Cleaning Service

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Executive Summary

Brightway Cleaning is a home and small-office cleaning company serving the north side of our city. We clean on a regular schedule (every week, every two weeks, or once a month), and we also do one-time deep cleans, including move-in and move-out cleaning. People want cleaning they can count on: the same trusted people, on the same day, doing the same good work every time. Cleaners who work alone can be hard to count on when they get sick or are booked up, and big franchise companies can be expensive. We offer the reliability of a company with the personal care of a local owner. Here is what our numbers show. We expect sales of about $87,400 in Year 1, growing to about $598,000 by Year 5 as we gain regular customers and add cleaning crews. Building a base of regular customers takes time, so we expect to lose money in the first two years: about $40,700 in Year 1 and about $21,800 in Year 2. We expect losses of about $38,900 in Year 1 and $20,400 in Year 2 while we build our customer base, then a profit from Year 3 (about $11,600), growing to about $80,900 by Year 5. We need $80,500 in total. That pays for $18,100 in startup costs (equipment, first supplies, insurance, licenses and launch advertising), covers the money we expect to lose in the first two years, and keeps a cash cushion of about three months of bills. I am putting in $8,000 of my own money, and I am asking for $72,500. I am Susan Thompson, the owner. I will handle sales, scheduling and quality, and I will clean alongside our first crew member. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Brightway Cleaning will be a limited liability company (LLC) in New Mexico, owned by Susan Thompson. We will work from my home office, with supplies stored in a rented storage unit nearby. What we believe. Every customer deserves a clean space they never have to worry about, cleaned by people they trust. What we do:
- Regular cleaning: every week, every two weeks, or once a month, on a set day, with the same crew whenever possible. - Deep cleaning: a first-time clean for new customers, seasonal cleans, and move-in or move-out cleans. - Small offices: offices, studios and similar spaces, after hours or on a set schedule. What makes us different:
- The same crew and the same checklist every visit. - Every crew member has a background check, is trained, and is covered by our insurance and bond. (A bond is a kind of insurance that protects customers if something is stolen.)
- Clear prices and a written checklist, so customers know exactly what they are paying for. - A reminder before every visit, and a direct phone number for the owner. Where things stand today. I already clean for 6 regular customers, I own two commercial vacuums, and I have registered the business name with the state. Licenses and insurance. Before we start, we will get a business license, general liability insurance (which covers damage or injuries) and a janitorial bond. When we hire our first employee, we will also get workers' compensation insurance (which covers employees hurt on the job), as our state requires.

Problem & Opportunity

Families and small businesses near us want cleaning they can trust, but it is hard to find. 1. Not dependable. People who clean on their own may cancel when they are sick or on vacation, with no one to fill in. Quality can change from visit to visit. 2. Trust. Customers are letting someone into their home or office, often when they are not there. Many have no way to know if the cleaner has a background check or insurance. 3. Cost. Big franchise companies are dependable but often cost more and are less flexible. 4. Moving. Renters, landlords and real estate agents often need a deep clean on short notice, and have trouble booking one. How we know people want this. I have had to turn down 8 requests for regular cleaning in the past 3 months because I was full, and two real estate agents have asked me to handle move-out cleans for their listings.

Products & Services

We sell two kinds of service, and our plan is built on growing the regular one. 1. Regular cleaning. Customers pick every week, every two weeks, or once a month, on a set day. Our plan assumes an average price of about $130 per visit in Year 1, rising slowly to about $146 by Year 5. Supplies and other direct costs are about $35 per visit. We expect about 500 regular visits in Year 1 (about 10 a week), growing to about 3,200 by Year 5 as customers stay with us and tell their friends. 2. Deep cleans and one-time jobs. First cleans for new customers, seasonal cleans, and move-in or move-out cleans. Our plan assumes about $280 per job in Year 1, rising to about $312, with about 80 jobs in Year 1 growing to about 420 by Year 5. Many one-time customers become regular customers. How it works for the customer:
1. A free walk-through or a quick quote over the phone or online. 2. A written checklist and a clear price before the first visit. 3. A first deep clean to get the home in good shape. 4. Regular visits on a set day, with a reminder the day before. 5. Our promise: if we miss something, we come back and fix it for free. Our prices. 2-bedroom home every two weeks, $120 a visit. 3-bedroom home every two weeks, $145 a visit. Small office weekly, from $95 a visit. Deep cleans start at $250.

