Airbnb hosts know that the cleanliness of their vacation rentals is of utmost importance. They know that a clean space can lead to positive reviews and more business. If you’re considering starting your own Airbnb cleaning business but don’t know where to start, look no further, we’ve got you covered! Whether you want this to be a full-time job, a side job to bring in some extra money, or if you want to have an entire cleaning team under you, we have all the information you need to start your professional Airbnb cleaning service.
Rental owners usually put a lot of thought and effort into finding a way to ensure that their Airbnb properties are organized and clean after each guest. Some hosts hire a professional cleaning service while others may hire individuals. Either way, they know that they need the right Airbnb cleaning service to provide the best experience for upcoming guests and prevent negative reviews.
- Is Becoming An Airbnb Cleaner Right for Me?
- How Profitable Can An Airbnb Cleaning Business Be?
- Ultimate Guide On How To Become An Airbnb Cleaner
- Our Top Tip – Do Your Research!
- Create Your Airbnb Cleaning Business Plan
- How To Market Your Airbnb Cleaning Business
- Learn Airbnb's Five-Step Cleaning Process
- Be Prepared with Cleaning Products
- Frequently Asked Questions About How to Become an Airbnb Cleaner
- Final Thoughts on How to Become an Airbnb Cleaner
Is Becoming An Airbnb Cleaner Right for Me?
This really depends on how you are approaching the decision. If you yourself will be doing the cleaning, you want to make sure you are physically able to do it. Cleaning rental properties requires a lot of movement, repetitive motion, and hard work. It’s best to be in good shape and to stay in good shape, so take that into consideration before jumping in.
If you plan to start a professional Airbnb Cleaning Company and will be depending more on team members to do the cleaning then you will want to make sure you know how to do the back end of the business.
This would include creating an online platform for your business, such as ensuring your business has a good social media presence, digital marketing, and managing Google ads. This would also include meeting with property owners, scheduling the cleaning team, evaluating performance, and payroll.
How Profitable Can An Airbnb Cleaning Business Be?
This will vary depending on how often you are cleaning and the type of cleaning you are performing. On average, most individual Airbnb cleaners in the United States make around $24 per hour with some of the higher incomes topping $50k annually.
And some larger businesses are bringing in nearly $100k a month. Thankfully, Airbnb cleaning services are always needed so you shouldn’t have to worry about finding work once you have started.
Related Post: Airbnb Cleaning Fee: A Guide To Pricing With The Market
Ultimate Guide On How To Become An Airbnb Cleaner
Now that you know if you should become an Airbnb cleaner and what kind of profitability you can expect, read further to learn more about what to expect and how to create a successful business!
Our Top Tip – Do Your Research!
When it comes to starting your Airbnb cleaning business, DO YOUR RESEARCH! First and foremost, verify and ensure that you are following all state and federal regulations before you start any cleaning projects. Depending on the regulations in your area, you may be required to have permits, licensing, or insurance.
You could also establish that you are an actual business by obtaining your EIN, becoming an LLC, etc. You may also want to look into obtaining liability insurance, even if it’s not a requirement, as it will help you if something unexpected happens and it will help show that you are a legitimate business.
Create Your Airbnb Cleaning Business Plan
A business plan is a very important part of your Airbnb cleaning business. Listed below are a few things we think you should include in your business plan.
- A Business Description – The business description will include information about the business owners, location, and how you will target potential customers. It’s usually the first thing a business owner creates and is a good place to have your contact information, a quote request option, and links to your social media pages.
- The Services Offered – This will be a list of the services you offer (be sure to include deep cleaning), and anything that gives your business an advantage over other companies
- Marketing Strategy – This area will provide a brief look at your marketing strategy, the research you’ve done, your sales plan and forecast, and your pricing strategy.
- Management – In this section, you will describe your company organization, a list of employees (if any), and the management structure
- Operations – If you have employees, this section will have an employee handbook, privacy policy, the hiring process, a compensation plan, and a list of inventory.
- Financials – This is the final section of the business plan and will cover the financials for the 1st year, and how much you plan to receive and spend in the future. This area usually includes a lot of charts and graphs.
How To Market Your Airbnb Cleaning Business
How To Market Your Airbnb Cleaning Business
It’s important to let the public know about your Airbnb cleaning business, and while letting your family members be the first to know, they may not be the target market you’re looking for. Marketing is key to acquiring new clients and will reach rental hosts that may need your services.
Establishing an online presence is the first step to generating new business, but word of mouth is important, too. We have listed a few things below that are important to establish a solid customer base.
Business Website
Creating a professional-looking website with a clean and easy-to-read landing page is one of the best ways to provide information to potential clients. It’s also a good place to have your contact information, a quote request option, and links to your social media pages.
