What is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a statement of a business’ goals. It also contains information regarding how the business will attain these goals. A proper business plan will integrate the business’ financial statements and projections as well as state the strengths and weaknesses of the business.

Getting Help Writing a Business Plan

Chances are that you have little experience writing a business plan. Fortunately, there are many resources to help you prepare an effective plan. You may want to consult your attorney. A business attorney has likely seen many business plans and also has probably helped many clients write plans. It is worth asking your attorney if they could provide assistance. Also, an accountant or a business consultant may be able to assist you in the process.

Since a janitorial business is a unique business, it would be wise to seek professionals that that experience writing a janitorial business plan.

When to Create a Business Plan

The best time to create a plan is when you are first forming the business. However, even if your business has been around for years, it is still beneficial to create a plan. Your business should always have goals and you should have a plan for achieving those goals, no matter what age your business is.

Also, it is important to remember that your business is always changing. As such, you may find that you have to change your plan. Your goals may change as other circumstances change. It is advisable that you review your plan each year and update it if necessary. Also, as you meet certain goals, you will want to create new goals to stretch your business and to help it grow.

Benefits of a Business Plan

Of course, what is the point of creating a business plan if it does not provide any benefits? One of the main benefits is that a plan will memorialize your business’ goals. This will allow you to focus on your goals, which will help your business grow.

Another benefit is if your business needs financing. Often, when a small business needs financing, the lending institution will want to see the business plan. If the plan is effectively written, it is more likely that your business will receive the financing it needs. However, if your plan is poorly written, you may be denied, even if you have a good business.

Make a Plan Today

Now that you are familiar with what a business plan is. You should go out and create your janitorial business plan today to help your business achieve its goals. Remember, franchising is the best kept secret of the 21st Century!

JD Files is an accomplished website developer and author. To learn more about Janitorial Business Plan visit Janitorial Franchising for current articles and discussions.

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A successful business begins with three components: a need, a plan, and labor. Every demographic in the United States has a need for cleaning services. From single homes in rural areas to public housing in big cities, someone has to do the chores. Where people can afford it, they will pay for the service and where people can’t, landlords or local government will.

A business plan for a cleaning business should include where the service will be marketed, what types of services will be offered and pay schedules. Local government regulations must be followed. Do you need a business license? How will you be taxed? Do you need to pay workers compensation? There are many types of insurance besides liability. A window washing service will pay higher workers comp than a janitorial service. A high-end condominium cleaning service will pay more for theft coverage than a pressure washing service. All expenses must be incorporated into the business plan in order to make it feasible.

The labor pool varies from city to city, town to town. Some areas are seasonal, such as beach resort towns. Other areas have a steady supply of workers though turnover may be high. An employer must keep accurate records on every worker they hire. Social security numbers, drivers licenses, criminal background checks; all of these are a must in order for the employer to cover their own liability. Random drug tests, quality assurance inspections and weekly safety meetings are also solid practices to promote health and well being in the workplace.

How can I start my own cleaning business is a good question but the next must be – who will my clients be? Will you specialize in residential house cleaning, professional office, new construction, move in, move out, boat, RV, aircraft, auto, or janitorial. There are companies that focus on window washing, others on pressure washing, parking lots, churches, vacation rentals, hauling, organization, and butler and concierge services.

Property management is a whole other business paradigm. There are plenty of clients. A relatively inexpensive way to market is to create one page flyers listing the services you provide and knock on doors to hand them out. Some neighborhoods and businesses do not allow soliciting; mail outs and telemarketing may be the way to approach those prospects. There are also many social and business networking associations in every town and city that give a new businessperson ample opportunity to shake hands and pass out business cards.

Once you have started your cleaning business and it is running successfully, your options may include selling the business, or even franchising. A competent accountant and lawyer are essential to the growth of any small business. Cleaning companies account for millions of dollars of tax revenue per year in this country. Your local Small Business Administration is willing to work with you to. Continue to ask questions and ask for help. Your company could be the next great American success story.

JD Files is an accomplished website developer and author. To learn more about How can I start my own cleaning business visit Janitorial Franchising for current articles and discussions.

