Strategies for Scaling Your Cleaning Business: 5 Common Mistakes and How to Overcome Them

Both residential and commercial cleaning services are in high demand. In fact, the global cleaning services market is projected to grow to $633.18 billion by 2030!

This is good news for cleaning business owners like yourself; it means that your business has plenty of growth potential. However, scaling a business comes with its fair set of challenges. 

Doing so requires strategic planning, efficient operations management, and an understanding of customer needs, all of which can be daunting without the right approach. In this guide, we’re exploring 5 common pitfalls that cleaning business owners encounter as they aim to expand their operations.  

We’ll offer practical solutions and highlight how technology can be a key player in your successful growing business.

5 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Scaling Your Cleaning Business

Doing so limits scalability. For example, using paper schedules and manual time tracking both take a lot of time to execute and are prone to human error. 

Solution

A scheduling and time-tracking app with templates, auto-scheduling, employee time clock, and real-time updates can significantly streamline operations, reducing the time and cost of doing things manually.

Real-world example

By switching to a digital scheduling app, a cleaning company was able to reduce scheduling errors by 90% and time spent on administrative tasks by 60%. As a result, company managers could focus more on growth strategies and less on day-to-day operational tasks. 

Employees may neglect to clean every area they’re meant to or fail to complete tasks, which can quickly lead to customer dissatisfaction and complaints. Additionally, without any sort of documentation, it can be difficult to prove that a staff member did indeed clean a space if a customer complains about it.

Solution

Use a mobile checklist app that allows you to create standardized checklists for your cleaners and create individual tasks to ensure everything gets done. You should also look for a mobile-friendly app that enables workers to document their work through photos and timestamps. That way, they can provide proof of service whenever needed.

Real-world example

A mid-sized cleaning company that frequently received customer complaints about cleaning inconsistency decided to implement a mobile app for its employees. 

The app came with customizable checklists tailored to each client’s specific requirements, and workers were prompted to take before-and-after photos of their work, tagged with timestamps and geolocation data. This not only made sure that cleaners completed their work to meet customer standards, but it also created a clear record of their work. 

As a result, the company saw a 40% decrease in customer complaints and a significant improvement in client retention rates. This transparent approach also increased customer trust and gave the business a competitive advantage.

For instance, a rapidly growing cleaning company might onboard new employees without providing well-structured training on company standards. This can lead to inconsistent cleaning services and customer complaints.

Solution

Take advantage of a mobile training solution that allows employees to complete training from their mobile devices. Look for an option with customizable course creation and progress tracking to ensure compliance with company standards.

Real-world example

A company implemented an online training module for new hires, which included interactive quizzes and videos on cleaning protocols. This not only sped up the onboarding process by 40% but also ensured higher service consistency across their client base.

Without an automated quality control process, it’s much more difficult to maintain cleaning standards across your company. Your employees may not know exactly what’s expected of them while they’re cleaning a client’s property, which leads to inconsistent work.

Solution

Digital checklists and automated reporting tools help maintain high service standards by ensuring all cleaning tasks meet your company’s quality criteria. Look for an app that allows you to create customized checklists specific to each client so employees don’t miss any areas to clean. They should also be able to check off items on their lists as they clean a property.

Real-world example

When a commercial cleaning company introduced digital checklists for their teams, employees were required to submit checklists via a mobile app from each job site. This approach reduced client complaints about missed cleaning areas by 75%.

Manual time tracking can lead to inaccuracies, errors, and time theft. Time theft occurs when an employee clocks in but leaves their job site or doesn’t work their scheduled hours. Many businesses utilize GPS tracking to monitor staff locations while on the clock, however, not all GPS tracking apps are created equal. 

An advanced solution that offers precise GPS and geofencing capabilities and also automates clock-in and clock-out times ensures staff remain on-site for the duration of their shift.

Solution

Implement a trustworthy time-tracking app with GPS and geofence technology. These apps can automatically track clock-in and clock-out times when employees enter or leave their job sites so their hours are always recorded correctly. 

Doing so prevents time theft and also streamlines payroll processes by accurately capturing everyone’s total hours. Additionally, real-time location tracking allows managers to quickly address unauthorized absences.

Real-world example

A regional cleaning service company struggled to ensure their employees were staying on-site for their scheduled shifts. After transitioning to a platform with accurate geofencing and location-based time-tracking, the company was able to significantly reduce time theft.  

The software automatically recorded when employees entered and exited the boundaries of predefined jobs, making it easy to verify employees’ presence at work and their total hours. 

This change led to more accurate payroll processing and significant improvements in operational efficiency. As a result, the company saw a decrease in operational costs and an increase in client satisfaction.

Key Takeaways

The rapid growth within the cleaning industry presents both opportunities and challenges for business owners who want to scale. In this guide, we’ve outlined some of the most common challenges when it comes to growing your business, from maintaining consistent service quality across client sites to ensuring that your staff are efficient while they work. 

Here are some of the key takeaways on how to make your cleaning business run smoother:

Standardize service quality

This is key for ensuring that cleaning quality remains consistent even as your business grows. We recommend using a mobile app to create standardized checklists. That way, employees won’t miss any steps while they’re cleaning. The best options also allow your staff to take pictures and attach them to tasks for documentation to show proof of their work.

Improve workforce accountability

An advanced digital app with geofencing technology is the best method for preventing time theft, accurately tracking work hours, and reinforcing employee accountability.

Streamline operations

As your business grows, things are more likely to fall through the cracks. Transitioning from manual to digital scheduling, time tracking, and task management significantly reduces administrative errors and makes it easier to scale.

Enhance training

To ensure your staff receive the same comprehensive training, implement a mobile training app that allows you to create your own customized courses. This allows employees to receive consistent, high-quality training directly from their smartphones.

Wrapping Up

We’ve covered 5 of the most common challenges for scaling cleaning businesses and practical solutions to set yourself up for long-term success.

For businesses seeking an all-in-one digital solution that addresses all these challenges, Connecteam is an ideal option. The app is designed specifically for non-desk industries, like cleaning companies, and comes with all the features you need to streamline operations. 

Task management, employee time tracking, GPS and geofencing capabilities, checklists and forms, and mobile training are just a few of the stand-out features that position Connecteam as the best employee management app on the market.