How to Find Clients for Cleaning Business: Client Acquisition 101
- Start My Service Business
- Oct 13
- 10 min read
Are You Struggling to Find That First Client—Or Wondering How to Scale Beyond Your Current Customer List?
You've started your cleaning business. Your trucks are ready, your supplies are stocked, and your team is eager to work. But here's the reality that keeps many cleaning business owners up at night: without clients, you have zero revenue. The cleaning industry is booming, with the market valued at over $61 billion annually in the United States. Yet thousands of cleaning entrepreneurs struggle to find consistent clients, especially when they're just starting out.
The good news? Finding clients for your cleaning business isn't about luck—it's about strategy. Whether you're offering residential cleaning services or targeting commercial cleaning opportunities, there are proven methods that actually work. In this guide, you'll discover exactly how to attract cleaning clients, build lasting relationships, and create a steady stream of work that keeps your business thriving.
Why Most Cleaning Businesses Fail at Finding Clients (And How to Avoid It)
Before we dive into solutions, let's talk about why finding cleaning service clients is harder for some entrepreneurs than others. Most cleaning business owners make one critical mistake: they assume that if they're good at cleaning, clients will automatically find them. That's simply not true.
The challenge isn't about the quality of your work—it's about visibility and strategy. You could be the best cleaner in your city, but if nobody knows you exist, you'll struggle to book jobs. The cleaning industry is competitive, and without a solid client acquisition plan, you're essentially hoping for referrals instead of actively building your business.
The truth is this: the most successful cleaning business owners treat client-finding like an actual job. They don't just wait for the phone to ring. They create systems, they show up online and offline, and they stay consistent with their marketing efforts.
The 7 Most Effective Ways to Attract Cleaning Clients and Build Your Customer Base
1. Create a Professional Online Presence With Google Business Profile
Your first step in finding cleaning clients is making sure they can actually find you online. Google Business Profile optimization is non-negotiable. When someone searches "cleaning services near me," Google pulls up local businesses with complete profiles. If you're not on there, you're losing potential clients to your competitors.
Here's what you need to do:
Claim or create your Google Business Profile at google.com/business (it's completely free)
Fill out every single section: your cleaning service categories, phone number, hours, website, and service areas
Add high-quality photos of your team, vehicles, and before-and-after cleaning jobs
Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews (more on this below)
Post regular updates about your services, special offers, or cleaning tips
Google Business Profile is one of the highest-ranking keywords for how to get clients for cleaning business because it genuinely works. Most local search results show Google Business Profiles first, which means this is often your first impression with potential customers.
Pro tip: Always ask your cleaning customers to leave reviews on your Google profile. Profiles with more reviews rank higher in local searches and appear more trustworthy to new clients researching your company, and make sure you reply to every review (positive and negative).
2. Master Local SEO and Get Your Cleaning Business Ranked on Search Engines
Local SEO for cleaning companies is about making sure your website and online information shows up when people search for cleaning services in your area. This isn't complicated, and you don't need to be a tech expert to make it work.
Start with these essential local SEO strategies:
Include location keywords throughout your website. If you clean in Boston, don't just say "we provide cleaning services." Say "we provide professional cleaning services in Boston and surrounding areas." This helps search engines understand your service area.
Create location-specific pages if you service multiple cities. For example, if you offer cleaning in three different neighborhoods, create separate pages for each one. This boosts your chances of showing up in local searches.
Get listed in online directories like Yelp, Angie's List, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). These listings help with local search rankings and give potential customers multiple places to find you.
Optimize your website for mobile devices. More than 60% of local searches happen on phones. If your website looks terrible on mobile, people will leave and call your competitor instead.
The beauty of local SEO is that you don't need a huge marketing budget. You just need to be intentional and consistent about it.
3. Build Trust and Attract New Clients Through Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Here's something that might surprise you: customer reviews are one of the most powerful tools for getting cleaning clients. People trust other people's experiences more than they trust your advertising. Think about it—when you hire a service, don't you look at reviews first?
According to recent data, 87% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase decision. For the cleaning industry specifically, reviews are absolutely critical because customers are letting you into their homes. They want to know other people have had great experiences with you.
