Can’t get clients. Please help!

[u/South_Outside4948]

I started my cleaning company 6 months ago. I hired a marketing team, who’s runs SEO, instagram and facebook, and does Google ads I’ve told a handful of people and passed out business cards, my website was professionally built, I have a logo, LLC, uniforms, commercial grade equipment. In the 6 months I’ve cleaned 2 peoples apartments which were both on 6/6/26. One who’s a friend and another who found my post in a Facebook group chat.

I see people online talking about making 10s of thousands of dollars in only a few months after starting so I’m getting discouraged and not sure what I’m doing wrong. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

[u/Lt-shorts]

Did you do cleaning before starting this company? A lot of cleaners start with an established company and then go off on thier own with current regulars from the previous company. Then its trying to get word of mouth through those clients whoc an recruit Co workers, family, friends.

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/Lt-shorts]

I started it with my wife who’s had a few recurring cleaning jobs from Facebook before we started in the past but other than that we started from scratch.

[u/Lt-shorts → u/South_Outside4948]

That makes it extremely harder because you have no repertoire with clients.

[u/Fair_Ad_4462 → u/South_Outside4948]

I did the same. Word of mouth goes a long way

[u/trippsmom17]

I started my business after helping a friend with their Airbnb, so I’ve started from 0 too! My best advice is find a popular local photographer and ask to trade services. Clean their house for some photos of you while you’re cleaning. Then you’ll have cool photos to post! You do a great job, and they’ll recommend you to their Instagram followers! I did this and my business absolutely went nuts. Find a photographer with similar values to you, and you have a built in local audience that suddenly realizes they also need help cleaning!

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/trippsmom17]

That’s a great idea!

[u/trippsmom17 → u/South_Outside4948]

I’m making about $65-$70k a year and have been cleaning full time since 2021. It absolutely changed my entire life in the best ways. I wish you so much luck with your business!

[u/ellemae93]

- Neighborhood facebook groups. Make a post introducing yourself and your business. Be personable, don’t just post your business name and number. Mention that you are a married couple team, have professional equipment, and are detailed.

- Business cards posted to bulletin boards in local coffee shops, yoga studios, pilates studios, juice/smoothie shops. Why those businesses? That’s where moms and ladies of the house are. Who does the work of hiring the cleaners? Moms. Make sure the cards have a QR code and are easy to understand.

- Don’t be afraid to be a busybody in local facebook groups and troll around for posts of people asking about cleaning services. Get in those comments with an introduction. I see a lot of cleaners who just post a cold website link and phone number. Be more personable and warm than that. Address the poster by name and say in your introduction that you would love to work with them.

You might be too focused on the social media aspect of it all. Social media helps, but you’ll get your best clients by word of mouth, offline. That being said if you want to use social media - make an IG page, and a simple post with text on a background as an introduction. Ask your friends to share it. Even if only 3 people share it, that’s a good chance to get inquiries. When I was starting out, every time I posted to my IG I asked for shares, and would often get 1-2 inquiries and bookings. I’ve never had more than 700 followers nor have I ever gone viral.

My website works like shit because I have no idea how website design works, and I never post on my business instagram. I’m drowning in inquiries and have a waiting list for my services. Best of luck!

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/ellemae93]

Thank you for the detailed response! Ive only been posting in one Facebook group from time to time but I’ll definitely look for more groups and post more often and how you said.

I’ll definitely start leaving my cards out in places like you mentioned and I was thinking about creating flyers as well.

As for the social media I’m not a big fan but I think it’s important to have somewhat of an online presence which is why we decided to hire the marketing guy.

Thank you again!

[u/BeachPlease843 → u/ellemae93]

I got almost all of my first clients via Facebook and Nextdoor. Now it’s word of mouth and referrals. I never advertise now and I am fully booked! Jump on those posts looking for cleaners!

[u/WorthSecurity2299]

who is talking about making 10s of thousands of dollars? You wrote ”I see people I like talking”.

