What kind of cleaning checklist do you need? You should find it here! We took the time to find a list of more than 250 cleaning checklist terms, then narrowed those down to 24 groups. We’re giving you free access to more cleaning checklists than anyone has ever tackled. For ease of use, I’d suggest starting by choosing the type of cleaning checklist you need out of the following categories.

• 1 Starting a Cleaning Business Checklist
• 1 House Cleaning Supplies Checklist
• 10 Types of House Cleaning Checklists: Basic, House cleaning, deep cleaning (by room), professional house cleaning, or hoarder cleanup
• 4 Room-by-Room Cleaning Checklists for Homes
• 5 Frequency of Cleaning Checklists: From cleaning a new house checklist to a calendar view for a monthly cleaning schedule.
• 3 Commercial Cleaning Checklist Templates: Find a business cleaning checklist for different types of businesses.

You can download any or all of the free cleaning checklist templates as either:

1. A free printable cleaning checklist pdf 
2. A free printable cleaning checklist spreadsheet

Download the zip file with all the spreadsheets and pdf versions below.

Starting a Cleaning Business Checklist

For those looking for a startup checklist, we wrote a blog that goes into detail about the following steps. It has a checklist for cleaning company activities:

1. Planning steps
2. Naming steps
3. Business formation steps
4. Financial tools
5. Insurance needs
6. Equipment required
7. Selecting software 
8. Marketing setup
9. Supply lists for 15 types of cleaning companies

Check out the blog Starting a Cleaning Company Checklist. Download the cleaning business startup checklist pdf to get the whole list of steps to start a cleaning company. 

Cleaning Supply Checklist

This cleaning supply checklist is from our first interview with Christopher Mondragon, the CEO of Queen Bee Cleaning service. Check out the interview below. [su_youtube url="https://youtu.be/d4Iip7BHXwg"] You’ll need the following cleaning products to be able to effectively clean homes and businesses

• Glass cleaner (Windex or similar)
• Aprons
• Vacuum cleaner
• Wet floor signs
• Microfiber mop (optional if you are just starting)
• Regular mop
• Microfiber cloths
• Gloves
• Toilet bowl brush
• Bags for dirty rags
• Crevice tool
• Bags to carry clean rags
• Neutral floor cleaner (Bona or similar)
• Disinfectant cleaner
• Cleaning bucket
• Mini grout brush

You should also take the time to read our cleaning supplies checklist blog. It will help you find high-quality products used by the various cleaning supply companies we have interviewed. Read about cleaning supplies. Get our cleaning supply checklist with links to our all-time favorite products. Just input your email below and we’ll send the downloadable pdf to you.

How Thoroughly Are You Cleaning?

You’ll need different cleaning checklists depending on how well you are trying to clean. We’ve separated the cleaning checklist options into five categories:

1. Basic cleaning
2. House cleaning
3. Deep cleaning
4. Professional cleaning
5. Hoarder cleaning checklist

Each cleaning list will include all of the tasks in the previous categories plus new tasks.

Basic Cleaning Checklist

If you’re cleaning homes where people handle their own basic straightening like doing the laundry and washing the dishes, you’ll probably want to offer the following services. These are also some cleaning tasks that family members will want to do when they clean the house.

• Dust ceiling fans. 
• Clean light fixtures.
• Dust furniture and shelves. 
• Wipe down countertops.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Disinfect toilets.
• Clean sinks.
• Scrub showers.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Clean vacuum. 
• Take out the trash.

Download our editable printable basic house cleaning pdf below. Basic House Cleaning Checklist

House Cleaning Checklist

Most housekeepers will perform the following tasks when cleaning a house.

• Complete everything on the basic house cleaning checklist. 
• Wash dirty dishes.
• Wash laundry.
• Iron clothes.

Download our free printable house cleaning checklist pdf below. It’s the perfect residential cleaning checklist for housekeeper services. Residential Cleaning Checklist

Deep Cleaning Checklist

In addition to the housekeeping cleaning checklist, you will probably want to deep clean a home several times a year. That’s why we made a professional deep cleaning house checklist. We’ve organized the deep cleaning checklist by room type to make it easier to make sure your whole house is clean. The checklist for deep cleaning an entire home includes:

• Complete everything in the home cleaning checklist. 
• Clean window frames.
• Wash curtains.
• Wash garbage bins.
• Clean blinds. 
• Wash garbage bins.
• Clean windows
• Replace air filters and mark the filter with the date you changed it.
• Clean baseboards.
• Wash door frames.
• Disinfect doorknobs.
• Wipe light switches.
• Test fire alarms.
• Verify that the Carbon Monoxide detector works.
• Perform room-specific tasks.

