How to Start an Exterior Cleaning Business

People spend lots of time and money making their surroundings beautiful, but over time, things get dirty. Regular professional cleaning makes properties look great  and it also helps prevent future costly repairs. Clogged gutters, moss growth on roofs, and algae on patios and driveways can all weaken the integrity of a structure, which can lead to water damage and other issues down the line. In Canada, the changing seasons and elements mean that a good cleaning is a regular requirement, especially on the exteriors of buildings. 

Roofs, gutters, windows, fascia, patios, and driveways all get dirty, no matter how recently we’ve cleaned them. That means there’s lots of opportunities for hardworking entrepreneurs to make a profit doing exterior cleaning. If you’re looking to start a new exterior cleaning business, but don’t know where to start, Bidmii is here to help. In order to get your new business off the ground, you’ll need to attract enough customers. The good news is, you can get started right away, without a complicated marketing strategy — and that’s where Bidmii comes in.

Bidmii helps connect independent contractors with homeowners who need projects done well, and fast. We’re here to help get small businesses like yours off the ground, and it’s easier than you think. Below, we cover everything you need to do to launch and grow your business, from your business plan and cash flow to getting your first customers and getting paid. We’ll help provide the knowledge and resources you need to start a successful exterior cleaning business, so you can focus on what you do best.

Table of contents

• Business Plan
• Selecting a Business Structure
• Register Your Business
• Create a Website
• Get Insurance
• Municipal Licensing
• Get Your First Customers
• How to Bid on a Project
• Complete the Project and Get Paid
• Build your Profile

Choose Your Services

From the roof down to the roadside, there are plenty of surfaces in between that need regular specialized cleaning.  Whether you choose to offer a number of services, such as roof, gutter, and patio and driveway cleaning, there is ample opportunity for year-round earning. 

• Roof cleaning
• Gutter clearing
• Underside of gutter and fascia cleaning
• Window cleaning
• Building soft wash
• Driveway patio cleaning
• Jet washing

Business Plan & Cash Flow

So you’ve decided to start an exterior cleaning business — congratulations! On top of your new role, you’ll also need to be a CEO, CFO, business leader, and sales person, along with several other responsibilities. If you’re serious about your business, you’ll have a basic business plan and cash flow. You should know the basic services you’ll offer, such as the type of exterior cleaning you’ll be offering and how much you’ll charge for them. It doesn’t have to be pretty or complicated, but it should lay out your path forward.

One of the biggest reasons your business should have a business plan and initial cash flow is to apply for a small business loan. If you need vehicles, materials, or equipment like power washers or a gas generator for your exterior cleaning business, this will be crucial for you. Your business plan will include a description of your business, the services you will offer, a summary of who is involved and their responsibilities, how you plan to market your services and operate and manage the business, and how much funding you need, if any.

Don’t Forget the Cost of Tools and Equipment

Exterior cleaning doesn’t require a lot of hand and power tools, but you may need a variety of tools for different jobs. Examples of tools you may need include:

• Extension ladders
• Scaffolding
• Power washer
• Soap or cleaning products
• Hose attachments
• Gas generator
• Shovels
• Yard bags
• Fall protection equipment

Another major investment will be your company vehicles and job trailer to haul your equipment. Your company truck and trailer can act as a moving billboard to advertise your business, so it’s worth getting your company logo and phone number on them. This helps build brand awareness and portrays an image of legitimacy and professionalism to your potential customers.

Selecting a Business Structure

A business structure is one of the first decisions you’ll need to make for your professional cleaning business. There are 4 standard types of business structures:

• Sole proprietorship
• Partnership
• Corporation
• Cooperative

Each structure type has different pros, cons, and implications, so you’ll need to choose the one that works best for your business. When selecting your business structure, consider your liability. Businesses with higher liability will want to choose a more protective structure, such as a corporation, which costs more than a sole proprietorship but offers benefits such as limited personal liability. If you’re cleaning the windows on high-rise buildings, your potential liability will be higher than if you’re mainly cleaning driveways. Either way, it makes sense to protect yourself and your business from the start. Learn more about choosing your business structure.

Register Your Business

Now that you’ve selected your business structure, you’ll want to get your exterior cleaning business registered. Registering your business protects your business name and proves that your company is a legitimate entity — which means that you can hire employees and complete legitimate work, among other benefits. To register for a business license, you’ll need to provide your business name and structure type, along with information including your address and other details. You’ll also need to pay for your business registration.

Register Your Business in Ontario

Create a Website

In the digital age, if you’re not online, you’re behind. Most owners of small businesses rely on word of mouth and social media to get customers, but a website is a big checkmark that helps to show potential customers that you’re a legitimate exterior cleaning company. Your website can be a simple contact page to prove you’re a real business. Many website builders offer a free trial, so you can get a basic website up and running on your own fairly quickly. 