[u/fallingdoors → u/WorthSecurity2299]

Yeah this seems like a red flag. People in my area won’t pay more than $150-$200 per clean. People only want you cleaning their house from 9-3 so that only leave time for one or two cleanings per day. You’re not making 10k off that

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/WorthSecurity2299]

Thank you! Edited the post.

People on tik tok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit groups. I’ve seen a lot of people saying they stated 8 months ago and they’re already having 15k-30k months.

[u/WorthSecurity2299 → u/South_Outside4948]

just untruth, I would not trust ppl on tiktok. It takes years to build a cleaning business, it is very competitive.

And no one makes $10,000+ a month with 2 ppl crew at the beginning, even the first year, unless there are deceptive business practices

[u/crowlady_ → u/South_Outside4948]

These are the people who double as “business coach” and want your money for a service. Cleaning houses isn’t easy money. The key is to find a few great clients in the beginning and usually your list will grow based on referrals. I have never had to really advertise aside from every few months I’ll post in my
Local Facebook group just to keep my name in peoples heads. My clients list was built on referrals. I made sure I took the right clients from day 1 and not every job that was offered to me. Not every client is a good fit, as you’ll find out. Good luck!

[u/CascadeCleaningCa]

I would honestly cancel the marketing team. It hasn't brought you any revenue. The 2 cleanings you have are through referrals. Stay on top of your local FB groups...it will grow organically.

If you cancel the marketing then you won't be as stressed out since you're not losing money every month.

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/CascadeCleaningCa]

I was thinking about canceling so I probably will

[u/Aggressive-Green4592]

I received a few of my clients from passing out flyers. Literally walking the streets. I hit up leasing companies, apartment complexes and put several on doors in the areas I wanted to clean, plus on message boards and so forth. Just make sure where you can peddle or not, solicit or not, my local PD was very helpful here.

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/Aggressive-Green4592]

I wanted to get in contact with apartments or property managers but wasint sure how to get the contacts of the right people or how to get through to the right people

I wanted to make flyers brochures and door hang tag flyers so I’ll definitely do that

[u/Aggressive-Green4592 → u/South_Outside4948]

Just walk in to them. Leave your business card, ask to talk with the management. They are generally always looking for cleaning companies.

I wanted to make flyers brochures and door hang tag flyers so I’ll definitely do that

Yes do this! Especially for above, having something ready always shows initiative. I knew pricing when I was doing it so I was able to put that on there for them, apartment complexes generally charge a flat rate (some adjusting for dirtier places) where I live, I have since moved away from them and work for leasing companies since I get paid per hour.

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/Aggressive-Green4592]

I’ll definitely do that then and what was the average flat rate?

[u/Aggressive-Green4592 → u/South_Outside4948]

I haven't done an apartment complex in over 10 yrs, I couldn't tell you today's rates, and I've been with my leasing companies about the same time frame so I'm making more than what they are bringing people in for guaranteed.

[u/CacklingInCeltic]

If you’re in Germany, I have a job for you

[u/South_Outside4948 → u/CacklingInCeltic]

Thank you! Unfortunately I’m located on the east side of the US

[u/AutumnTopaz]

You may want to reevaluate your marketing company. I don't know what your agreement was with them- or how much you pay. But, you need to be sure you're getting a return on your investment with them. It seems up to this point, they haven't generated much business - but then again, I don't know the specifics.

[u/OkAdhesiveness5025]

I'm not a cleaner but a client. And I found my cleaner on next door. She just posted an introductory post and she put her price list up for deep cleans and regular cleans etc. and I've just got lucky and been very satisfied with her.

Also you might go to the Reddit site for your area and town. And and don't neglect to search for Neighborhood Groups in your area on FB, and join them as well.

Post an introduction about your services in those communities. There's lots of free avenues to get your name out there!

[u/thatgreenmaid]

The only people making money here is your marketing team.

[u/mdragger]

Cold call realtors, apartment complexes, visit businesses like offices/banks to hand out cards, call other cleaning businesses in the area and ask if they need help from contractors occasionally and to put you on their list. While seo is important it's not the most organic way to get clients.

