59 Business Ideas for Couples (2024)
October 9, 2023
Have you ever considered starting a business with your spouse? If so, check out these fantastic business ideas tailor-made for couples!
The concept of husband and wife business ideas has been around for a long time, and the prospect of building your dream life together is undoubtedly appealing. Let’s explore some great business ideas for couples!
Click a link below to skip to the idea that interests you (and your partner!) most.
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- Tips for Getting Started With a Business Idea for Couples
- Strategies for Couples to Start a Successful Business
- Best Online Businesses for Couples
- Part-Time Business Ideas for Couples
- Two-Person Team Start-Ups: Profitable Business Ideas for Couples
- Small Businesses for Couples to Start
- Which Business for Couples Will You Choose?
Tips for Getting Started With a Business Idea for Couples
There are numerous considerations when couples decide to start a small business together. You’ll want to:
- Consider the initial time and financial investment required.
- Identify activities that you both enjoy doing consistently.
- Decide if you want immediate returns or are willing to invest in a more passive venture.
- Combine your skills as a couple to find synergies in the business.
- Follow your shared passions and interests.
- Determine your preference for a location-based or online business.
Strategies for Couples to Start a Successful Business
You’ll also want to find ways to make sure that both partners feel fulfilled by the business. That means you should:
- Ensure the business idea suits both partners’ needs and interests.
- Practice effective communication and maintain a balance between work and personal life.
- Consider the roles you can play within the business to complement each other.
Best Online Businesses for Couples
1. Blogging: Start a blog and monetize it over time
• Average Annual Revenue: $46K
• Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
• Startup Costs: Under $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 Years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.50%
• Best for: Couples with writing, graphic design, and other content creation skills, strong marketers
A blog can be a great business venture on its own or in combination with other business ideas like a podcast, vlog, or online education business. It’s easy to get started but can take a while to build an audience and generate regular and recurring income.
One of you can write, while the other does design, or work together on everything.
Kevin Espiritu used a blog to turn his passion for gardening into a $7.3 million-a-year business. Hear his story in this podcast interview:
2. Sell Stock Photos: Create and sell unique stock photography
• Average Annual Revenue: $50K
• Average Profit Margins: 7.3%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3%
• Best for: Photographers, visual artists, people who want flexibility and passive income
A photography business can be a highly profitable business, and it is among the best couple business ideas to run from the side at home. There are tons of sites to sell stock photographs, including:
3. Freelance Writing: Offer content writing services
• Average Annual Revenue: $46K
• Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 Years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.50%
• Best for: Writers, editors, SEO and digital marketing experts
Writing content is a great business idea for couples who want to start their own business quickly out of their home. Just set up a profile on a freelance platform like Upwork or Fiverr and you can begin accepting clients in minutes.
4. Cleaning Service: Offer residential or commercial cleaning
• Average Annual Revenue: $61K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.8%
• Startup Cost: $300-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.4%
• Best for: Detail-oriented people with strong customer service skills, people who like physical work and don’t mind getting their hands dirty
The low investment to start a cleaning business is one thing that draws people to this niche. Demand is also strong and growing, at a rate of 6.6% each year for the last decade.
Chris Mondragon grew Queen Bee Cleaning Services to $120,000 a month in revenue from an initial investment of just $5,000. He teaches how to follow his model in his 7-Figure Cleaning Business Blueprint. You can also watch this interview with Chris to hear how he started:
You can even start a remote cleaning business.
5. Printables: Design and sell customizable printed products
• Average Annual Revenue: $1.6M
• Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
• Startup Cost: $500-$250K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -5.6%
• Best for: Graphic designers and visual artists, marketing experts
An online store selling custom-printed items is among the best business ideas for creative entrepreneurs who want a passive income stream.
People buy customizable printables for a lot of reasons, from marketing swag and business gifts to favors for weddings and parties. All of those niches mean lots of potential customers for your eCommerce business.
6. Web Design: Create and manage websites for clients
• Average Annual Revenue: $239K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.3%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4%
• Best for: Web developers, programmers, graphic designers, SEO experts
Every business needs a website but not all business owners can make one. If graphic design, visual layout, or coding are among your or your partner’s interests, website design is a good business idea with a low investment up-front and a lot of growth potential.
7. Virtual Assistant: Provide a wide range of online assistance
• Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: Highly-organized people, excellent communicators with strong time management and problem-solving skills
Virtual assistants (VA) help busy professionals take care of day-to-day tasks, like scheduling appointments, booking travel, and similar administrative things.
Being a VA is a great online business idea because it has a low investment to start and doesn’t require any special skills. The hours are usually flexible, too, making it ideal for parents looking for business opportunities they can fit around other commitments.
8. Ads: Offer ad writing and design services for various platforms
• Average Annual Revenue: $817K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $1.8K-$16K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Marketing experts, writers, visual artists, graphic designers, people skilled in SEO, SEM, and other digital marketing techniques
Similar to web design, creating compelling advertisements requires a unique set of skills that not all business owners have. This makes it a profitable business idea with a lot of growth potential, especially for a two-person team.
9. Vending Machine Owners: Establish or buy vending machine routes
• Average Annual Revenue: $182K+
• Average Profit Margins: 4.3%
• Startup Cost: $2K-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.5%
• Best for: People who want flexibility and passive income potential, system-driven entrepreneurs
Do you ever wonder who makes money from the vending machines in workplaces, schools, and other businesses? It could be you if you start a vending business!
Vending has a high profit potential without needing a huge time investment. UpFlip’s Vending Bootcamp teaches you how to get started step-by-step. You can also watch this interview with Hill Vending founder Adam Hill to learn how he got started:
10. Online Educational Resources: Create and sell online courses together
• Average Annual Revenue: $234K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.8%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Teachers and educators, people with in-demand skills and knowledge, writers and content creators
Selling online courses lets you make a living sharing your knowledge. Creating the course takes the most work. Once you’ve made online educational resources, you can run a profitable business with little time investment.
It’s also a cheap business to start. Jacques Hopkins started his online course business with a $ 150-a-month budget, and he’s grown it to more than $40,000 a month in revenue. Hear his advice in this interview:
11. Tutoring: Offer virtual tutoring sessions in various subjects
• Average Annual Revenue: $18K+
• Average Profit Margins: 13.10%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.5%
• Best for: Teachers and educators, excellent communicators and motivators, experts in academic subjects or test prep
Speaking of an online education business, tutoring is another of the best business ideas for couples who are educators. You can run a completely online business with virtual tutoring sessions or set up an online portal to connect with in-person students.
There are a number of tutoring platforms where you can begin accepting clients to get your business up and running. Some of the most popular include:
12. Stock Market: Manage other people’s investments
• Average Annual Revenue: $1.8M+
• Average Profit Margins: 36.1%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 8.2%
• Best for: financial advisors and money experts, investors and stock traders
For business partners with a background in finance, investment management is a highly profitable business idea. The people who have investments to manage tend to be high-earners, so you can easily build a client list of people willing to pay top dollar.
Bear in mind that investment advisors need to be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and may also need to register with their state in order to operate legally. The SEC explains how to register on its website.
13. Consultancy business: Provide expert advice and recommendations
• Average Annual Revenue: $364K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.2%
• Best for: Creative problem solvers, excellent communicators and motivators, experts in in-demand areas like marketing, human resources, and leadership
Entrepreneurs will pay top dollar for business development advice that helps them grow revenue, become better leaders, master their digital marketing, or hone other necessary skills. A couple with that expertise can make excellent business partners for a consultancy business.
The key to success is finding the right niche market. For example, Ryan Gromfin turned his experience managing five-star restaurants into a $ 35,000-a-month restaurant consulting business. Hear his advice here:
14. Coaching: Become life, business, or mindset coaches
• Average Annual Revenue: $63K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.5%
• Best for: Empathetic entrepreneurs, active listeners and great communicators, people with strong organization, time management, and creative problem-solving skills
Coaching can be a very profitable business to start with a business partner because you can accelerate your growth and build your client list twice as fast. You can be a coach in any area where you’re an expert, from personal organization to parenting to being a landscape and gardening consultant.
15. Digital Marketing: Offer online marketing services
• Average Annual Revenue: $817K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: social media experts, designers and content creators, data analysts, people with SEM, SEO, and similar digital marketing skills
A digital marketing agency is one of the top business ideas for couples who want high-profit potential as well as schedule flexibility. Most businesses today need an online presence, and that puts digital marketing skills in high demand.
The digital marketing firm Socialistics has grown to $500,000 a year in revenue by attracting big-name clients like the Air Force and Habitat for Humanity. Find out how they got started in this interview:
16. E-books: Write and sell e-books
• Average Annual Revenue: $712K
• Average Profit Margins: 14.6%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1 month to 3 years
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -1.5%
• Best for: Writers and editors, strong online marketers, couples seeking a passive income stream
Selling e-books is a very flexible business. You create the books on your own schedule then list them in an online store, which you can manage any time and from anywhere.
