A janitorial business cleans commercial buildings like offices, schools, and warehouses. Startup costs range from $5,000 to $25,000. Revenue can reach $50,000 to $500,000 or more per year.
What Is a Janitorial Business?
A janitorial business provides cleaning services for commercial properties. You clean offices, retail stores, medical buildings, schools, and warehouses.
Janitorial work goes beyond basic cleaning. It includes floor care, restroom sanitizing, trash removal, and window washing. Most janitorial companies work on monthly or yearly contracts.
This steady contract work creates reliable income. That makes janitorial businesses easier to plan and grow.
How Is Janitorial Service Different from Regular Cleaning?
Regular cleaning usually means homes. Janitorial service focuses on commercial buildings. The differences go deeper than just the location.
Scope of Work
Home cleaning focuses on kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas. Janitorial work covers large spaces with heavy foot traffic. You handle hallways, lobbies, conference rooms, and public restrooms.
Contract Structure
Home cleaning often works on a per-visit basis. Janitorial clients sign monthly or yearly contracts. This gives you steady, predictable income.
Team-Based Work
Most home cleaners work alone or in pairs. Janitorial jobs often need a team of 3 to 10 workers. You clean large spaces quickly during off-hours.
Commercial Focus
Janitorial clients are businesses, not homeowners. They care about clean workspaces for their employees. They also need to meet health and safety standards.
Why Is a Janitorial Business Profitable?
Janitorial businesses have strong profit potential. Here is why this industry works well for new owners.
Recurring Contracts
Most janitorial work runs on monthly contracts. One signed contract can pay you for years. You do not need to find new clients every week.
Scalable Model
You can start alone and add workers as you grow. Each new worker lets you take on more contracts. Your revenue grows with your team.
Essential Service
Buildings need cleaning every day. Businesses cannot skip janitorial service. Even during tough economic times, cleaning stays in the budget.
Multiple Revenue Streams
You can offer extra services beyond basic cleaning. Floor waxing, carpet cleaning, and window washing bring in more money. These add-ons boost your profit per client.
Need help with the basics first? Read our guide on how to start a cleaning business. It covers licenses, insurance, and business registration.
What Equipment and Supplies Do You Need?
Janitorial work requires more equipment than home cleaning. You need commercial-grade tools that handle large spaces.
Essential Equipment
- Commercial vacuum cleaners — upright and backpack models for large floor areas
- Floor scrubber or buffer — for hard floors in lobbies and hallways
- Mop and bucket system — commercial-grade wringing bucket with microfiber mop heads
- Trash carts and liners — large rolling carts for collecting trash from many rooms
- Restroom cleaning kit — toilet brush, bowl cleaner, disinfectant, and paper supply dispensers
- Window cleaning tools — squeegees, extension poles, and glass cleaner
- Carpet extractor — for deep cleaning carpeted offices and conference rooms
Equipment Cost Breakdown
| Equipment | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Commercial vacuum (upright) | $300 to $800 |
| Backpack vacuum | $250 to $600 |
| Floor scrubber or buffer | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| Carpet extractor | $500 to $3,000 |
| Mop and bucket system | $50 to $150 |
| Trash cart | $100 to $300 |
| Window cleaning kit | $50 to $200 |
| Cleaning chemicals (starter set) | $200 to $500 |
| Safety gear and gloves | $50 to $150 |
Start with the basics and add specialty gear later. You can rent expensive equipment like floor scrubbers until you can afford to buy.
How Do You Price Janitorial Services?
Pricing janitorial work depends on the building size and type. Most janitorial companies use one of three methods.
Per Square Foot Pricing
This is the most common method. You charge a set rate for each square foot of space. Rates range from $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot per visit.
Smaller spaces cost more per square foot. Larger spaces get a lower rate because of volume.
Monthly Contract Pricing
Many clients prefer a flat monthly fee. You calculate the total based on square footage, cleaning frequency, and scope. Monthly contracts give both sides clear expectations.
