[vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]What are the qualifications for house cleaning? I want to grow my cleaning company but am told I need a business license and insurance. Is it speed cleaning that makes you qualified as a house cleaner or do you have other pro cleaning tips and qualifications?
Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru on today’s Ask a House Cleaner says the skilled maid has qualifications. …and a satisfaction guarantee and the willingness to get the house cleaning training they need.
Today’s sponsors are HouseCleaning360 (We connect maids with homeowners.) Savvy Perks (An employee discount program for small business owners.) and My Cleaning Connection (a hub for cleaning resources.)
Listen: What are the Qualifications for House Cleaning?
Watch: What are the Qualifications for House Cleaning?
Question: What are the Qualifications for House Cleaning?
What are the qualifications you need to start a house cleaning business? We’re going to talk about that today.
“Hi, Angela. This is Joyce. I want to start my own cleaning business, but I am told that I have to have a license. And that I have to have two years’ experience and two years insurance to start a business. Is that true?”
You Can’t Have Qualifications Until You Start
You can’t start a house cleaning business if you already have two years’ experience because you’ve already started.
And if you’re just starting a cleaning business you’re not going to have two years of insurance – why would you?
It’s like saying you can’t come to college unless you have a college degree. You have to start somewhere.
Somebody is Giving You Their Qualifications
My guess is that maybe you went to say a builder and you said, “I would like to offer my services as a house cleaner.”
They’re saying, “These are our qualifications.”
Now, for that person, whoever it is you’re talking to, yes, those are their qualifications. Those are not the qualifications for getting started in a house cleaning business.
Because you don’t start a house cleaning business with two years of house cleaning experience. You start by starting. Right? If you’re going to a house and a customer is demanding these things, you’re just not a good fit. You have to give yourself time to build credentials.
You don’t have the qualifications they are looking for. Are these true qualifications? They are true for whomever you’re talking to.
Commercial Accounts Have Qualifications and Regulations
Companies and corporations hiring house cleaners do have guidelines. They’re putting a lot of money on the table and are willing to sign big contracts. And they want to make sure they are making a good choice.
A realtor, the may have specifics they are looking for to feel comfortable recommending you to their clients.
If you are going to start a cleaning business and work on commercial accounts – you do need some legal paperwork and a business license is good to have.
If you are a solo cleaner – it may not necessary to operate a business, but commercial accounts may request one.
Business Licenses Usually Reserved for Growing Companies
Now, usually, a house cleaner starting out is just one person. You don’t need a business license because what are you licensing? If you have a storefront and people are going to be coming to your location, yes. You have all different kinds of permits that you need and a license is one of those.
There are some insurance companies that want you to have a business license before they sell you insurance. This proves to them that you’re a business.
Well, if that’s the case, you can go down to the county courthouse and you can register your business name and you can buy a business license. And that just says I have a business in this area and I’m going to pay taxes.
Why People Question Qualifications
When a prospect asks for your qualifications what they’re telling you is they are not ready to buy. They are unsure you can deliver the quality you promise.
To negotiate this, you can remind them you carry bonding and insurance. Remind them you have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Your sales pitch has to exude: “I am so confident in my cleaning, that I can still knock the socks off my competition. Please give me a try.”
“Qualifications” Are Use to Weed Out the Non-Professionals
If somebody asks for your qualifications – and you walk away because you don’t have them, you won’t succeed in business. You can’t afford to get scared by the first “no.”
Figure out a way around that. Renegotiate the objections from every different angle.
“Can I practice on your building? Your building is messy anyway. What if I come in and I clean it and I show you what I can do?
At the end of my cleaning, if you’re not satisfied, there’s no charge. At the end of my cleaning, if you’re absolutely delighted with what I’ve done, here is my fee.”
or
“I don’t have those qualifications. I don’t have two years’ experience. I’m just starting and I’m so dedicated to pay for the food for my family that I’m willing to do whatever it takes even if it means I give your money back.”
No One Wants Your Family to Starve
Now, we’ve all been there. We’re all small business owners. We’ve all started from ground zero. And there’s not a person on the planet that wants your family to starve.
Hesitant companies with rules have had bad experiences. They don’t want to bother with another.
Your job is to reassure them you are different. And you have to do it in a convincing, non-spammy, not sleazy, uncomfortable way. And you have all the resources and tools you need to do this. You just have to spend the time reworking your sales pitch until it’s great.
And then whatever you promise – you MUST deliver.
Qualifications are Secondary to Skills
If you have the qualifications, but you don’t have the skills to back up your promises – your business won’t last either.
All the insurance, bonding and licensing in the world can’t erase lack of training and experience. The ability to clean in an effective and efficient manner trumps that.
Before you go any further into your business do an assessment. Figure out what your assets are, and what you need to work on.
Go get coaching or training if you need it. Learn how to sell if you need it. And if all you need is a business license – you can make a trip downtown and have one in 30 minutes.
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Resources For This Episode
How to Start Your Own House Cleaning Company: Go from startup to payday in one week – https://amzn.to/2K7ecUa
Your House Cleaning Business, A Blueprint for Success – https://amzn.to/2qVYgv1
How to Start a Cleaning Business: Your Guide to Generating $2,000+ Income in 30 Days or Less – https://amzn.to/2KabUDB
How to Start, Run and Grow a Successful Residential & Commercial Cleaning Business – https://amzn.to/2HmlRMy
Clean and Grow Rich: How to Start and Operate Your Own Profitable Cleaning Business – https://amzn.to/2Far08A
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My Cleaning Connection – Your hub for all things cleaning.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][product_category per_page=”18″ columns=”1″ orderby=”rand” order=”DESC” category=”business-startup”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]