The tricky part about starting an e-book business is that there are a lot of them out there, so you’ll need strategies to get customer attention in a crowded market. It can help to focus on a niche market, or if you have other ways to build an audience, like through a podcast, YouTube channel, or large social media following.
17. T-Shirt Business: Design and sell custom t-shirts online
• Average Annual Revenue: $147K
• Average Profit Margins: 3.2%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$200K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.3%
• Best for: Artists and graphic designers, strong marketers and networkers
One particularly popular custom printables niche is a print-on-demand t-shirt business. This is among the best business ideas for couples who are creative and need flexibility.
Artem Ionitsa makes $2,000,000 a year with his Logo Unlimited that prints clothing for major businesses. Find out how he started and grew his business in this interview:
18. eCommerce: Sell products through a website
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Makers, designers, and crafters, artists and creators, fashion and shopping lovers
You can sell just about anything with an eCommerce business. Vlad Kuksenko started TagPup with a low investment of just $500 and in two years made more than $1 million in sales. Hear how he became the #1 pet products store on Etsy in this interview:
19. Website Flipping: Buy, enhance, and sell websites
• Average Annual Revenue: $239K
• Average Profit Margins: 5.30%
• Startup Costs: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.40%
• Best for: Web designers and developers, experts in SEO, web traffic, data analysis, or automation
Domain flipping is like a digital version of a real estate business. You purchase a website at a low price, then improve its design, functionality, and search rankings to increase its value and sell it for a profit.
After starting OneHourProfessor.com in 2014, Ron Stefanski has built a portfolio of websites that bring in $30,000 a month in revenue on average. Hear his advice on how to start a website business in this interview:
20. Podcasting: Create and monetize a podcast
• Average Annual Revenue: $4M+
• Average Profit Margins: 27.1%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.4%
• Best for: Entertainers, skilled communicators, teachers, presenters, and content creators
Podcasting was an $18.5 billion industry in 2022, and it’s expected to grow another 27.6% by 2030. Like a blog, podcasting can be a successful business idea on its own or in tandem with other online educational resources.
Building an audience is the most challenging part of starting a podcast. Listen to this interview to learn how Entrepreneurs on Fire became one of the top business podcasts with more than 142 million listeners:
Part-Time Business Ideas for Couples
21. Junk Removal: Help clear out people’s homes and offices
• Average Annual Revenue: $5.7M+
• Average Profit Margins: 2.9%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: Construction pros, couples who like physical work
Many people don’t know how to dispose of large junk like appliances and construction trash—and they don’t want to deal with it even if they do. That’s what makes junk removal a $10 billion-a-year industry and a profitable, unique business idea for couples.
22. Dog Walking: Provide pet walking services
• Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.7%
• Best for: Pet owners, animal lovers, people with high physical stamina who like working outdoors
Nearly 20% of American households adopted a dog during the pandemic. Now that people are being called back to the office, dog walkers are in increasingly high demand.
That demand has driven up prices. In large markets like New York, dog walkers can charge $600 or more a month per client. This gives it potential to be a highly profitable business even as a part-time venture.
Starting with a partner makes it where you can walk twice as many dogs.
23. Catering: Start your own catering business for events
• Average Annual Revenue: $124K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.5%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
• Best for: Cooks, bakers, and foodies with strong customer service and time management skills
One drawback to most food industry businesses is the high startup cost. Starting your own catering business is one way around this issue. You can rent a commercial kitchen when you need it instead of buying your own equipment, and that means a much lower up-front investment.
A catering company also gives you more scheduling flexibility than a restaurant. You can book events only during the times you’re available, and how much work you take on is completely in your court, too.
24. Personal Training: Offer fitness coaching services
• Average Annual Revenue: $16K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.9%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.6%
• Best for: Health and fitness experts, great motivators with strong communication skills and empathy
A personal trainer helps their clients meet their fitness goals, and you don’t need your own gym to open a fitness business. You could offer sessions from your home, at clients’ homes, or partner with a local athletics and fitness association to use their facilities.
There are also affordable opportunities to become a franchise business partner as a personal trainer or fitness business. Jazzercise franchises start at $2,500, for example, and Anytime Fitness franchises have a similarly low investment.
25. Car Wash and Detailing: Provide car washing and detailing services
• Average Annual Revenue: $73K+
• Average Profit Margins: 16.1%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.0%
• Best for: Car lovers, detail-oriented entrepreneurs who like working with their hands
More than 91% of households in the United States own a car, and about 22% own three or more. This makes businesses related to car maintenance a smart move.
A mobile business is often a better side hustle than a brick-and-mortar, with both a lower upfront cost and more schedule flexibility. Seattle Mobile Detailing was started by business partners with just $300 and now grosses $40,000 a month. Learn how they got started in this interview:
26. Horticulture: Grow plants for nurseries
• Average Annual Revenue: $262K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.8%
• Best for: Gardeners and plant experts, people who love working outside
You don’t need a huge plot of land to start a flower or herb farm. A rose, sunflower, or lavender farming business are outstanding couple business ideas for those with unused yard space and green thumbs.
27. Resume Writing: Write professional resumes and LinkedIn profiles
• Average Annual Revenue: $46K
• Average Profit Margins: 5.8%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Human resources professionals, writers and editors, people with recruiting or hiring experience
A well-written resume is key to a successful job search, and a strong LinkedIn profile can be just as important. It’s typical to charge $200-$400 for a mid-career resume, while executive resumes command prices of $700 or more.
That’s not bad for a one-to-two-page document and makes a very lucrative part-time business for a couple with career expertise.
28. Personal Shopping: Assist clients with personal shopping needs
• Average Annual Revenue: $37K+
• Average Profit Margins: 1.9%
• Startup Cost: $100-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 10.5%
• Best for: Strong communicators, people who are patient, organized, and empathetic with a sharp eye for detail and good decision-making skills
As a personal shopper, you get clients the things they need—even when they’re not quite sure what those are. The guidance personal shoppers give is what differentiates them from a virtual assistant or delivery service and makes it a more profitable business.
29. Handyperson: Offer general handyman services
• Average Annual Revenue: $204K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.7%
• Best for: Contractors and skilled trade workers, people who like working with their hands and have good communication and customer service skills
Every homeowner needs repairs now and then, and they don’t always have the time or skills to make them. This is a great business idea for a two-person team because you can do more work faster, making for happy customers and higher profits.
It doesn’t take much to start a handyperson business. Find out how Caleb Ingraham started his $ 25,000-a-month business in this interview:
30. Interior Painting and Wallpapering: Provide interior painting and wallpapering services
• Average Annual Revenue: $76K+
• Average Profit Margins: 7.2%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -2%
• Best for: Construction and home repair professionals, painters and designers, people who like physical work, detail-oriented and process-driven entrepreneurs
Painting and wallpapering are among the best business ideas for couples who want to stay active and make money together. The mess and labor involved in painting houses is why many customers pay for a service.
It takes a surprisingly low investment to start a house painting business. Joshua Douglass only invested about $6,000 to start A Painter’s Touch, and today it makes around $25,000 a month. Hear his story in this interview:
31. Party Planner: Plan and coordinate events for clients
• Average Annual Revenue: $34K+
• Average Profit Margins: 12.2%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1%
• Best for: Organized and outgoing people with strong creative problem-solving, time management, and customer service skills
A wedding planning business is the best-known niche in event planning, but that’s far from the only option. From family reunions and celebrations to corporate events, there are a lot of ways to profit from your party planning skills.
32. Paint Wall Murals: Create artistic murals for customers
• Average Annual Revenue: $76K+
• Average Profit Margins: 7.20%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -2.00%
• Best for: Painters and visual artists, designers, creative people who like physical work
An eye-catching mural can be a great draw for customers to a business, or bring a unique touch to a home. Mural artists typically charge $10-$20 per square foot, which can put this among the most profitable business ideas for a creative side hustle.
With the right equipment, you don’t need to be an artist to make money from murals. Paul Baron started a business in vertical printing with The Wall Printer. Find out more in his podcast interview.
Two-Person Team Start-Ups: Profitable Business Ideas for Couples
33. Pinterest Account Manager: Manage Pinterest accounts for businesses
• Average Annual Revenue: $42K to $208K
• Average Profit Margins: 6.9%
• Startup Costs: $1.8K-$16K
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Social media experts, photographers and graphic designers, organized and creative entrepreneurs
Pinterest is a popular platform for anyone running a food business, clothing shop, or cosmetic line as well as others who have visually compelling products to sell. The average Pinterest Virtual Assistant makes about $500 a month per client or up to $100 per hour, but you can certainly make more than that as a skilled Pinterest manager.
One of you can find clients while the other one manages the Pinterest accounts.
34. Subscription Box Service: Curate niche subscription boxes
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K to $120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 16.5%
• Best for: Data experts, people tuned in to trends, strong marketers and salespeople, people with specialized product niche expertise
A subscription business is a fantastic business model because you earn regular and recurring income by default.