This is the perfect deep cleaning checklist for housekeeper cleaning services or families that want to deep clean their homes. You can download the printable pdf for cleaning the whole house below or just download the room(s) you need to clean.

Deep cleaning kitchen checklist

The professional kitchen deep cleaning checklist pdf includes:

• Remove expired food from the fridge.
• Throw away freezer-burnt food.
• Clean refrigerator and freezer interiors.
• Clean inside the oven.
• Eliminate all grime from the stovetop.
• Clean hood fan.
• Clean all stove grates.
• Wipe fronts of kitchen cabinets.
• Clean inside kitchen cabinets.
• Empty dishwasher filter.
• Clear dishwasher drain.
• Sanitize the dishwasher control panel.
• Clean the dishwasher inside with baking soda, bleach, and vinegar during an empty wash cycle.
• Sanitize counters.
• Wash the backsplash(es).
• Organize pantry shelves, vacuum, and label where everything goes.
• Clean utensil holders.
• Wash the coffee maker including running a pot with vinegar and warm water.

Download your printable deep cleaning kitchen checklist pdf below. Kitchen Deep Cleaning Checklist

Deep cleaning bedroom checklist

The bedroom deep cleaning checklist includes tasks that professional cleaners and families do when they are performing a deep clean on a bedroom. In addition to the items that should be done throughout the house, you’ll want to take special care to perform the following tasks.

• Wash curtains. 
• Rotate or flip mattress(es).
• Clean out closets.
• Eliminate anything you want to get rid of (families only).
• Clean dresser and end table drawers.
• Dust dressers and end tables.
• Get everything out from under the bed.

Download your printable bedroom deep cleaning checklist pdf below. Bedroom Deep Cleaning Checklist

Deep cleaning bathroom checklist

The bathroom deep cleaning checklist includes:

• Perform all deep cleaning tasks common to all rooms.
• Complete basic cleaning bathroom tasks.
• Wash the shower curtain.
• Clean mirrors.
• Wash rugs
• Clean toothbrush holders.
• Clean the toilet tank.

Download your printable deep cleaning checklist pdf for bathrooms below. Bathroom Deep Cleaning Checklist

Deep cleaning living room checklist

If you need a free deep cleaning checklist for a living room, check out the one below. In addition to the basic and housekeeping cleaning checklist, you’ll also need to:

• Vacuum the couch(es).
• Wash pillow covers and blankets.
• Clean the TV remotes.
• Clean electronics with a keyboard duster and anti-streak cleaning agents.
• Shampoo rugs and carpets.
• Mop wood floors.

Download your printable living room deep cleaning checklist pdf below. Living Room Deep Cleaning Checklist

Deep cleaning checklist for outside the home

If you offer cleaning services for the exterior of buildings, you might want the deep cleaning service checklist for outdoors. It includes:

• Collect debris from gutters.
• vacuum and rinse outdoor furniture.
• Clean exterior doors including garage.
• Sweep and pressure wash the porch.
• Pressure wash the driveway, roof, and walls.

Check out the printable deep cleaning checklist for outside homes. Outside the Home Deep Cleaning Checklist

Full House Professional House Cleaning Checklist Printable

The professional house cleaning checklist is perfect for making sure your housekeepers don’t miss anything while cleaning your customer’s property. This includes all the services you offer customers. We have created both an editable, printable checklist and a spreadsheet to make it easy for you to create a custom checklist for your teams to use at each customer’s house. Residential Cleaning Professional House Cleaning Checklist Printable Professional House Cleaning Checklist Download the professional house cleaning checklist spreadsheet template  Professional House Cleaning Checklist Spreadsheet

Hoarder Cleanup Checklist

To clean out a hoarder’s house requires extensive manpower even before you start cleaning. You’ll need to perform the following checklist: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

