With eco-friendly cleaning products more affordable than ever before, it’s even easier to use green practices to turn an organic profit.
Since its inception not too many years ago, eco-friendly cleaning has risen in popularity, and with good reason. Over the last decade, organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have released information on the hazards of many household and commercial cleaning products, as well as guidance on safe practices. The problem for commercial cleaners? The price tag. Organic products, unfortunately, didn’t translate very well into organic profit.
All that’s changed now. Green products and equipment are more affordable than ever before, and they’re more accessible, as well. In fact, it can even hinder the organic profit of your cleaning business if you don’t offer eco-friendly solutions. Many companies want sustainable services because it boosts their profits and productivity, not to mention that it improves the health of their workers.
That said, there are still some price differences between eco-friendly products and traditional products. However, you can still make your business stand out without raising rates. Here are ten simple ways to turn an organic profit through green services without sacrificing customers or quality.
10 Ways to turn organic cleaning into organic profit
Tip #1: Use green-certified equipment
Green-certified equipment will be an upfront cost for sure, but many machines cost only a little more than their traditional counterparts while also offering long-term savings. Green equipment helps reduce the amount of resources you use, like electricity, chemicals like floor strippers, and water. All three benefits are great for the environment and will contribute towards the organic profit that green cleaning can provide.
Tip #2: Remove recycling less frequently
Trash on most job sites needs to be taken out every day. (No one wants a banana peel sitting in a rubbish bin for three days.) But paper recycling bins are a different story. Most of them don’t normally fill up in a single work day, and some may go for as long as a week before they’re topping out. Leaving paper recycling for an as-needed removal basis saves your workers time (which saves you money), and it also cuts down on the cost of recycling in general.
Tip #3: Be mindful of bin liners
Most cleaners don’t carry many different sizes of trash bin liners. That could take more of a toll on organic profit than you might think. Sizing the liners more accurately cuts down on the waste produced by the liner itself while also eliminating wasted space within a liner where other trash might have fit.
An add-on practice that saves time and money is to eliminate liners for paper recycle bins. Since clean paper is all that should be going into these bins, there’s no real need to protect the bin itself. (And you can still give the bin a good washing whenever you take the recycling out, just in case.)
Tip #4: Go paperless with janitorial management software
A one-time investment in tablets along with a subscription to janitorial management software can save your company hundreds or more in paper, printing, and equipment costs. No more printers, no more expensive ribbon replacements, no more reams of paper taking up valuable closet space. The money you save becomes organic profit on all of the business you conduct.
Tip #5: Automatic chemical dispensing
Invest in technology that accurately measures chemical distillation to avoid overuse of expensive products and excessive use of water. It’s another one-time cost that will save you a lot down the road.
Tip #6: Attract new clients with green offering
The best way to make an organic profit is to bring on new business. Since more businesses are going green these days, you’ll likely pick up more clients if you’re offering sustainable services. Offer first-time discounts to new and existing clients who choose eco-friendly, then reap the rewards of their repeat business.
Tip #7: Keep your prices low
Yes, green cleaning is still slightly more expensive than traditional cleaning. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t still turn a profit. You might make a little less at first, but with such competitive prices, you’ll bring on more clients, which translates to more revenue. Research the market, crunch your numbers, and get your price as low as you can.
Tip #8: Map out jobs for resource efficiency
Each day, map out the jobs that you need to do in a way that minimizes travel time, gas use, and vehicular wear and tear. This will help you save money and the environment at the same time, not to mention your employees will enjoy a job route that makes sense.
Tip #9: Save on recruiting and turnover
It’s not exactly organic profit, but it is organic savings that will make a big difference. Traditional chemicals have been linked to respiratory and other health problems, which often contribute to employee turnover because workers can no longer handle the health consequences of their work. Keep your employees happy and healthy while saving money, simply by using green products and equipment.
Tip #10: Save on health insurance, time off
Another indirect part of organic profit – employees who are healthy go to the doctor less often, which translates to lower premiums for your entire staff. In addition, employees will need fewer sick days, which is another way money stays in your bank account with eco-friendly cleaning practices.