Here's how to build your review strategy:
Ask satisfied customers for reviews right after completing a job (when they're happiest with your work)
Make it easy by providing direct links to your Google Business Profile and Yelp page
Respond to every review—even negative ones—professionally and thoughtfully
Use testimonials on your website with customer names and photos (with permission)
Create a referral incentive (offer $25-50 off the next cleaning for referrals who leave a review)
When potential customers see real testimonials from real people, your credibility skyrockets. You go from being a stranger to being someone their neighbors have already vetted and approved.
4. Leverage Referral Programs and Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Referral programs for cleaning businesses are incredibly effective because your satisfied customers become your sales team. Word-of-mouth is how many cleaning businesses got their start, and it's still one of the most reliable ways to find quality clients.
Here's a simple referral system that works:
Make it simple. Give your customers referral cards or a unique link they can share. Track who referred whom so you can reward both the customer and their friend. When people get rewarded for helping you, they tell more friends. It's that simple.
Pro tip: Create a "referral champion" incentive. If a customer refers 5 or more people in six months, give them something extra—like a free deep clean or priority scheduling for a year.
5. Use Social Media to Showcase Your Cleaning Work and Build a Community
Social media isn't just for posting cat videos. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are goldmines for cleaning business client acquisition. The reason is simple: people love seeing before-and-after transformations, and a sparkling clean home is satisfying to watch.
Here's what to post:
Before-and-after photos of actual cleaning jobs (with customer permission)
Behind-the-scenes videos of your team in action
Cleaning tips and hacks that help homeowners
Customer testimonials in video or written format
Special promotions for your followers
You don't need to be on every platform. Pick one or two where your potential customers spend time. If you're targeting homeowners, Facebook and Instagram are your best bets. If you're going after younger professionals or tech-savvy business owners, Instagram and TikTok work better.
The key is consistency. Post 2-3 times per week, engage with comments, and respond to messages quickly. When someone comments on your before-and-after photo saying "Wow!", reply enthusiastically and invite them to get a free estimate.
6. Partner With Local Businesses and Real Estate Agents
Here's a strategy many cleaning entrepreneurs overlook: partnering with other local businesses to find commercial cleaning clients and residential referral networks.
Think about who regularly needs cleaning services:
Real estate agents need homes cleaned before showing and after closing
Property management companies need ongoing maintenance cleaning
Hotels and short-term rental owners need frequent deep cleans
New construction companies need post-construction cleaning
Moving companies often refer their clients to cleaning services
Reach out to these businesses and propose a partnership. You could offer them a 10% commission on referred clients, or create a reciprocal referral arrangement where you send business their way too.
For example, if you partner with 5 real estate agents in your area and each refers just 2 clients per month, that's 120 new clients annually. That's life-changing for most cleaning businesses.
7. Create a Website That Actually Converts Visitors Into Clients
Your website is your digital storefront. When someone finds you online, your website is where they decide whether to call you or click to the next competitor. A professional, well-designed website that's easy to navigate can dramatically increase how you find clients for your cleaning business.
Your website must include:
Clear service descriptions (residential cleaning, commercial cleaning, deep cleaning, etc.)
Service area information (we service these neighborhoods/cities)
Pricing (or at least a way to request a quote)
Customer testimonials and before-and-after photos
Easy contact methods (phone, email, online form)
Your Google Business Profile embedded showing reviews and location
Here's the most important part: make it easy for someone to contact you for a quote. Don't bury your phone number. Put it in multiple places. Make your "Get a Free Quote" button obvious and clickable.
If you don't have a website yet or yours is outdated, this is something you can solve quickly and affordably. Your website doesn't need to be fancy—it needs to be clear, trustworthy, and easy to navigate on mobile devices.
Quick-Win Strategies: Start Getting Clients This Week
You don't have to wait months for a complex plan to work. Here are strategies that can bring in clients within days:
Post in local community groups on Facebook. Join neighborhood Facebook groups and post that you're a new (or local) cleaning business offering services. Many groups allow local business announcements.
Ask for referrals from your current customers today. Reach out to every customer you have right now and say: "We love working with you! If you know anyone who needs cleaning services, we'd appreciate the referral."
Offer a limited-time promotion. "First-time customers get 20% off their first cleaning" is a great incentive that removes the risk for new customers trying you out.
Create a simple one-page flyer and post it on neighborhood bulletin boards, at local coffee shops, gyms, and community centers.