1. Expect the full process to take at least a week or two, but it may be much longer with a smaller team or if someone is living in the space.
2. Get trained on hazardous waste removal if you aren’t already.
3. Buy Hazmat suits and Clorox Pro Electrostatic Cleaners.
4. Develop a plan to help people process the changes taking place as a result of cleaning activities.
5. Get specialists involved for tasks you don’t have experience with, including mold remediation, pest control, and junk removal.
6. You may also want a psychologist to help with the emotional aspects of the project.
7. Order a temporary dumpster or have a vehicle that can haul large amounts of waste to the dump.
8. Bring a full box of heavy-duty trash bags to remove all trash.
9. Create a staging area to determine what to keep and what to toss.
10. Start with the bathroom (if accessible).
11. Remove all trash. 
12. Check everything for valuables. People will be upset if they lose meaningful items.
13. Place trash in a dumpster or trailer to be hauled.
14. Remove all furniture.
15. Have a refurbishing specialist inspect and repair any furniture that can be repaired.
16. Perform pest control.
17. Have a professional home inspector evaluate what needs to be repaired and replaced.
18. Remove and replace carpeting and any property that is beyond repair. 
19. Perform the deep house cleaning checklist.
20. Spray the whole house with electrostatic cleaners.

[/su_note]

Cleaning Checklists By Room

In addition to the deep cleaning checklist by room, you’ll also want a basic cleaning checklist for each room. We’ve included a:

• Restroom cleaning checklist
• Bedroom cleaning checklist
• Living room cleaning checklist
• Kitchen cleaning checklist

Restroom Cleaning Checklist

A cleaning company should include the following tasks in their cleaning restroom checklist:

• Take before pictures.
• Empty the trash.
• Dust decorative items.
• Wash windows and clean mirrors.
• Clean counters.
• Sanitize shower, bathtub, sinks, and toilets.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Sanitize door handles and light switches.
• Take after pictures.

You’ll also want to include a space for notes, pictures, and who cleaned the room for documentation purposes. Notes:  ____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Attach pictures here if using an electronic format: Cleaned by:________________________________________ Download the printable restroom cleaning checklist pdf below. Restroom Cleaning Checklist

Bedroom Cleaning Checklist

A bedroom cleaning checklist for a cleaning company will commonly include:

• Take before pictures.
• Empty the trash.
• Dust furniture, fans, window sills, blinds, and other surfaces.
• Remove sheets and pillows.
• Change sheets or make beds.
• Wash windows.
• Clean mirrors.
• Clean counters.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Sanitize door handles and light switches before leaving the room.
• Take after pictures.

Don’t forget a space for notes, pictures, and who cleaned the space.  Download the printable bedroom cleaning checklist pdf below. Bedroom Cleaning Checklist

Teenage Bedroom Cleaning Tips Checklist

You may want to charge extra to clean a teenager or messy adult’s room(s). The room(s) may be harder to clean because of clothes and other stuff on the floor. While the cleaning checklist will be the same, the room may require work that is somewhere between a first-time clean and a hoarder cleanup. Take some extra precautions before bidding on cleaning messy people’s rooms including: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

1. Request pictures of each room in the house before estimating the cleaning fee.
2. Have an excessive mess fee for rooms that are not organized.
3. Make sure to bring gloves. There might be things you don’t want to touch with your skin.

[/su_note] Next, let’s look at the living room cleaning list.

Living Room Cleaning Checklist

You’ll want to perform the following tasks when cleaning a living room.

• Take before pictures.
• Empty the trash.
• Dust furniture, fans, window sills, blinds, and other surfaces.
• Vacuum the couch.
• Change sheets if there is a fold-out bed that has been used.
• Wash windows.
• Clean mirrors.
• Clean the TV.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Sanitize light switches before leaving the room.
• Take after pictures.

Don’t forget a space for notes, pictures, and who cleaned the space.  Download the printable living room cleaning checklist pdf below. Living Room Cleaning Checklist

Residential Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

When you are cleaning a kitchen, you’ll want to make sure to include the following tasks in your cleaning checklist for residential kitchens.

• Take before pictures.
• Wash the dishes.
• Wash windows and mirrors.
• Clean counters.
• Sanitize sinks.
• Clean the fronts of large appliances.
• Vacuum and mop the kitchen floor.
• Sanitize door handles and light switches.
• Take after pictures.

