What will I be doing?

The first janitors were doorkeepers and watchmen. As locks became more reliable, the castle’s owners must have said, “Grab a broom!” and the predecessor to the modern janitor went to work.

Today, there are about 28,000 full-time janitorial services in the country, with many of them operating from homes across the nation. Most janitors serve the cleaning needs of businesses and stores. This is an especially important job in today’s work environment where dirt particles can damage sensitive computers and other electronic equipment.

What will I need to start?

The skills required for cleaning are few. However, to clean efficiently
requires training and experience. You can develop on-the-job experience by working as a janitor for a school or office, or as an employee of a successful janitorial service.

The equipment you’ll need depends on the type of janitorial service you
offer. Many janitorial services specialize in retail stores, offices, industrial buildings, warehouses, schools, hospitals or other sites. Some services specialize in a type of cleaning such as floors, carpets, walls and ceilings or glass cleaning. So defining what you do will help you determine what you need to start.

Fortunately, you can find much of the equipment and supplies you need at a single location: a wholesale janitorial supply store. In most cases, the supply store is operated by experienced janitorial service owners who can help you select equipment and supplies that are most efficient for what you do. Check area telephone books for janitorial suppliers.

Who will my customers be?

Your customers will be companies, individuals, municipalities, manufacturers, schools, hospitals and others. One small janitorial service lost a major contract and needed to replace the income to pay for floor cleaning equipment just purchased. The owner decided to put the equipment to better use by specializing in stripping and waxing floors with a special polymer finish that offered both shine and durability. Within a couple of months she had replaced the income from the large account with numerous smaller accounts that gave her business more stability.

To find your customers, think like them. If you’re thinking about starting a janitorial service for a specific retail area, talk to potential customers about their cleaning needs and schedules, how much they pay for janitorial services and what it would take to earn their business. You may soon have your first customers lined up.

Some janitorial supply stores also work as job brokers, finding janitorial contracts and selling them to their customers. Ask supply stores if they also broker janitorial contracts.