Starting any kind of business can be scary, no matter what it is. It can be a great experience or a terrifying one. It might even be both. If you're new in the business world and have just started your own commercial cleaning business or are thinking about it, the part that you might have not considered is how to run one. Yes, the daily grind of being a business owner. It will be a daily grind that is challenging, exciting but best of all, yours.
Like many businesses, a commercial cleaning business will have some daily things do deal with. Here are a few tips on how to run your commercial cleaning business in a smooth orderly fashion. Read on how to run your cleaning business without too many headaches.
1. Keep everything organized! Your papers, insurance forms, bills and expenses should be organized. Just keeping four folders marked with labels can easily help you and keep you from rummaging around in your desk come tax time. Keep your contracts and copies of contracts. Keep double copies of the following:
a.Insurance papers
b.Registration forms
c.Tax forms
d.Business permits
e.Deeds or lease / rental agreements
Keep one copy in the bank and the other in your office. Either that or keep all copies in a fire-proof safe. I keep my papers in a folder marked Save In Case of Fire or Apocalypse. Seriously.
2. If you have employees, then a good manager is a must. A good manager will help you evaluate and control your employees. He or she will help you run the business smoothly. You can be the good manager, even without experience. If people just aren't your thing, consider hiring one.
3. Employees are key to running a good business. Having good, well-trained polite employees will do wonders. This is especially important if you have regular clients or contracts. Good employees will keep appointments, be on time and move on to the next appointment without taking up too much time.
4. Keep your equipment clean and well-maintained. Schedule regular maintenance for your equipment. A little preventive care means that you won't have to cancel on jobs because your steam cleaner doesn't work. And on that note?
5. Have a plan B. Know where to buy emergency supplies or rent heavy duty cleaning equipments in case the above does occur. Keep the numbers by your phone.
6. Keeping contact numbers of your clients and a good working phone line is a must. This is one way of scheduling appointments easily and knowing who to call if something comes up. A great receptionist would also be helpful here.
7. A big calendar with appointments next to your phone is a really good idea. You can keep track of all current appointments for the day and the week without too much hassle. That way you don't have someone screaming ?Are we available for Wednesday 4-6 PM?? all day. Everything's there for all to see.
We hope that these tips can help you run your commercial cleaning business smoothly. There will be bumps along the way, but these tips can make your days hassle-free, so that you can concentrate on what's really important for you and your business.
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According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, family businesses are not only common, but contribute to more than 60 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Your cleaning business may fall into this realm as many new businesses rely on help from a spouse, siblings, children and even parents. The upside to a family business is that the individuals know one another and can identify their strengths and weaknesses. There is also a general feeling of trust and loyalty between family members, which helps them get through rough spots. However, a family business can also bring about much frustration between family members and non-family employees.
For any small business owner it can be tough to keep "work at work" and "family matters" at home. This is even tougher if you work with family members. If you are not careful, your cleaning business can easily slide over from work hours into your private family time. As the lines between family and business become blurred you will find your attention diluted and this may prevent your business from reaching its full potential.
What are some common problems that family run businesses are likely to run up against?
- Giving family members jobs they are not qualified for
- Giving family members too much responsibility and not enough authority
- Allowing parents to evaluate children's work performance
- Paying family members more than non-family members for the same job
- Treating family members as "family" on the job and not as colleagues
- Constantly discussing business at family gatherings Ignoring mistakes because they are caused by a family member
- Giving family members special perks because of who they are instead of how well they perform their job duties
How can you keep your cleaning business running efficiently when you have family members as employees?
First and most importantly, separate your family life and business life as much as possible. Once the time clock is running employees should not address family members as "dad", "mom", "uncle" or "son". Second, although it can be difficult it is important to separate the family part of your life from the business. Some family businesses have found it helpful to have three separate areas:
1. The home, where only family issues are addressed
2. The business location, where only business issues are addressed
3. A neutral area - where a mix of family and business issues are addressed.
It helps if your business has a clear chain of command that both family and non-family members, have to follow. An employee manual can be helpful here as it can spell out not only the "chain of command" but other important guidelines that apply to all employees.
Your business should also have a written plan of how to accomplish your goals and what happens when key players of the organization decide to retire leave the company. It's also important to keep good communication between family members and non-family employees.
Having loyal and dedicated family members as a part of your cleaning business can give you the support and encouragement to take your cleaning business from a part-time endeavor to a successful company. Keeping family and business separate is difficult but necessary if you want your cleaning business to grow and succeed. Following a few simple guidelines can help you keep your family life intact and keep your cleaning business on a professional level.
Both Kelvin Young & Steve Hanson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kelvin Young has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Credit Cards, Debts Loans and Credit Cards. Kelvin Young - Author of: . Kelvin Young's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.
Steve Hanson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cleaning Business, Business Plan and Home Appliances. Steve Hanson is co-founder of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online community for owners of cleaning companies. Sign up for Trash Talk:Tip of the Week at