How to Start a Green Cleaning Business
My dream is to open a successful cleaning company in my home town using only environmentally friendly products. All employees would be women in need of great employment, great benefits. They would learn to support themselves and their children independently without the aid of a second income. The prime directive of the company would be a community-based employer that feds back into the community while still being able to make a profit.
For quite some time Kermit had it right; it wasn't easy being green. But now many have embraced a more environmentally friendly way of living. For individuals and businesses, that includes adopting an eco-friendly way of keeping things clean.
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Our winner's added a twist that made hers the winning entry. The desire to use environmental consciousness to help raise women's living standards by providing community based employment.
The Options
Finding the right products, clients and employees are all a part of realizing this dream. Some of the questions our winner should ask are:
Where can I get a list of cleaning products that have been certified as green?
Currently there are no government standards that define green cleaning products, and the government does not certify green products. However, many government contracts for green cleaning services refer to the Green Seal Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners (GS-37)
GreenerChoices.org, launched on Earth Day in 2005, an independent, nonprofit group that collaborates with the Consumer Policy Institute, has a helpful guide to friendlier cleaners. Consumer Policy Institute is an arm of the well respected Consumers Union.
Which products should you use? Greener Choices helps sift through what you can be sure meets whatever standards exist on greener household cleaning products.
Americans Embracing 'Green' Cleaning
"...Urvashi Rangan, an eco-product watchdog at the independent, nonprofit Consumer Policy Institute, points out that, unlike the organic food industry which has recently been partly regulated, so far, the business of eco-cleaners is completely unregulated.
"Phrases like biodegradable, nontoxic, hypoallergenic and fragrant free - all of those things technically don't have to mean anything," she said. "Manufacturers can use these claims and don't have to meet any standard, and they don't have to be verified."
Rangan adds that, unlike food companies, cleaning-product companies aren't required to list ingredients in their labeling. She advises that customers select natural cleaning products that voluntarily list all ingredients on their labels - and choose eco-cleaning services that identify all their cleaning products as all-natural..."
Seventh Generation and Ecover make products that list their ingredients. Nutrition Business Journal estimated the sale of eco-cleaning products jumped from $140 million in 2000 to $290 million in 2004.
The Federal government, as well as state, county and local governments, is reexamining contracts for cleaning services. "... (they) have adopted green cleaning and/or environmentally preferable purchasing programs. This chapter provides brief summaries about these programs as examples of the various types of options that exist to reduce the health, safety, and environmental risks associated with cleaning..." ( ABC News)
States and localities are passing laws mandating the use of green cleaning products.
Will Lisa want to focus on residential or commercial cleaning? And then...if commercial, will it be as a government contractor or for local businesses?
The NISH, formerly the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped, is a nonprofit agency designated to provide technical assistance to Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) interested in obtaining Federal contracts under the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program, now known as AbilityOne. By buying green products and services from the blind and severely disabled, you can satisfy the requirement to purchase green products and help create jobs for the blind and disabled. The National Industries for the Blind now offers green cleaning products, and NISH organizations offer janitorial services using greening cleaning products. In 2002, the JWOD Program partnered with one of the nation's premier producers of green cleaning chemicals, Rochester Midland, in order to meet customers' increasing demand for high-quality, non-toxic, and safe janitorial cleaning supplies.
Getting Smarter
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Trade organizations, industry publications and government reports can help a new business owner become knowledgeable about pitfalls and best practices.
- Building Service Contractors Association International
- 401 N Michigan Ave., 22nd Fl. Chicago, IL 60611-4267
- Phone: (312) 321-5167 or 800-368-3414
- This is a multinational membership organization of businesses in 40 countries who are engaged in contract building maintenance services. They may not be 'green' advocates, but could provide guidance and advice about the industry.
- Cleaning Management Institute.
- 13 Century Hill Dr. Latham, NY 12110
- Phone: (518) 783-1281 or (518) 783-1386
- The Institute represents individuals and organizations active in cleaning maintenance and management, including contract cleaner firms. Develops home study educational courses and publications to promote professional certification, self-improvement, and efficient work methods
Keeping up with industry publications would be helpful as well.
Greenbiz.com runs the gamut of environmental business concerns. It covers green business news; providing articles, tools and resources for businesses seeking an eco-friendly path to success. And in 2004 it announced the launch of the Green Cleaning Network.
The Cleaning Products Pilot Projects was created by the EPA to assist government agencies in selecting products and services that would be environmentally preferable.
Check out the Department of the Interior Greening the Janitorial Business and its companion training guide.
Lisa's dream follows a path established by companies all over the country. For example, Greenforce, doing business in San Francisco, Oakland and San Mateo.
Next Steps
Lisa, you're on your way. You know a bit more about finding the right products, finding clients in residential, government or commercial cleaning, and now you have to find your workers and meet labor standards.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the outlook for employment in building cleaning services for workers and their employers is good. There may be a temporary dip due to the current financial crisis, but janitorial and other building cleaning services are trending up and will need 2.7 million workers in 2016.
In 2006 there were 1,470,000 people (mostly women) employed as maids and housekeeping cleaners. Ten years later the Labor Department expects the need to increase 13%.
"...Overall employment of building cleaning workers is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2016, as more office complexes, apartment houses, schools, factories, hospitals, and other buildings requiring cleaning are built to accommodate a growing population and economy ...
... Much of the growth in these occupations will come from cleaning residential properties. As families become more pressed for time, they increasingly hire cleaning and handyman services to perform a variety of tasks in their homes. Also, as the population ages, older people will need to hire cleaners to help maintain their houses. In addition, housekeeping cleaners will be needed to clean the growing number of residential care facilities for the elderly. These facilities, including assisted-living residences, generally provide housekeeping services as part of the rent. Although there have been some improvements in productivity in the way buildings are cleaned and maintained-using teams of cleaners, for example, and better cleaning supplies-cleaning still is very much a labor-intensive job.
As many firms reduce costs by contracting out the cleaning and maintenance of buildings, businesses providing janitorial and cleaning services on a contract basis are expected to have the greatest number of new jobs in this field..."
The median annual earnings of maids and housekeepers were $17,580 in May 2006. Maids who worked in medical facilities earned a little more, $20,000. Both of these salaries fall below the federal poverty guidelines for a family of four.
The BLS collects annual statistics about this job category and you can learn more about where the jobs are located and details on wages.
Though you wish to assist women by employing them and paying them well, with good benefits, you may run afoul of labor laws in many jurisdictions. Depending on where your home town is check with the state's Department of Labor to be sure you can specify women-only for your employees.
Good luck.