Don’t forget a space for notes, pictures, and who cleaned the space.  Download the printable kitchen cleaning checklist pdf below. Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Cleaning Tips Based on Frequency of Cleaning

A professional cleaning checklist will vary depending on how frequently your cleaning business cleans the location. You’ll probably need a separate printable cleaning checklist template for:

1. First Time Cleaning 
2. Daily Cleaning
3. Weekly Cleaning
4. Monthly Cleaning
5. Quarterly Cleaning

New House Cleaning Checklist

Your new house cleaning checklist should be virtually identical to the home deep cleaning checklist. You’ll want to include:

• Clean window frames.
• Wash curtains.
• Wash garbage bins.
• Clean blinds.
• Wash garbage bins.
• Clean windows.
• Replace air filters and mark the filter with the date you changed it.
• Clean baseboards.
• Wash door frames.
• Disinfect doorknobs.
• Wipe light switches.
• Test fire alarms.
• Verify that the Carbon Monoxide detector works.
• Perform room-specific tasks.
• Remove expired food from the fridge.
• Throw away freezer-burnt food.
• Clean refrigerator and freezer interiors.
• Clean inside the oven.
• Eliminate all grime from the stovetop.
• Clean hood fan.
• Clean all stove grates.
• Wipe fronts of kitchen cabinets.
• Clean inside kitchen cabinets.
• Empty dishwasher filter, if present.
• Clear dishwasher drain.
• Sanitize the dishwasher control panel.
• Clean the dishwasher inside with baking soda, bleach, and vinegar during an empty wash cycle.
• Sanitize counters.
• Wash backsplash.
• Organize pantry shelves, vacuum, and label where everything goes.
• Clean utensil holders.
• Wash the coffee maker including running a pot with a cleaning solution and warm water.
• Rotate or flip mattresses.
• Clean out closets.
• Eliminate anything you want to get rid of (families only).
• Clean dresser and end table drawers.
• Dust dressers and end tables.
• Get everything out from under the bed.
• Wash the shower curtain.
• Clean mirrors.
• Wash rugs.
• Clean toothbrush holders.
• Clean the toilet tank.
• Vacuum couch(es).
• Wash pillow covers and blankets.
• Clean the TV remotes.
• Clean electronics with keyboard duster and anti-streak cleaning agents.
• Shampoo rugs and carpets. 
• Mop wood floors.
• Collect debris from gutters.
• vacuum and rinse outdoor furniture
• Clean exterior doors including garage
• Sweep and pressure wash the porch
• Pressure wash driveway, roof, and walls

UpFlip New Home Cleaning Checklist This is a much longer residential cleaning checklist than the daily cleaning checklist, which we’ll discuss next.

Printable Daily Cleaning Checklist Template

A daily cleaning checklist should make it easy to keep a space clean every day. We have created one for homes because most businesses will normally require more intense cleaning on a daily basis. This is primarily for homeowners and renters of apartments, but it can also be used for live-in maids, nannies, and other people that work in a wealthy family's home on a daily basis. Make sure to do the following on a daily basis:

1. Make beds.
2. Collect laundry from bathrooms and bedrooms.
3. Do laundry.
4. Wash dishes.
5. Collect trash and take it outside.
6. Remove tracked in dirt.
7. Remove marks from shoes on floors.
8. Change light bulbs if they have burned out.

If you feel overwhelmed trying to keep your home clean, download our printable daily cleaning checklist pdf below. Printable Daily Cleaning Checklist

House Cleaning Weekly Checklist

A weekly cleaning checklist should be used to maintain a clean home on a regular basis. I have five brothers and sisters, so my mom needed to get the whole family involved in the weekly house cleaning checklist. Our cleaning routine checklist included:

1. Start in one room.
2. Dust furniture.
3. Make bed(s).
4. Pick up toys.
5. Change trash bags.
6. Put any dirty clothes in the laundry room to clean.
7. Vacuum wall-to-wall carpeting.
8. Spot mop.
9. Move to the next room.
10. Repeat for each room.

As an adult, you’d probably want to include the bathroom cleaning checklist, too.  Download the printable weekly cleaning checklist pdf below. Weekly Cleaning Checklist

Monthly Cleaning Checklist

You’ll also have tasks that you want to do monthly.

• Start in one room.
• Dust furniture.
• Make beds.
• Pick up toys.
• Change trash bags.
• Put any dirty clothes in the laundry room to clean.
• Vacuum wall-to-wall carpeting.
• Mop hard floors.
• Clean out old food from the refrigerator.
• Spot clean the inside of the oven and stovetop.
• Replace or sanitize sponges.
• Move to the next room.
• Repeat for each room.

