Starting a carpet cleaning business is a huge undertaking, especially if you are starting from scratch.
However, once you get all of your ducks in a row, it is simpler than you might think. In fact, it is as easy as learning which steps to take and in what order to take them.
If you are chomping at the bit and ready to get started, you are in the right place. Follow along for an in-depth, step-by-step guide on starting your business.
Steps to Start a Carpet Cleaning Business
Did you know that 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years? Those are some pretty startling statistics. No entrepreneur starts out with the intention of failing, but half of them do.
Before you decide to trash your whole carpet cleaning business, however, realize that most of those businesses failed because their owners didn't take the necessary steps to ensure its success. You can create a booming business and avoid becoming one of those statistics by doing your due diligence and following along with what you learn here.
7 Steps For Starting A Carpet Cleaning Company
1. Do Your Market Research
First, before you apply for loans or start looking for commercial property, you need to do an excessive amount of market research. Market research refers to your specific type of business in your location. Try to answer the following questions:
2. Build a Business Plan
Once you have completed your market research and analysis, you can start creating your business plan. Your business plan will serve as a projection of your business for the future — typically up to 10 years.
However, your business plan will also outline the daily operations, services, products, and structure of your company. This needs to be a detailed and honest look at what you should expect.
Your business plan should also include the daily, monthly, and yearly costs of operations. Finally, all the information you found in your market research needs to be filed in the plan, for investors and lenders to look over.
3. Acquire Necessary Funding
Now that you've completed your carpet cleaning business plan, it's time to start going after investors or applying for a loan. Perhaps you already have investors interested who were simply waiting for a business plan.
Regardless, there are significant differences between lenders and investors. An investor will award your finances to help start your business, but will likely receive compensation as long as the contract dictates. They may also act as a silent partner of sorts.
A lender is likely a bank that grants you a business loan. The loan will have it's own terms and conditions, but the most you'll owe is the monthly cost plus interest.
4. Get Everything You Need to Operate
Everything you need to operate your carpet cleaning business should be outlined in your business plan. This includes all the legal documentation and licenses as well. You'll need a local business license, insurance, and are required to register your business with the state.
Your insurance should cover workman's comprehension (if you have employees) and general liability. General liability will cover any damages to your equipment or to the homes you work on.
Next, you'll likely need a commercial facility, unless you are starting small or out of your garage (as long as the city allows it). You'll also need all of the carpet cleaning equipment necessary to complete jobs and will probably want to search for a carpet cleaning van for sale.
5. Build a Killer Website
Next, in order to make it in this digital era, you must have a website. People now do most of their searching for products and services online. However, a simple, utilitarian website isn't enough.
Consumers will base their opinion of your business on how well your website is designed. It needs to be user-friendly — intuitive, fast, and pretty. If they don't like your website, they'll bounce off of it and find someone else.
However, now your website needs SEO content. Search engine optimization is what leads people to websites from search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.
You can boost your SEO by having a blog full of relevant articles pertaining to the services and products you offer. It also helps to have multiple forms of media such as pictures, videos, internal and external links, etc.
6. Build a Following Online
Now that you have an adequate website, you need to start building an online following. People must be aware of you to hire you or even see your website you spent so much time on.
Build a business account on Facebook and Instagram and ask all of your personal friends and followers to follow those pages as well. Then, post fun, engaging, and interactive content. The more they like and share your content, the more other social media users will be exposed to your business.
You can also use social media to build an email list. Use a call to action to get people to subscribe to your email. This can say anything from "subscribe and get your first carpet cleaning for 50% off" or "subscribe for an in-depth guide at how to keep your carpets clean year-round."
Regardless of your hook, building an email list gives you an effective marketing platform.
7. Experiment with Different Marketing Strategies
Finally, building a successful carpet cleaning business will take constant work and research in your field. You must stay apprised of the changes in the market and advertising.
Realize also, that not all companies can market the same way for the same results. Experiment with different forms of marketing to see what works best for you and your carpet cleaning business. Here are some ideas:
Good Luck With Your Carpet Cleaning Business
Are you ready to get started with your carpet cleaner company? All of the life lessons and articles can never adequately prepare you for starting your own carpet cleaning business. However, we hope you found this carpet cleaner startup guide to be incredibly helpful for your journey!
