Best Way - Opportunity to Start My Own Dryer Vent Cleaning Business

Every house, condominium and apartment building has dryer vents that need periodic cleaning---a vast market if you are looking for a business opportunity. Dryer vent cleaning offers potential to earn an income on a part-time or full-time basis.

Why the Service is Necessary

1. Most home owners don't clean their dryer vents as often as they should, if at all. The buildup of lint in the dryer vent compromises the performance of the dryer, causing the owner to run the dryer for longer periods to dry clothes. Running the dryer for longer periods costs more money and adds wear and tear to the dryer. Plus, the buildup of lint in the dryer vent is a fire hazard. Dryer lint is highly flammable and causes hundreds of house fires each year.

Learn Dryer Vent Cleaning

2. In order to start a dryer vent cleaning business, you need to know how to do the work. Unless you have gained experience and training working for another dryer vent cleaning business, consider becoming certified as a dryer vent cleaning technician. You can complete the CISA certification online for a small fee. This certification will demonstrate a level of competence to your customers.

Liability

3. Since dryer vent cleaning involves working at private homes, you will want to protect yourself from personal liability, so you'll need to establish a corporate entity. The simplest type of corporate entity for a new small business is the Limited Liability Corporation. This entity provides protection from personal liability should there ever be a law suit relating to the business. You will also need liability insurance for the business.

Start-up Considerations

4. Unless you already have enough capital saved, you may need financing to buy or lease your equipment. Start up costs for a dryer vent cleaning business are relatively low. An average price for the tools and equipment is around $3000. The most expensive item will be a work van or truck. If you already have a van or truck, you could finance the equipment with a credit card(s) to get started. You can run this business out of your home to keep costs low. Your business plan should establish a thorough budget that includes start-up costs. Your plan should also identify your market and how you will tap into that market and your expected revenues.

Marketing Your Business

5. Start marketing a dryer vent cleaning business by canvassing a neighborhood with flyers for mailboxes advertising your services. Then post flyers or posters in public places such as libraries, post offices, grocery stores and restaurants. When finished always leave at least one business card and ask the customer to refer you to their friends and neighbors. Once you gain some customers, use a bit of revenue to advertise in newspapers, on radio and TV.

Managing your Business

6. Customer satisfaction should be your top priority. Since dryer vent cleaning involves working at private homes, take extra care to clean up around the work area when finished; let the customer inspect the job; and ask if there is anything you can do to improve your service. Also, if you have the opportunity, identify and provide other services that complement your basic dryer vent cleaning service. For example, repair and/or replace damaged dryer vents.

Administrative Tasks

7. Though you may not care for administrative tasks, tasks such as record keeping, taxes and collections are essential to good business management. Don't forget that since dryer vents need periodic cleaning, one administrative task that can generate revenue and repeat business is to notify customers when they are due for their next dryer vent cleaning.