How to Start a Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Service

A carpet and upholstery cleaning service is easy to start up. This type of business requires low overheads. You need very little experience to open this business, but you do need to provide quality work for your customers. Being knowledgeable about stain removal for your carpet and upholstery cleaning service will speed up your cleaning jobs.

Here is a list of what you will need to do before you start your carpet and upholstery cleaning service

1. Quality equipment is a must for your business. Modern technology has improved carpet and upholstery cleaning equipment. Business owners today can now purchase more powerful shampooing and cleaning machines. Improved shampoos and drying equipment will leave your customers carpet and upholstery cleaner longer. Machines can even be mounted to a truck or utility van. These mounted machines have more power than a portable machine.
2. Make sure you have a dependable vehicle or van that has good insurance.
3. Check with your area government offices for information on permits and licensing. You may have to be bonded on certain types of jobs.
4. Employing a good secretary who can handle answering your phone calls and setting appointments will be a lifesaver for you and your company.
5. Time optimization is a good tool for your business. This can help you build your business by getting the most money for your time. The more appointments you can handle during a day, the more it will help you have a lucrative business.
6. Before starting your carpet and upholstery cleaning service you will want to check out financing. Manufactures of your carpet and upholstery equipment offer several financing plans for purchasing you equipment.
7. Talk to several insurance agents and choose the best liability plan for your business. You will want a plan that covers any unforeseen accidents in your customer’s home, such as ruined carpet, breakage, or any other type of damage that might occur.
8. Professionalism will go a long way with your customers. Make sure you and your employees conduct business in a professional manner. You must dress neatly. Uniforms with your business logo on the shirt will give you the look of professionalism. Your carpet and upholstery cleaning service is a type of business that will take you into customer’s homes, so how you dress and act will greatly affect your business.
9. Usually you will be cleaning more than one room at a time in your customer’s home. A good estimate of time for an ordinary job will be around two hours. Figure out your cost for material and the time spent and charge accordingly making sure you are making a profit. Charging extra fees for extra spot cleaning or for cleaning larger rooms is expected. Survey the job to be done ahead of time and give a written estimate to your customer.

Opening a carpet and upholstery cleaning service will not only require that you sell your services, but it will require that you also sell yourself. Your success will depend on what effort you are willing to put into it.