For more information on business and entrepreneurship, feel free to check out the rest of our articles. Frugal Finance is here to help you find business success!
1. Do Your Market Research
First, before you apply for loans or start looking for commercial property, you need to do an excessive amount of market research. Market research refers to your specific type of business in your location. Try to answer the following questions:
- What is the typical pricing for the services that you will be offering, specifically in your area of operation?
- What is the competition like in your area of operation? How many other businesses offer carpet cleaning?
- What is the difference between successful carpet cleaning businesses and poor performing ones?
- How often do people need carpet cleaning services?
- How much work will you need to procure to operate in the black?
Once you have completed your market research and analysis, you can start creating your business plan. Your business plan will serve as a projection of your business for the future — typically up to 10 years.
However, your business plan will also outline the daily operations, services, products, and structure of your company. This needs to be a detailed and honest look at what you should expect.
Your business plan should also include the daily, monthly, and yearly costs of operations. Finally, all the information you found in your market research needs to be filed in the plan, for investors and lenders to look over.
3. Acquire Necessary Funding
Now that you've completed your carpet cleaning business plan, it's time to start going after investors or applying for a loan. Perhaps you already have investors interested who were simply waiting for a business plan.
Regardless, there are significant differences between lenders and investors. An investor will award your finances to help start your business, but will likely receive compensation as long as the contract dictates. They may also act as a silent partner of sorts.
A lender is likely a bank that grants you a business loan. The loan will have it's own terms and conditions, but the most you'll owe is the monthly cost plus interest.
4. Get Everything You Need to Operate
Everything you need to operate your carpet cleaning business should be outlined in your business plan. This includes all the legal documentation and licenses as well. You'll need a local business license, insurance, and are required to register your business with the state.
Your insurance should cover workman's comprehension (if you have employees) and general liability. General liability will cover any damages to your equipment or to the homes you work on.
Next, you'll likely need a commercial facility, unless you are starting small or out of your garage (as long as the city allows it). You'll also need all of the carpet cleaning equipment necessary to complete jobs and will probably want to search for a carpet cleaning van for sale.
5. Build a Killer Website
Next, in order to make it in this digital era, you must have a website. People now do most of their searching for products and services online. However, a simple, utilitarian website isn't enough.
Consumers will base their opinion of your business on how well your website is designed. It needs to be user-friendly — intuitive, fast, and pretty. If they don't like your website, they'll bounce off of it and find someone else.
However, now your website needs SEO content. Search engine optimization is what leads people to websites from search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.
You can boost your SEO by having a blog full of relevant articles pertaining to the services and products you offer. It also helps to have multiple forms of media such as pictures, videos, internal and external links, etc.
6. Build a Following Online
Now that you have an adequate website, you need to start building an online following. People must be aware of you to hire you or even see your website you spent so much time on.
Build a business account on Facebook and Instagram and ask all of your personal friends and followers to follow those pages as well. Then, post fun, engaging, and interactive content. The more they like and share your content, the more other social media users will be exposed to your business.
You can also use social media to build an email list. Use a call to action to get people to subscribe to your email. This can say anything from "subscribe and get your first carpet cleaning for 50% off" or "subscribe for an in-depth guide at how to keep your carpets clean year-round."
Regardless of your hook, building an email list gives you an effective marketing platform.
7. Experiment with Different Marketing Strategies
Finally, building a successful carpet cleaning business will take constant work and research in your field. You must stay apprised of the changes in the market and advertising.
Realize also, that not all companies can market the same way for the same results. Experiment with different forms of marketing to see what works best for you and your carpet cleaning business. Here are some ideas:
- Pay per click marketing
- Email campaigning
- Banner Ads
- Host an event for a local charity
- Build affiliate relationships with other businesses
- Use social media advertising
Are you ready to get started with your carpet cleaner company? All of the life lessons and articles can never adequately prepare you for starting your own carpet cleaning business. However, we hope you found this carpet cleaner startup guide to be incredibly helpful for your journey!
For more information on business and entrepreneurship, feel free to check out the rest of our articles. Frugal Finance is here to help you find business success!