Does your cleaning services company have a plan in place for efficient growth? Often cleaning services tackle growth in a haphazard manner. While it is great when new clients come onboard, what happens when they come so quickly you can’t handle the increased workload? As the need for employees accelerates, hiring practices are often abandoned for the sake of plugging holes in the schedule. Things quickly begin to go downhill with a poorly trained staff, quality-control issues, and dissatisfied customers.
So how does one positively scale their cleaning business? Having a plan of action in place is the key to success. This will allow you to make informed decisions and gauge progress. Your business plan will help you minimize risk and allow you to grow logically and successfully.
Business growth is exciting, particularly when it is done correctly. Here are seven steps to scale your cleaning business properly.
Define Your Goals
Where do you want your business to be in one, three, or five years? Document everything you want to achieve, both big and small. Be specific (grow sales by 50%) or general (increase name awareness). Your objective is to get everything out of your head and onto paper.
Next, prioritize those goals. The goals at the top of the list are the ones you should pursue with the most passion. Also, you will want to be SMART about your goals (specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound). If any of your goals are not, strike them from the list.
Create a Plan of Action
Now that your goals are defined, you need to establish just how you will go about accomplishing them. Think through in great detail what you will need to do to make each of them a reality.
Knowing what you need to do to realize your goals is very important. Without a clear plan of action, you are essentially swinging blind. By thinking through the how of each goal, you may discover some unrealistic ones you need to take off your list.
Set Deadlines
Everyone needs a deadline, including yourself. Make sure your deadlines are realistic and attainable. Putting deadlines on your goals will serve as motivation for you to take action and will increase your chances of success.
Be Structured
Make sure you have the foundation in place to allow for structured growth. Scale your new business to match the workforce you will need to provide the services required. Be methodical. Hire the right people to ensure you maintain (or even increase) your standard of work. Reputation goes a long way. Do not sacrifice yours in an effort to bring on more clients.
Revisit Your Plan Often
The key to success is to re-evaluate your business constantly. Monitor your strategy as your business grows. Have the processes you put in place been a help or hindrance to your growth? Do not be afraid to make changes to your plan as your business changes. Adapt your plan to your clients’ needs and your business’s growth.
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all strategy. Customize your strategy to your cleaning business, and you will ensure scalable growth for years to come. To help with your growth, consider estimating software available at Compass Wave.