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Whether you’re looking for a full time solution, someone to come in and clean every day, or you’re looking for someone to come in once a week and put your place back in order, you can find the solution if you start looking around.

There are many different options to finding a cleaning service. You can start with word of mouth; ask friends, colleagues, and even other business owners what service they use. Once you have a few names, you can start doing research online and see what options are available. You can also search the local newspaper and grocery stores for ads that may be posted and may be able to direct you to affordable janitorial services.

You can always use the yellow pages, and look up cleaning or janitorial, and get a few more names. Again, it pays to do your research online and look into what each service offers, and what they require. Some services may require you to sign a contract, agreeing to use their service for a specified period of time. Others may not have billing options that are acceptable to you; they may require credit card billing or other stipulations that simply do not mesh with your needs.

Just like shopping for anything else, it is important to shop around and utilize coupons or discounts whenever possible. Remember too, you can’t get any discount you don’t ask for. Ask the janitorial service you are looking in to if they will offer you some kind of discount, especially if you are willing to do some of the work or provide some of the supplies yourself. A janitorial service may be willing to knock an amount off your bill if instead of hauling the trash bags to your dumpster at night in the dark; they leave them for you at a location where your staff drags them out to the next day.
Another possible option is if you supply the cleaning supplies or necessities such as gloves to protect skin from chemicals.

An option you may not have considered, but which is viable, is to utilize an employee already on your staff. If they are already your employee, they are familiar with your operation and may already have keys, key cards, alarm codes, and anything else they need to be in the building after hours. It is always an idea worth looking into, to post an announcement and see if there is any interest. Many employees are looking for extra cash, and would welcome such an opportunity.

Finding affordable janitorial services is a task that requires some effort, but can pay great dividends when you find the right match for you and your company. Look around, on line, in print media, and in your own office. You might find the cleaning staff you need easier than you think!

JD Files is an accomplished website developer and author. To learn more about Finding Affordable Janitorial Services visit Janitorial Franchising for current articles and discussions.

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A simple glance at the statistics related to this business tells us how lucrative and growing opportunity this is. The Building Service Contractors Association International estimated cleaning services grossed revenue of $94.5 billion in the year 2003. This figure is expected to climb up to $128 billion by the end of 2008. The janitorial service industry forms $70 billion of the market. The average annual growth rate of the business is a considerable 7%.

The initial investment for any janitorial service franchise is on the lower end of the spectrum, when compared to other business options. The initial investment for your franchise will vary from company to company, and most of the franchises on sale will cost you around $100,000. Breakeven is achieved usually within a year, and the most attractive part about the opportunity is that most companies let you run your franchise from home. This reduces the running expenses considerably.

Janitorial services can get you from $20 to $50 per hour. You can pay your cleaners from $7 to $15 an hour, depending on their experience and skill. The equipment for the business will not cost you much either. Overall, you will get very huge returns after a year of starting your business.

The competition in this sector is high since there are innumerable businessmen running the business from home, offering cheap services to compete with big companies and brands. Research the market in your area and offer prices that are competitive to the top ten janitorial services providers there.

It is important to exact the services you are providing. An hourly rate may appear to clients as an opportunity to get more work done in lesser time. You will have to detail to the client what all you are going to clean for the price you want. A good thing about the business is that you can start by cleaning the building premises, and as the business grows, include other cleaning services such as cleaning the parking lot, the carpets, the drapery, the furniture, the toilets, etc.

Marketing is as essential for this business as it is for any other. Your franchisor may be willing to support you financially for advertising your franchise, which is one benefit to look for while choosing a franchisor. Fliers and yellow page postings are necessary to make the business thrive. Distribute fliers in shopping complexes, school and college premises, grocery stores, restaurants and convenience stores. Once you start getting clients, you may give your workers a uniform, which is a good marketing strategy on its own. It is a sign of professionalism, winning you a lot of points.

Edward Dean is an accomplished website developer and author. To learn more about Janitorial Service Franchises visit Janitorial Franchising for current articles and discussions.

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