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I'm the first to admit cleaning house is definitely one of my least favorite activities. Couple that with a chronic lack of time and you're describing a huge segment of the population. One that isn't going to be shrinking any time soon.

As a cleaning services broker you can tap into this market. A cleaning services broker basically brings together people wanting cleaning services performed and those prepared to perform that service for a fee.

Start out by advertising for cleaners. You'll need to check references and test their skills. You may also want to consider bonding them. Once you have several cleaners on your books (as independent contractors, not employees), you can then start advertising your services to prospective clients.

A Yellow Pages listing is a good place to start (although this does require quite a bit of forward planning) as well as classified ads in your local newspaper. Professionally produced flyers/brochures that can be distributed in a letter box drop in the geographic area you are targeting will also generate good enquiry.

You should set yourself up so that you bill the client for the cost of the service and you pay your cleaning contractors. The difference between what you pay your contractors and what your receive from clients is your commission.

You can gradually expand your business too by adding more services over time. Logical extensions include window washing, garden maintenance, carpet cleaning and pet sitting, to name just a few examples. And don't forget to think outside the box when targeting clients. Consider, for example, real estate agents who need cleaning services for rental properties between tenants.

Useful Books:

Home Cleaning Business : Your Step By Step Business Plan
by Susan Bewsey

How to Make Cleaning a Successful Business
by Pamela Glasby