Any type of consumable product can be part of a subscription box, from healthy snacks to on-trend clothes, shoes, or makeup. Whatever your or your partner’s interests, you can start a successful business curating monthly goodie boxes for other fans of that niche.
35. Local Guides: Offer guided tours and experiences in your area
• Average Annual Revenue: $995K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.6%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.5%
• Best for: Friendly, outgoing couples with excellent communication skills, actors and performers, people with niche knowledge about their local area
This is a fantastic business idea for couples who are active in their local community or have unique expertise in the history, culture, wildlife, or other aspects of their region.
You could give general tours or niche down. If you’re plugged into the local food scene, for instance, you can market to tourists and food lovers who flock to food truck tours and brewery crawls.
36. Adventure Tourism: Get people out and exploring
• Average Annual Revenue: $995K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.6%
• Startup Cost: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 3.5%
• Best for: Adventurous and outgoing entrepreneurs with strong marketing and communication skills
People love experiencing new things, and you can offer that as business partners in the adventure tourism niche.
Jonathan Newar started Captain Experiences in 2020 to do just that and has already grown the business to $100,000 a month in revenue. Hear his story in this interview:
37. Eco-Friendly and Chemical-Free Makeup and Beauty Products: Produce natural cosmetics and self-care products
• Average Annual Revenue: $11.5M+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
• Startup Costs: $500-$250K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Makeup artists, stylists, and other fashion and beauty experts with strong sales and creative problem-solving skills
Cosmetics is the third-largest segment of the U.S. beauty industry, projected to bring in $20.13 billion in revenue in 2024. Natural and chemical-free products are a growing niche within this sector and can be very profitable as either a brick-and-mortar store or eCommerce business.
38. Meal Prep Business: Prepare and deliver healthy meals
• Average Annual Revenue: $41K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Cooks, chefs, and other restaurant industry pros with strong time management and organization skills
Meal delivery services spiked in popularity during the pandemic and that trend shows no signs of reversing. You can offer meal delivery services as a subscription business for recurring revenue, too, or home in on a niche like office food delivery.
39. Food or Grocery Delivery Business: Deliver prepared food or groceries
• Average Annual Revenue: $31K
• Average Profit Margins: 3.6%
• Startup Cost: $100-$9.5K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 6.7%
• Best for: Organized and system-focused entrepreneurs with strong sales, marketing, and customer service skills
If you like the idea of a meal delivery service business but aren’t much of a cook, you can start your own business delivering groceries or food from other restaurants. While these services are in demand, you will be competing with heavy hitters like Uber Eats and DoorDash, which is the main challenge of getting started.
Adam Haber started Trellus Local Delivery to help small businesses. While Trellus delivers more than just food, you can follow a similar model for meal delivery services. Hear his story in this interview:
40. Interior Design for Small Businesses: Provide interior design for office or retail spaces
• Average Annual Revenue: $168K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.6%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Designers and artists who are excellent communicators, networkers, and salespeople
If you’re looking for business ideas for couples with a low investment, service-based niches like a design business can be a perfect fit.
Building a client base is often the hardest part of getting started. One option is to provide free services in exchange for referrals or reviews and to establish portfolio of past work to show potential customers.
41. Organizing Business: Help clients declutter and organize their spaces
• Average Annual Revenue: $168K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.6%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Organized, system-driven, and empathetic entrepreneurs who are good communicators and motivators
Another low-investment service business, professional organizing services work with clients to bring order to the chaos of life. This can range from decluttering a home to helping busy professionals organize their workspaces, and it’s among the top business ideas for couples who thrive on systems and order.
42. Travel Photography: Sell beautiful photos of your favorite places
• Average Annual Revenue: $44K
• Average Profit Margins: 7.30%
• Startup Cost: $5K-$15K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 0.3%
• Best for: Artists, photographers, and creative couples
A photography business in the travel niche lets you take your business on the road wherever you want to go. You can sell your images as prints in an online store, sell them as stock photos, or work with clients like news sources and travel guides.
43. Translator: Leverage your bilingual- or multilingualism
• Average Annual Revenue: $75K-$200K
• Average Profit Margins: 12.4%
• Startup Cost: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: People who speak multiple languages, excellent communicators with strong problem-solving skills
While AI-driven translation apps are functional for travelers, there is still a high need for professional translators in the global economy. The most in-demand languages include Spanish, German, Russian, and Mandarin (and bonus points if you speak three or more).
44. Handmade Jewelry, Candles, or Soap: Craft and sell handmade products
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Artisans, crafters, and artists with strong sales, marketing, and customer service skills
There are lots of ways to start a handcrafted soap, artisanal candle, or handmade jewelry business. While it’s fastest to start as an eCommerce business, you can supplement those sales with a festival or farmers market stall, or even get your own storefront as the business grows.
Check out this interview with Blk Sunflower to learn how Jazmin Richards made $300,000 in 18 months selling handmade candles:
Small Businesses for Couples to Start
45. Coffee Shop or Coffee Industry Business
• Average Annual Revenue: $865K+ (Starbucks makes this number sky high)
• Average Profit Margins: 5.8%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2%
• Best for: Baristas and coffee experts who excel at customer service
A coffee shop provides more than a caffeine fix. It’s also a gathering place for the community, making it a great business idea for couples who love meeting and talking to new people (and, of course, love coffee).
Starting a coffee shop can require a big startup investment. One way to get into the coffee industry for a lower price is with a coffee stand. You can expand that into a sit-down coffee shop as the business grows. Learn how Sandy Edin started a $24,000-a-month coffee stand in this interview:
46. Childcare
• Average Annual Revenue: $143K+
• Average Profit Margins: 0.9%
• Startup Costs: $0-$1K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 51.7%
• Best for: Parents, babysitters, people who love kids and are outgoing, patient, and good multi-taskers
A childcare business is among the best business ideas for couples who are parents themselves. You already have the skills to take care of kids—and this is one way to make a profit from them!
That’s what led Kristy Bickmeyer to start Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency, and she’s now grown it to 20 locations across five states. Hear how she got started here:
47. Bakery or Cake Shop
• Average Annual Revenue: $1.95M
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $100-$3M
• Time To Revenue: 1-6 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Cooks, chefs, bakers, or foodies with customer service, leadership, and marketing skills
Bakeries are among the most popular types of food retail business—who doesn’t love tasty cookies, cakes, and pastries?
While bakeries often have a high startup cost, they don’t have to. One option is to start as a bakery catering business, then expand into a storefront as the business grows. That’s how Mignon Francois turned $5 into a $10 million cupcake business. Hear her story in this interview:
48. Boat, Bike, or Car Rentals
• Average Annual Revenue: $285K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.8%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.0%
• Best for: Mechanics and vehicle repair pros with excellent sales, marketing, and customer service skills
Vehicle rental services are fantastic couples business ideas for people with a passion for cars, boats, or bikes. While it helps to have some repair or maintenance skills, all you really need to get started is an inventory of vehicles and a way to connect with customers.
Legends Car Rentals makes $175,000 a month, so you can definitely make a lot of profit in this niche. Hear how they started in this interview:
49. Doggy Daycare
• Average Annual Revenue: $73K+
• Average Profit Margins: 11.5%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.1%
• Best for: Animal lovers and owners, patient and personable entrepreneurs with strong customer service skills
Busy professionals and families sometimes need a hand watching their pets. You can solve that problem by opening a kennel or doggy daycare. If you love the idea of spending your days caring for dogs, this could be the perfect business for you!
50. Food Truck
• Average Annual Revenue: $41K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.4%
• Startup Cost: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.2
• Best for: Cooks and food industry professionals who are excellent at marketing and customer service
It takes a lot to keep an entire restaurant afloat. The comparatively low investment and greater schedule flexibility are why food trucks are a popular alternative.
The food truck industry is crowded in some markets, which can make it challenging to attract customers. Learn how Aybla Grill started and grew their food truck business in this interview:
51. Bookkeeping and Accounting
• Average Annual Revenue: $206K+
• Average Profit Margins: 13.9%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.6%
• Best for: Accounting, math, and business professionals, detail-oriented entrepreneurs
While you need to be licensed to operate as a CPA, you don’t need that credential to start a bookkeeping service. For math and accounting pros, this is a solid business idea with a low investment to start. That said, this is another area you may need to provide free services to build a reputation and client trust.
52. Rental or Airbnb Property Management
• Average Annual Revenue: $372K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.1%
• Startup Cost: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.3%
• Best for: Real estate and construction professionals who are organized and strong customer service skills
A property management business is among the best low-investment business opportunities in real estate.
One niche market with especially high demand is Airbnb management. NICASA makes $3 million a year as an Airbnb business, and a lot of that comes from managing other people’s properties. Hear founders Sid and Eva’s advice and story in this interview:
53. Consignment Shop
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Costs: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Fashion and style experts who are excellent negotiators and communicators
Starting a consignment shop lets you open a retail business without worrying about providing your own inventory. Instead, you earn a commission selling other people’s products, saving you lots of hassle, cost, and risk.
