What will I be doing?

There are more than 32,000 carpet-cleaning services in the U.S., many operating as home-based businesses. A carpet-cleaning service, as you might expect, cleans carpets and rugs using special equipment. Typically, a home-based business will use the home as an office, but work from a vehicle parked at the customer’s location.

What will I need to start?

You can start your carpet-cleaning service with just business cards or fliers passed to neighbors. Then, as you get a job, you rent a carpet-cleaning machine and buy the needed shampoo. As your business grows you can find used and new professional carpet-cleaning equipment at wholesale janitorial suppliers listed in metropolitan telephone books. These services can also suggest cleaning supplies.

Who will my customers be?

Customers for your carpet-cleaning service include homeowners, companies and office buildings. Most carpet-cleaning services specialize in a specific market, focusing marketing on homeowners or apartment dwellers, office complexes, retail stores, shopping malls or government offices. If your business is located in a large city and you have many competitors, you will specialize more than if your business serves a town of 10,000.

You can reach your customers through mailing lists, fliers, small service ads in newspapers and ads in the yellow pages of area phone books.