When you first start a janitorial service company, you have to make sure that you have enough startup capital to fund your necessary initial expenses. You’ll have to furnish your office, buy all kinds of cleaning equipment, buy some computers, and even purchase a delivery van. You’ll also need to make sure your personnel gets the training they need in order to do their job efficiently and properly. You also need to think about marketing, and in today’s world that means having a strong online presence. And finally, you should also make sure that you have enough janitorial services business working capital so you can continue working and providing services while you wait for the money to come in.
After your initial expenses, you have to take into account the many other expenses you need to take care of on a regular basis. These expenses include:
- Payroll. Your janitorial services company will need workers, which means you need to make sure they get paid on time. If not, they’re not going to hesitate leaving your company.
- Training. Cleaners come and go, and you may find yourself hiring new workers which have to be trained properly. You need to develop a program or a mentoring system to make sure all your new workers know their responsibilities and tasks.
- Utilities and rent. You will also need to make sure that you have enough cash available so that you can take care of your water and electricity bills. If you have a website, you may have to pay for that on a regular basis as well. And unless you bought your own place, the rent for your office will also have to be part of your expenses.
- Cleaning supplies. You’ll need a steady supply of cleaning agents, including soaps, wax, bleaches, and industrial cleaners. Rags, wipes, and paper cleaners will have to be replenished as well.
- Equipment maintenance. Once you buy your cleaning equipment, you’ll also need to make sure that they are in good working condition. They have to be cleaned and maintained regularly, and their storage should be appropriate as well. You should also make sure that you don’t overlook your company vehicle too. Proper vehicle maintenance must be done, and the truck you use for your business will need regular tune-ups and fuel. If any of your equipment is damaged or begins to malfunction, you should have enough working capital to take care of repairs and replacements.
Most people who are just starting a business think of janitorial services business working capital simply in terms of cash. But that’s not always the case. If you need cash in order to fund the day to day operations of your company, you also have other assets to use which you can convert into cash. You can use your equipment or even your location (if you own it) as collateral when you try to get a loan. You can also use your accounts receivables to get a cash advance through factoring services. If you need more working capital, there are always other ways to get them.