Clothing and art are among the most popular niches for consignment, but you can start this kind of business with any type of products.
54. Boutique Retail Business
• Average Annual Revenue: $114K+
• Average Profit Margins: 10.3%
• Startup Costs: $500-$250K
• Time To Revenue: 3+ months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.0%
• Best for: Designers, artists, and fashion experts with strong marketing and customer service skills
If you’d rather make and sell your own clothes, a boutique retail business could be your perfect fit. Learn how Urbanity grew to $102,000 in monthly revenue in this interview:
55. IT Support
• Average Annual Revenue: $35K-$50K
• Average Profit Margins: 10.5%
• Startup Costs: $100-$200
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.9%
• Best for: Tech-savvy couples who are patient and have excellent communication skills
Sometimes, it’s not the device that needs to be repaired—it’s the user who needs help using it. Online businesses in IT support are especially great for business partners since it doubles how many customers you can help (and people who need IT support are likely internet users already).
56. eBay Selling Business
• Average Annual Revenue: $60K-$120K
• Average Profit Margins: 5-15%
• Startup Cost: $100-$10K
• Time To Revenue: 30-90 days
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -9.3%
• Best for: Shoppers, thrifters, and antiquers who are good marketers, negotiators, and salespeople
An eCommerce business as a reseller is among the easiest online businesses to start. If you’re strapped for cash, you can even take your initial inventory from things you already own.
Mike Wilson started with about $1,000 in inventory and has grown to a revenue of $30,000 a month selling on eBay. Hear his story here:
57. Electronics Repair
• Average Annual Revenue: $560K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.7%
• Startup Costs: $500-$5K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 1.4%
• Best for: Tech and repair professionals with a sharp eye for details
Electronics repair is among the most profitable business ideas for couples who are tech-savvy. You can get started for cheap, too. Joe’s Electronics Repair is a seven-figure business that was started with just $45. Find out how in this interview:
58. Flower Shop
• Average Annual Revenue: $262K+
• Average Profit Margins: 5.4%
• Startup Costs: $100K-$3.5M
• Time To Revenue: 6-18 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: 2.8%
• Best for: Designers, artists, and creative people with a green thumb and excellent customer service
Flowers are a go-to gift for just about any situation. If you don’t want the costs of a brick-and-mortar, you can open a business stand, sell at a local farmers market, or open an online store.
Stemistry started online and grew into a brick-and-mortar—and the owner’s still a teenager! Find out how it started in this interview:
59. Auto Repair
• Average Annual Revenue: $268K+
• Average Profit Margins: 6.1%
• Startup Costs: $1K-$100K
• Time To Revenue: 1-3 months
• Annual Market Growth Rate: -0.8%
• Best for: Mechanics and repair pros, car experts who are good communicators
People rely on their cars and they’re keeping their cars longer, too. That means more demand for businesses related to car maintenance and repair.
A repair shop will need a fairly high investment. Lucky’s Auto Repair cost about $20,000 to start. Find out how they grew that investment into a lucrative business in this interview:
Which Business for Couples Will You Choose?
There are plenty of small businesses to start as a couple. Consider both of your skills and interest and choose the one that works for you. Which will you start?
Author
Brandon Boushy
Related articles
Are you struggling to figure out how to run a successful business? Many business owners don’t figure it out on their first try, but Afshan Abbas, the owner of Fuchsia Shoes, told us:
[su_quote]Coming this far, [it] was having grit. We failed ten times, but the eleventh time it worked. So, it’s about repeating the process, trying out different things, and figuring out what works for you.[/su_quote]
We’ll share insight from successful businesses to help you learn how to run a business that lasts over a decade.
To effectively run a business, KPIs are necessary to measure progress. KPIs are metrics that measure how well your company is achieving goals laid out in the business plan, following your core values, and achieving your mission.
It’s commonly known that employees focus on what is measured and emphasized as important. Ensure that key performance indicators help measure the things that will keep you focused on running it as a business.
Keep reading for more business tips on how to run a business successfully.
One of the hardest things new businesses deal with is customer complaints. If you handle them well, they can help create a loyal customer, but you might lose a customer if you don’t satisfy their needs.
When a customer has a complaint, try the following process:
To run a business successfully, you have to manage your margins. For some companies, managing margins is easy.
Sanford Booth, a Big Frog franchise owner, told us:
[su_quote]Direct to garment is typically 60-70% (gross) margins or around 45-50% for screen printing, but it fluctuates from month to month based on how many non-profits I’m working with.[/su_quote]
Restaurants will often run such slim margins that they have to actively manage them by the hour to make sure their labor costs don’t rise too much and ruin their profitability. That’s why servers often don’t work eight-hour shifts.
Even if it’s small, you need a marketing budget. On average, businesses spend around 8-10% of revenue on marketing, but some spend up to 30%. During the early stages of the company, spend 8-10% of what you want to be making on marketing. It will pay off once you get there.
Be careful when marketing. You don’t want to spend it blindly. Pay attention to your cash flow and if it gets too low, alter your business plan to adjust for the marketing lessons you’ve learned.
Many business owners allow marketing to go far too long without improving it. You have to monitor the results, mainly social media marketing and paid ads.
If you just let it run without observing what channels are making a profit, you’ll lose too much money. When fine-tuning your marketing, make it a point to check its performance weekly. Once you’ve figured out which channels work, keep optimizing them and drop the rest.
Why Do Businesses Fail?
Businesses fail for many reasons, but the primary ones are:- Poor financial decisions
- Failure to grow sales
- Inability to manage inventory and growth
- Lack of Experience
How to Run a Business Well
#1. Use a Business Plan
To run a successful business, you need to focus on what the company is trying to achieve. A new business should write a business plan to help manage the company. Make sure to include: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]- Purpose of the company
- Business goals
- Mission statement and values
- Industry outlook including major and local competitors
- Market research
- Identify the target audience
- Identify ways to reach your ideal customers
- Identify the customer acquisition costs
- Marketing plan
- Financial projections for one year, three years, five years, and ten years
- Funding needed and how the company will get it
- A human resource management plan
- Necessary roles
- Employee benefits
- How to build company culture
#2. Use Profit Goals as Benchmarks for Success
Running a successful business means knowing your profit goals and measuring performance against them while running your business. These goals should be in a business plan, but you should frequently review them to measure your progress. The easiest way to establish profit goals is to start with the profit you’d like to make. Let’s assume your profit goal is $100K annually. Follow the steps below to find out how much revenue you’ll need:- Look up the net income ratio for your industry on NYUs Margins by Sectors chart.
- Divide your profit target by the net income ratio.
- That’s how much revenue you’ll need unless you can figure out ways to get a higher profit margin.
#3. Mission Statement
Successful business owners also use their mission statement to help guide business decisions. Your mission is simply what you do and why you do it. It is usually only a sentence or two. For instance, the following is Tesla’s mission statement: [su_quote]Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.[/su_quote] It clearly states what the business leaders focus on accomplishing. Prominently displaying the company's mission where you and others will see it helps keep your team focused on your goals.#4. Values
You should write down your core values and keep them where you can view them regularly because your values should guide everything you do as you operate. Business functions such as customer service, hiring employees, and negotiating with vendors should all be based on your values. When you start a business, the values and mission are new ideas fresh in your mind, but as you progress further into the company, you may lose sight of them because of stressors like not having enough money. Make sure you review them consistently to align your business with your values. Keep reading for more tips on running your own business.#5. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
To effectively run a business, KPIs are necessary to measure progress. KPIs are metrics that measure how well your company is achieving goals laid out in the business plan, following your core values, and achieving your mission.
It’s commonly known that employees focus on what is measured and emphasized as important. Ensure that key performance indicators help measure the things that will keep you focused on running it as a business.
Keep reading for more business tips on how to run a business successfully.
#6. Show an Interest in Your Customers’ Problems (and a Desire to Solve Them)
A famous quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt says: [su_quote]Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.[/su_quote] Keep this in mind when you run a business because small businesses become successful through personal service. To truly understand how to run a company, you need to care about your customer base and help them solve their problems. Sometimes showing compassion can be a real challenge, especially when a customer is frustrated, but we can build our levels of understanding through conscious effort. Greater Good in Action is a site run by UC-Berkeley to help people develop better practices around compassion, forgiveness, and other qualities that help us be our best selves. I strongly recommend it. Keep reading for more business running tips.#7. Providing a Reliable Service Is Crucial
Potential customers expect to get what they need when they need it. When starting a business, make sure you make informed decisions about operating and what you carry. You must be reliable, or your target market will go elsewhere. The owner of Wild Wheat Bakery told us: [su_quote]You have to treat everybody that walks in this door with great customer service. Make sure they are getting what they need. Make sure you’re giving them quality food. Over 50% of our customers daily are our regular customers.[/su_quote] Check out our interview with him below. [su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_xwBgyFFU"] If you don’t provide your target market with the product or service they need, you’ll have difficulty maintaining your customer base and attracting new customers. Ensure you give the customer base the products and services they expect.#8. Deliver More than Is Promised to Every Customer
Imagine your air conditioning or heater stops working on an inclement day. So you call an HVAC company at 10 a.m., and they tell you they’ll be there within the next four hours. Meanwhile, you are highly uncomfortable waiting for them to get there. They call at the last minute to say they’ll be there in a couple of days. That’s a stressful scenario, and it’s not how to run a business. Sure, things go wrong, but that’s why a lot of creative professionals use the saying: [su_quote]Under-promise and over-deliver.[/su_quote] New businesses can do this by: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]- Providing worst-case time and price estimates and delivering for less.