Market Analysis

Who will hire us:

- Busy families: working parents, older adults, and people who do not have the time or energy to clean. - People who are moving, landlords and real estate agents, who need move-in and move-out cleans. - Small businesses such as offices, studios, small clinics and shops that need cleaning after hours. Where we will work. We will start with a small area around the north side of our city so crews spend more time cleaning and less time driving. We will start with the three large apartment complexes on Glenwood Road, because move-outs happen every month and the leasing offices need reliable cleaners. Busy times. Regular home cleaning is steady all year. Move-in and move-out cleaning is busiest in the months when most people move. Office customers often sign longer agreements. Our plan is careful on purpose. About 10 regular visits a week in Year 1 is a modest start, so the business grows at the speed real customers sign up. Research to do before starting (and write here when done): find out what three local competitors charge for a typical home, and contact a few apartment leasing offices or real estate agents about move-out cleaning.

Competitive Landscape

Who else cleans homes and offices near us:

1. People who clean on their own. Low prices and personal relationships. But no backup when they cannot come, and insurance and background checks are often unclear. 2. Big franchise companies. Well-known, with good systems. But higher prices, less flexibility, and the cleaners change often. 3. Booking apps. Easy to book online. But often a different cleaner every time, and no one person to answer to. How we will win customers:
- Dependable: a crew with backup, so visits happen on schedule. - Trusted: background checks, insurance, a bond and a familiar crew. - Clear, fair prices: about $15 less per visit than the two franchise companies in our area, with no long contract required for homes. - An owner customers can call. Competitors near us. Sparkle Home Services (a made-up name) charges about $150 for a 3-bedroom home every two weeks; dependable, but customers say crews change often.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How people will find out about us. Getting started (first three months):
- A simple website with a quote form, our checklist and customer reviews. - A free business listing on Google and review sites. We will ask every new customer for a review after the first clean. - An opening offer, such as a discounted first deep clean when someone signs up for regular service. - Door hangers and flyers in two nearby neighborhoods and the two senior apartment buildings on Main Street. Getting referrals:
- A thank-you credit for every customer who refers a new regular customer. - Relationships with real estate agents, property managers and apartment leasing offices for move-in and move-out work. Offices: visit or call small offices nearby with a simple price sheet and a free walk-through. Keeping customers. Keeping the customers we have is the most important way we grow. We confirm every visit, keep the same crew, and check in after the first three visits. Marketing budget. About $4,000 in Year 1 for advertising and referral credits, growing a little each year. The website, logo, car magnets and launch ads ($3,000) are paid for from startup costs.

Operations Plan

How the business runs day to day. Scheduling. Crews follow set routes by day and area, so less time is spent driving. Regular customers keep the same day and the same crew whenever possible. We use a scheduling app such as Jobber for scheduling, reminders and invoices. Crews. In Year 1, the owner cleans alongside one crew member. As we gain regular customers we add crew: about three in Year 2, five in Year 3, seven in Year 4 and nine in Year 5. One experienced crew member becomes crew lead to check quality as we grow. Equipment and supplies. About $10,000 in equipment to start: commercial vacuums, a floor machine, a carpet cleaner, carts and mops, a tablet with scheduling software, and uniforms. We set aside about $2,000 to $2,500 a year for replacements. Cleaning supplies cost about $35 per regular visit, and we budget another $8,000 a year for supplies and equipment repair. Getting to jobs. In Year 1, the crew rides with me in my car, and I keep a mileage log for taxes. We plan to buy a used van in Year 3 from profits. Quality. Every visit follows a written checklist. The owner or crew lead checks each new customer's first visits and spot-checks regular customers every month. We ask for feedback after the first visit and regularly after that. Safety. Crews are trained to handle cleaning products and equipment safely. Safety sheets for every product are kept on hand. Customer keys and door codes are logged and kept secure. Hiring and training. Every crew member has a background check and is trained before working on their own.

