The Ultimate Business Blog Citygirlbusinessclub.com
With youth unemployment at an all time high, and a job market that’s more cutthroat than ever; this could be the perfect time to start your own business. Carving out your own place in the jobs market can be challenging, but also extremely rewarding, and the positive side of starting your business in the middle of an economic downturn is that things can only improve in the future.
Deciding on exactly what your business will be is is the first task to tackle, and there’s plenty of choices out there. There is, however, a great solution that often gets overlooked, and that’s starting your own cleaning business. Set up costs are relatively low, and there’s always a demand for cleaning services, wherever you are based. Here are some points that you will need to consider before starting your business:
Funding
Starting small will mean that you can use any profit to invest back into your business. If you can use your own personal vehicle and cleaning equipment then this will keep costs down and result in more profit from your turnover. There is little to none funding available in the way of grants, but you may be able to get a loan from your bank if you have a well written business plan. It’s also worth taking a look at crowdfunding websites to see if you can raise an investment this way as it’s a great alternative to approaching your bank.
HMRC
You will need to register as self-employed with HMRC and fill out a tax return every year. You may find it easier to hire a bookkeeper or accountant to help you with your paperwork, but bear in mind that this can be expensive when first starting out. If you’re planning on starting a limited company, you will need to use the services of an accountant who will file your annual accounts and help you navigate the complicated tax system.
Insurance
You will need to take out liability insurance for you and any people you employ. This will cover you for any accidents or problems which take place, this is particularly important as you will be handling dangerous cleaning products which could potentially cause harm to your customers, or your employees.
Minimum wage
If you plan to employ your own staff, you will need to make sure that their wages conform to the national minimum wage standard which is regularly updated and is a legal requirement. If you want to retain your staff, it’s best to pay them more than the minimum as reliable and trustworthy employees are worth it. Why not check your local jobcentre to see what other companies are offering in your area? This will help you to set a competitive and attractive wage.
Advertising
The best way to get new business in is by word of mouth. It is, therefore, imperative that you and your staff offer a high quality service that your customers are going to want to recommend. Business cards and flyers can be designed an ordered online from websites such as vistaprint and placed into shop windows, or business premises. It’s also worth considering advertising in your local newspaper, although this can be expensive when first starting out. There’s also online sites such as Gumtree who let you place an advert for free.
Accreditation
Joining a trade association such as the CSSA can really help to boost your business as customers will feel reassured that you have been independently vetted and adhere to the required code of practice. Cleaning companies such as http://www.idealcleaning.co.uk are audited, inspected and certified by the British Standards Institution, who offer accreditation for a range of areas within a business. Having this type of documentation will show your customers how committed you are to offering them quality service. More information on setting up your own business can be found on the gov.uk website.