Creating your cleaning service proposal

UPDATED 10/18/2021: A well made cleaning service proposal is a key component of the hiring process for your cleaning business.

Get it right and you’ll give yourself a decent shot at getting hired, get it wrong and your going home empty handed.

So the choice is clear…GET IT RIGHT. In order to drive home how that is done, I created a sample cleaning service proposal. As you can see from the picture in the upper right, it is not all that hard to create a proposal that looks good.

In fact the folder that I used can be purchased for less than $5.00 each. If you need one yourself, here is a similar folder I found on Amazon (paid link) – BAZIC Swing-Lock Report Cover, 3156-48P. I highly recommend this style not only because it’s so affordable, but because it makes for a professional appearance. I always keep a half dozen around to make sure I have them when I need them.

Now if you follow my teaching here at Cleaning 4 Profit to any extent, you’ll know that at least half the battle you need to fight in order to get hired revolves around “perception“. In short perception deals with how others “view your company”, and it is INCREDIBLY important.

At the end of the day, your cleaning proposal needs to look sharp. Now that doesn’t mean a sharp looking proposal will get you hired in and of itself, but when you have one it scores you bonus points, and these points ADD UP.

Now that you have the information on what folder type works best, lets discuss the contents of the cleaning service proposal. Let me start off by saying there is no one way to put together a cleaning proposal, as the options are only limited by your imagination. With that said, here are a few ideas worth considering.

Cover Sheet

This is generally the first page so to speak. As you can see from the first picture (upper right) all you need to do is have your name and logo printed on this page. Don’t panic if you don’t have a logo just yet. Though it’s a nice touch, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have one. Just make sure your name is properly centered. On a side note, don’t forget to make sure the text is easily readable, you don’t want the customer fighting hard just to read it.

Cover Letter

This is usually a brief one page introduction. It normally involves thanking the customer for the privilege of being able to submit the cleaning proposal, then a few words about why you would make a good choice if chosen. Keep it brief and on topic for best results.

The Proposal 

This is the guts of the whole proposal. This generally runs about one or two pages for most smaller accounts but can be much larger depending on the complexity of the customers requirements. The goal is to lay out what you are going to provide in detail along with the pricing information. I usually also include all the terms and conditions that apply as well to make sure we’ll all on the same page.

Testimonials

If you have collected any testimonials you really need to include them on their own sheet. Testimonials provide what’s called “Social Proof”, and they are VERY IMPORTANT. When you beat your chest telling everyone who will listen why you should be hired, folks take it with a grain of salt. This is because you have something to gain by all the chest thumping. BUT when your clients tell others why you should be hired it SPEAKS VOLUMES because they have nothing to gain whatsoever.

Certifications Or Industry Memberships

When you first start out, you probably won’t have any so you can skip this part of the equation. However if you have some type designation make sure you include it. This is nothing more than another chance to collect bonus points. Perhaps you were certified in carpet cleaning or you are a member some national cleaning organization. If so make mention of it here, as it shows you take your craft seriously.

Sign-Up Form

Perhaps the most important piece of paper in the whole cleaning proposal! This is where you collect the information from them that says you are hired. I always included one in my cleaning proposals because I thought it gave them a “little shove” in my direction if you know what I mean.

To further drive this home I have included some additional pictures of the sample cleaning proposal I created for this post. For the record, I didn’t take a picture of each page of the proposal. I just wanted to take a couple to give you an idea of how to put it together for yourself.

Picture 1 shows the cover by itself.

 Picture 2 shows it with the open “lever” that makes this cover unique.

Picture 3 shows the see through cover pulled back.

Picture 4 shows part of the proposal itself.

Picture 5 shows the testimonial part of the proposal.

As you can see the proposal looks rather good to the eyes of the customer, which is EXACTLY the effect we are looking for. On a side note, you’ll want to print on the best quality paper you can find as this makes a difference. This is normally measured by the weight of the paper in “pounds”.

I would also recommend you also pay attention to the “brightness” of the paper you use when printing. The higher the number the brighter the paper. This is another “little touch” that makes a big difference when submitting your proposal.

You may also have noticed that I used some different color paper throughout this document. That was no accident, as I prefer to break up the bland look that an all white proposal provides. You of course can do whatever suits your personal tastes.

Well there you have it! I hope this post helps you in your attempt to land customers for your own cleaning business. If you have any additional ideas or suggestions feel free to post them in the comment section below.

Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend. If you purchase any items through my links odds are I’ll earn a commission of some kind. I only recommend products and services that I have used or think may be useful to those starting or operating a cleaning business.

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