A recent article in the Memphis Daily News demonstrates the success that a local entrepreneur has had in starting a cleaning business.

According to the article, a 24 year old cancer survivor, Catrina Williams knew she wanted to start her own business.

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, always wanted to work for myself, even when I was working for other people,” she said. “As I got older, I became more and more motivated. And by starting young, I can make sure that in the future I will be able to provide jobs for family, friends and others.”

After doing her research, she decided that starting a cleaning business for residential and commercial cleaning services would be the best option and started her business last year.

She offers residential cleaning, maid services, move-in/-out cleaning, office cleaning and apartment cleaning.

Based on Williams’ success, here are some suggestions for others who are thinking about starting a cleaning business:

1. Obtain a business license. To be in compliance with your state and city regulations, this is an important step. You will want to check your local and state rules, but you may also need to register a Fictitious Name or DBA if you are a sole proprietor.

2. Advertise your business. Williams advertised her services by passing out flyers and making cold calls to businesses that she had targeted as good prospects. These might include property managers of apartment complexes and business parks.

3. Offer an incentive. Williams offered a first time free cleaning service. You could also offer a discounted rate or a coupon special.

4. Offer some specific services like Williams does. She offers to prepare vacant apartments for new tenants.

5. Get attention with something unique. Williams chose a business name that would make her business stand out because she says “it’s very hard to get business. It’s a very hard market with a lot of competition.” You might choose to stand out with something unique that your business offers that your competitors don’t or a unique niche market or a name or website that stands out from the crowd.

Technorati Tags: Best Business Ideas, Starting a Cleaning Business

Starting a business that does not need a lot of investment in overhead is a good choice, and starting a cleaning business for homes or offices could be just the ticket.

To quote Byrd and Daffron: “It may seem counter-intuitive to embark on a new business during a recession, but historically, many businesses have been started during down economic cycles. Hewlett Packard, Coors, Disney, Super 8 motels, and even Microsoft were all started during economic doldrums.”

You will want to assess the market potential for cleaning services in your area before starting a cleaning business. Do you have some contacts who might give you introductions to homeowners or property managers who could use your services? What investments in equipment do you need to make? Is it possible to reduce your personal expenses while you are starting a cleaning business? Byrd and Daffron started a new business after relocating to an area with a lower cost of living, for example.

The message here is that with some planning, an economic downturn can be a good time to start a cleaning business or other types of businesses that require a low investment to get started.

Technorati Tags: Starting a Cleaning Business