. Are you willing to work nights and weekends? Then commercial cleaning might be for you. Does the idea of working in nice homes appeal to you? Then you would do well in residential cleaning. Are you willing to invest in the machines to do carpet cleaning or trashcan cleaning?
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Having some idea of what type of cleaning interests you will save you a lot of wasted time and overwhelm. Start with this blog post on starting a business with no prior business experience.
If you have managed people in the past, you might want to start your business quickly by hiring people to do the cleaning for you. If not, then doing the work yourself will teach you a lot about your clients, cleaning techniques, and what you will need to train your workers when that time comes.
Mentor
Find a mentor. Is there someone within your close circle who shares the same passion for business and drive for success? Do you find yourself fascinated by how he or she did something? A mentor should be your source of wisdom and inspiration. When you doubt yourself or go through challenges in your business, a mentor should be someone who’s only a call away.
Where to Find Mentors
Google your cleaning niche plus the word “coach.” You’ll find plenty of information on the people who you can hire to mentor you.
Look into Facebook Groups – there are plenty of groups you can join even if you haven’t started your business yet. I will caution you on the danger of joining too many groups. Unless you sign up for the group notification, you won’t see their posts, so make sure you do that right after you join. Also be aware that there are many different ways to build a cleaning business. Each group and its members have their own cleaning business in their city, which may not be the right fit for your city.
This is why doing your own research is so important. I see people in all these groups – even my own – asking for advice on what to charge; how long it will take to clean; what products to use; and how to handle specific situations. You must know that what other people charge may not work in your city because your rate should be competitive where you plan to run your business.Their cleaning rate may be loaded with extras to cover overhead that you don’t have in your business. The products they recommend may not be available in your city and how they handle some situations may not work or be legal in your city.
Lastly, when looking for a coach or mentor – someone you can trust – make sure you are following someone who has actually built the type of business you want to build. Anyone can write an article or create a website selling information… that doesn’t mean they have actually built a business in that niche. It just means they are making money selling you information.
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