Make Money Cleaning Parking Lots

I’ve talked about several different side hustles you can do to make some extra money. In this post, I want to focus on one in particular: cleaning and picking up litter from parking lots.

Why a parking lot? Well, first of all, it’s a place where there’s usually a lot of litter. And second of all, it’s a place where people are constantly coming and going, which means there’s always a need for someone to keep the place clean.

Now, you might be thinking, “Cleaning up other people’s messes? That doesn’t sound like a very fun way to make money.” But hear me out.

There are a few things to consider before you decide whether or not this side hustle is for you. First of all, you need to think about how much time you’re willing to commit to this. If you’re only looking to make a few extra bucks here and there, then this probably isn’t the side hustle for you.

However, if you’re willing to put in a few hours each week, then you can definitely make some decent money cleaning and picking up litter from parking lots.

This article will outline everything you need to know in order to get started with this side hustle, including how much you can expect to earn.

Why Clean Parking Lots for Money

There are a ton of different side hustles out there, so why should you choose this one? Let’s look at a few reasons.

Flexibility

One of the best things about this side hustle is that it’s extremely flexible. You can choose to work as little or as much as you want. If you only have a few hours each week to commit, that’s fine. You can simply work those hours and then take the rest of the week off.

Or, if you’re looking to make this your full-time job, you can easily do that as well. It’s entirely up to you.

No Experience Necessary

Another great thing about this side hustle is that you don’t need any experience to get started. In fact, many people who start out doing this have never even cleaned a parking lot before.

However, there’s really nothing to it. As long as you’re willing to put in the work, you’ll be able to figure it out as you go along. There’s also no need to invest in any expensive equipment. A simple broom and dustpan will suffice.

Earn Extra Money

Perhaps the best reason to clean parking lots for money is that you can earn a decent amount of cash doing it. How much you make will depend on a few factors, such as the size of the parking lot and the number of hours you’re willing to work.

However, if you’re able to commit a few hours each week to this side hustle, you can easily make an extra $100 or more. And if you’re willing to put in more hours, you can potentially make a lot more than that.

7 Steps to Getting Started

Now that we’ve gone over some of the reasons why you should consider this side hustle, let’s take a look at how to get started.

1. Find a Parking Lot to Clean

The first step is to find a parking lot that you can clean. This shouldn’t be too difficult, as there are likely many parking lots in your area that could use a good cleaning.

If you’re not sure where to start, try checking out your local shopping center or business park. These commercial properties are usually good places to find parking lots that need to be cleaned. You could also look at the following commercial properties:

• shopping plazas
• sporting goods store
• warehouse sites
• industrial properties
• office buildings

Once you’ve found a few potential options, take a look around and see if there’s anything special about them that you should be aware of. For example, some parking lots may have a lot of traffic and need to be cleaned more frequently than others.

2. Talk to the Business Owner

Once you’ve found a few parking lots that you’re interested in cleaning, the next step is to talk to the business owners or property managers.

Explain to them that you’re interested in providing a service to clean their parking lot and see if they’re open to the idea. In most cases, they’ll be more than happy to have someone take care of this for them.

However, it’s always a good idea to get everything in writing with the property owners or managers. This way, you’ll have a contract that outlines the terms of your agreement.

Here’s a good script to use when talking to a parking lot owner:

“Hi, my name is ____ and I own a business that provides a service to clean parking lots. I noticed that your parking lot could use some work and I wanted to see if you’d be interested in my services.

I’m willing to clean your parking lot on a regular basis for a reasonable fee. If you’re interested, I can provide you with a contract that outlines the terms of our agreement.

Would you be interested in this service?”

3. Create a Contract

If the business owner or manager is interested in your litter removal business, the next step is to create a contract with the management company. This contract should outline the terms of your agreement, such as how often you’ll be cleaning the parking lot and how much you’ll be paid for the parking lot litter removal.

Be sure to include any other important details, such as what type of equipment you’ll be using and whether or not you have insurance. Once everything is agreed upon, both parties should sign the contract.

Don’t have a contract template? No problem. You can find plenty of free contract templates online. Just do a quick search and you’ll find everything you need.

4. Get the Right Equipment

Before you start cleaning parking lots, you’ll need to make sure you have the right equipment. The bare minimum of equipment you’ll need includes the following:

• A broom and dustpan: These are essential for sweeping up any debris in the parking lot.
• A leaf blower: This will help you remove any leaves or other light debris that may be present.
• Trash bags: You’ll need these to collect any trash that you find.
• A power washer: This isn’t absolutely necessary, but it can be helpful for getting rid of tough stains.If you don’t have all of this equipment, don’t worry. You can usually find everything you need at your local hardware store.

You may also want to consider investing in some safety gear, such as gloves, a mask, and closed-toe shoes. This is especially important if you’ll be working with any chemicals. You could also use some inexpensive hand tools as well.

5. Develop a Cleaning Schedule

Once you have all the necessary equipment, it’s time to develop a cleaning schedule. This will help you stay organized and ensure that the parking lot is always clean.