The next checklist is for making sure you keep your routine.

Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Cleaning Checklist

This combines the daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning checklist into a calendar view checklist so you can mark off what you’ve done each day. You might want to give this to anyone you know who needs an ADHD cleaning checklist because it can help keep them on track with their housework. Download the cleaning checklist Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Cleaning Checklist Printable below. Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Cleaning Checklist

Commercial Cleaning Checklist

A commercial cleaning checklist template will be different for each type of business. We’ve created a checklist for cleaning businesses that service:

1. Restaurants
2. Construction sites
3. Airbnb rentals

Let’s start with the restaurant cleaning checklist.

Printable Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

A cleaning checklist for restaurants will include two areas, the front-of-house (dining area and restroom) and the back-of-house (the kitchen, break room, and office). Each will require special considerations due to the frequency of traffic and activity in the areas.

Restaurant Dining Room

Restaurants have some unique cleaning requirements for their dining rooms. This checklist is meant for both cleaning companies and restaurant staff that will need to clean the dining room on a regular basis. You’ll need to:

• Clean plastic menus.
• Clean ketchup, salt, pepper, and any other dispensers at the table.
• Wipe down the top and sides of tables, chairs, and booths.
• Scrape any gum from the underside of the table.
• Wipe the hostess stand, including any computers.
• Clean bar(s), sinks, and bottles.
• Wash out the soda machine heads.
• Roll silverware (restaurant staff only).
• Take out the trash.
• Vacuum rugs and roll them up.
• Spot sweep carpets and hard floors.
• Vacuum carpets and hard floors.
• Mop (or scrub and squeegee hard floors if they have drains).

Download our commercial dining room cleaning checklist for business owners below. Commercial Dining Room Cleaning Checklist

Restroom Cleaning Checklist for Businesses

For most businesses restrooms, you’ll want to:

• Wash mirrors.
• Clean sinks.
• Sterilize handles and door knobs.
• Refill soap and sanitizer dispensers.
• Check and refill the paper towels and toilet paper dispensers.
• Sanitize dispensers and toilets.
• Sweep and mop floors.
• Take out the trash.

Download our printable bathroom cleaning checklist template for businesses below. Commercial Restroom Cleaning Checklist

Restaurants Cleaning Checklist for Kitchens

A commercial kitchen will need daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning.

Cleaning Business Kitchens Daily Checklist

Commercial kitchens will need to perform the following tasks daily:

• Spot wipe walls.
• Clean cooking equipment. 
• Replace foil lining on any equipment.
• Clean drink machines, coffee makers, microwaves, and other appliances.
• Sanitize the prep area.
• Wash soda machine heads in sterilizer solution.
• Finish washing dishes and dry them with a clean towel.
• Clean sinks. 
• Wash and dry fabrics in a washing machine.
• Refill soap and sanitizer.
• Refill paper towel rolls.
• Sweep and mop walk-in coolers and storage spaces.
• Sweep and mop the kitchen floors.
• Take out the trash and recycling.
• Disinfect the trash cans.

Download our daily commercial kitchen cleaning checklist. Daily Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Business 

Weekly Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Weekly cleaning for commercial kitchens includes: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

• Remove calcium and lime build-up from faucets and dishwashers.
• Clean walls, doors, and racks of ovens.
• Sanitize walk-in freezers and coolers. 
• Boil out the deep fryer.
• Clean all anti-slip rugs and mats.
• Pour drain cleaner into all drains.

[/su_note] Download the weekly cleaning tasks for a restaurant kitchen below. Weekly Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Commercial Kitchen Monthly Cleaning Tasks

You’ll want to perform the following tasks monthly:

• Clean behind the cooking equipment to remove all grease. 
• Run any drink machines with a sanitizing solution. Make sure to run clean water through afterward to remove the taste.
• Empty ice machines and sanitize them. (Seriously, it’s really gross if you don’t. See the picture below.)
• Sanitize the freezer.
• Remove dust from the cooling equipment coils.
• Remove grease build-up from the ceiling and walls.
• Clean grease off vent hoods.
• Check any pest control traps.