Per-Service Pricing
Some clients want one-time or occasional services. Floor stripping, carpet cleaning, and window washing often use per-service pricing. These jobs pay more per hour than regular cleaning.
Pricing by Facility Type
| Facility Type | Size | Monthly Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small office | 1,000 to 3,000 square feet | $300 to $800 |
| Medical office | 2,000 to 5,000 square feet | $800 to $2,000 |
| School or daycare | 5,000 to 20,000 square feet | $1,500 to $5,000 |
| Warehouse or industrial | 10,000 to 50,000 square feet | $1,000 to $4,000 |
| Retail store | 2,000 to 10,000 square feet | $500 to $2,500 |
Medical offices pay more because they need stricter cleaning. Warehouses cost less per square foot because the work is simpler.
Use our price calculator to build accurate quotes. Also read our guide on how to bid commercial cleaning jobs for step-by-step help.
How Do You Find Janitorial Clients?
Finding your first clients is the hardest part. Here are proven ways to land janitorial contracts.
Bid Websites
Government agencies post cleaning contracts online. Check your city, county, and state websites. Federal contracts appear on the System for Award Management website.
Private bid sites also list janitorial jobs. These are great for finding large contracts.
Property Managers
Property managers hire janitorial companies for their buildings. One property manager may control dozens of buildings. Build relationships with them for steady work.
Cold Outreach
Visit local businesses and introduce yourself. Bring a one-page flyer with your services and prices. Follow up by email or phone within a week.
Networking
Join your local chamber of commerce. Attend business networking events. Other business owners often need janitorial help or know someone who does.
Subcontracting
Larger janitorial companies often need help with overflow work. Reach out and offer to subcontract. This gives you experience and steady income while you build your own clients.
Learn more in our full guide on how to get cleaning contracts.
How Do You Write a Janitorial Service Proposal?
A strong proposal wins contracts. It shows clients you are professional and prepared.
Scope of Work
List every task you will do. Be specific about each room and surface. Include what you will and will not clean.
Cleaning Frequency
State how often you will clean. Most offices need cleaning 3 to 5 nights per week. Restrooms may need daily attention.
Staffing Plan
Explain how many workers you will send. List their work hours and supervisor details. Clients want to know who will be in their building.
Pricing
Show your monthly price clearly. Break it down by service if possible. Include any extra charges for add-on services.
Insurance and Credentials
Include your insurance certificate. List your business license and any cleaning certifications. This builds trust and shows you are legitimate.
How Do You Hire and Manage a Janitorial Team?
Growing a janitorial business means hiring workers. Good hiring and management keep your quality high.
Hiring Workers
Post job listings online and in local newspapers. Look for people who are reliable and detail-oriented. Run background checks on every hire.
Start with part-time workers. Move them to full-time as your contracts grow.
Training Your Team
Create a training checklist for every building. Show new workers the right way to clean each surface. Teach them to use equipment safely.
Good training reduces complaints and rework. It also keeps your team safe on the job.
Scheduling
Most janitorial work happens at night or on weekends. Create clear schedules for each building. Make sure workers know their start time, tasks, and end time.
Quality Checks
Visit job sites regularly to inspect the work. Use a checklist to score each area. Give feedback quickly so workers can improve.
Happy clients renew their contracts. Quality checks are how you keep them happy. Read our guide on how to hire cleaners for more tips.
What Are Common Mistakes to Avoid?
New janitorial business owners make the same mistakes. Avoid these to save time and money.
- Pricing too low — many new owners underbid to win contracts, then lose money on the job
- Skipping insurance — one accident without insurance can end your business
- No written contracts — always get agreements in writing to protect both sides
- Hiring too fast — one bad worker can damage your reputation with a client
- Ignoring quality checks — small problems grow into lost contracts when you stop inspecting
- Taking on too much — grow at a pace your team can handle
- Not tracking costs — know your labor, supply, and equipment costs for every job
- Poor communication — check in with clients regularly to catch problems early
As your janitorial business grows, try cleaning business software to manage schedules, invoices, and client communication in one place.