How often you need to clean the parking lot will depend on a few factors, such as the size of the parking lot and the amount of traffic it gets. However, most parking lots should be cleaned at least once a week.

When developing your cleaning schedule, be sure to include time for sweeping, trash pickup, and power washing (if necessary). You may also want to create a checklist of tasks that need to be completed each time you clean. Different lots will have different needs, so be sure to tailor your checklist accordingly.

6. Start Cleaning

Now it’s time to start cleaning parking lots! Be sure to follow your schedule and checklist so that you don’t miss anything.

If you do a good job, the business owner will be happy and may even give you a raise or refer you to other businesses. Who knows, you might even enjoy it!

Cleaning parking lots is better where there are less cars. This way you can work more efficiently and avoid any accidents. As such, you’re better off cleaning the lots early in the morning or late at night when there are fewer vehicles present.

Whenever you’re finished cleaning, be sure to dispose of all the trash properly. You don’t want to leave a mess for someone else to clean up.

7. Hire Additional Help (Optional)

If you’re cleaning multiple parking lots or large parking lots, you may want to hire some additional help. This will make the job easier and allow you to clean more parking lots in a shorter amount of time, which will earn you more money.

When hiring additional help, be sure to carefully screen each potential employee. You’ll want to make sure they’re reliable and have a good work ethic. The last thing you want is for someone to damage a car or steal something from one of the businesses you’re cleaning for.

If you decide to hire additional help, be sure to train them on your cleaning procedures. This will help ensure that the job is done right and that everyone is on the same page. Instead of taking 100% of the profits, you may want to consider splitting them 25/75 with your employees.

How Much Can You Make Cleaning Parking Lots?

The amount of money you can make cleaning parking lots will depend on a few factors, such as the size of the parking lot and the number of cars present. However, most people who clean parking lots earn between $50 and $100 per day.

If you’re just starting out, you may want to consider working for a company that cleans parking lots. This will give you the opportunity to learn the ropes and get some experience under your belt. Once you’re comfortable with the job, you can start your own business and set your own rates.

Remember, the key to making good money cleaning parking lots is to be efficient and do a good job. If you do, you’ll be sure to get repeat customers and earn a good income.

Luckily, you won’t have many overhead costs in your monthly operating budget when starting out, so most of the money you make will be pure profit.

Pricing Parking Lots

As your first time cleaning parking lots, you’ll want to figure out how long it will take you to clean a single lot and then charge a “per hour rate” you’re comfortable with. For example, if it takes you 45 minutes to clean one parking lot, and you want to earn $25/hour, then you would charge $16.67 for that particular parking lot.

Larger parking lots will obviously take more time to clean, so you may want to charge a higher hourly rate for those. For example, if it takes you 2 hours to clean a large parking lot, and you want to earn $25/hour, then you would charge $50 for that particular parking lot.

Keep in mind that the going rate for parking lot cleaning may vary depending on your location. You’ll want to do some research to see what others in your area are charging before setting your rates.

You may also want to consider offering discounts for customers who prepay for a certain number of cleanings or sign a contract with you. This will help ensure that you have a steady stream of income coming in and will help you better budget your time.

Assuming you charge an average of $25/hour and clean 2 parking lots per day, 5 days per week, you can expect to earn a grand total of $2,500 per month. Not too shabby for a side hustle.

Of course, the amount of money you can make cleaning parking lots will also depend on how much you’re willing to work. If you’re willing to work longer hours or take on more jobs, you can obviously earn more money.

Offer Other Services

In addition to cleaning parking lots, you may also want to offer other services. Some of these services could include:

• snow removal
• pressure washing
• curb painting
• parking lot maintenance

You can use your new parking lot cleaning services to add another business opportunity to your parking lot sweeping business.

Parking Lot Cleaning Business – Best Tips

As you get started cleaning parking lots, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of success:

Figure out the legal structure for your business. Will you be a sole proprietor, limited liability company, or corporation? This will affect how you file your taxes and how much liability protection you have. Successful business owners know that it’s important to have the proper legal structure in place from the start.

Get insurance. This is especially important if you’ll be working with power equipment or if you’re going to be doing any type of pressure washing. You’ll want to make sure you’re covered in case of any accidents.

Start by advertising your services to businesses in your area. You can do this by going door-to-door or by passing out flyers. Be sure to include your contact information and rates so that potential customers know what to expect.

Get to know the businesses you’re cleaning for. This will help you build relationships and make it more likely that they’ll use your services again in the future.

Keep your equipment in good working order. This includes things like your broom, dustpan, and garbage bags. You don’t want to damage any property or leave a mess behind, so be sure to take good care of your equipment.

Be professional at all times. This means showing up on time, dressing appropriately, and being polite to customers and employees.

Make safety a priority. Be sure to wear proper footwear and clothing and use caution when working around vehicles.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful parking lot cleaner. Just remember to always provide quality service and you’ll be sure to earn repeat customers.

Conclusion

Cleaning parking lots can be a great way to earn some extra money on the side. Just be sure to do your research, set your rates, and always provide quality service. If you do, you’ll be sure to make a good income from this side hustle.

FAQ – Make Money Cleaning Parking Lots