Download the pdf and spreadsheet checklists for monthly commercial kitchen cleaning. Commercial Kitchen Monthly Cleaning Checklist

Post-Construction Cleaning Checklist PDF

Construction cleanup is needed after a building is built or remodeled. The processes are normally similar for every kind of building, but some will have special requirements. Make sure to ask the client for their standards and procedures before estimating. Cleaning tasks after construction include: [su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]

• Make sure all HVAC vents are clean and untapped.
• Change the HVAC filter.
• Vacuum and dust all interior and exterior lighting fixtures and ceiling fans.
• Verify that all interior and exterior lighting works properly.
• Remove any paint splatters from all hinges.
• Vacuum, dust, and polish all interior and exterior doors, frames, and door knobs.
• Clean sinks and backsplashes.
• Vacuum, dust, and sanitize all shelves, cabinets, counters, and drawers (inside and out).
• Remove any paint or tape that is stuck on light switches, floors, windows, electrical, outlets, and baseboards.
• Polish all metal fixtures, including handles and knobs.
• Gently scrape paint speckles off window fixtures. Then vacuum and wash windows, window sill, and tracks. Make sure they all open properly.
• Clean all mirrors.
• Vacuum and sanitize all sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets 
• Clean appliances inside and out. Make them shine!
• Remove all trash.
• Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors.
• Sweep entryways.
• Vacuum all porches, patios, decks, and outdoor cooking equipment.
• Clean garage door(s) and mailbox.
• Vacuum and pressure wash the sidewalks, driveways, and exterior of the building.
• Remove all trash from the premises.

[/su_note] Download our new construction house cleaning checklist below. Post-Construction House Cleaning Checklist

Airbnb Cleaning Checklist

Our vacation rental cleaning checklist includes: 1. Inspecting the house for:

• Damaged furniture
• Stained carpets
• Items removed from property
• HVAC working
• Broken doors or window panes
• Hot water
• Bugs, including bed bugs

2. Performing the following tasks in each bedroom:

• Take before pictures.
• Empty the trash.
• Dust furniture, fans, window sills, blinds, and other surfaces.
• Remove sheets and pillows. Inspect for bed bugs (in some states, the property owner can be held liable).
• Change sheets or make beds.
• Wash windows.
• Clean mirrors.
• Clean counters.
• Leave a piece of candy on the bed with a note to the customer.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Sanitize door handles and light switches before leaving the room.
• Take after pictures.

3. Performing the following tasks in each bathroom:

• Take before pictures.
• Refill or replace soap, shampoo, and conditioner.
• Provide toilet paper equal to 2x the tenant’s stay.
• Provide one towel per tenant +1 extra each day.
• Empty the trash.
• Dust.
• Wash windows and clean mirrors.
• Clean counters.
• Sanitize shower, bathtub, sinks, and toilets.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Sanitize door handles and light switches.
• Take after pictures.

4. You’ll also want to perform the following tasks for the living room, dining room, and kitchen.

• Take before pictures.
• Empty the trash.
• Dust furniture, fans, window sills, blinds, and other surfaces.
• Inspect couch(es) for bed bugs (in some states the property owner can be held liable).
• Vacuum the couch(es).
• Change the sheets if there is a fold-out bed.
• Wash windows.
• Clean mirrors.
• Test the TV.
• Test remote.
• Clean the TV.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Dust tables, fans, window sills, blinds, and other surfaces.
• Sanitize the table before leaving the room.
• Refill or replace hand soap and dish soap.
• Clean inside the refrigerator, oven, microwave, and other appliances.
• Wash the dishes.
• Clean counters.
• Sanitize sinks.
• Sanitize light switches before leaving the room.
• Take after pictures.

Don’t forget to do the following before you leave:

• Take out the trash and dirty linens.
• Set the alarm.
• Lock the door(s).
• Leave a door hanger or meet the customer at the arranged time and place.
• Send documentation to the client.

We discuss the Airbnb cleaning checklist pdf in more detail in the blog about Airbnb cleaning, or watch the video about rental move-out cleaning below. [su_youtube url="https://youtu.be/YcYIYdqegGA"] Excited about the prospects! Download our vacation rental cleaning checklist pdf below: Vacation Rental Cleaning Checklist

Find the Checklist You Needed?

Now you have a checklist for home and commercial cleaning. We hope to add to this list in the future. What cleaning checklist would you like to see us add to the page?