To get started, sign up with a web hosting plan like Siteground. There are free templates you can use through Siteground which makes creating a started website super easy. Just pick a design layout, put in your cleaning business information, and publish it!
Social Media
Social media is one of the most effective marketing tools out there. With free social media accounts at the click of a button, anyone can use it. Facebook groups for Airbnb hosts are a great place to get the word out about your services and network with people who own Airbnb rentals.
Another option is the TurnoverBnb cleaner marketplace. This account allows you to connect with Airbnb property owners and network your services.
As an Airbnb host, TurnoverBnb is one of the Airbnb host tools I use to automate parts of my business.
Business Cards
Business cards are a tried-and-true way to get the word out. And you can add your web address and social media handles to drive traffic to those areas.
You can use free templates on Canva to create your business card. Canva has a free version that you can use to get started or a pro version for more templates and stock images.
Ask for Reviews
Once you’ve established a great professional relationship with an Airbnb property owner, asking for a review is one of the easiest ways to promote yourself without doing anything extra other than asking for the review. Good reviews do almost all the work for you.
To make sure you’re always getting great reviews, make your own Airbnb cleaning checklist. Most Airbnb hosts will have their own version but you will stand out if you come ready with one!
Learn Airbnb’s Five-Step Cleaning Process
Sticking to Airbnb’s five-step cleaning process is the best way to help you adhere to Airbnb’s major standards hosts must follow. These standards are found in Airbnb’s cleaning handbook but we’ve given an overview below.
1. Prepare
Ventilate the space, use approved disinfectants, read the directions on the cleaning products, wash your hands.
2. Clean
Sweep, vacuum, dust, and mop, wash dishes and laundry on the highest heat setting, and clean hard surfaces with soap and water.
3. Sanitize
Sanitization is the most important step in the cleaning process, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, and you may want to spend extra time on it. Use a disinfectant spray on high-touch surfaces and let it sit for the full length of time listed on the label.
4. Check
Make sure you haven’t missed any areas listed in the handbook
5. Reset
Finish cleaning and sanitizing an area before placing items for the next guest. Be sure to wash your hands after sanitizing and don’t re-enter the room after you have finished sanitizing.
In addition to Airbnb’s five-step cleaning process, we highly suggest using a rental cleaning checklist. A to-do list is a great way to keep on top of the daily tasks you have to tackle in the short-term rentals, ensures that everything is cleaned and sanitized and that new guests have a great guest experience.
Be Prepared with Cleaning Products
Cleaning products are something that all professional cleaners should have available to them. Some property managers don’t keep them in the rental unit so having them on hand is probably a good idea. Some cleaning supplies that we suggest are listed below.
- Vacuum Cleaner (we really like this one)
- Broom
- Mop (try this one)
- Duster
- All-purpose Cleaner
- Glass Cleaner
- Disinfectant Spray or wipes
- Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- Toilet Bowl Brush
- Microfiber Cleaning Cloths (we use this set)
- Wood Polish
On top of the above cleaners, we also suggest you keep extra paper towels, a few sets of towels, dishwashing liquid or detergent, and toilet paper on hand.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Become an Airbnb Cleaner
Now that you’ve read all about becoming an Airbnb cleaner, you may have additional questions. We have answered a few frequently asked questions below.
Is there a market for Airbnb cleaning services?
Absolutely! Most hosts aren’t doing their own cleaning because it’s too much work. These hosts depend more on third-party cleaners and local businesses to keep their properties spick-and-span.
If you’re looking to also start an Airbnb business, you should know that the turnover cleans are one of the most important aspects of the process.
How long should it take to clean an Airbnb Property?
This will vary by property size and if the laundry is done by the cleaner onsite or if clean laundry is provided prior to each cleaning. The average 1-2 bedroom Airbnb property with onsite laundry will take anywhere between 4-6 hours but if laundry is done offsite this time can be reduced by about 2-3 hours. You can expect deep cleans to take a bit longer.
Final Thoughts on How to Become an Airbnb Cleaner
As you’ve learned, Airbnb hosts know that a clean Airbnb can be the determining factor between a good review and a bad review. They understand that cleanliness is important and are usually looking for a professional cleaner. They want to leave their rental property in good hands.
Cleaning Airbnb is a great way to bring in extra income. Whether it’s going to be just you or an entire cleaning team, we know that you’re now equipped with the knowledge to help you take that leap to become an Airbnb cleaner.
Hey, I’m Melissa… As an Airbnb Superhost and someone who is passionate about investing in real estate, I created Beach Life Bliss to share my experiences and help short term rental operators. I have been a landlord for over 10 years and started my first Airbnb property in 2019.
Creating a space with amenities that guests love, beautifully designed rooms, and providing exceptional hospitality will make your Airbnb business thrive.
I hope that all of my Airbnb hosting resources are helpful as you navigate the challenges and rewards of being an Airbnb host!