What's It Like to Own a Cleaning Business? 8 Tips for Success

A cleaning business provides an accessible path to entrepreneurship with a low barrier to entry and limited overhead. You can build your staff as you add customers and control your schedule. But being successful requires more than just buying a mop and a few cleaning supplies. Explore the day-to-day responsibilities when you own a cleaning business, and learn Two Maids’ tips for making the experience a little easier.

Green cleaning products and the rising awareness of the health and safety benefits of cleaning are helping the house cleaning industry thrive. Busy schedules and focus on work-life balance are prompting people to outsource home services to reduce stress, including cleaning. At least 10% of households in North America employ a cleaner and the U.S. Department of Commerce anticipates that 80% of dual-income households in the U.S. will use a cleaning service over the next few years. The cleaning services market reached $20.2 billion in 2023, according to Expert Market Research, and economists forecast the market to grow to $27.5 billion over the next eight years.

Is a Cleaning Business Right for Me?

Deciding to own a cleaning business can be rewarding. Running your own cleaning business offers the chance to impact people's daily lives by providing a clean, organized, and comfortable environment. Having a cleaner home helps reduce stress, elevates mood, and even improves family dynamics, Oxford CBT reports. Coping with someone else’s clutter can cause “negative feelings of resentment,” which can build up and cause friction over time.

Whether you're considering launching a startup or joining a franchise like Two Maids, understanding your daily responsibilities can help you achieve your financial and lifestyle goals.

Customer service is at the heart of a successful cleaning business. You’ll need to build relationships with people in your community and interact with your customers by scheduling appointments and addressing concerns. At the same time, your employees are one of your biggest assets. Ensuring they feel appreciated is crucial to your success.

Two Maids launched a pay-for-performance model to improve customer service and ensure employee satisfaction. As part of the program, a customer rates their satisfaction with the cleaning service — the higher the rating, the higher the cleaner’s compensation.

In addition to building a loyal clientele, you’ll need to manage equipment and supplies to keep the business running smoothly. Having a network of franchise owners enables Two Maids to keep supply costs down. Our top 16 territories by number of households spent an average of $14,193 on cleaning materials in 2023 and earned an average of $659,421 in gross revenue.*

How to Run a Successful Cleaning Business

Two Maids has been keeping American homes clean for more than 20 years and we now have 117 locations across the country. Over the past two decades, we’ve learned a thing or two about what it takes to own a cleaning business. Here are some tips to help you stay on the right track:

1. Focus on customer service: Satisfied customers will help you generate referrals and loyal clients. Listen to any concerns and check in with customers regularly to gauge satisfaction. Address any problems before they become major issues.
2. Treat employees well: When hiring, find motivated and trustworthy talent. Invest in their training and professional development to improve retention.
3. Maintain high standards: Regularly update cleaning protocols to ensure consistent service quality. This will help in maintaining a good reputation.
4. Focus on local marketing: Optimize your online presence to ensure your business is visible to potential clients in your area. This involves managing your website and local listings.
5. Implement a referral program: Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool. Offer incentives for clients who refer new customers to your business.
6. Continuous improvement: Always look for ways to improve your service and operations. Stay open to new ideas and innovations to enhance your business.
7. Invest in a franchise: An independent cleaning business requires starting from scratch. You’ll have full control over your brand and business model, but you’ll be responsible for creating brand awareness and operational guidelines. Partnering with a franchise like Two Maids offers a roadmap to success with a proven brand. You get a turnkey business model with training, marketing, and ongoing support to put you on a positive course. As part of a franchise network, you can share best practices with fellow cleaning business owners who have experience in their local markets. Franchise businesses are designed with growth in mind. As a Two Maids owner, you work on scaling the business and hire employees to handle cleaning.

Invest in a Two Maids Cleaning Franchise

Two Maids' focus on customer satisfaction and employee retention makes it an excellent franchise opportunity. You don’t need experience in the cleaning industry to run a successful Two Maids business. For an initial investment ranging from $93,440 to $149,890, we provide the training, support, and tools you need to build your business.

Each franchise owner undergoes two weeks of virtual training, covering everything from scheduling to social media. We follow that up with in-person training at our headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, to gain hands-on education. Your total training includes more than 45 hours of classroom education and 20 hours of on-the-job guidance. Once you’re open, we will continue providing support through field representatives, conference calls, regional meetings, and conferences.

Training doesn’t stop with franchisees. Each team member at Two Maids participates in a comprehensive training program covering cleaning techniques, customer service, and efficiency. We provide customized cleaning plans to tailor our services for each household.

Two Maids is part of the Home Franchise Concepts family. Home Franchise Concepts is the franchisor of 10 home services brands with 2,600 franchise territories. Some of our brands include Concrete Craft, The Tailored Closet, Budget Blinds, AdvantaClean, and more.

Ready to Explore the Next Steps?

Request information to connect with one of our franchise experts to learn more about partnering with Two Maids to launch a cleaning business in your community.

*Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for details.