Cleaning Business Start Up Advice

[bmxwidow]

Hi, newby to mumsnet, have just had a look around and got some really good tips. But could do with someone to point me in the right direction. I am about to be made redundant (end of March) and looking to set up a small (just me) cleaning business. Does anyone out there have any ideas/contacts on what I need to do for example liability insurance, tax etc and also is it worth advertising in local magazines or is word of mouth best initially. I used to clean a couple of hours a week for a friend and she was really happy with the service so this is why I thought I might look in to this. thank you for any advice in advance. Sorry if this is posted in wrong section (if it is would you let me know the correct one).

Hi bmx I've just done a trawl in Unanswered Messages and found this. Freelancers/Self-Employed isn't one of the busiest areas of MN - but it is the right place.

I run a dog-walking agency, so like you I'm looking for clients who are cash rich and time poor. I started with just myself, and initially did it for cash. However, within a year I'd realised that although I didn't have serious tax implications, as I was earning very little at that point, I did feel that I needed insurance.

I'm registered Self-Employed. I have no problem claiming Working Family Tax Credit, and I also get sent a handy NHS fees Exemption Certificate each year, which covers prescriptions, dentist and opticians. Last year and the year before I got full Council Tax rebate too. We are not entitled to FSM but do get half price Leisure Centre, and the school gives us discounts on uniform and trips. Once the paperwork side is set up it all runs pretty smoothly. I had a lot of help initially from the New Deal for Lone Parents scheme, but I'm not sure that still exists. This is despite the fact that what I earn in a week varies wildly, so it has to be calculated over a year.

Word of Mouth is absolutely the best advertising. Once it gets going it snowballs nicely. Dsis has a self employed cleaning round, she is fully booked and has never advertised at all - every client has come through personal recommendation. About half of mine do, and the rest are off our website - but our service is a bit more specialised.

Good luck.

Hi Op

There have been a few recentish discussions on this board and the business start up one about cleaning:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/freelancers/1661240-cleaning-start-up

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/business_start_ups/1655182-Cleaning-business-would-really-like-some-help-advice-please

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/business_start_ups/1661236-cleaning-start-up

Hope that helps.

Word of mouth is best-any local newsagents/post offices you can advertise in?Or speak to staff?
How about offering to check on houses over holidays-take in post etc? CRB check worth doing?

Thank you for your replies will certianly look at the the links - not thought of a CRB check but thinking about it going in to other peoples houses, I would probably want someone who was. Will keep you posted. Word of mouth seems to be the route to go at the moment as it will keep my costs down initially had a quick look at "On Your Doorstep" which my DH advertises in (and he always gets business out of there) but it looks like a minimum of 6 months (plus I would need to have a company name and also a sort of business card design) may be a route to go down later.

Hi just wondered if anyone knows information regarding CRB checks - if I set up as a cleaner (just myself) how do I go about getting one. Information I have read on other chats seems to indicate that agency's can only get them for their prospective employees and that I can't get one for myself? thanks