- Throw in a small gift like a sticker, a coupon, or pieces of candy.
- Provide free bread or chips & salsa at restaurants.
- Fix something small that you can do quickly without charging.
#9. Reward Customer Loyalty
To effectively run a business, it is necessary to reward customer loyalty because two-thirds of new customers come from referrals, according to SignPost. If you don’t already have a loyalty program, set it up now and offer benefits that show you value your returning customers. To find a loyalty program that works for your business, check out Capterra’s shortlist. For best results, make sure it integrates with your customer relationship management software and accounting software so that you can effectively measure the results of your loyalty program. There’s more! Keep reading our tips on running a business. Keep reading to learn how to run a small business when a customer complains.#10. Handle Customer Complaints Immediately
One of the hardest things new businesses deal with is customer complaints. If you handle them well, they can help create a loyal customer, but you might lose a customer if you don’t satisfy their needs.
When a customer has a complaint, try the following process:
- Hear them out.
- Apologize for the inconvenience.
- Ask what you can do to make it right.
- Do what they ask (within reason).
#11. Operate Lean
Operating lean should be considered one of the basics of running a business. Lean focuses on several factors, including: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]- Limiting the amount of inventory and equipment you buy to what is currently needed
- Finding ways to remove waste
- Focusing on continuous improvement
- Making everything easier for employees and the business owner
#12. Avoid Unnecessary Loans
Borrowing money makes it harder to grow a business unless you have a solid plan for it and follow through. Loan payments increase expenses, and interest rates quickly become higher than your profit margins, especially when using credit cards. In one of his interviews, Paul told us that he avoids loans and selling equity because someone else thinks they have a say in the business.#13. Manage Your Margins
To run a business successfully, you have to manage your margins. For some companies, managing margins is easy.
Sanford Booth, a Big Frog franchise owner, told us:
[su_quote]Direct to garment is typically 60-70% (gross) margins or around 45-50% for screen printing, but it fluctuates from month to month based on how many non-profits I’m working with.[/su_quote]
Restaurants will often run such slim margins that they have to actively manage them by the hour to make sure their labor costs don’t rise too much and ruin their profitability. That’s why servers often don’t work eight-hour shifts.
#14. Cut Underperforming Lines
If you are offering products or services that tie up resources without making a reasonable profit, eliminate them. There’s no reason to have money tied up in inventory that isn’t selling. If you are using net-30 payments, slashing the prices to pay it before the interest kicks in may be necessary.#15. Outsource as Many Functions as Possible
As a business owner, focus on making the business money. You should outsource anything that doesn’t increase your business's revenue to the best provider for your budget. Areas you should consider outsourcing to another company or freelancers on Fiverr or Upwork include:- Bookkeeping
- Marketing
- IT
- Administrative work
#16. Offer Industry-Leading Pay and Benefits
If you decide you need to hire people, take care of them. A Harvard study showed that increased wages improved productivity more than the cost of labor, reduced turnover, and increased the ease of recruiting. The old saying, “Take care of people, and they take care of you,” definitely holds in business. Do some market research to find out what competitors in your industry are doing and then offer a little more. If you pay your people as much as you can and give them the benefits to take care of themselves, it will create loyalty that eludes many businesses today.#17. Hire Passionate Employees
Remember the mission statement and values we suggested you review frequently? Review them before every interview. Most jobs you can train people to do, but it’s much harder to teach people to have a positive attitude, passion for what you do, and share values they don’t already hold. So look for people who already embody your company culture. Just be easy on them in the interview. Some people are highly passionate but clam up in job interviews. If you can do a “working interview” and allow them to do the job with you for a few hours or a day, do it! If you can do a “working interview” and allow them to do the job with you for a few hours or a day, do it! You are far more likely to see a potential employee’s personality than if you just do a 30-minute interview. Most people have some anxiety in interviews. Based on my work in photography, it takes about 45 minutes for someone to shed their nervousness. Give them a chance to show their true self.#18. Maintain a Marketing Budget
Even if it’s small, you need a marketing budget. On average, businesses spend around 8-10% of revenue on marketing, but some spend up to 30%. During the early stages of the company, spend 8-10% of what you want to be making on marketing. It will pay off once you get there.
Be careful when marketing. You don’t want to spend it blindly. Pay attention to your cash flow and if it gets too low, alter your business plan to adjust for the marketing lessons you’ve learned.
#19. Hire an Agency
One of the benefits of hiring an agency is having multiple specialists to help you achieve your goals. A good agency should have: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]- High-quality content marketing specialists.
- Social media management specialists.
- Graphic designers create content such as infographics, videos, and memes.
- People who specialize in optimizing search engines.
- Paid ads experts.
- Google My Business Experts.
#20. A Successful Business Tells a Story
Marketing is like Hollywood storytelling. In it, your customer is the main character, and you are the sidekick, the person who helps them overcome their antagonist (the problem they are trying to solve). Make sure your marketing keeps that in mind at all times. If you successfully tell a story that communicates how you can help them achieve their goals, you’ll be on your way to knowing how to run a business.#21. Stop Wasting Time and Money on Marketing that Doesn’t Work
Many business owners allow marketing to go far too long without improving it. You have to monitor the results, mainly social media marketing and paid ads.
If you just let it run without observing what channels are making a profit, you’ll lose too much money. When fine-tuning your marketing, make it a point to check its performance weekly. Once you’ve figured out which channels work, keep optimizing them and drop the rest.
Closing Thoughts on How to Run a Business
Business success relies on a variety of different skills. Regardless of what industry you are in, you should make it a point to be resilient, open to change, and learn when to cut your losses. Learning how to run a business is highly challenging but equally rewarding. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Check out our blog about business podcasts to find more great insights on running businesses. What are the most challenging parts of business operations for you?
Cleaning businesses are among the most commonly started businesses in the United States. In fact, Thimble estimates there are nearly 2 million cleaning companies in the U.S.
Christobal and I have worked together to develop this cleaning service checklist. We’ve broken it into the following sections:
[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]
1. Create a Plan Checklist
2. Name Your Cleaning Business Checklist
3. Form the Cleaning Business Structure Checklist
4. Get the Financial Tools to Run Your Cleaning Business Checklist
5. Get the Insurance to Run Your Cleaning Business
6. Get Equipment to Operate Your Cleaning Business Checklist
7. Get the Software to Run Your Cleaning Business Checklist
8. Marketing Tools for a Cleaning Service Checklist
9. Cleaning Company Supplies Checklist for 15 Types of Cleaning Companies[/su_note]
If you want to learn about the process of starting a cleaning business, you can also check out our podcast or YouTube video where we interview Christobal Mondragon, Christobal started Queen Bee Cleaning Services for less than $5K and is making $120,000 per month!
[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4Iip7BHXwg"]
Keep reading if you need to start a cleaning business from scratch.
Every cleaning business will need to have some financial tools to operate successfully. Cleaning business owners should take some time for each of the following points:
You’ll need marketing tools to help your cleaning business grow and find prospective clients. Small business owners will benefit from the following brand assets:
If you want to serve Airbnb, Vrbo, and other short-term rentals, you’ll need the same cleaning supplies as you would for a home or apartment:
Commercial cleaning services are also in high demand. You’ll want the following supplies when cleaning offices:
We grouped pressure washing businesses and property cleaning services together because they are similar and both outside. They are both outside and can be done as a team to improve the number of customers helped in a day. You will need:
Every Great Cleaning Business Starts with a Plan
Starting a cleaning business requires juggling a lot of different tasks. Something will surely fall through the cracks if you don’t have a plan. Our first checklist involves creating a plan for how you’ll start a cleaning business. You’ll need to document each of these at a minimum: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] 1. Cleaning business ideas 2. Goals for your cleaning business 3. Your budget 4. Your pricing strategy 5. Your marketing plan[/su_note]Name Your Cleaning Business Checklist
Every cleaning company needs a name. You’ll want to consider the name of your cleaning company early in the process of becoming a professional cleaner. You’ll want to cover each of these tasks before starting your own cleaning business:- Make the name easy to spell
- Purchase a domain
- Register and pay the DBA fee (if not included with the business structure)
- Trademark the business name and logo
Form the Cleaning Business Structure Checklist
You’ll need to register your business with the state to become a cleaning business owner. Each state, county, and municipality has business license regulations. You can also expect different insurance requirements depending on where you are located, your business structure, and whether you have employees. For any of the 50 U.S. states, you’ll need an EIN. These are the most common requirements for forming a cleaning business:- Register your business with the state (choose one).
