Many people today want to transition from their demanding 9-5 job into a business of their own. They’re already living on a budget and wonder what it would take to start a cleaning business for free or with no money as an investment.
This is like asking, “Is it possible to get something for nothing?”
Yes, you can always get something for nothing, but what is the value of that something? If we’re talking about physical products, the quality may or may not be something you actually want. It may be something that you can put work into, so you’re trading the work for the lack of funds.
When you’re thinking about starting a cleaning business, this issue is actually a possibility, but again you need to look at the quality of what you are offering and what you will get in return.
Starting with No Money
You can get started using the products and equipment you already have and use in your home, or you can plan on using your client’s. That’s the easy part – now you need to determine how you will get clients.
You can start by soliciting your family, friends, and neighbors. You can then use this as a base for testimonials and referrals to build your customer base.
Use Other People’s Money
This is an industry that has a low entry point, so you can get started for under $100. This number depends on your legal entity, trading work for cash, your products and equipment, and your advertising. Your best chances of getting customers quickly with advertising is to use Craigslist or flyers to canvas neighborhoods.
Determine how much money you need need and:
- Ask a friend or family member for a loan.
- Use a credit card – you can even find one with a 60-day term instead of a 30-day.
- Crowdfunding Sites.
- Schedule customers with an up-front deposit.
- Small Business Administration.
- Micoloan Sites – Prosper and Lending Club.
The End Result
Starting a house cleaning business with no money is certainly a possibility… you just need to be willing to get out there and hustle to get customers.
Consider the quality of the customers
Consider this: You download a flyer from the Internet that uses low-quality graphics and fonts. The flyer is not impressive, but it is something you can use to canvas your neighborhoods.
- Who is going to respond to this flyer?
- What will those people be willing to pay?
- What is in their mind as they review your flyer?
You need to think about this in relation to someone else using a high quality flyer or door hanger. Who would get the call and who would get paid the best in relation to the work that is needed?
This is the difference between running a business and trading work for cash. When you run a business, you set the terms. When you trade work for cash, the customer sets the terms.
Once you have money coming in to support your efforts, you can always transition into a legal house cleaning business – just make sure you understand the pitfalls in the meantime.
If you want to learn more about starting a house cleaning business, check out our comprehensive guide on starting a successful house cleaning business. We cover everything you need to know to start and run a thriving cleaning service.
