Mattress Cleaning Business: How to Get Started

The mattress cleaning industry has a long list of potential clients due to the fact that most people sleep on one, and you can service both residential and commercial clients.

Mattresses need cleaning for a variety of reasons – spills or bed wetting accidents, odors, dust mites, allergies or asthma problems or simply peace of mind if you have obtained a used mattress. They are typically a long-term investment, and consumers are generally willing to spend money to fix or clean something they already have – if it helps them save money in the long run.

The Elephant in the Room…

All that said, you can’t ignore the fact that there are big, established and well-known companies like Sears that you’ve got to compete against. Many upholstery or carpet cleaning companies offer mattress cleaning as one of their services, as some of the equipment can be used for multiple jobs.

How to Find Customers

One way to effectively compete with the big guys is to network with other industry professionals, like real estate agents, who can refer clients to you. Business people want to refer their clients to other business people whom they know, like and trust – so become that person by reaching out and helping others get to know you.

Another way to reach clients is through coupons – either mail or online. Focus your coupon ad on solving a specific problem, like allergies or dust mites. By doing this, you are more likely to get your reader’s attention than with a generic ad – even people who might not have considered getting their mattress cleaned.

Where to Get Equipment and Supplies:

Mattresses can be cleaned using steam cleaning, ultra-violet light treatments and anti allergen sprays. Daimer Industries and SaniClean Systems are resources for obtaining commercial grade upholstery equipment for antibacterial sanitizing.

You can run your business out of your home, but you want to make sure you have an organized and efficient invoicing and bookkeeping system in place. This will save you time, money and help you look more professional in the eyes of your customers.

You also want to have a way to accept credit cards from customers. This enables you get paid faster, plus you don’t have to hassle with lost bills or clients who submit their payments late. You can do this using your cell phone and equipment you can get for free.

Starting with a Turn-Key Business Opportunity…

Actually, SaniClean Systems offers a mattress cleaning business opportunity for people who want to want to work for themselves – but who want a turn-key system, business support and financing options.

They provide supplies and equipment, marketing materials, training DVDs and ongoing business support to business owners. However, the opportunity is not a franchise, which keeps the cost low for entrepreneurs on a budget.

However you choose to start, it’s always smart to put together a business plan. For more insight into potential start-up costs, marketing strategies and more, you can check out a sample plan for free of a carpet/upholstery business.

For more new business ideas for small and home-based companies, visit The New Business Idea. You can also get over 200 business start-up guides and download the Home Business Start-Up Checklist free from www.HomeBusinessCenter.com.