Management & Organization

Who runs the business. Susan Thompson, owner. As owner I will handle quotes and sales, scheduling, hiring and training, quality checks, buying supplies, and the money side of the business. In Year 1 I will also clean alongside our crew. I plan to pay myself $45,000 a year. Crew. Crew members are planned at about $30,000 a year each. We add crew as regular customers grow: one in Year 1, three in Year 2, five in Year 3, seven in Year 4 and nine in Year 5. People who will help us:
- A bookkeeper or accountant for payroll and taxes. - An insurance agent for liability insurance, the bond and workers' compensation. - A free business mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). How we treat our team. Fair pay, steady schedules and respect keep good people with us. When the same people stay, customers get the same good work.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them. Before we start:
- Register the business and get licenses, insurance and the bond. - Buy equipment and first supplies. - Launch the website and review listings and start advertising. Target start date: March 2027. First 6 months:
- Sign our first regular customers. - Hire and train our first crew member. - Reach about 10 regular visits a week. Months 7 to 12:
- Reach about $87,400 in first-year sales. - Keep most of our regular customers month after month. - Build relationships with real estate agents and property managers who send us work. Year 2: about $193,500 in sales, with our loss shrinking to about $20,400. Grow to about three crew members. Year 3: our first profitable year, about $11,600 in profit on about $322,400 in sales. Years 4 and 5: grow to about $598,000 in sales and about $80,900 in profit by Year 5, with about nine crew members. What we check every week: number of regular customers, visits done, average price per visit, new calls and quotes, cancellations, crew hours, and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total needed: $80,500. This number comes from the Funding Need Calculator in this plan. It adds up: - Startup costs of $18,100: about $10,000 for equipment, $1,200 for first supplies, $400 for licenses, $2,500 for the first insurance and bond payment, $1,000 for legal setup, and $3,000 for the website, logo and launch ads. - About $39,300 to cover the money we expect to lose in the first two years while we build our customer base. - A cash cushion of about $62,400, about three months of bills. Lenders call this "working capital." Where the money comes from: - My own money: $8,000. - Amount requested: $72,500. Kind of funding we are looking for: an SBA 7(a) loan from a community lender, plus a small line of credit for slow months. How we will pay it back. We expect losses of about $38,900 in Year 1 and $20,400 in Year 2 while we build our customer base, then a profit from Year 3 (about $11,600), growing to about $80,900 by Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank every year of the plan. The loan is planned at 12.75% interest over 10 years, the most the SBA allows for a loan this size, so payments of about $1,072 a month are already included in our cash flow. What we are offering the lender: our cleaning equipment as collateral and a personal guarantee. A smaller first step, if needed. Cleaning is one of the easiest businesses to start small. If we cannot raise the full amount right away: - Phase 1: the owner cleans alone, part-time or alongside a current job, using basic equipment and their own car, with a handful of regular customers. Startup costs can be a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. - Phase 2: once there are more regular customers than one person can handle, hire the first crew member and follow this plan. To plan Phase 1, make a copy of this plan (use Duplicate) and lower the numbers to match a solo start. All numbers in this plan are estimates. We will update them as real results come in.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach before you send this plan:

- Your resume and references. - A personal financial statement (a list of what you own and what you owe; lenders usually provide a form). - Proof of insurance and bond, or price quotes for them. - Business registration papers and your EIN (your business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov). - Your service checklist and a sample customer agreement. - Your current customer list, or letters from people who send you work, if you have them. - Price quotes for equipment. If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue. The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Regular visits: about $130 each in Year 1, rising to $146; about $35 in supplies and direct costs per visit; about 500 visits in Year 1 growing to 3,200. - Deep cleans and one-time jobs: about $280 each in Year 1, rising to $312; about 80 jobs in Year 1 growing to 420. - Owner pay: $45,000 a year. Crew pay: $30,000 a year each, growing from one to nine people. - Other yearly costs in Year 1: supplies and equipment repair about $8,000, advertising about $4,000, insurance and office costs about $5,000. - Tax rate: 21%. - Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs