If someone says you’re more likely to succeed in business by drafting a single piece of document, would you do it? Would you stop anything you’re doing right now and sit down to write this piece? We hope you do, as writing a business plan for your carpet cleaning company can get you one huge step closer to your business goals.
Starting your own company is an exciting venture. This is especially true if you want to be part of the lucrative industry of carpet cleaning, which had a total revenue of five billion dollars in 2018 alone.
But it’s easy to get lost in all that excitement if you don’t have a plan to remind you of the steps you need to take to hit your goals. It’s like constructing a mansion without a blueprint. You’d probably end up with a large house with doors going nowhere, cobblestone pavers on the interior flooring, and an odd roof-on-roof exterior design. You’d be pouring more money down the drain to correct those misses.
At DryMaster™ Systems, Inc., we want to help get your cleaning business off to a great start. You don’t need a lengthy business plan to convince banks and lenders to give you hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars in funding. After all, we make the cost of starting a carpet cleaning business more affordable. What you need instead is a short but clear, detailed plan you can use for strategy, budget, and metrics.
If you’re unsure where to start, here are the key elements of a carpet cleaning business plan:
Executive Summary
The executive summary consists of one to three paragraphs that explain the pertinent information about your business plan. It’s basically the elevator pitch for your business. So, it should appear first in the plan.
An excellent executive summary is compelling. Specify the need of your target customers you want to address and the unique solutions you can bring to the table as a DryMaster™ Affiliate. You should also briefly introduce your team and what makes you and your technicians the right people for the job.
Since the executive summary is meant to highlight what you aim to discuss in the rest of the plan, we suggest you write this section last. This way, you don’t miss any important idea from other sections.
Business Opportunity
In this section, you get a chance to analyze your target customers and competitors, as well as look at the market as a whole. The goal of writing this section is to see where you fit in the market and how you can rise above the competition in this niche. Spend ample time probing these three key elements:
Target Customers
Knowing your target customers is a crucial part of running a business. It helps you create a more focused marketing strategy and define clearly your approach to customer service. It’s a great idea to create buyer personas or profiles of your ideal customers, and make them as specific as possible. Where do they live? What is their age range? What do they do for a living? What is their income level? Answering such questions can help you pin down the demographics of your target market.
Competitors
A good business plan for a carpet cleaning company doesn’t only recognize the opportunity but also how to seize it. Present a clear comparison of your company with your direct competitors. You need to show their strengths and weaknesses and how your company will stack up.
As a DryMaster™ Affiliate, you have unique advantages over other local carpet cleaning companies. You have access to superior cleaning technology and unlimited personalized technical support. Make sure to include such details in your plan, so you’ll be reminded to include those in your marketing strategy.
Market Trends
As an entrepreneur entering an already established market, it is your job to know the ins and outs of the industry. You must do a research on where the industry has been, where it’s expected to be in the next few years, and how your company will fit into this scenario.
As our affiliate, you have our experts to help you learn the ropes of the industry. We have training and resources to improve your learning curve. But it doesn’t hurt to study the market trends on your own; gather as much data and statistics as you can and put it in the plan.
Execution
After collecting and analyzing crucial information about the business opportunity, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get down to the battleground of the business — the execution. Make a detailed description of how you’re going to approach the following:
Products and Services
Decide on which carpet cleaning package you’ll get. From there, list down the specific services you will provide to your customers, along with the cleaning products and equipment you’ll use.
Marketing and Sales
Get those research on target customers and market trends working by enumerating the marketing techniques you’ll do to reach your clients. Include your sales process, as well. How can your customers reach you? How can they book an appointment with you? How long will it take your team to finish the service? By answering such questions, you get a clear idea of how your sales and marketing plan will be.
Operations
Our carpet cleaning business model allows you to run a company from home. You don’t need an office or warehouse. All you need is a secure, clean space where you can store your cleaning equipment, plus a phone, computer, and an internet connection to receive client calls and book service appointments.
Metrics and Milestones
Where do you see your company in three months? How about in six months or a year? You need clear, defined targets or goals when running a business. Otherwise, it won’t grow as much as you want it to be. Also, make sure to set metrics that will not only help you measure the performance of your company but also keep you on track with your sales targets and other business goals.
Team
This section describes the structure of your company, including the number of personnel and the role of each member. The great thing with being a DryMaster™ Affiliate is you get to start with one employee: you. Our business model allows you to run your company on your own or with just another family member.
We suggest you start your company small and only hire more employees once you’re ready to expand.
Financial Plan
Running your own business is part art, part science. Rely on your creativity when coming up with marketing and sales techniques, but embrace data and figures when drawing up your financial plan.
Be thorough with your sales forecast, profit and loss statement, cash flow, and other finance-related aspects of the business. If you’re not yet confident to handle such details, there’s no need to worry. Our training sessions cover all the crucial aspects of the business, including finances.
Writing a business plan doesn’t have to be a lengthy, complicated process. If anything, it should be a pleasant experience as it gives you a taste of what you’re about to experience as a business owner — the joy of being your own boss, calling the shots, and reaping the rewards of joining a lucrative industry.
Need more help in planning your business? Don’t hesitate to request a free business guide today.