Understanding the Numbers: Why Client-Finding Matters
Let's talk real numbers. According to industry data, the average residential cleaning service charges between $100-$200 per appointment. Commercial cleaning typically runs $500-$2,000+ per job. If you can find just 10 new regular residential clients (cleaning monthly), that's $12,000-$24,000 in annual revenue from just that effort.
The cleaning services industry is growing by approximately 4-5% annually. Competition is increasing, but so is demand. This means the work is there—you just need to know how to find it.
Here's the reality: the business owner who masters how to get clients for cleaning business will always outpace the one who waits for referrals to come naturally. It takes intention, consistency, and the right strategy.
Common Questions About Finding Cleaning Clients
Q: How long does it take to build a steady client base? A: With consistent effort, most cleaning businesses see meaningful results within 60-90 days. Some strategies like Google Business Profile optimization take time, while referral programs can produce results almost immediately. Expect 3-6 months to build a solid, reliable client base.
Q: Should I focus on residential or commercial cleaning clients? A: That depends on your preferences and resources. Residential clients are easier to acquire through Google Business Profile and social media. Commercial clients typically mean larger, more consistent contracts. Many successful cleaning businesses do both.
Q: How much should I spend on marketing to find clients? A: You don't need a huge budget. Most of these strategies are nearly free (Google Business Profile, social media, referral programs). If you're going to spend money, invest in a professional website and occasional paid Facebook ads targeting your local area. Start with $200-500/month and scale up as you see results.
Q: What's the best way to stand out from other cleaning companies? A: Specialization and excellent communication. Maybe you specialize in eco-friendly cleaning, or post-construction cleaning, or senior community care. Whatever you choose, be known for something specific. And respond to inquiries within 2 hours—many competitors take days to respond.
Q: How do I know which strategies are actually working? A: Ask every new client: "How did you find us?" Keep a simple spreadsheet. After 30 days, you'll see patterns. Double down on what's working, and adjust what isn't.
Key Takeaways: Your Action Plan to Start Finding Cleaning Clients Today
Set up your Google Business Profile immediately if you haven't already—it's free and critical for local visibility
Ask every customer for a review and make it part of your standard process
Create a simple referral program with clear rewards to turn customers into your marketing team
Post consistently on social media with before-and-after photos that showcase your work
Reach out to local businesses like real estate agents to build partnership referral networks
Make sure you have a professional website that clearly communicates your services and how to contact you
Track where your clients come from so you know which strategies are actually working
How We Can Help You Find and Manage Your Cleaning Clients Successfully
Building a cleaning business requires more than just knowing how to find clients—it requires building a complete, profitable system. If you're ready to turn your cleaning skills into a thriving business with steady client flow and real profitability, we can help you do it right from the start.
Our program specializes in building and rapidly scaling cleaning service businesses across the nation. We don't just teach strategies; we implement them for you. We'll help you set up your entire business infrastructure, handle your marketing and client acquisition, and build systems that generate consistent work.
Within our proven 4-month program, you'll have a registered business, a professional website, all necessary licenses and insurance, and a steady pipeline of clients ready to book your services. Our approach is results-driven because we back it up with guarantees: you're looking at a minimum of $10,000 in monthly sales by the end of the program, with 30-60% net profit margins depending on whether you service clients yourself or build a team.
You won't be figuring this out alone. You'll have access to our lead generation systems, proven marketing strategies, business management guidance, templated systems, and the insider knowledge that comes from helping hundreds of entrepreneurs succeed. We only accept a limited number of new clients every few months, so if you're ready to move forward with confidence, the time to start is now.
Ready to build your profitable cleaning business? Take the first step by exploring how our Business-in-a-Box program can get your cleaning service business launched and thriving.
Final Thoughts: Your Cleaning Business Success Starts With Action
The strategies in this guide work. Google Business Profile optimization works. Customer reviews work. Referral programs work. Social media marketing works. The secret isn't finding a magic tactic—it's implementing these proven strategies consistently over time.
Your success in finding clients for your cleaning business depends on taking action today, not tomorrow. Pick one strategy from this guide and implement it this week. Then add another. Then another. Within 90 days of consistent effort, you'll have a pipeline of clients calling you back.
The cleaning business industry is thriving, and the demand for quality cleaning services has never been higher. You have an incredible opportunity to build something real—a business that serves your community while providing excellent income for you and your team.
The question isn't whether these strategies work. They do. The question is: are you ready to make it happen?
If you have any questions, give us a call anytime at 877-317-1840...we would love to help!
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