Free Business Tools to Run your Cleaning Business
When first starting out with your new business, money is tight. Spending money on expensive software and equipment is not possible. But that does not mean that your professionalism of running a cleaning business office should suffer. There are many free or low-cost options that can be used until your volume picks up. Here is a list of 5 free business tools that will help you run your Cleaning Business Office and still maintain a high level of professionalism.
Google Voice
Having a separate phone line and keeping business call separate from personal lines is very important in maintaining a professional look as a new business owner. Lucky Google has made this process easy and FREE!
If you don’t already have one, you will want to sign up for a Google account. From there you can set up your own Google Voice number. You can set up your own voice mail, identifying your business and assuring the caller that their call is very important to you and you will get back to them as soon as possible. Voice messages will also be stored online so you can retrieve them from any computer as well, if you don’t have access to a phone.
Google Calendar
As your booking all of your new clients, you will need a calendar to do this in. While there are several really good paid products on the market to streamline your scheduling, Google calendar is a great FREE option to use when you are just starting out. It is packed with several functions you would find in other paid programs to help you stay more organized.
When scheduling a cleaning you can store the customers address in the task for easy navigation. Client data can also be stored in Google Contacts to make it even more easy to schedule clients. You can use the invite ‘attendee’s’, to invite or schedule employees on the different cleaning jobs. This will also send your employees emails for of their daily cleanings.Color coding can be used to separate cleaning teams, when viewing the calendar. Cleanings can also be set to reoccur on a weekly, every other week or every 4 week schedule.
Want to read how to fill your cleaning calendar check out this post —–> 7 low cost ways togrow your cleaning business!
Face Book
If you don’t have a website you most definitely need a Face Book page for your business. With over 2 billion adults on Face Book, if you are going to have an online presence, this is where you will want it. And guess what??? Its a FREE business tool! It is a great way to advertise your business online, reach and engage with your local target market.
Items you will want to have on our Face Book page are, your contact information, how clients can reach you for a free quote and what kind of services you offer. Another avenue on Face Book you will want to pursue is local Face Book groups. If you have not yet discovered them, they are a great way to engage with potential clients. Look for swap shops, mom groups, or small business referral groups. Some groups will have limits on how often you can post advertisem*nts within the group. Make sure to follow all guidelines, always keep it professional, stay away from heated arguments or bashing of others. Remember that you want to make a good impression of being trustworthy and professional so that potential clients will want to invite you into clean their homes.
Wave
Bookkeeping helps you track revenue, expenses and to invoice customers. When first starting out, your volume will not require a a big expensive software suite. So don’t waste your money on one, there are FREE alternatives that will meet your needs. Wave is a small business web based accounting software which will be able to handle your bookkeeping needs. It is an easy to use software designed for the non-accountant. You will be able to track expenses and revenue. This will prepare you for tax season, and track profitability with easy reporting so you know where your making your money. Wave allows you to connect with your bank account and credit cards to easily insert them into the software for easier tracking. It also has built in invoicing so that you can send invoices to your clients. There is even payroll functionality so that you are ready to hire your first employee! Visit Wave to learn more about the free software and to sign up.
Related Article: How to Get Paid for Cleaning Services
Mile IQ
Mile IQ is a travel tracking app. One of the most under used deductions for small businesses is mileage! Did you know that when you drive to a clients home or to the store to pick up supplies that counts as business travel. And it is tax deductible. Meaning you do not need to pay taxes on the amount of money it costs you to travel!!! It’s basically like putting money into your pocket.
Mile IQ is a completely FREE business tool that you can download unto your cell phone through either Google Play or Apple Store. The app uses your GPS and tracks each trip you make to different locations. At the end of the day you open your app and it will ask you for each driving trip you made that day whether it was for personal use or business. You simply swipe left for business and right for personal. And the other cool part about the app is that you can download reports for your business mileage. At the end of the month or year, you give it to your accountant and he/she can use that to apply your tax deduction!
There you have it. 5 Business tools you can start using today to help run your Cleaning Biz. If you have not started your cleaning business yet click here to get started. As always I am here to help you get your cleaning business off to a great start. Leave me a message or email at Roberta@WellKeptClutter.com