- Sole Proprietorship
- Limited Liability Company
- Corporation
- Partnership
- Get a DBA if you will operate under a different name.
- Apply for an EIN on the IRS website.
- Get county and city licenses.
- Apply for the required insurance.
- Get a seller’s permit (state tax ID).
Get the Financial Tools to Run Your Cleaning Business Checklist
Every cleaning business will need to have some financial tools to operate successfully. Cleaning business owners should take some time for each of the following points:
- Set up a business bank account.
- Apply for a business credit card.
- Consider getting business loans.
- Find a payroll solutions provider.
- Get a payment processor.
- Choose and set up accounting software.
- Decide whether you want to set up a 401K.
Cleaning Business Insurance Checklist
A startup cleaning business will probably need insurance. The requirements will be different based on what segment of the cleaning industry you are in, but most cleaning companies will need one or more of these: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] 1. General liability insurance 2. Worker compensation insurance (if you hire employees) 3. Bond insurance 4. Unemployment (if you hire employees) 5. Professional liability insurance 6. Cybersecurity insurance 7. Commercial vehicle insurance 8. Health insurance (if required by law or if you want to be an awesome boss)[/su_note]Cleaning Business Equipment Checklist
Most cleaning businesses will need the following equipment to operate effectively:- Company vehicle
- Laptop or PC
- Smartphone
- Business phone number
- Internet
- Point-of-Sale machine or credit card reader
Get the Software to Run Your Cleaning Services Checklist
Unless you plan to run your business old-school (which may be less than ideal), you’ll need software to run a cleaning business. We’ve provided a list of the most common software you’re likely to need when starting a cleaning business. As you begin, consider which ones you need right away and which you can wait until you hire employees:- Payroll solutions
- Payment processor
- Accounting solutions
- Scheduling software
- Professional website (domain from GoDaddy and hosting)
- Online booking software
- Marketing tools (We have a complete list for them.)
Marketing for a Cleaning Service Checklist
You’ll need marketing tools to help your cleaning business grow and find prospective clients. Small business owners will benefit from the following brand assets:
- A logo
- Business cards
- Signs on location (if you run a dry cleaner or another cleaning shop)
- Signs on vehicles (for a mobile business model)
- Click Funnels
- Google My Business
- Google Local Ads
- Siri and Apple Maps
- Angi.com
- Yelp for Business
- Thumbtack
- Alexa
- Blanket
- Bing
- Baidu
- Yahoo
- Yandex
- Ask.com
- DuckDuckGo
Cleaning Supplies Checklist
Depending on the type of cleaning services you offer, you’ll need different cleaning supplies and equipment. We’ve broken the cleaning supplies you’ll need into different categories based on the kind of cleaning business you plan to start. Use the list below to skip to the section with supplies for starting a cleaning business in your sector:
- Home Cleaning
- Mobile Laundry Cleaning Services, Laundromat, Clothes Cleaning Business, Dry cleaning
- Decluttering Services or Organizer
- Green Cleaning Services
- Airbnb, Vrbo
- Home or Commercial Construction Cleaning
- Move-In, Move-Out Cleaning
- Office Cleaning
- Duct Cleaning
- Carpet Cleaning
- Window Washers
- I.T. Cleaning
- Property Cleaning, Pressure Washing
- Hazardous Waste Removal
- Boat Cleaning
Home Cleaning Supplies Checklist
This is the checklist I would expect most cleaning services to want, so I put it first. You’ll need the following supplies to clean homes:- Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
- Aprons
- Vacuum cleaner
- Wet floor signs
- Microfiber mop (optional if you are just starting)
- Regular mop
- Gloves
- Toilet bowl brush
- Bags for dirty rags
- Bags to carry clean rags
- Neutral floor cleaner (Bona or similar)
- Disinfectant cleaner
- Cleaning bucket
- Mini grout brush
Mobile Laundry Cleaning Services, Laundromat, Clothes Cleaning Business, Dry cleaning
- Hangers
- Rolling baskets
- Laundry soap
- Cleaning chemicals for dry cleaning
- Dryer sheets
- Clothing racks
- Washing machines
- Dryers
- Garment covers
- Spot cleaner
- Information tags
- Clothing conveyor
- Presses
Decluttering Services or Organizer
- Trash bags
- Boxes
- Cleaning materials
- Tape
- Sharpie
- Storage bins of various sizes
- 3D modeling software to model spaces
- Carpentry tools for creating more storage space
- Shelving units
Green Cleaning Services
- Organic glass cleaner
- Aprons (from recycled materials)
- Vacuum cleaner
- Wet floor signs
- Microfiber mop
- Regular mop
- Eco-friendly gloves
- Toilet bowl brush
- Reusable bags for dirty rags
- Reusable bags to carry clean rags
- Gas mileage-friendly, hybrid, or electric car
- Natural floor cleaner
- Natural disinfectant
- Cleaning bucket
- Mini grout brush
What do I need to start a cleaning business for Airbnb properties?
If you want to serve Airbnb, Vrbo, and other short-term rentals, you’ll need the same cleaning supplies as you would for a home or apartment:
- Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
- Aprons
- Vacuum cleaner
- Microfiber mop (Optional)
- Regular mop
- Gloves
- Toilet bowl brush
- Bags for dirty rags
- Bags to carry clean rags
- Booties for shoes
- Neutral floor cleaner (Bona or similar)
- Disinfectant cleaner
- Cleaning bucket
- Mini grout brush
- Spare sheets
- A deal with a local laundromat
- Dish soap
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body wash
- Towels
New Home Construction Cleaner or New Commercial Construction Cleaning
Some commercial cleaning businesses are focused on post-construction cleanup. They have unique needs because the debris in construction zones is horrible for indoor air quality. These cleaning jobs pay more, but they require special tools that you might not need with other cleaning companies. You’ll want to have the following:- Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
- Aprons
- Vacuum cleaner
- Indoor, outdoor vacuum
- Booties for shoes
- Microfiber mop (optional if you are just starting)
- Regular mop
- Gloves
- Toilet bowl brush
- Bags for dirty rags
- Bags to carry clean rags
- Neutral floor cleaner
- Disinfectant cleaner
- Cleaning bucket
- Mini grout brush
- Dust mask
Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning, Apartment Cleaning
- Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
- Aprons
- Vacuum cleaner
- Indoor, outdoor vacuum
- Booties for shoes
- Microfiber mop (optional if you are just starting)
- Regular mop
- Gloves
- Toilet bowl brush
- Bags for dirty rags
- Bags to carry clean rags
- Neutral floor cleaner
- Disinfectant cleaner
- Cleaning bucket
- Mini grout brush
- Degreaser
- Putty to help fill holes
- Putty application tool
Office Cleaning
Commercial cleaning services are also in high demand. You’ll want the following supplies when cleaning offices:
- All-purpose stain and spot remover
- Baking soda
- Wet floor signs
- Toilet paper
- Bucket
- Broom and dustpan
- Dish soap
- Clorox disinfecting wipes
- Facial tissue
- Feather duster
- Floor cleaning solution or vinegar
- Cleaner for glass and mirrors
- Gloves
- Bulk supply of hand soap to refill dispenser
- Sponges
- Disinfecting spray
- Micro-fiber cleaning cloths
- Paper towels
- Sponge mop and/or dry mop
- Toilet cleaner
- Trash bags
- Vinegar
- Vacuum
- Industrial mop bucket
- Wood polish
- Floor polishing machine
- Extension cords
Specialty Cleaning
The following services are specialties that come with additional challenges. They may require special business licenses, services, or equipment. Lean about specialty cleaning services you can offer.Duct Cleaning
Duct cleaning removes indoor air pollutants from the ductwork of a home or business HVAC unit. If you are going to offer this service, start by going to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association website to learn how to do it right. Without the proper equipment and training, you might cause damage to residential cleaning customers' HVAC units. Nobody wants to have to replace an HVAC system because a house cleaning business didn’t follow proper quality control standards. You will need these items:- Caution signs
- Air compressor
- HEPA vacuum
- Duct restoration products
- Parts for maintenance of equipment
- HEPA filters and bags
- Indoor air quality testing equipment
- Tape
- Safety goggles
- Booties
- Latex gloves
- Electric shock prevention gloves
- Masks to protect against dust in lungs (or chemicals in some industrial facilities)
- Lockout, tagout system (a lock with a tag that specifies who locked the breaker)
Carpet Cleaning Business, Rug Cleaning
- Vacuum
- Spot cleaner
- Caution signs
- Carpet shampooer
- Air scrubber
- Carpet cleaning wand
- Rubber gloves
- Corner guards
- Defoaming agent
- Crevice tools
- Carpet rake
- furniture protectors
Window Cleaning Business
- Two 18” squeegees
- Window cleaner with silicon (keeps dust from sticking to windows)
- Rags to catch excess liquids
- Booties
- Scrapers
- Replacement s-channels (the rubber part of a squeegee)
- Sleeves (goes over squeegee to wash the window)
- Step stool
- Ladder
- Hard hat (primarily for use on scaffold)
- Safety harness (use with scaffold)
- Scaffold (for larger windows)
IT Cleaning Business
Cleaning computers and other equipment that has circuit boards requires specific cleaning chemicals. In addition, make sure to carry proper insurance because the potential data loss from using the wrong chemicals could destroy a business. The Association of Data Center Cleaning Professionals is the leader in standards for IT equipment. Review their standards before using this checklist. The following is from their standards on cleaning equipment:- Vacuums: Two Options
- Preferred: ULPA (Ultra Low Particulate Air) filter with 99.999% efficiency at 0.12 microns
- OK: HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter with 99.97% efficiency at 0.3 microns
- Tools, Attachments, and Supplies: Requirements
- Non-conductive
- Low-lint materials
