New to the cleaning industry? Follow these tips to secure janitorial business opportunities that pay.

One of the most challenging parts of starting a cleaning business is finding new customers. In theory, it shouldn’t be that hard. After all, every business needs cleaning services. But you still need to develop your reputation and get your name out to the public. It can take a bit of legwork to secure janitorial business opportunities.

But which types of clients are best for establishing a reputation while you’re also making money? What do you need to do to find and secure such clients, and how do you keep track of them when you do?

There’s more than one way to land lucrative janitorial business opportunities that will get your name out to the world and hopefully lead to more work in the long run.

Communicate with clients, manage projects, and follow-up with Janitorial Manager’s janitorial management software. Learn more today by signing up for a free demo.

Don’t miss out on these simple ways to find janitorial business opportunities

1. Choose a niche

Even in the beginning, you don’t necessarily want to take just any janitorial business opportunities that come your way. Instead, focus on finding clients that you want to work for. Are you interested in cleaning big corporate office buildings? Or maybe you have a taste for healthcare settings? Because different venues require different kinds of services, it’s a good idea to pick businesses where you have something more to offer than the competition.

Many new cleaning businesses start with smaller, local companies, like offices or retail stores. These are good options, but may not always be very profitable. Instead, you may want to focus on places like government buildings, universities, or office parks. Some of these contracts can be hard to get since they’re often in high demand, but if you tailor your business to meet the needs of those settings, you’ll be much more likely to earn their business.

2. Create a database

Once you know what kind of janitorial business opportunities you want to pursue, you need a way to keep track of them. The best way to do that is with a customer relationship management (CRM) system. With software like this, you can store customer information, keep notes on your sales efforts and customer requests, and even stay in touch with people through instant messaging or email. A professional database allows you to better maintain your relationships with the businesses you serve, which ultimately leads to more profitable interactions because you’ve built trust.

3. Establish a marketing plan

To grow your cleaning company by reaching the businesses you want to work with, you’ll need a solid marketing plan. This should include all forms of marketing, from print ads and direct mail to email and social media. Online is an excellent place to focus your efforts as you can typically reach more businesses in a more personal way for a fraction of the cost. However, don’t rule out traditional forms of marketing as outdated. You might be surprised how many customers you can obtain through cold-calling or printed flyers.

Here, too, a CRM can help. In addition to keeping track of your customers and leads, you can use it to send follow-up emails or to schedule calls with businesses that interest you. Some CRMs (like Janitorial Manager) even allow you to bid on jobs, which streamlines your efforts and cuts down on outreach (which cuts down on costs).

4. References and referrals

References and referrals can be a massive help in finding new janitorial business opportunities. Word-of-mouth is still a powerful marketing strategy because people are more likely to trust you with their business if someone has already vouched for you. Ask a few of your happiest clients if they would mind being a reference for you on future jobs. You can also ask for referrals from those same clients so that they bring business to you. Make it worth their while by offering a discount on services for referrals.

You can also ask customers to leave reviews online. Good reviews are an excellent resource for new leads and will surely help spread the word about your cleaning company. Just remember that you can only ask people to leave reviews—you can’t specifically ask them for good reviews. For this reason, it’s a good idea to only ask for reviews from customers you know are happy with your work.

5. Lead exchanges

You can also find janitorial business opportunities through online marketplaces and lead exchange sites. Websites like Exchange Leads and BNI will help you to connect with local businesses that may need your services. Building out your network is one of the best ways to increase business, and it will give you the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped others secure business as well.

6. Social media

We’ve already mentioned social media as a marketing tool, and it’s specifically useful for obtaining lucrative business. Social media engages customers by allowing a two-way dialogue between you and them. Encourage people to comment on your posts and comment on or like other people’s posts, so they realize you’re an active, engaged business. Doing so helps you to develop a reputation as a business that’s interested in its customers beyond their cleaning needs, and that’s an essential step in developing trust, which usually leads to more business.

7. Be different

Don’t be afraid to be different. Set yourself apart from the competition with services unique to your company. Maybe you offer carpet cleaning or snow-clearing in the wintertime, or perhaps you power-wash windows or clean air ducts. Whatever your specialty, excel at it so that when a customer has a specific need, you’re there to meet that need. Just remember to always be able to follow through with your offering, which sometimes requires specialized equipment or training. If you don’t have the means to provide the service, don’t offer it.

Once you get started, it’s easy to keep going. Get that first and second client and before you know it, your business will be growing faster than you expected.

Keep track of all of your business with Janitorial Manager, where you can store client information, communicate with them in real-time, and more. Schedule a free demo to learn how!