Commercial cleaning for retail spaces: Strategies for success
Photo by Gil Ribeiro on Unsplash
Cleaning is big business and is a vital part of operations for many businesses worldwide, particularly for retail spaces. With customers constantly touching merchandise, floors, and other surfaces throughout the day, these spaces need intensive disinfection on a daily basis and a keen eye for correction issues before they become too big to handle. However, with high standards and a focus on customer service, there is often a dearth of quality companies able to fill the need. This is where new entrants can enter the industry and help retailers clean all relevant spaces, from restrooms to checkout aisles and everything in between.
However, getting there is not as straightforward as you might think. This article will discuss the basics of beginning a successful retail cleaning business and hopefully provide you with the pointers needed to get started.
Purchase equipment and supplies
While it might not be the first step, investing in the right gear for this type of operation is arguably the most crucial step. You need to understand that commercial cleaning is vastly different from cleaning the average house and requires industrial-grade equipment and cleaning products that will get the job done but also last. According to this Australian company that supplies commercial cleaning products, the right gear can assist cleaners in getting the job done fast and reliably, both of which are essential if you want to foster great relationships with your clients. Moreover, you should select a cleaning supplier that is able to provide you with prompt deliveries of the various consumables you’ll be employing throughout your processes.
Determine your pricing structure
How competitively you are priced will considerably impact how successful you are, particularly when starting out. However, don’t read this as an opportunity to start as low as possible; you need the business to be profitable. Nonetheless, by performing a little market research, you will get a handle on how and what others are charging, giving you a good indication of where to start. When you are ready, you should also set up a number of payment portals to make the process of invoicing and collecting payments from customers as simple as possible.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Obtain necessary licenses and permits
The cleaning industry isn’t something you can simply enter with minimal friction. Permits and licenses are necessities in most developed nations today. Without these things, you will be unable to solicit business and, in any case, be turned away by retailers who are looking for those who have gone through the correct procedures. In addition to permits, you will also want to get adequate insurance to cover you if things go wrong.
Hire and train employees
If you plan on expanding operations to more than one retailer on a regular basis, you will need to hire employees. If you find yourself in this position, the best course of action is to create a thorough training manual and distribute it to all employees. Only with the proper training will you be in a position to provide excellent service and, ultimately, repeat business.
Setting up a commercial cleaning enterprise certainly has many moving parts. However, with the right attitude and business nous, it is absolutely achievable. If you follow the advice in this post, you should have no trouble getting up and running right away.
