The commercial cleaning landscape continues to evolve, and cleaners are shifting their practices and their business models to boost profitability in 2024. Inflation continues to play a role this year, as 62 per cent of cleaners think that clients will continue to focus on getting the most value for their money.
As expected, increasing revenue is vital, as 63 per cent of cleaning businesses’ top priority this year, followed by increasing cash flow (57 per cent) and hiring or retaining employees. How are cleaning companies planning to boost their profits? 34 per cent of commercial cleaners plan to raise their prices, a significant drop from the 90 per cent who predicted increases in 2023.
Employee retention is also a prevailing strategy to raise bottom lines, as 86 per cent of cleaning companies plan to increase staff salaries, with 54 per cent of those companies enforcing a minimum increase of five per cent. Along with this, empowering staff with current tools and increased efficiency is a focus for cleaning companies, with 27 per cent of the industry considering building information modelling.
Investing in new technologies or cleaning practices can also help cleaning companies attract new clients, add revenue streams, and stand out from the competition to build the bottom line. Trying out new products like electrolised water or salt-free cleaners and adopting new techniques may be a way for cleaners to limit the strain on their budgets while increasing profits.
Sustainability also continues to be important according to 80 per cent of cleaners, with the reduction of plastic waste and green cleaning products topping the list of priorities from clients. Switching to chemical-free or organic products may allow companies to better connect with their customers and align their values to encourage long-term loyalty.
Commercial cleaning companies have pivoted many times in the last few years and those looking to get ahead in 2024 may have to do so again. Standing out in this competitive industry is key to growing a client base that will build the bottom line. As cleaners strive to get ahead in 2024, creative strategies and approaches may be necessary to stand out, keep employees happy, and provide an elevated customer experience.
