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Cleaning services are a dynamic, in-demand service that has grown consistently in the US. It includes commercial and residential cleaning along with specialty services like bio-hazardous materials removal, mobile car detailers, and dry cleaners.
Data shows that overall in the US, the revenue generated in this industry is $175 billion dollars. It employs over 2 million people and is progressing steadily toward more green-cleaning alternatives. What other information tidbits make this industry unique?
- Be ready to sell. While many people use cleaning services, client turnover can be high (as high as 55% each year). Since a well-done job gets few kudos, a company is only as good as its last job. Which means the sales job never ends, and good quality counts. Consistently good service combined with diligent sales will contribute to revenue growth.
- Commercial office cleaning is the largest segment of the cleaning industry, employing 40% of all janitors and cleaners. And because residential cleaning services are more negatively impacted by an economic downturn, the jobs and companies that are focused on commercial work are more stable. People may choose to clean their own homes in tough financial times, but commercial spaces will nearly always hire an outside service.
- Since offices are cleaned when no one is working in them, most cleaning shifts for commercial clients are swing shift and graveyard shifts. These second and third shift preferences create a round-the-clock income stream for companies that have both residential and commercial clients.
- In the US, the wage range for workers is between $10 and $11 an hour, with private residential cleaners on the low end of the scale. Specialty cleaners earn a bit more. However, the current minimum wages laws are changing rapidly, and it is likely that the minimum wage will be at $15 an hour in nearly every state in the early 2020s.
- The three largest commercial cleaning companies have over 20,000 franchise locations keeping offices and residences spotless.
- The commercial side of the business is expected to grow at a rate of 4.3% by 2022. For those with higher revenues, that adds up to a lot more dollars. But the industry is fragmented with larger brands dominating the revenue share. Since there are 150 companies that rake in over $10 million a year each, that is a lot of revenue concentrated at the top tier.
- The move to healthier and safer cleaning methods have some companies color-coding their cleaning solutions to avoid cross-contamination between different types of rooms like restrooms, laboratories, or child-care areas.
- The EPA determines toxicity levels in chemicals and maintains lists of approved “green” chemicals and other solutions, including cleaning solutions.
- A greater push for green cleaning has developed certification programs for buildings, cleaning companies, and other cleaning providers.
- Consumers are looking for healthier options in their work and personal spaces. A focus on green cleaning might be a good way to differentiate yourself to prospective employees and clients.
If the idea of helping people keep their homes and businesses neat and tidy appeals to you, consider investing in a cleaning franchise. You can also read more about the industry in our Cleaning Franchise Industry Report 2019, which has features on trends and more!
Susan Guillory is the President of Egg Marketing & Communications, a marketing firm specializing in content writing and social media management. She’s written three business books, including How to Get More Customers With Press Releases, and frequently blogs about small business and marketing on sites including Forbes, AllBusiness, The Marketing Eggspert Blog, and Tweak Your Biz. Follow her on Twitter @eggmarketing.