- Packaging specifies that it is designed to be used in cleanroom environments
- Cleaning Chemicals
- Floor surfaces
- Non-ammoniated
- Designated as safe for data center environments
- Intended for HPL floor tiles
- Equipment Surfaces
- Anti-static cleaner
- Designed to be used in a data center environment
Property Cleaning Services, Power Washer Business
We grouped pressure washing businesses and property cleaning services together because they are similar and both outside. They are both outside and can be done as a team to improve the number of customers helped in a day. You will need:
- Broom and dustpan
- Trash picker
- Trash bags
- Blower
- Rake
- White and yellow paint (maintain the parking lot lines)
- Graffiti removal kit
- Pressure washer
- Water tank
- Towing hitch (if tank won’t fit in vehicle)
- Nozzles
- Hoses
Hazardous Waste Removal, Mold Remediation
We grouped hazardous waste removal and mold remediation businesses together because they have similar requirements, but each type of hazardous material will have its own requirements. For many of these you will need:- Portable air scrubbers
- Filters
- Negative air machines
- Mobile containment tent
- Meters to measure levels
- Asbestos testing kit
- Dehumidifiers
- Zip walls
- Disinfectants
- Sealants
- Knee pads
- Kneeling mats
- Gloves
- Ventilators
- Hazmat suits (for some materials)
- Special licensing based on type of removal
Boat Cleaning
You’ll likely need the same items as when cleaning a home, plus some outdoor items. Based on my time in Florida, I would recommend products that help protect against salinity (salt in the air). Don’t forget these:- Bucket
- Rust remover
- Deck brush
- Degreaser
- Metal polish
- Wood varnish
- Soap
- Mop
- Mop bucket
- Fabric cleaner
- Rubber cleaner
Hopefully, You Found the Cleaning Company Checklist You Need
Use these lists to get your brain rolling as you prepare for the cleaning company course with Chris. If you want more help to simplify starting your cleaning business, sign up to be one of the first to take the Cleaning Business Master Course. What kind of cleaning business are you thinking about starting?
Every interaction counts in the dynamic realm of sales. Each prospect holds the potential for growth. That’s why mastering the art of opportunity management is crucial to your success in a competitive market.
We’ll explore opportunity management by guiding you through its definitions, synonyms, and fundamental goals within the sales landscape. We’ll provide strategies, best practices, and software recommendations to empower your business to manage sales opportunities effectively.
[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] Click on any of the links below to jump straight to the section that interests you, or just read on.
- What is opportunity management?
- Sales opportunity management goals
- How to manage sales opportunities
- Best practices for managing the sales process
- Opportunity management software
- Start managing opportunities better [/su_note]
What is opportunity management?
Opportunity management is a collaborative process for businesses to identify and pursue sales opportunities. The process is used to track and manage opportunities throughout the sales pipeline to increase sales and revenue. Opportunity management helps businesses:
- Gain insights into customer needs and preferences
- Prioritize deals that are most likely to close
- Optimize internal resources by focusing on leads with the highest chances of conversion
- Target customers with personalized offers
- Strengthen their sales approach
Activities in the opportunity process generally fall into one of three categories:
- Lead management: You want to take leads through the lead generation software, qualifying, nurturing, and conversion process.
- Process tracking: This refers to tracking and analyzing who's in your pipeline, their path to becoming a customer, and the communication.
- Process improvement: You’ll also want to review your process, disqualify poor fits for your service, and remove wasteful steps.
Synonyms and definitions
There are numerous terms that you will see used in management opportunity discussions. We’ll discuss:
- Synonyms for opportunity management
- Sales leads
- Sales opportunities
- Opportunities in customer relationship management
- Differences between leads and opportunities
Synonyms for opportunity management
There are some terms you will see used interchangeably when researching opportunity management, including:
- OM
- CRM opportunity management
- Pipeline management
- Sales opportunity management
They all mean the same thing: identifying, pursuing, and managing sales opportunities.
What is a sales lead?
A sales lead is a person or business that might become a customer. Leads are the earliest stage of the customer journey. Leads might not be ready to make a purchase, but they need what you offer.
A lead will always be someone who has expressed interest in your business by clicking on a link, filling out a form, signing up for an offering, or asking a question. You might find sales leads through:
- Advertising
- Direct mailings
- Referral from an existing customer
- Direct response through advertising or publicity
- Trade shows
- Third parties
- Other marketing efforts
What is a sales opportunity?
A sales opportunity is further in the lead management pipeline than a sales lead. When a contact becomes a sales opportunity, they are a qualified prospect, likely to become a customer.
By qualified prospect, we mean you have already interacted with them, established their pain points, and confirmed your product or service will solve their problem.
Once you have reached this stage, you are more likely to make a sale.
Sales opportunity planning is a complex multi-step process including researching, then qualifying the individual, and then developing a strategy to solve their problem. It is helpful to have a documented process, guide, and training to help your sales team manage opportunities.
Some of the best ways to identify or create new sales opportunities include:
- Creating buyer personas
- Using a CRM software to manage client interactions
- Pursuing customer referrals
- Establishing affiliate programs or third-party referral streams
- Going to events, expos, and conventions
What is opportunity in CRM?
In customer relationship management (CRM), an opportunity is a qualified lead that has shown interest in your product or service—and with the proper nurturing is likely to become a customer.
Opportunities are used to manage your business, not people or client companies. They’re identified and tracked through the sales process from inquiry to contract to satisfaction. Measuring opportunities is most successful for longer sales cycles and maintaining ongoing relationships.
What is the difference between opportunity management and lead management?
Opportunity management is a subsection of lead management. Lead management focuses on the acquisition, assistance, tracking, and converting of new clients; opportunity management is focused on assisting, tracking, and converting the leads who are most likely to convert into customers.
As you can see in the picture below, opportunities are several steps closer to becoming customers than leads, but they’re still part of the lead management process.
Sales opportunity management goals
Opportunity management is used by a business owner, sales manager, or sales opportunity manager to increase three main metrics:
- Conversions
- Revenue
- Profitability
To attain these objectives, sales entities need a system for overseeing and monitoring opportunities within the sales pipeline. Additionally, they should employ strategies to engage with potential clients throughout the sales journey, ensuring the timely delivery of relevant communication aligned with their decision-making stages.
Next, let’s look at how to manage sales opportunities.
How to manage sales opportunities
The opportunity management process can be complicated, but if you use a strategy and implement a sales pipeline, you’ll find the sales process gets easier as time goes on. You’ll want to:
- Understand the sales cycle.
- Track communication.
- Standardize the sales cycle.
- Create a sales pipeline.
- Research the prospect.
- Qualify leads.
- Follow up appropriately.
- Review your process.
- Disqualify dead prospects.
- Refine the opportunity management process.
Understand your sales cycle
Potential customers will go through a series of steps before they become paying customers. In most purchasing decisions, prospective customers will:
- Realize there is a problem they need solved.
- Research how to solve the problem. It’s common for purchases to start with an online search, so part of your business strategy should be content marketing optimized to help potential customers understand how to solve the problem.
- Research alternatives to solve the problem. Customers might look at options like which company to use, reviews, and alternatives such as replacement or repair. You’ll want to address all of these to help build customer relationships and prepare them for what comes next.
- Request information. Customer behavior, like sending an email or signing up for a free trial, shows they are interested in your business. You need to provide them information in a timely manner.
- Choose a provider. Customers might contact a single provider or multiple. Then they’ll choose the one who solves their problem best.
- Make a purchase. Once the customer has chosen you, they will want you to solve their problem and pay as conveniently as possible.
- Evaluate the product or service. Your new customer will evaluate your work, so make sure to ask for customer feedback.
- Appreciate the company’s work or become dissatisfied. Hopefully, you’ll have another satisfied customer and be able to build an ongoing customer relationship. Do everything you can to fix it when customers aren’t happy with your product or service.
- Make future decisions based on their experience. Existing customers will make decisions based on your customer relationship management. Satisfied customers will probably return to do business with you. They might even refer their friends.
