Starting a contract cleaning company in South Africa doesn’t require significant funding or specialist knowledge, making it a great business venture for young South African entrepreneurs. If you are ready to start your own cleaning business, this startup guide will provide you with everything you need to know.
Table of Contents
Understand The Clients for Your Cleaning Business
Before you register your business or buy any equipment, start by deciding who you want to serve:
- Residential Cleaning entails cleaning smaller spaces like private homes or apartments. These spaces can often be cleaned by one person and requires less initial funding.
- Commercial Cleaning refers to cleaning larger spaces like offices, schools, or retail spaces. This often requires having a team of cleaners, a reliable vehicle to transport your equipment, and a greater startup investment.
Thereafter you need to conduct market research. This can be done by searching for other (residential or commercial) cleaning companies online – focussing on the ones that operate in your desired service area. Study the services that they offer, their pricing, and their customer reviews. Then identify any gaps in the market and how you can fill them.
Choose Your Cleaning Services and Create a Business Plan
Once you have identified your gap in the market, decide which cleaning services you will offer. Consider the following:
- Basic house or office cleaning.
- Deep cleaning.
- Laundry and dishwashing services.
- Carpet, upholstery, and window cleaning.
- Disinfection and sanitization services.
- Eco-friendly or green cleaning.
After choosing your services it is time to create a business plan. You can learn more about how to create a business plan here.
In South Africa there are no special licences or permits required to start a cleaning business, however you still need to comply with national business laws and regulations. Make sure to:
- Register your business with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
- Become a member of the National Contract Cleaning Association of South Africa (NCCA).
- Get a tax clearance certificate from SARS.
- Register for VAT (if your turnover exceeds R1 million per year).
- Obtain a B-BBEE certificate to get government tenders.
- Get added to the Central Supplier Database (CSD) to get government tenders.
- Get business insurance and public liability insurance.
Buy Your Cleaning Equipment and Supplies
Having the right cleaning equipment will allow you to provide efficient, quality service. Ensure you have the following equipment:
- A commercial vacuum cleaner.
- A carpet cleaner and auto scrubber.
- Buckets, mops, brooms, and rags.
- Dustpans and brushes.
- Cleaning chemicals.
- Window cleaning equipment.
Set Competitive Cleaning Rates
There is no one-size-fits-all pricing strategy in the contract cleaning industry. That’s why it is important to choose the method that best suits your services and target market. You can charge an hourly rate, price per square metre, flat rate per room or property, or custom flat fees for specific cleaning packages.
When choosing your rates, start by researching what similar services cost in your area. You should also take into account your own business costs – including salaries, the cost of your supplies, transport, overheads, and taxes. Thereafter you need to add a reasonable profit margin to your services to ensure your business remains profitable. Using this information, create a clear pricing sheet and service agreement for your customers – outlining what your packages entail, their rates, and what you expect form your clients.
Promote Your Contract Cleaning Company Online
Promoting your cleaning company online – such as creating a website and sharing content on social media – can be much more affordable than using traditional marketing options like television adverts, radio ads, and billboards. You can also set up a Google Business Profile and experiment with Google Ads to help potential customers find you online. Additionally, consider printing business cards or flyers to hand out, as well as having branded uniforms made for you and your staff.
Hire and Train Reliable Cleaning Staff
When you start expanding your contract cleaning business, it is important to hire the right employees – people that share your business values. Start by placing job postings on sites like LinkedIn to attract potential employees. When you start getting applications, shortlist the best candidates and interview them to determine if they share your business values. Having additional staff will help your business continue to run smoothly, even when you’re sick or taking some time off.
Are you an aspiring South African entrepreneur? Then following these seven steps will enable you to build a profitable contract cleaning company in South Africa.
Need help finding the best cleaning equipment? Contact MaPa Cleaning Technologies today!
