[coley]

Hi,

I have done just about everything I need to (i hope) in order to set up a cleaning business, just got to launch advertising and hopefully will gain some work.

The idea is for me to run the company, getting the work in, and doing some of the odd job work (which the company will offer) and to employ further cleaning staff.

When you guys set up, did you get the work first, then take on staff? Did you employ them on a temp or part time basis?  how did you get round it when you are waiting for the advertising to take effect and work wither comes in thick and fast or bits and pieces?


Many Thanks
 

[mr klean]

Hi there
When i set up i did the advertising and got a few jobs in on a regular basis and then employed someone to do these once i had enough to pay them and myself,

Hope this helps, 

[deborah waters]

Hi yes i did all the work until it was up to about 20 hours regular then hired my first employee always used my posh voice on the phone the the regular one when doing the cleans and tried to appear as 'big' a company as possible and as professional as i could even while bootstrapping. start as you want to go on and charge a little more than you think is fair overheads are always more than you expect...good luck.
debs

[KLEEN-ZONE]

I started approx 14 months ago, along with my wife and part time from our son. We  started doing the cleans ourself and still do, as a small family business ,which is how we plan to stay as I don't see myself sitting at a desk all day. Maybe a few staff later, but I want to stay hands on.  Customers seem to like the family business angle.
As for pretending to be 'big' and something your not, that is just stupid. Be yourself.

Steve 

[deborah waters]

One of the reasons i did this was the expectations in the area(very affluent) i was targeting in for domestic cleaning  and the difficulty in differentiating from 'two women who work together at cleaning a wee bit when it suits them' who could charge a lot less,and a cleaning company with a professional outlook and attitude, proper insurance and trained staff.....i'm not trying to be who i am not but when i started with me and a dug i tried to present the same face as i have now eight years later with lots of clients and 14 staff .
i do desk and phone work but also still get out and muck in! loads of fun .....now training my son up for summer work !

[angela stone]

Hi,

I set up in march last year.  I started on my own and then was so busy by June, I took on my first part time member of staff.  That member of staff is now going full time, and I will be taking on part time members of staff. 

Always give yourself the work first, so you can pay your own bills.  You  can do the work yourself and still run the company (quotes etc) when you first set up. 

Ange

[Fox]

Hi yes i did all the work until it was up to about 20 hours regular then hired my first employee always used my posh voice on the phone the the regular one when doing the cleans and tried to appear as 'big' a company as possible and as professional as i could even while bootstrapping. start as you want to go on and charge a little more than you think is fair overheads are always more than you expect...good luck.
debs

Lol - this made me laugh!!!  The first quote I did as my own business was for a medium contract wanting 50hrs cleaning per week, they asked me how many staff I had (it was just me at the time) I lied and said '10 and growing'.  I got the contract and still have it 4 yrs later, I now have 30 staff.  I completely understand wanting to look larger as this company would have never accepted our quote had I said I was on my own and just starting out!

Fox