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How to start an oven cleaning business
Use your elbow grease to launch a profitable oven cleaning business.
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An oven cleaning business has low startup costs, meaning you can get the business up and running without breaking the bank. We explain how to set up your venture for success.
What is an oven cleaning business?
An oven cleaning business specialises in professional cleaning of ovens, BBQs and other cooking appliances. Most of the time, oven cleaners will travel to clients' homes to clean their oven, although they can clean commercial kitchens as well.
How to start an oven cleaning business
Follow these steps to successfully launch your oven cleaning business:
- Develop a business plan. Write a business plan that takes into account market research, the estimated income and expenses for your business and the pricing of your services.
- Create a brand name and logo. Once you have a business plan, it's important to choose a business name that is easy to remember, reflects the image you want to communicate to customers and is not already used by competitors. For your logo, there are graphic design tools and services to help you create your own.
- Get the right equipment. Getting the right cleaning product for different tasks is crucial for completing the job on time. You may also need to invest in a dip tank to soak the oven parts and a vehicle to get to and from the client's home.
- Choose the right structure for your business. Most of the time, operating as a Sole Trader or Partnership will be the simplest and most cost-effective way to run an oven cleaning business. However, there are advantages in registering your business as a Company if there are external investors involved, or if you wish to better protect yourself against the Company's future liabilities.
- Consider legal requirements. You may need to get legal document templates such as a Service Agreement and Cancellation Policy. You may also need to speak to a small business lawyer or a franchise lawyer if you're joining an existing franchise.
- Market your business. While word-of-mouth referral is a great way to build your customer base, you'll also want to invest in building a digital presence through a website and social media. You can find clients through online marketplaces too, such as hipages and Airtasker, and invest in advertising on Google and social media.
Skills needed to start an oven cleaning business
To start an oven cleaning business, you'll need to have:
- Oven cleaning experience. You will need to know how to remove the different parts of an oven, how to put them back together and how to protect the customer's home while cleaning the oven. You will also need to have good knowledge of different oven cleaning products.
- Time management skills. You'll need to have good time management skills to make sure you can finish the job on time.
- Physical skills. Oven cleaning can be a physically demanding job. It's important that you or your employees can physically manage the task.
Courses and qualifications
You don't need any formal qualifications to set up this type of business, but there are many courses available online to help you learn new skills. Having a nationally recognised qualification will help you stand out from the competition and will show customers you are operating a professional business.
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Equipment and software needed to start an oven cleaning business
Some key equipment you will need include:
- Effective oven cleaning solutions
- Scrapers
- Cloths
- A dip tank, to soak the oven's components
- A vehicle to get to and from jobs
You'll also want to purchase some computer equipment and software to keep the back end of the business running smoothly. This may include:
- A laptop or desktop
- Business phone
- Printer
- Basic accounting software for invoicing and bookkeeping
- Payment software
How to structure your oven cleaning business
An accountant can help you choose the best business structure for your oven cleaning business (our guide has some great tips too). The main business structures are Sole Trader, Partnership and Company, and each one has its pros and cons depending on your personal circumstances.
Once you have chosen your oven cleaning business structure, you will need to get an Australian Business Number (ABN). When you have decided on a business name, it needs to be registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), unless you're operating it under your legal name. Once registered under the Corporations Act 2001, there's typically no need to register in individual State or Territory jurisdictions.
If your oven cleaning business operates as a Sole Trader, you can use your personal tax file number (TFN). However, Partnerships and registered Companies must apply for a dedicated tax number. Contact the Australian Tax Office for more information on taxes.
What about legal documents and advice?
Before you launch your oven cleaning business, you may need to get your legal documents in order. You can find legal templates as well as a host of legal support services online. Some of the leading online legal companies include Sprintlaw, Lawpath and LegalVision.
Legal documents you might need for an oven cleaning company include:
- Service Agreement. It's a good idea to have a Service Agreement with customers which sets out your responsibilities.
- Cancellation Policy. It's standard in the industry to have a policy to deal with last-minute cancellations and no shows. It's standard to charge customers a cancellation fee if the customer doesn't notify you in 24 hours.
- Employment Agreement. If you're hiring cleaners to carry out oven cleaning, you'll need an Employment Agreement to set out the terms and conditions of their employment.
For an oven cleaning business, types of lawyers you might need include:
- Small business lawyers. Small business lawyers are experienced in helping small businesses, startups and entrepreneurs, and they can advise you on how to structure your business, draft and review your contracts, and consult on other legal issues such as employment law.
- Franchise lawyers. In the event you're starting an oven cleaning business by joining a franchise, it's a good idea to consult a franchise lawyer. Remember the franchise agreement is drafted by the franchisor with their best interests in mind. Franchise lawyers can go over the franchise agreement with you and make sure your business interests are protected too.
Take a look in the table below for more.
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How to find customers
Word-of-mouth and personal recommendations are both fantastic ways to build up your customer base. You can also reach out to local real estate agents to see if they need an oven cleaner for end-of-lease or pre-sale cleaning.
Another effective yet hassle-free way of getting new customers is to use online job marketplaces. They provide a low-cost way to connect skilled professions with locals looking for tradespeople. Some of the leading platforms on the market include hipages, Airtasker and Oneflare. All of these online platforms work in a similar way; locals can post jobs that they need doing in the marketplace, and individuals or companies with the right skills can provide a quote to do the job. This is a great way to build up your local client base as an oven cleaning company.
It's also a good idea to invest in your digital presence. You can build a website or a social media page outlining your services and pricing, and invest in advertising on social media and Google.
How much should I charge my customers?
Oven cleaning businesses generally charge between $30 and $150. As prices do vary quite a bit, expect higher fees for large ranges and oven tops.
Here are the factors that dictate how much you will charge customers for your oven cleaning services:
- How long it takes to clean
- The age of the appliance (some older ovens may take longer to be cleaned)
- How long since the oven was last cleaned
- If it's a general clean or a specialist clean (such as a deep clean)
- How easy the oven is to access
- Your mark-up on the service
- Travel time to get to the job
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How long does it take to clean an oven?
Oven cleaning can take just one or two hours. Exactly how long it takes you will depend on the quality of your equipment, when the oven was last cleaned and your level of experience.
Do I need insurance when starting an oven cleaning business?
You'll certainly want to look into Public Liability Insurance to cover any accidents or damage that may occur while you work at a customer's property. If you take on employees, consider workers compensation insurance to cover them.
You may also want to consider business vehicle insurance, income protection insurance and business interruption insurance. Read more in our guide to business insurance.
Do I need uniforms for my oven cleaning business?
Uniforms are a great way to make your oven cleaning business seem more professional. It's not mandatory, but it will help with the branding of your business. Uniforms are also a fantastic way to promote your business, especially if you wear them before and after work.
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