Branching Out: Why You Should Start a Parking Lot Sweeping Company
Did you know that parking lots make up 1/3 of the 2 billion parking spaces found in the US? Thus, if you’re looking to start a business with a huge market, a parking lot sweeping company is a great idea.
In any case, you might not know how to go about starting a successful parking lot cleaning company.
- How are you supposed to find equipment for your business?
- How will you get people to do business with you?
This post will provide you with some tips on how you can start a successful parking lot sweeping company. Though you might have doubts about your ability to succeed in this business, these tips should help you secure a clean sweep.
Let’s begin!
What Is the Purpose of a Parking Lot Cleaning Company?
As a parking lot cleaner, your clients will expect you to remove the various kinds of litter that’s found in a parking lot.
This can include basic items like plastic bottles, but it can also include things like oil and bits of asphalt. In some cases, clients might also ask that you take care of stray plants and weeds that are making the parking lot look messy.
Clients will often provide you with a specific schedule that you need to stick to so that the parking lot remains clean.
Source the Equipment
To work as a parking lot cleaner, you’re going to need a specialist ‘parking lot sweeper’. This is a ‘vacuuming vehicle’ that’ll suck up and then collect all the debris so that it’s ready for disposal.
A parking lot sweeper isn’t cheap, but there are a few things you can do to keep costs manageable.
This first is to opt for a second-hand parking lot sweeper.
There are many people that no longer want to be in this business, and they’re willing to sell their sweepers at a discount rate just to get rid of them. A good place to find second-hand sweepers is eBay.
If you’re going to buy a used sweeper, be sure to investigate it closely. Ask the owner if they’ll provide you with a demonstration of the sweeper in action. You may want to put some debris on the floor, just to assess the cleaning power of the sweeper.
You also have the option of renting a sweeper.
Renting a sweeper is a great option because it means that you don’t have to make a large up-front payment. Yes, you may need to put down a deposit, but that deposit will be a lot smaller than the total cost of buying a sweeper outright.
It’s worth noting that there are a variety of parking lot sweepers you can purchase.
Aside from the basic machinery needed to work as a parking lot sweeper, it’s vital that you invest in safety equipment too. This might include goggles, but also some high-viz jackets that’ll keep you safe if you’re working during the night.
Find Clients for Your Business
If you have a limited marketing budget, manually reaching out to business owners is a great low budget way to pick up clients.
Take some time to find all the businesses in your local area that have a parking lot of some sort, and uncover the key point of contact for each company. You can do this by performing a quick online search or with the help of LinkedIn.
You then want to call these individuals and ask them if they currently pay for any kind of parking lot sweeping service.
If they say they already have a company that helps them with this task, ask them if they’re happy with the service they’re getting. You may find that they’re unhappy with their current provider, and this gives you the chance to replace the existing company.
Once you snag yourself a client, ask them to sign a contract.
This contract should state that they’ll pay for your services for at least three months. Having a contract like this is an excellent way to ensure your business is going to have an income over the coming months.
If you want to keep your clients happy, be sure to check in with them on a regular basis. It’s essential you ask them for feedback on how you can improve upon your existing work. In doing so, you’ll be able to provide a stellar service, thereby making it more likely that the client will continue to work with you.
Budget for Maintenance
Like all forms of complex machinery, a sweeping vehicle is inevitably going to break down. You need to make sure you budget for an event like this so that your business doesn’t grind to a halt when your machines fail you.
Speak to specialists that work on sweeping machines and ask them about the common problems that might affect your equipment. Ask them how much it’ll cost to fix a sweeper, plus how long everything will take.
If you want to reduce the odds of your machines breaking down, consider finding a good place to store them. This’ll ensure they don’t become worn down as a result of rain, for instance. Investing in storage also has the added benefit of keeping your equipment safe from theft.
Should You Start a Parking Lot Sweeping Business?
The US has a lot of parking lots, and the people that own these parking lots want them to be kept clean. If you start a parking lot sweeping business, you’ll be able to cater to this vast market and make a tidy profit as a result.
To succeed as a parking lot sweeper, you need to know how to find the right sweeper for your business. You also need to understand how you can source, and then keep clients.
Currently, you may find the idea of starting a parking lot business intimidating. But if you take things one step at a time, it won’t be long before you’re running a huge empire dedicated to keeping parking lots clean.
Not sure what you should call your company? Read this post to learn how you can develop an awesome company name.
