If you’ve ever sat in your office, phone silent, inbox empty, wondering where your next job will come from—you’re not alone. That quiet? It’s not peace. It’s pressure.
Because when you run a cleaning business, an empty calendar isn’t just inconvenient—it’s terrifying. It means good cleaners might leave. Bills might stack up. And that dream you had when you started? The one where you built something stable, something that could support your family and your team? It suddenly feels out of reach.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. You can go from chasing leads to attracting the right ones. From cold calls to warm conversations. From gaps in your schedule to booked-solid months.
Let’s break it down. Here’s where the best commercial cleaning leads are hiding—and exactly how to turn them into long-term clients.
Most potential clients will never call you if they don’t trust what they see in the first five seconds.
Picture this: A facilities manager frantically searching for a cleaner before Monday. She sees your polished profile, your glowing reviews—and without thinking twice, clicks “Request Quote.”
Every wasted walk-through with a tire-kicker costs you real time and energy. The right clients? They’re out there. You just need to speak directly to them.
Send a message that cuts through the noise:
“Hi [Name], I help [niche] in [City] eliminate cleaning headaches—could I send you one idea that’s worked really well?”
Picture this: That decision-maker reading your message, seeing themselves in your words, and finally feeling like someone gets their day-to-day chaos.
Your next big client might already know someone who knows you.
Picture this: A property manager chatting with a friend who just got great service from you. “You have to call them,” they say. Just like that—you’re in.
If ads are out of reach right now, don’t sweat it. Your time, insight, and persistence can be just as powerful. It starts with building your own lead list—one name at a time.
Start with a search
Look up “[niche] businesses in [Your City]” and drop their names, websites, and contact info into a spreadsheet.
Not sure how to organize it all? Use our free Lead Tracker to stay on top of follow-ups, notes, and next steps.
Then dig deeper
Spend 5 minutes per business. Look for clues:
• Are they expanding?
• Are they medical or childcare facilities (with stricter hygiene needs)?
• Are there obvious cleaning pain points (e.g., “We’re under renovation” or “Open 7 days a week”)?
Now it’s time to reach out
Use a simple three-step outreach sequence to break the ice and stay top-of-mind:
Use our Cleaning Services Email Template to personalize your outreach with confidence—and increase your chances of a reply.
Picture this: You’re checking your calendar and it’s filling up. Those cold leads? They’re now warm conversations—and walkthroughs are happening because you put in the work.
Ads can work—but only if you track what actually brings in clients (not just clicks).
Picture this: You’re wrapping up for the day. You check your inbox—and see five new leads. You didn’t chase them down. They came to you. Because you built a system that works while you work.
Want help building that system?
Download our free Cleaning Company Marketing Plan to map out your channels, track results, and turn insights into real contracts.
Most leads won’t convert right away. The ones who do? They come to the business that stayed consistent.
Try this message:
“Hi Sam, I saw you manage ABC Property—do you need help keeping your common areas clean this summer?”
Now picture: That lead, three months after your first email, finally ready to talk—and you’re the first one they call.
You’re working hard. Make sure it’s paying off.
Track:
Even the best marketers don’t hit it out of the park every time. What makes them successful? They test, track, and tweak until they do.
You’re already tracking where your leads come from—why not track how your jobs perform too?
Let’s be honest: it’s frustrating to send 20 emails and hear nothing back.
But here’s what the data says:
Your job isn’t to close everyone. It’s to stay visible. Stay helpful. Stay top-of-mind. When the time is right, they’ll call the cleaner who never gave up.
And that cleaner? It’s you.
If you’ve followed these steps, you’re not just waiting by the phone—you’re filling your pipeline with clients who actually want what you offer.
What’s next?
Make your proposals and contracts count with these ready-to-use tools:
• Cleaning Janitorial Bid Proposal Template
• Janitorial Job Costing Template
• Cleaning Service Contract Template
These templates help you close deals faster and set clear expectations from day one.
But winning the contract is only the beginning. Keeping your clients happy and your team on track is what builds a thriving business.
That’s where Swept comes in.
Because every client you win deserves a smooth, professional experience—and Swept helps you deliver that every time.