Learning how to start a parking lot cleaning business can prove to be an effective way to generate a whole new source of income with no experience and minimal investment.
Whether you're looking to ditch the 9-5 and start a whole new full-time venture, or you're simply looking for a profitable side hustle to help you pay off debt or build savings, this guide will talk you step-by-step through the process of getting your new parking lot cleaning business up and running in just a few simple steps.
How to Start a Parking Lot Cleaning Business
Contents
Before we get into the how-to of it all, there are a few essential things to consider to help you decide whether cleaning parking lots for money is the best option for you.
These include:
Time and Working Hours
For one thing, it’s worth pointing out that since most parking lots are busy during the daylight hours, the majority of the cleaning takes place at night, or the very least in the early hours of the morning.
Does that work for you?
Do you have the time, the freedom, not to mention the motivation, to get up early or sacrifice your evenings to run a successful night parking lot business?
Or do family and other commitments mean you may be better off looking for a way to make money during the day, such as a legitimate online job?
Commitment Level
Are you going all-in with this new venture and making it your full-time role? If so, you’ll probably need to take on multiple jobs, which means figuring out a way to ensure several parking lots are clean each and every evening.
Are you simply looking to enjoy the benefits of having a side hustle? If that’s the case, you may be perfectly happy with just the one job, to begin with. After all, you can always expand later if your new business takes off.
Are You Up to the Task?
While starting a parking lot cleaning business may be relatively easy, the actual cleaning work can be pretty physically demanding.
If you’re doing the work yourself (instead of, say, hiring employees), then it’s worth being honest about whether you’re ready to take on the physical demands.
What You Need to Start a Parking Lot Cleaning Business
One of the main reasons why so many people find themselves drawn to this type of work is that there isn’t actually a whole lot that you need to start a parking lot cleaning business.
That said, there are a few essentials that you simply can’t do without:
1. A Business Plan
If you’re planning to take out a loan of any kind to cover your startup costs, then a business plan will prove crucial for convincing investors to lend you the money.
Still, even if you have no intentions of taking out a loan, creating a business plan can really be invaluable in ensuring you’re fully prepared to get your new business off the ground.
Done well, a good business plan can help you to:
- Come up with a business name
- Identify who your competitors are and how you’ll differentiate yourself from them.
- Determine how much you’ll charge
- Develop a strategy for attracting and retaining customers
- Consider what could go wrong and what you’ll do if it does.
2. Business Registration
With your business plan in place, it’s time to officially register your business. This will differ depending on your location.
If you’re here to learn how to start a parking lot cleaning business in Florida, for example, then you may have to meet different state requirements than your friend over in Chicago.
Contacting your local business bureau or chamber of commerce can be an excellent way to figure out what you need to do to register correctly.
3. Equipment
At a minimum, you’ll need a professional sweeper to start cleaning parking lots as a business. If you have the money, buying a brand new sweeper will be a worthwhile investment. If you’re doing this on a budget, going second hand, or even purchasing a slide-in sweeper you can attach to a pick-up truck is likely to be a more affordable option.
4. Insurance
Before you get started, it’s important to ensure your business is insured so that you’re well protected in case something goes awry. Many clients are even likely to insist that you’re fully insured before they hire you, so it’s important not to skip this step.
5. Customers
Most importantly of all, no business can thrive without customers. While setting up a website, distributing flyers, and all of the usual marketing channels are no doubt useful, parking lot cleaning is one of those businesses that will probably benefit the most from making real connections with businesses in your area. Reach out, network, let those businesses know what you can do for them, and slowly start developing the kind of client base that will help you create a successful night parking lot business.
How Much Can You Make With a Parking Lot Cleaning Business?
Though the amount you make will vary from place to place, the average going rate for parking lot cleaning services is between $80 – $100 an hour. While that sounds like a lot, don’t forget that you’ll also have overheads such as maintaining your sweeper and paying for marketing which may mean $50 – $70 is more realistic in terms of actual profit.
How to Run a Successful Night Parking Lot Cleaning Business: The Bottom Line
As you can see, starting a successful parking lot cleaning business isn’t all that complicated. The hardest part is simply attracting those all-important first customers; though even that part is a little easier if you hire a virtual assistant to help with marketing tasks and with a solid business plan in place, there’s no reason why you can’t get your new business off to a flying start in no time at all.