Are you a fanatic about footwear? Do you want to know how to start your own shoe line and make over $60k a month? Afshan Abbas, founder of Fuchsia Shoes, did it! Before Afshan started her business, she quit her job as a software engineer at Microsoft to follow her passion for artisan arts and crafts (including shoes). Over the past 4 years, she's worked to grow her business from $100k in revenue to being on track to make $1 million this year. In this article, we'll tell you how to start a shoe line step-by-step. Follow our guide and Afshan's advice to realize your passion and build your own shoe empire.

1. Get Fashion Design Training and Experience

If you're thinking of starting a shoe line, you probably already have an interest or some experience in fashion design. However, shoe design isn't a business to take lightly. It's necessary to know what you're doing (or at least partner with someone who does!). The best way to get training in the retail shoe industry is to attend a school that features a program in fashion design or retail. Even better, you can find schools devoted to fashion design with a department that focuses on shoe design and development. Here are a few to consider:

• Fashion Institute of Design and Marketing
• Fashion Institute of Technology
• Pensole Footwear Design Academy

You also should consider classes or a certification course in business and/or entrepreneurship. This will help you tremendously with the non-design aspects of your shoe line.

Work in the Retail Industry

Though helpful, degrees and certifications are not a requirement to start your shoe line. They're also not an indicator of your chances of success. However, it's best to have experience in the retail industry. Work in areas where you can gain an understanding of fashion buying and the things that drive consumers to purchase particular products (e.g. Why do people buy this shoe brand over another brand?). This experience can also help you network with others who may become key allies in your quest to start your own shoe empire.

2. How Do I Start My Own Shoe Line? Start Researching!

We spoke with Afshan to get her insights and tips on how to start a shoe company and create a profitable e-commerce business. You can watch part 1 and part 2 of our interview with Afshan to hear her story.

[su_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1Iz4tTVrZE"]

Afshan explained that she did quite a lot of research before launching her shoe line. [su_quote]I studied the artisan market. It turns out it is a $32 billion industry.[/su_quote] Analysts project the global footwear market to reach a value of over $500 billion by 2027. And if you want a slice of that pie, you must narrow down your market and make key choices that will guide the course of your business. The easiest (and fastest) way to open a shoe store is to buy one that’s already up and running. You can check business listings to see what’s available in your area and how much you should expect to spend.

Questions to Consider When Researching

We'll help you answer some of these in the next sections, but here are some questions to research and consider before you proceed:

• What is the market analysis of the entire shoe industry?
• Are you making active, non-active, or both types of footwear?
• What is your niche in the shoe business? (See Step 3)
• Do you want to be gender-specific?
• Who is your competition?
• Are you designing your line or do you need to find a designer?
• What are the costs of your supplies and where will you get them?
• Do you intend to mass-produce your line?

3. Determine Your Niche and Sales Platform

[su_quote]When you're starting a shoe company, figure out what your niche in that shoe business would be because it's a very crowded market. And if you are going to do something that other people are doing, it will be a really hard sell.[/su_quote] To solidify Afshan's statement, here is a list of the 20 "best" running shoe brands. You can find a similar list for most styles of shoes. To gain a foothold (get it?) in the market, you must determine how your shoe line will stand out above the competition. For Fushsia Shoes, Afshan and her team ran with (I can't stop!) a luxury ballet shoe niche. Some other niche examples to research for inspiration include:

• Keen - Known for their Uneek shoe made from recycled plastic and shoes that accommodate work and outdoor activities (steel toe, waterproof, slip-resistant).
• Nobull - Marketed to the CrossFit crowd. Nobull makes stripped-down training shoes for athletes.
• Simon Miller Shoes - Luxury thick-soled shoes and boots along with designer platform and heel shoes. They also have a vegan leather collection.
• By Far - Designer shoes that are a throwback to the '80s '90s and early 2000s.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself when trying to determine your niche:

• Can my shoe line solve a problem?
• Will it market to a specific audience?
• Will my design offer a distinct improvement over other brands?
• Is there something that makes my line special?
• Is there a section of the market that is underserved?

Ecommerce is the Way

We won't tell you how to run your business. But if you haven't noticed, brick-and-mortar retail spaces are being slaughtered by ecommerce (pandemic aside). Unless you own an existing space or have access to free rent, determining the sales platform of your shoe line is an easy decision. Here's what Afshan had to say on the subject: [su_quote]We're trying to grow this shoe company by massive numbers, and getting caught up in brick-and-mortar will halt that. With ecommerce, the sky is the limit.[/su_quote] If you're not experienced with ecommerce or need to polish your skills, edX, Udemy, and Coursera offer excellent courses on the subject.

