How do I check a residential cleaning company’s recurring bookings before buying?

Request a client-by-client schedule: start date, visit frequency, the cleaner assigned and the way they pay. Recurring bookings are only as dependable as the people behind them, so ask how many have been on the list for a long time and how many joined recently. A list that is mostly new may be fragile.

Verify it. Match the schedule to the booking software or calendar, and match both to deposits and invoices. If clients pay by card or transfer, the records should line up with what you are told. Ask how skipped visits, rescheduling and holiday gaps are handled, because they change how steady the income feels.

Then ask why people leave and what happens when a regular cleaner does. In residential work, clients often form a bond with one person. Ask which cleaners serve the most clients, whether they plan to stay with a new owner, and whether anyone has a side arrangement with clients. Consider a transition plan that keeps familiar faces at the door for the first few visits. Ask also how new clients arrive, since a business that depends on referrals from one source behaves differently from one with steady inquiries.

Key takeaways

• Get a client-by-client schedule with start dates and frequency.
• Match the schedule to calendar records and deposits.
• Ask which cleaners hold the closest client relationships.
• Ask why past regulars left and how often.