One of the biggest mistakes that many people make when they decide to go into business is they spend way too much money up front, and then when the bills arrive and the business isn’t making enough money yet, their ventures ultimately fail. One way to get around this problem is by starting a business that you can start with little or no up-front capital.

There are a number of businesses that this can be done with, and many books and magazines dedicate space to talking about them. Headlines like “100 Low Cost Startups” are common in business how-to magazines. In this article we are going to discuss one of these low-cost startups: the cleaning business.

There are several keys to starting a cleaning business with no money. The first and most important point is that you should NOT, under any circumstances spend money until you absolutely have to. It may sound strange, but it’s an obvious point that people miss. They think (wrongly), “I’m going into business, so I need a new computer, a new desk, some office supplies, files, cleaning supplies, a dedicated phone line…”, and the list goes on. This is not just wrong thinking, its bad thinking. It’s thinking that will cause your business to go broke before it even gets off the ground. Do some businesses require a big upfront investment? Sure they do. But a cleaning business is NOT one of them!

The second key to starting a cleaning business with nothing is being sure to start the right type of business to fit your goals, and your budget (or lack thereof). For example, you wouldn’t want to start a business that requires a lot of expensive equipment like a floor-care service. It would be difficult if not impossible to start a floor-care service with no budget. However, it is possible to start an office cleaning business or a home cleaning service with no money. The supplies you need are much less, and it’s possible that you already have many of them.

The third key is to utilize free methods and resources to get your first customer(s). For example, if you are starting a home-based cleaning business you might go door to door in a neighborhood you’d like to clean in. This costs you nothing but your time, and will allow you to not only get your name out there, but to make contact with your prospects and better gauge their needs.

The fourth and final key is to use what you have in terms of supplies and business resources. This means that you should look around you, and see what can be used in your own house to help you start your business. Do you have a fax machine? Great. You have a tool at your disposal. Do you have a phone? Perfect. Hopefully you get the point here. Just utilize what resources you have, and if need be, get creative. Find ways to save money.

Many people over-complicate and under-plan for their businesses and as a result they completely miss the four key points mentioned here that are necessary to start a cleaning business on little or no budget. It might seem over-simplified, but it’s really not. If you apply the four ideas mentioned here to their fullest, you will be able to get started cleaning with very little… and if you’re smart, probably nothing. Think through each ahead of time, and plan how you will tackle each key point. By doing so you’ll have set yourself up to start a business for next to nothing.