So, you’re wondering how to start a cleaning business.

Maybe you can’t stop scrubbing the counter or you’ve been dreaming about power washing and steam cleaning. Your eyes glaze over at the sight of a bright green tube of Comet.

Well, that dream might be closer to reality than you thought. You see, we have some good news—the time to start that business is now!

Here’s everything you need to know about starting a business.

The most crucial part of owning a company is taking the first step. Often, that means choosing a good business name.

Consequently, many people get stuck in the name brainstorming stage and never start the company they’ve dreamed about. The best answer to the question “what to name a cleaning business” is anything! (So long as it’s not discriminatory, of course.)

Remember, you can rename your company whenever; large, entrenched businesses do it frequently. After all, you’re what makes a good cleaning business, not your business’s name.

Now, you’re over the first hurdle—hooray!! It’s time to learn more about starting a business legally. 

First, get your business license. Most of the time, you can get away without incorporating your company until you pass $100,000 a year in revenue. So now all you have to worry about is paying your local business dues.

You should have received your EIN once you registered your business’s name, so grab the documentation and head down to your local courthouse. Your business licensing form should take next-to-no time to fill out if you arrive prepared.

Next, ask if you need any other permits. Every state and county has different licensing requirements.

Make sure to double-check with your county’s or city’s business clerk to see if you’re missing anything. You may need a certificate of resale, a home business license, or something else.

For legal reasons, you want to keep your business expenses separate from your personal expenses. Never make a business purchase with your personal card or a personal purchase with your business card, no matter how tempting.

To open up a business account, head to your bank and ask about a business checking account for a cleaning business startup. They’re simple to open, and the process shouldn’t take more than an hour.

Still, before heading into the bank, make sure you call and ask about the resources you need to bring to the meeting.

Now that you have a business bank account, it’s time to stock up on supplies. Opening a cleaning business could mean you need to purchase a steam cleaner, an industrial vacuum, protective gear, a car to transport your supplies to and from your client’s locations, and more.

Here are some top tips for buying supplies for your new cleaning business: save your receipts and track your mileage. You’ll want to write off your expenses and travel at the end of the year.

Finally, it’s time to start working! You’ll want to do some competitive landscape research before you start marketing. This research will help you find niches your competitors are missing or flaws in their marketing that you can exploit for your profit.

Remember, it’s not about how much money you put into marketing. It’s all about how you put money into your marketing.

Get out on the streets and connect with your clients. The more you can do to improve your client relations, then the better off you’ll be.

Hopefully, by now, your question isn’t “how to start a cleaning business” anymore. Instead, we hope you’re asking, “when can I start a cleaning business” because it’s always all about starting.

Finally, if you’re looking for motivation or more guided entrepreneurial training, we would love to work with you to get your business off the ground!