In our interview below, Neel Parekh discusses how he approaches the opportunity management process. Check it out.
Track communication
As a busy entrepreneur, you’ll want to track communication during the opportunity management process. CRM software will help you track all the communication you have with sales leads. There are numerous sales CRM tools you can use, which we discuss in our reviews of client management software.
The most important thing to know right now is you need all your points of contact to connect to the CRM software. This allows you to have a single place for you (or your sales team) to refer to previous customer data, like referrals, previous conversations, and customer lifetime value.
Standardize the sales cycle
The next step of your opportunity management strategy should be to define exactly what your sales team does when managing sales opportunities. This step will probably be performed by a sales manager who is familiar with the opportunity management process flow, while the next step will normally be performed by someone well-versed in automation software.
The more defined the process is, the easier it will be to manage your sales and automate portions of it using a sales funnel.
Create a sales pipeline
Sales pipeline management normally requires someone well-versed in automation technology. It helps you effectively manage your sales opportunities by providing the steps your sales team needs to take while managing opportunities. Each step will have a specific goal.
Many of the tasks can use automation. For instance, when someone books an appointment online, you can automatically send an email that confirms the appointment through the CRM system. The more tasks you can automate, the more efficient your sales representatives will be and the more potential sales you can close.
Research the prospect
This step is important. According to LinkedIn’s 2022 State of Sales report, 42% of potential customers leave because sales reps don’t understand their needs.
Salespeople should prioritize opportunities and focus on the most qualified leads first. Before reaching out to a lead, the sales team should research the prospect to understand as much about them as possible. You’ll want to identify sales opportunities based on their business objectives, pain points, budget, and team size.
Understanding this information creates effective sales opportunity management because you can provide the prospective customer with the right information at the right time without repeating yourself during each interaction.
Qualify leads
Not all sales opportunities are created equal. During the early stages of customer relationships, the sales rep should gain valuable insights to establish what the customer's needs and limitations are; then they should help them make informed decisions.
One of the things many small business owners struggle with is trying to make everyone happy. While everyone likes closing deals, some customers aren’t a good fit. Just because they don’t have purchasing authority isn’t a reason to rule them out, but as you learn more about the customer, you should consider whether they are a product-service fit.
If they aren’t a fit, consider referring them to someone who would be a better fit. Using this strategy for sales lead management can open up business opportunities.
Want to learn more? Check out our interview with Joshua Brown. He explains how bringing in a sales manager helped him double his business in a year.
From this point on, only qualified leads should be considered sales opportunities.
Follow up appropriately
As customers progress through the sales opportunity stages, they’ll want different information. At first, they’ll want to understand what impacts the success at solving their problem, followed by looking at your product catalog, then they’ll want to know which product or service will help them best, and, finally, how to become a customer.
Make sure to tailor the information you send them to the individual, reiterate your key points, and help them progress to making a data-driven decision.
While you’ll want to keep track of lead conversion ratios, a low ratio doesn’t always mean you’re missing potential sales. It can also mean that you need to narrow the requirements to identify sales opportunities.
Review your process
In addition to managing opportunities, you need to review your opportunity management process. You should have sales data that paints a picture of where your sales funnel is doing well and where the sales strategy needs improvement.
Your opportunity management system should have a dashboard that tracks:
- Churn rate: This key metric represents the rate a business loses customers over time. A low churn rate is better because it means a business is losing fewer customers and potential revenue.
- Win rate: The percentage of sales opportunities that a sales team successfully closes. A higher win rate means a sales team is more likely to close more opportunities, which can make a business more profitable.
- Sales cycle length: Tracks a prospect as they move from lead to customer. A shorter sales cycle length means a business can earn money faster.
- Average deal size: The average revenue generated per deal. This metric helps businesses understand the value of deals and plan for the future.
- Customer satisfaction: This helps boost sales and is a key factor for acquiring a new customer base.
- Lead response time: In some industries, a quicker response to a sales prospect's inquiry can increase the chances of getting a sale.
- Net promoter score: This is a reflection of how well a business satisfies its customers. It’s derived from a simple survey question: “On a scale from 0 to 10, how likely are you to recommend this product or company to a friend or colleague?”
You might also want to keep track of the following metrics on the dashboard.
- Revenue growth rate
- Gross profit margin as a percentage of sales
- Net profit and net profit margin
- Cash flow
- Accounts payable turnover
- Cost of goods sold
- Customer acquisition cost
Disqualify dead prospects
Many CRM systems charge based on the amount of automation actions that are used. Leads that have been dormant for an extended period should be removed from the sales funnel. You might not want to, but you’ll close more deals if you focus on hot leads.
Part of opportunity management is focusing sales activities on people who are interested. Don’t jeopardize your business over people you have to chase down. Focus on identifying the difference between qualified leads and dead leads so you can find a way to stop sales outreach to people who are unlikely to respond.
Explaining automation actions and their impact on business expenses
Automation actions are any step taken in an automated workflow. Companies will often bulk-send automated emails to people on their email list. If you have 20,000 people on the email list, that would cost between $230 and $535 per month on MailChimp.
Imagine 10,000 of them haven’t opened an email in three months. You can cut your costs by creating a new list called inactive contacts, stop sending those people emails, and save between $120 and $185 per month.
That’s why paying attention to the automation actions is important during opportunity management.
Refine the opportunity management process
Opportunity management is the process of improving your sales results, so make improvements when you find something isn’t working or isn’t adding value. Each sales call will be more productive when your sales reps can focus on closing the best leads.
Best practices for managing the sales process
It’s important to follow opportunity management best practices so you can avoid many of the reasons a sales team fails to close a deal.
Remember, over 40% of potential customers leave because sales reps don’t understand what they need. This is preventable with better training and a good CRM software.
That means you’ll need to focus on following best practices to close more deals. Best practices like:
Set responsibilities and tasks
Each step in the opportunity management process should be well defined and have a designated employee or team who handles it.
When you first start, you might be the one working on all the tasks, but as you grow, you might need to hire sales reps, sales managers, and maybe even entire sales teams.
Leverage data
You’ll have data coming in from marketing campaigns, accounting software, social media, sales calls, and other sources. If you don’t have all the information in real time, your sales marketing strategy probably won’t work. Make sure your opportunity management system provides you with the information you need to succeed.
In addition, you’ll want to automate to simplify data entry. You can do this by investing in a CRM with opportunity management tools.
Opportunity management software
Business owners and sales reps need CRM software to adequately manage their account planning, contact management, and communication. A good CRM software will also help decision-makers, project managers, and sales teams identify data-driven sales opportunities and conduct risk management.
Let’s discuss the CRMs with the best opportunity management tools and systems.
Jobber
Jobber is one of the most user-friendly opportunity management systems. Monthly plans start at $69 for one-person businesses, but they get dramatically more expensive if you want the best features.
The $349-per-month plan will make it where all you really need to run your business is your equipment and Quickbooks.
Monday Sales CRM
Many sales teams use Monday.com’s Monday Sales CRM to identify sales opportunities and manage their interactions. They have four tiered plans starting at $45 per month for three users and increasing to $99 monthly before going to the quote-only enterprise plans.
Learn more in our overall Monday.com review.
Salesforce
Salesforce is one of the most sophisticated CRMs on the market. Pricing starts at $25 per user but goes up to thousands per month.
One of the real benefits of this sales opportunity management platform is that it has some of the best training courses in the opportunity management field. This is a real positive for people who want to save money by setting up their opportunity management process themselves.
Check out Salesforce.
Start managing opportunities better
We’ve concluded our journey through the realm of opportunity management. We've navigated the depths of its meaning, explored synonymous terms, and outlined the fundamental goals that set your business on the trajectory for success in sales.
Understanding how to manage sales opportunities is not merely a skill; it's an indispensable strategy for any thriving business. Armed with best practices for managing the sales process, you now possess a toolkit for optimizing and maximizing the potential of every interaction.
Yet, in this digital age, the integration of technology plays a pivotal role. Opportunity management software has emerged as an ally to streamline and enhance your efforts. They create a structured approach to handling opportunities and boos overall sales efficiency.
Mastering opportunity management isn't just seizing moments; it's about creating a sustainable, strategic approach to unlock success. We hope the insights shared above help you harness the full potential of every sales opportunity.
Which parts of the sales process would you like to learn more about?
Comments
olivier adji@
2024-01-26 20:41:52
great idea I'm so interested to start soon with my spouse
Sidhanta@
2023-10-15 20:51:52
Thanks, Brandon Boushy For sharing those Ideas, These are really amazing For every Beginner to start, I am a passionate and full-time blogger, and I just checked out your content. The first Business Idea, you mentioned is Blogging, my name is Siddhant, the founder of GuideBusinesses.com, passionate about writing content on business ideas, and entrepreneurship guides.
Mailisa@
2023-10-11 00:03:53
What great ideas! I really like these ideas, which I google but couldn't find.
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