hi iam looking to start a cleaning business but need to know more info first need to know if ive missed anything first.

do you need any certificates for this ?

any info will be appreciated about setting this business up

thanks

So much will depend upon what you want to clean, for whom and who/what you want to use to do the cleaning.

If you just want to come and clean my house, you don't need anything.
If you want to get a contract with the council to clean their kitchens, it is another matter.

hi thanks cgksheff iam wanting to do all sorts of cleaning ie
houses
office
building
carparks
carpets
sofas

anything really but need to get the info on this sort of cleaning as iam not sure that i might need certificates or which cleaning fluids are used for what,also i know cleaners use different coulored mop buckkets for different rooms ect.

is there anyone out there thats done this before set up their own cleaning business

Castle college on Granville Rd do courses in cleaning science that cover all aspects. Try their website.

No offence but if you don't know the first thing about what you are doing, why are you setting up a business?

Alot of people set up a business because they think it will make them lots of money and they don't have a boss to deal with, but the majority of small businesses fail within their first year.

You really need to know what you are doing and work out if it is financially feasible before you start doing it!

For the business side of things - yes it would be good to talk to someone in the same business, but you'll find them reluctant to help you as you will be competition.
Try SENTA (http://www.senta.co.uk/) for good free advice on setting up and running your business.

For an idea of what equipment / materials to use, pop along to a supplier and ask their opinion. For example there is a shop in Attercliffe (name escapes me) that supplys all manner of cleaning equipment to the trade, as you're a prospective new customer, they'll be happy to advise you what you need. (remember they'll be trying to sell you stuff, so take the advice with a pinch of salt and apply common sense)

I'd go down both these routes before paying anyone to give you advice.

No offence but if you don't know the first thing about what you are doing, why are you setting up a business?

Alot of people set up a business because they think it will make them lots of money and they don't have a boss to deal with, but the majority of small businesses fail within their first year.

You really need to know what you are doing and work out if it is financially feasible before you start doing it!
I think this is a bit harsh, but brainstorming, and covering all aspects of a business is a good thing! When problems occur, you're ready to tackle it.

A lot of people start off thinking of wanting to do something which they know they can do, or can see a potential market in. So, why not think about it and think hard how the business is likely to survive, and what administrative goals need to be achieved to get it going?

I remember downloading something from business link before about managing the finance within the first couple of years of a business. It makes an interesting read because I wouldn't have thought about the importance of the financial balance in its growth.

If you manage it well, then you can grow it slowly but surely. A lot of businesses go down is because the business decisions are not budgetted for, or their finance strategy is not managed well. i.e. spending too much money before recooperating any profits. I haven't got my own business, but I do support financial systems, and it is always good to play prudence, and also to be prepared.

As I said I didn't mean to cause offence, just advising people to consider how difficult it can be and that they shouldn't take starting a business lightly

Hey,
My mum set up her own cleaning business, she cleans houses and also provides ironing services. She needed no qualifications to do this at all. What she did was started with a few cleaning jobs in Sheffield, cleaning a few houses, and now shes cleaning up to 17 houses a week!! (Yes, she does work like crazy, and yes it is hard work..) The way she got her cleaning jobs was through the people she worked for who recommended her. However, she doesn't employ people to work for her in her business as she thinks that it takes a lot to trust people into you home to clean and it would become less personal, and people may not do the job up to standards.
Hope this helped..

You will need insurance and you will need knowledge of health and safety law in this industry.

This will include COSSH information which will include details of all of the cleaning fluids you are using.

This will include information on the contents of the fluids and how harmful they are, and what you need to do to minimise the risks associatd with using the products.

For larger companies who you wish to clean for they may ask to see your health and safety policy.

This will detail how you are to do the work whilst staying safe and doing everything you can to minimise health and safety risks.

Depending on the type of company you work work this could be dozens if not hundreds of pages long.

Having a good health and safety policy may also be a requirement to obtain insurance.

Chris is correct, you may want to consider insurance and health and safety issues. Business link should be able to advise you on this.

We're probaby after a cleaner for our new offices, so get in touch.

I'm a carpet cleaner, have been for over 20 years. Like most things in life it's easy when you know how so expensive things like soft furnishings need specialist solutions and you need some formal training try www.ncca.co.uk also you need not your normal insurance you have to have treatment risk which covers you for the item you are cleaning as normal insurance doesn't.

Shaun

www.sheffieldcleaning.com