Pro Tip: Your Google business profile will be the largest entry point for your business. Start your site there, and you’ll have an online storefront created quickly for less than $20/year.

Don’t get overwhelmed - just get it launched!

Many business owners will put off launching a website for months because it’s not perfect. In the beginning, you won’t get much traffic, so just make a basic website with relevant information and get it online. You don’t need to spend money on a custom designed website. Once you’ve got money coming in consistently, you can invest more in your website. Just be clear about what you offer. For example, it’s a good idea to include information about the types of exterior cleaning jobs you’re looking for. 

Get Business Insurance

Since you’re in the exterior cleaning industry, working on job sites, you’ll probably want to consider at least 3 types of insurance for your business. You’ll need to cover your general liability and consider factors like workplace safety and fall protection. It’s worth reaching out to several different insurance agents for quotes and advice. The types of insurance you may need include:

General Liability insurance: potential damage you may unintentionally create at a client’s property.

Workers' Compensation: potential injuries to you or others while on the job.

Equipment insurance: theft or damage to your tools and equipment.

Additional License and Certification Requirements in Ontario

This section mainly applies to general contractors and specific trades, but it’s worth looking into to ensure that your business is operating within the laws and regulations of the municipality where you’re operating. If a contractor or subcontractor doesn’t have the required permits, it can lead to an entire project being halted, which can damage your relationships with contractors and customers.

As an example, according to bylaws in the City of Toronto, additional licensing applies to anyone who advertises or solicits for work as a building renovator or building contractor doing renovation work (including altering, repairing, or renovating buildings or structures). This means that if you’re planning to complete an exterior cleaning job which somehow alters the face of a building within the City of Toronto, you may need a work permit from the city. If you’re subcontracting for a home builder or General Contractor, they should know if you’ll need a city permit. You can also check with your local municipality if you’re unsure.

Getting Your First Exterior Cleaning Clients

The biggest step to starting your exterior cleaning company is getting your first customer. If you’re just starting out, you may not have any leads lined up — but don’t let that stop you from taking the leap! Even when your business is up and running, it can get complicated quickly if you’re forced to divide your limited time between lining up new projects and completing those you’ve already agreed to. To ensure that you have new cleaning projects coming in, you may need to spend time on marketing and sales activities, on top of managing your job sites. Traditional advertising can cost up to $100 per lead for lawn signs, flyers, and more, which is unrealistic when you’re starting your own business. That’s why we created Bidmii. It’s the cheapest, easiest, and fastest way to get your first customers. 

How it works:

With Bidmii, you’ll lower your business expenses and increase your profitability with one simple tool. You’ll never have to pay for marketing expenses and materials because we’ll provide a direct link to your customers. Just create a free profile, select the types of projects you’re interested in, and receive daily notifications for new projects through SMS and emails that connect you with homeowners in your area. You can immediately start bidding on projects you want, send offers to potential customers, and engage in direct conversations with customers in your area. 

Bidding on a project is easy and it helps provide upfront insight into your profitability on each project. If you’re just starting out, you may want to seek advice from other professional siding installers on how to price projects but, in general, you should always make sure you can account for your costs. 

How to Bid On an Exterior Cleaning Project

Example Project Bid: Exterior Cleaning Job

Karen from Guelph wants her windows to shine again, so they post a project on Bidmii. You see the email notification on your phone, and decide to put in a bid for $300. You estimate that between transportation and supplies you will only spend around $50, leaving you $250 in profit. Karen accepts the bid, and the only spent money out-of-pocket on your window washing was the business registration and insurance.

Your Proposed Price: $300

Transportation & Supplies: $50

Total Profit: $250 

Complete the Project and Get Paid

This is why you’re really here and why you started your exterior cleaning business in the first place. With Bidmii, you won’t have to spend your valuable time chasing payments from your customer. You’re protected by our terms and conditions, so you’ll receive payment directly into your account as soon as a project (or project stage) is marked as completed by both parties. 

Build your Profile

Congrats, you’ve completed your first project! If you do high-quality work, you’ll be rewarded with honest, verified ratings and reviews from your customers about your completed projects directly on Bidmii. As you grow your business with Bidmii, homeowners will feel more and more confident using your services, which will help you compete for more (and bigger) projects. 

Want To Build Your Business Using Bidmii?

Bidmii is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to earn new customers for your exterior cleaning business. We’ll help you find new clients and make lasting relationships with homeowners in your area. By completing projects you’ll earn a strong reputation through ratings and reviews based solely on your skillset and communication.

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