Okay, so I wanted to share my experience with starting my own little cleaning business in New Haven. It's been a wild ride, let me tell you!

Getting Started

First, I researched the heck out of the competition. I mean, I literally drove around, took notes on what other cleaning vans looked like, and checked out their websites (the ones that had them, anyway). I wanted to see what they were offering, what their prices were like, and, honestly, how professional they seemed.

Then, I made a list of all the supplies I'd need. You know, the basics: Mops, buckets, sponges, a good vacuum cleaner, and of course, all the cleaning solutions. I went for eco-friendly stuff whenever I could, figured that might be a good selling point.

The Nitty-Gritty

Registering the business was a bit of a headache. So many forms! But I got through it, eventually got my business license, and felt super official.

• Figured out my services: basic cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning.
• Decided prices: based on the size of the space and time.

Next I created very simple flyers.I went super basic, just my services, contact info, and a catchy tagline. I posted them around town, coffee shops, laundromats, you name it.

First Clients!

My first few clients came from those flyers, believe it or not! It was mostly small apartments and a couple of offices. Word of mouth started to spread, which was awesome. It turns out people appreciate you to do a good job and show up on time.

I'm still learning as I go. Figuring out how to schedule efficiently, and I messed up a couple of times, double-booking myself (never again!). But hey, you live and learn, right? I am happy that I decided to start up this small business.