What do I need to start a business?

So, you want to start your own janitorial business. What do you need? What kind of technology? Do I need an office space? How many employees should I get? Here are the key points we’ll cover in this post and the next. 

• Office Space
• Equipment
• Technology 
• Business knowledge
• Industry knowledge/training
• Employees
• Legal shenanigans
• Finances

Let’s talk about the easy (ish) stuff first!

You won't require a dedicated office space to start your business. Most of the work in the janitorial industry happens in the field. You’ll need an office space eventually, but set up a home office for now! Some key things to consider:

• Keep away from distraction-heavy areas! (Including the TV) Ideally, set up in a dedicated room. 
• Get good equipment! A comfy, ergonomic chair can distinguish between a miserable workday and a comfortable one. 
• Invest in stable Wi-Fi! Everyone hates unstable Wi-Fi. It’s distracting, and interruptions make it difficult to stay on task. 
• Storage space. Don’t let your space become cluttered. It can contribute to stress, make it hard to find the needed materials, and, in the long run, create problems. You WILL need that filing cabinet eventually, so don’t hesitate to buy one soon.
• Focus on good lighting and maybe get a plant or two! Good lighting and good vibes can make a big difference. Don’t let your space look like a corporate cubical- it’s yours! Make it feel like yours. Small mementos, plants, photos, and knick-knacks can transform your space. (Don’t make it too cluttered or distracting)
• Choose good supplies (and stock up). Imagine you’re hours into work, in the zone, and at your productive best! But your printer is out of paper (worse? ink!). Stock up. Buy more; you’ll use it! Nothing breaks concentration like an impromptu trip to your local office supply store.

Okay, you’ve got your space set up… what now? Equipment. Let’s talk about it and start at the basics. 

Your Most Important Piece of Equipment: Your Computer! This is truly your base of operations. Technology, communications, and software will live here, so get a good one! Consider:

• How long will this computer last?
• Can it run all the programs/software you need it to?
• Are you familiar with the operating system?

So, you’ve got a good computer that fits your needs. You’ll need a printer (for employee files and other paperwork). Choose wisely! Based on personal experience, I advise getting one with a scanning ability and double-sided copying. I promise it will save you some headaches in the long run.

Okay, you’ve got the basic technology. Let’s talk software. You’ll need software to help you with:

• Payroll
• Finances (AR and AP)
• Hiring
• Employee information
• Sales and marketing
• Inspections
• & more… 

Consider that you have different software for each of these things. That’s, at minimum, 6+ different software that may not integrate with each other. Finding the software to do these tasks isn’t the hard part; it’s finding a combination of programs that integrate with each other. Shameless plug: Consider franchising! Regardless of your industry, franchisors will likely offer you a tech stack to assist you with your needs. (We do! It’s quite dynamic, and we’ve spent a LOT of time finding the best systems that integrate with each other.) 

The worst part? The costs. Big, industry-leading tech is expensive, but so is paying for different software for everything. Another shameless plug: we offer our franchisees access to our tech and can integrate you into our systems!

So, that was a lot of information. Next week, we’ll discuss the rest of the essentials for starting a janitorial business. Want to learn more about franchising with us? We love to chat about franchising! Drop your info below, or give us a call at 330-703-1000.