Too many cleaning business owners know this pain: you\u2019ve cleaned all day, and instead of dropping your shoulders when you walk in the door at night, you come home to hours of paperwork, answering emails, and sending quotes to new potential clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re not resting; you\u2019re not growing your business. You\u2019re treading water, trying to stay afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most cleaning business owners probably didn\u2019t start their business to turn it into another desk job, and certainly no one looks forward to managing spreadsheets and chasing invoices every day. Admin work is a necessary part of running a business, but it\u2019s certainly not the glamorous part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though you can\u2019t avoid the work that runs your business, you can make it way easier and less time-sucking. Part of it is automating the things you find most tedious, the repeatable tasks you do joylessly every day but need to get done. And the other part is making the work mobile.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This post will look at mobile tools and strategies that free up your time without requiring a big team or a tech background. In fact, solo operators and small teams are most likely to feel the benefits of mobility and automation more strongly than large ones \u2014 so if that\u2019s you, read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
When we say, \u201cmanage your business from your smartphone,\u201d you might imagine someone with a Bluetooth headset in their ear running phone calls all day. This does not have to be you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most cleaning business owners start simply, with a pen and some paper and maybe a payment processing software. As the business grows, so does the amount of paperwork you have to bring with you on-site. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This becomes an issue when you\u2019re never at a desk or in an office. Cleaning is one of the few jobs left that requires you to be in the field, but as the business grows, you\u2019ll need to find a balance between handling admin work and keeping up with clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papers can get lost or left behind, invoices may need to be sent twice, and cleanings might get missed if you\u2019re not organized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A tool like ZenMaid prevents this entirely. The right software can bundle client information, job details, time tracking tools, and invoicing in a single place and make it available via computer and mobile app, for when you\u2019re on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only can software help you stay organized, but it can also handle recurring administrative tasks, such as emailing clients. Automations like these save you hours of busywork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even if your days are still filled with cleaning clients, the right software means you can spend your nights however you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biggest blocker most teams face when adopting software is finding time to learn it, upload and organize data, and set up automations. Finding this time might be difficult, especially when you\u2019re booked, but focusing for an hour or two might save you weeks each year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are five key areas that we recommend automating, with ZenMaid or another tool:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve written extensively about what to automate<\/a>, how to automate, and why you should automate<\/a> your recurring tasks, so make sure to check out these other articles on the Magazine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At ZenMaid, we strongly recommend automating as much as possible so that you can focus on growing, not running, your business. If you\u2019re looking for somewhere to start, the complete guide to automating your business<\/a> might be a good place! <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most important thing to focus on when choosing software to purchase is the stage your business is in. Why buy expensive software with every bell and whistle? Every option is priced differently and offers different features, so you can buy what you need and leave what you don\u2019t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Several software options with mobile apps can help you manage your daily schedule and the ins and outs of your business. In the table below, we offer a quick comparison of some popular software options with mobile apps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While most software is built for larger teams, solo operators can still get a lot of value out of the systems software provides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On top of what we discussed in the last section, solopreneurs should look for software that is low cost, has a simple user interface (UI), automates reminders, and lets clients self-book. A clean UI reduces the time you need to spend learning the software, while other features free up more of your time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ZenMaid is worth emphasizing here again not only because of its maid-specific features, but also because its pricing tiers are flexible and align well with the speed at which cleaning businesses grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMobile Apps That Help Cleaners Manage Daily Schedules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Business Stage<\/strong><\/td> Recommended Stack<\/strong><\/td> Cost<\/strong><\/td> Standout Features<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Solopreneurs, just starting out<\/td> Google Calendar + Sheets <\/td> Free<\/td> \u2014 Share a link with clients to book appointments
\u2014 Manage costs, inventory, appointments, and revenue
\u2014 Set calculation automations that make accounting easier<\/td><\/tr>Solopreneurs; established cleaners (5+ recurring clients)<\/td> ZenMaid<\/td> Free for the first 14 days, then $19\/month<\/a><\/td> \u2014 Book and schedule jobs online with a calendar, dispatch, map view, and more
\u2014 SMS & Email communication templates for cleaners and clients
\u2014 Access to all automations
\u2014 Cleaner SOS alert
\u2014 Online payments with Stripe and Square<\/td><\/tr>1-3 staff, growing<\/td> Jobber<\/td> Free for the first 14 days, then $29\/month<\/a><\/td> \u2014 Book and schedule jobs online
\u2014 Send professional quotes
\u2014 Send and receive invoices
\u2014 Track performance with built-in reporting<\/td><\/tr>5+ staff<\/td> Housecall Pro<\/td> Free for the first 14 days, then $59\/month<\/a><\/td> \u2014 Book and schedule jobs online with dispatch
\u2014 Send and receive estimates and invoices
\u2014 Online payments and price book
\u2014 Review management<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTools Built Specifically for Solo Cleaning Operators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n