How to Buy a Commercial Cleaning Business
In a perfect world, everyone would have time to clean up after themselves and share all of the daily, weekly and monthly cleaning assignments. However, as long as there are commercial buildings and businesses there will always be a need for commercial cleaning businesses. Buying a commercial cleaning company can be one of the best investments that you can make. The professional cleaning business industry is extremely strong and traditionally very lucrative. There are a few considerations that you should make when you buy a janitorial service or maid service business.
Assuming Current Contracts
One of the toughest parts of starting a commercial cleaning business from scratch is building a solid client base and obtaining cleaning contracts. There is a great deal of leg work and sweat that goes into building up clients for repetitive and continuous business. The good news is that you can buy a commercial cleaning business that already has a strong client base and trust relationship built. Prior to finalizing any terms of the sale, be certain that the seller of the commercial cleaning business will provide you with the current clients and that you will be able to assume the current cleaning contracts.
Operating the Cleaning Company
Your primary objective once you have bought a commercial cleaning business is to operate the company. You will be responsible for acquiring additional contracts; hiring qualified and experienced employees; spot checking completed work; ordering cleaning supplies; maintaining equipment and overseeing equipment rental; providing customer service; handling schedules and other aspects of the maid or janitorial service. An individual with strong management and strong organizational skills can do extremely well with a commercial cleaning company. You can even hire an operations manager and accountant to assist with the new maid service or janitorial service company that you buy allowing you more time to meet with current and potential customers to expand your new commercial cleaning company.
Specifics for Sale
When you are negotiating the terms of the commercial cleaning businesses for sale consult with a business attorney. As with any new business acquisition, it is imperative that you have the specific details of the sale written in the final contract. Will you assume the equipment rental leases or will you need to contact the leasing companies for new contracts? Will the seller provide the list of clients and the contracts prior to the closing of the sale of the commercial cleaning company? Will you be able to automatically assume the existing commercial cleaning contracts that have been set up with clients? These are all very important questions that need to be both ironed out and put into writing before the final purchase. You do not want to assume on any aspect of the new business and later have problems because the specifics were not clearly spelled out beforehand.
04/26/08 at 12:04 AM
Hello There,
Awsome “buying a business” tips, useful one. Do you publish podcast?
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