Even if you've been in business for a while or you are just started your cleaning business, you may have to actively pursue big clients to give you contracts. They might not come to you on their own, so you'll have to chase them.

The first order of business is to do your market research. Take your time to find out what business opportunities are out there.

If you're based in a big city, there will be countless opportunities. However, it's best to take the local approach and start with your neighbourhood and surrounding areas.

Which businesses do you think could need contractual cleaning services? Start with banks and offices in your area.

Schools typically have their own janitors, but it doesn't hurt to look around for schools too that may be in need of regular cleaning, especially that deep cleaning every once in a while.

The cleaning industry is highly saturated, especially in markets like the US and Australia. So you need to stand out from the crowd, and one way to do that is to specialize in cleaning services.

You can offer regular cleaning, but also include special cleanings, such as carpet cleaning, roof and gutter cleaning, floor polishing, windows cleaning, etc.

These specialized services will help you find customers more easily than if you just did with regular cleaning.

Specialize doesn't even have to mean a service. It could be an aspect or practice followed within your business too. For instance, you could offer 24/7 instant availability, that your services could be used at any time. Similarly, you could offer to use only organic cleaning products to ensure the safety and health of clients.

To get a commercial cleaning contract, you'll need to have a highly professional brand. They won't hire any business that offers cleaning services. Your brand needs to look positively professional.

It starts with your brand identity, like your company name, logo, and even a tag line.

However, the most important consideration is your company website. This is where you can create a lasting impression.

Any office or other business you approach to ask for a cleaning contract would look your business up online. The first thing they'll see is your cleaning website.

It doesn't have to be super fancy, but look professional and gives ample information for the client to understand what you offer

The website should list services you offer clearly, preferably with prices. If you're a sole trader, you should have a profile of yourself. Similarly, if you're a company with cleaners, perhaps introduce them on the website too.

Marketing is also crucial when it comes to getting contracts. Social media marketing is the most effective way to get people interested. You should have an active online presence, especially on Facebook and Twitter, as these are more relevant for marketing for a cleaning business.

A business looking for commercial cleaning companies to hire on a contract would likely want to see what other customers you've had. This is where testimonials come in handy.

If you've had any clients before, you can use their testimonies on your website or social media. You should even mention them when you have a meeting with the prospective client. You can take permission from the previous client to use their testimony or review on your website, especially if it's a well-known business.

Most companies looking to hire you will look for your reviews online. Therefore, it's imperative that you have positive reviews on any platform like Facebook or Google.

In fact, encourage your customers to leave feedback on your social media platforms and review platforms like Yelp, so other prospective clients can see them online.

Potential customers interested to start cleaning contracts with you will want a discount or deal. After all, it's all about money at the end of the day.

The better the price you offer, the higher the chances are to close the deal. However, that doesn't mean you run your business at a loss.

This is why you need to evaluate how much it will cost you to provide the services the business is asking for. There are many things that play into this:

• The duration of the contract
• The type of cleaning
• The frequency of cleaning
• The number of cleaners
• The cost of equipment

While you can create standard packages based on organization sizes, for most customers, you may have to create a custom offer.

You should try to offer decent discounts or add extra services at no additional cost for the offer to be attractive for the potential client.

This is another effective tool to beat the competition, as many cleaning companies will be vying to get the contract. With better rates and, of course, better service, you can stand out from the competition.

Once the client has agreed to hire your cleaning business, it's time to make things official. Cleaning contracts templates are easily available online. They may differ by country, so if you're in Australia, look for a cleaning contract template Australia.

However, don't keep it too generic, as you want to include all the details you may have discussed on the phone or in-person meeting.

Make sure to add a detailed list of the services you'll be providing to the business. If some of the services require additional work or prior notice, make sure to include one clause about this.

The document should detail the amount for each cleaning session and how your company will be paid. You can leave some room for additions as your contract progresses. Who knows, they might want even more services after you've been with them for a while.

Make sure both parties agree to the granular details, so make sure to email the draft to the client. When all is good, you can go ahead and close the deal.

Part of your business growth strategies would be to get as many contracts as you can. Obviously, the more regular customers you have, the more your cleaning business will profit and grow.

For commercial cleaning companies, it's crucial to have consistent clients with regular work. It will help you pay the overhead and pay all your workers. And the good news is there's good money in commercial cleaning.

Once you've had one or two cleaning services contracts, search for ways to add more clients or more locations from the same client.

For instance, if you work for a bank, you can pursue them to hire you for their other locations.

Go back to the testimonies and marketing section, and use the current clients to get even more companies for your cleaning services.