Why Are Prices for Cleaning Equipment Increasing?
According to the Wall Street Journal, prices for cleaning equipment are rising due to global supply chain disruptions and workforce shortages. These issues are causing freight, labor, and raw-material expenses to skyrocket.
On top of that, the demand for cleaning products continues to grow along with the increasing rate of the hygiene-conscious population across the globe. Fortune Business Insights shares that the cleaning supplies industry is predicted to grow from $247 billion in 2022 to $334 billion by 2029.
So, what does this mean for your cleaning business?
While it may not be ideal to increase your rate — since clients can easily compare you and your competitors — you can decrease your cleaning business’ operating costs in different ways. Keep reading to learn tips to combat the rising costs of cleaning supplies and maintain profitability.
5 Ways to Reduce Operation Costs for Your Cleaning Business
Inflation is soaring, and while you can’t control the costs of cleaning equipment, below are five ways to cut expenses and strategize your cleaning business’ cost-saving measures.
1. Train Your Staff
Training your cleaning staff ensures they’re more capable of completing cleaning projects swiftly and efficiently. This can help lessen disruptions in your operations, which can reduce overall labor and cleaning costs.
EBP Supply Solutions shares that training your employees can make them feel valued and appreciated, also reducing employee turnover. Decreasing turnover can further help reduce labor costs because hiring new employees is generally more expensive than keeping your current team.
2. Use Multi-Purpose Products
Many cleaning products are designed to be multi-purpose and can be used in many ways for better budgeting. Econo Clean suggests buying multi-purpose cleaners to help you replace up to 90% of all your everyday cleaning products.
Having a good supply of multi-purpose cleaners simplifies cleaning, saving you money spent otherwise on individual different products. When switching to a multi-purpose cleaner, you can also buy in bulk to help reduce your costs.
3. Purchase in Bulk
You might be wondering: Is it worth buying cleaning supplies in bulk? Certainly! Buying in bulk and having backup inventory on hand can save you from emergencies such as having to place an expensive rush order or having no choice but to wait until the cleaning products you prefer become available again.
Chem International shares that purchasing in bulk enables you to spend less per unit, reducing your bill significantly. When you buy only a few at a time, those single products are packaged individually. This means you’re essentially paying for extra labor and packaging costs as well.
Buying cleaning products in bulk can save you from paying for that extra plastic — preventing both overspending and waste.
4. Switch to More Advanced Equipment
Upgrading to higher-quality or -powered equipment can reduce business cleaning costs. For example, EBP Supply Solutions reports that switching from a corded vacuum cleaner to a battery-powered backpack vacuum can increase productivity by 230%.
More advanced equipment can help your cleaning staff boost productivity, which can result in labor savings for your business.
5. Automate Team Management
Manual tasks take time — and time is money. Using free automation tools streamlines your cleaning business operations into more optimized processes to save you money and time.
Gartner, a management consulting company, reports that automating finance teams can save 25,000 hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost savings each year. The same concept applies to any other business, and this is especially true if you are managing a team of cleaning staff while also trying to grow your business.
Using automation tools in your cleaning business enables you to send schedule reminders and notifications to your employees, improving communication and collaboration within your team. These tools can also help you and your team centralize and complete tasks promptly, giving you more time to focus on other aspects of your cleaning business.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cutting Costs in Cleaning Business
What is the average cost of cleaning supplies?
Fit Small Business shares that cleaning equipment and products are estimated to cost you $300 to $600 a month. As discussed, it might be worth buying cleaning supplies in bulk to cut expenses and remain profitable.
What are unnecessary expenses in a cleaning business?
Spending money on glossy brochures, newspaper ads, or a radio spot may not be worth your effort and budget. There are so many other methods to promote your business and win over clients.
Social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram can connect you to your ideal clients and help you engage with them for free. Building your social media presence will help you showcase your business within seconds without spending a penny.
How can I maximize my cleaning business revenue?
Knowing which pricing model you want to utilize to price your cleaning service will help you understand the money coming in and going out. With the right pricing strategy, you can begin to maximize your profits.
Marketing your cleaning business through social media is the next best way to attract your ideal customers, eventually allowing you to grow your customer base and maximize your revenue.
Reduce Expenses Without Sacrificing Efficiency
Running a cleaning business can be a lucrative venture, but minimizing your operational costs can be tricky. When you put effort into reducing your cleaning business expenses, you’ll not only save money. You will also be able to grow your cleaning business by hiring more staff that can take on additional cleaning projects.
Whether you have a big or small cleaning business, automating your scheduling, communication, and workflows can help you save time and money. Download the Taskbird app now to start streamlining your processes.
