Looking to leave the nine to
five jobs and set up that startup which you have always dreamt of? Well, air
duct cleaning is one of the fastest-growing cleaning services and is in demand.
You will be tempted to try your hands on air duct cleaning
business if you are a startup owner. Let us understand what air
duct cleaning services are and what are the things to keep in mind to start
off. We will also discuss why it is a profitable trade.
What is air duct cleaning?
Air ducts are like the
respiratory systems of the homes, and hence cleaning is essential. Air duct
cleaning is the method of removing dust and contaminants that accumulate
overtime on the ducts. Duct cleaning consists of a rigorous cleanse of the
several parts and coils in the HVAC system. The parts are made of grilles,
fans, motors, registers, housing and air handlers. Cleaning services
professionals use specialized equipments such as
bowlers, vacuums and brushes to clean the supply, return ducts and intake of
homes. HVAC units are known to become less functional because of dirty motors,
cooling coils and air handling units. NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaning
Association) suggests cleaning of air ducts every 4-7 years.
When is air duct cleaning
necessary?
·
Illness
Is
your home making you sick? Family members, especially children, are suffering from
allergies and prone to asthma or respiratory diseases? If yes, it is probably
time to check and clean the air ducts of your home.
·
Moulds or animals
If
there is a considerable amount of mold seen inside the ductwork, it is
necessary to clean the ducts and the airways. Also, if there is animal, bird or
insect infestation, it is a mandate to clean the ducts.
·
Renovations
If
the house has been through renovations or remodeling recently, it is a good
idea to clean the HVAC system and the ducts.
Setting up the air duct cleaning
business
Now we know what air duct
cleaning is, also when and why the cleaning services would be necessary. It is
time to take a look at the step by step process of setting up an air duct cleaning Houston company.
·
Research and find a company
which has excellent pieces of equipment. They should also be able to provide
enough support and training.
·
There is nothing
wrong in having high goals, but it is important to understand your limitations
and start small. It is ideal initially to start with residential services and
then add commercial services to your expertise.
·
It is essential to
attend a training program or a workshop to understand the equipment and their
operations. This will give you an idea what sort of equipment you need for specific
functions of air duct cleaning. In-depth training will teach you about the pros
and cons of the business, precautions, cleaning processes, job estimations and
marketing. They will put you through the classroom as well as on the job
training. In the last leg of training, you will actually be cleaning air ducts
on your own.
·
Spend a few days
cleaning air duct of your home and homes of friends and neighbors. This will
help you gain perfection at the job as well as some first-hand marketing.
Why air duct cleaning business
is profitable for startups:
·
Minimal startup
cost
The startup cost for setting up a residential
air duct cleaning services can be as low as $5000. The amount mentioned is
inclusive of equipment and paperwork.
·
Essential
Services
Every home has an air duct
which is bound to get dirty and clogged with time. Cleaning is necessary to
keep the air fresh and ensure the family members are in good health. Especially
homes that have household members with breathing issues will call on the air
duct cleaning services regularly.
·
Less supply/More
demand
Since the concept is
relatively new and not all house owners have the knowledge, expertise or time,
air duct cleaning can be a lucrative business.
The new business concept
means lesser competition and being more in demand. If you can create goodwill
initially, raking in the profits would not be a problem after the initial phase
is over. Statistics projects that air duct cleaning business would see a growth
of 15% in the decade 2016-2026. This is mostly due to real estate activities
forecasted to take place during this time.
·
One man
show
In this trade, it is possible
to be the sole owner and the worker at the same time. This will save you labor
costs and additional paperwork.
·
No office
space required to begin with
It is also worth mentioning
that you do not need much space to run the air duct cleaning business
or rent an office. You can literally run your office from your garage or
mezzanine floor. After you get some recognition and the business grows
substantially, then you can hire workers to do the job.
·
Growing awareness
With growing concerns about
the environment and the quality of the air we breathe, the air duct cleaning
business is experiencing an unexpected boom. If you can add this service to
your existing business, it will boost your new customer database. It will also
give existing customers more services to choose from.
·
High-profit
margin
With minimal heads and
working space, air duct cleaning business has the potential to
provide net profits of 50 to 70 per cent every year. The investment required
for this business is very little, except for the equipment.
You can charge anything
between $450 to $1200 per cleaning service. The charges depend on size and
accessibility of the systems,
It is important to ensure the
safety of the workers while performing the cleaning. Never compromise on the
equipment. With good quality equipment, it is possible to eliminate the errors
and minimize the chances of an accident. This would also ensure you don't have
to repeat jobs which will save your margins. It is vital to follow NADCA's
guidelines and NAIMA's recommended practices for cleaning services.