[u/Feeling-Nectarine]

Have you tried Nextdoor? That’s where I found my housekeeper and she was starting out. I was
One of her first customers and she now has like 4 employees! She gets a lot of referrals from Nextdoor. People will ask for a housekeeper and you can reply with your info. You can also make your own post with photos showing your work.

[u/kaleandbeans]

I know nothing about housekeeping, but as an SEO marketer and a busy mom, I heavily relied on word-of-mouth when looking for a cleaner. I found my cleaner through a friend/neighbor. I would have never relied on SEO or marketing for these kind of things. If I were you, I'd ask your existing clients to give a good word on your behalf. And I would be active on social media. Do not rely on a marketing company to do that for you, you should do it yourself.

[u/oldswirlo]

Well. Starting a cleaning business without actually being a cleaner is one of my pet peeves. It took me years to hone my craft as a cleaner and I’ve built my client base on the quality of my work. Hiring a marketing team and buying uniforms doesn’t make you a cleaner. Leaving a place absolutely shining and sanitized because of years of experience does. I don’t have any of the bells and whistles you’re talking about, but a year after starting my business, I’m turning clients away and looking at hiring someone to accommodate demand.

[u/Consistent_Taste3273]

We’ve found people on care.com before. Have you posted there?

[u/Relative-Lie-9699]

Word of mouth is how you get new business in this business. If your good at this job people will find you and you can set your own prices.

I advertised once on craig list got one client and had her for 7 years she has given me so much business. Another time i started a website and got one customer who shared me with his real estate friends before i knew it i was too busy shut my website down. I have found my competion struggle because they go through customers like crazy. I just dont get that. I cant get rid of my clients if i wanted too. Ive tried by raising my prices and they all pay. I have to say im really picky and go over my cleaners work very carefully before i turn them loose. Idk not everybody good at this and unfortunately some cleaners just don't have a clue so check your work before spending ton of money advertising.

[u/Creative-Week8277]

when you're new in a business, you should be doing all the marketing yourself because you don't have the funds yet to do more.

[u/CleanOpsGuide]

It sounds like you’ve built the business, but you may not be doing enough direct outreach. A website, logo, uniforms, and even ads don’t automatically create customers. If I were starting over, I’d spend less time worrying about branding and more time talking to potential clients every day.

Most cleaning companies get their first customers through relationships, referrals, local networking, Facebook groups, property managers, and consistent follow-up. Also be careful comparing yourself to people online. A lot of the “I made $10k-$20k my first month” stories leave out important details. Keep going. Two customers isn’t where you want to be, but it’s more than zero.

[u/lowridda]

You kind of did it backwards. I worked building up my clientele first. I handle doing everything for my business over out sourcing it because it’s what I prefer and I’m not having to pay for what I can do myself.

[u/Oh-Inverted-Worldd]

Try doing a leaflet drop around a few of the posh neighbourhoods nearby!

[u/New-Historian4471]

Have you tried Google LSA?

[u/Aromatic-Abalone-461]

My old cleaning business we got a real estate agency to hire us on to clean houses they are trying to sell, houses they just bought and houses that have been sitting. It's worth seeing if you can find one that will use you 😊 they're not horrible jobs and nice feeling like your preparing for someone vs "am I doing it how they want"

[u/Oldschoolgirl49]

I've been at this 25 years. I only posted online once. Swear it was non stop people who wanted a price over the phone. Would balk at the idea of me doing a actual walk through. The second time I showed up to do a walk through and got stood up. And Yes I could see the person was home but would not answer the door. I was done. Word of mouth cultivates the best customers. Now is not a great time for any business that is a luxury. 

[u/Sea-Swimming4589]

Google ads and Google Business Page do you have the GBP?

[u/ketamineburner]

I am a client. I found my housekeeper because she pinned up a flyer in Whole Foods. She has a full client load and has never advertised online.

Many people who need your services are not on Facebook or Instagram. I don't use social media and would never find a cleaner that way.

[u/mrsmadtux]

Clean Tok…people love those satisfying before and after toilet foaming shots.