Start-Up Cost: $1,000
Potential Earnings: $40,000–$80,000
Typical Fees: $100 and up per apartment
Advertising: Email, telemarketing, flyers aimed at apartment landlords
Qualifications: Knowledge of cleaning procedures and painting skills
Equipment Needed: Cleaning supplies, sweeper, mops, buckets, painting equipment
Potential Home Business: Yes
Staff Required: No
Disabled Opportunity: No
Hidden Costs: Insurance, equipment maintenance
Lowdown: You add the finishing touches to apartment buildings before the next tenant moves in. To increase your marketability, offer several services, including carpet cleaning, wall washing, painting and wallpaper repair, and overall cleaning services. Set fee schedules appropriately depending on individual services (or offer an all-inclusive package price). Advertise your services to many apartment complexes. To cut down on driving, try to get a contract with a multi-unit apartment complex offering short-term lease options.
Start-Up: For this business idea, invest in good-quality cleaning equipment, including a sweeper and carpet cleaner. Start-up costs can be as low or as high as you want, depending on what services you are going to offer and the quality of equipment you purchase. This business can be started for a relatively low cost with a high return on investment.
Bottom Line: This business is not for someone who is afraid of good hard elbow grease. Be prepared to encounter some messy situations. This business idea isn’t exactly the easiest business to start but it’s very likely to succeed if you work hard.
Apartment preparers might spend quite a bit of time on their hands and knees cleaning baseboards and floors—consider the health of your back and always wear a back corset. In addition, invest in a good pair of kneepads and rubber gloves. In comparison to the many other business ideas out there, this is a good solid business – but one that will involve some hard work.
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