4. Write a Business Plan

Every company needs a business plan. It's an essential document that summarizes the research and decisions you made about the course of your business. It acts as a guide that lays out your ideas and serves as a quintessential document for loan applications or investor recruitment.

What's in a Business Plan?

• Market Analysis
• Mission Statement
• Startup and Operating Costs
• Marketing Plan (Target Market)
• Supply and Manufacturing Chain
• Sales Funnels

Templates

• Startup business plan template
• U.S. Small Business Administration Business Plan Guide
• 500 sample business plans
• One page business plan template

How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Shoe Line?

In order to complete your business plan, you must determine the startup and operating costs for your business. Doing so requires you to assess and decide the scale of your operation. Afshan's business started as a global venture with domestic and international customers. Her operation, though small when compared to a brand like Nike, was actually large in scale for a startup shoe line. We asked her about Fuchsia's startup costs, and she said: [su_quote]When we started, we were 4 partners. And between the 4 of us, we invested $50,000.[/su_quote] To put things into perspective, here are the average startup costs for a small, medium, and large-scale shoe line.

• Small - $30,000
• Medium - $110,000
• Large - $200,000 and up

Remember, you can always start small and scale up as you increase your revenue and streamline your operation.

5. Create Your Brand

Once you determine your market and niche, it's time to create your brand. Your brand differs from your product because it is the means by which people identify your product. For example, when you see a "Swoosh" on a pair of shoes, you know they were made by Nike.

What Makes Up a Brand?

There are many elements to consider when creating your brand, but here's a short list:

• Logo
• Colors
• Font and Typography
• Web Design
• Story

Branding Resources

Remember that your brand should be distinct, memorable, scalable, and easy to apply. It's not a simple task, but neither is designing and manufacturing a shoe, as you'll see in the next steps. To help you, here are 101 brand-building tools and a great branding resource from the experts at HubSpot.

6. Choose a Business Name

Business names are more important in some industries. The name of your shoe line is the direct connection to your brand. When choosing a name, consider what you want people to think when they hear it, and think about the following tips. If you need help to get started, try an A.I.-powered naming service like Namelix or BNG to point you in the right direction.

Avoid a Name That is Hard to Spell

Since you'll likely engage in an ecommerce business, choose a name that's easy to spell and find on a web search. Don't risk losing potential customers because they can't remember how to spell it correctly.

Don't Pick a Name that Limits Your Growth

Think big when choosing! You don't want to limit your growth just because your business name is too narrow. For example, what if "Nike" had named themselves "Nike Shoe Retailers of Oregon?" It would have limited their potential to grow into an international brand that also markets other apparel.

Secure the .com Domain

Before picking your name, do a thorough internet search and check the availability of the domain name and related spellings. If someone else has already established the name, it may be wise to reconsider. You can check the domain here and register it with Google, GoDaddy, or Namecheap.

Test it Out

Afshan and her team chose Fuchsia Shoes, and the title of her webpage is "Fuchsia Shoes: Luxury Ballet Flats." This works wonderfully with her brand considering people recognize fuchsia as a beautiful color and associate it with a flower that is equal in that respect. Once you choose your name, talk to others about it to see if it represents your ideal branding. If you need some help, you can read this article with 12 tips on how to name your business, and be sure to register your name at the federal and state levels.

7. Register Legal Entity

Once you've chosen a name, it's time to register your business for taxes and establish a legal structure. Before choosing a business structure, do your research and work with an accountant or business attorney to maximize your legal and tax benefits.

Licenses and Permits

Aside from your legal structure, you must also determine whether your business requires specific licenses or permits to operate. No worries! The SBA has a tool you can use to check.

Legal Structures

There isn't a standard legal structure to start a shoe line. You have five base options to review with your accountant or attorney: Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Corporation, S Corporation, or Limited Liability Corporation. The IRS has a great resource to help you better understand these structures.

Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)

Though there's no standard for a shoe business, you'll most likely register your business as an LLC. This will allow you to protect and separate your personal assets from your business. Also, you can pass on profits and losses from your business as personal income without corporate taxes. However, we cannot stress enough to find a qualified attorney or accountant before choosing your legal structure.

8. Funding Your Shoe Line

Think of funding as a two-step process. First, there is funding to build your team and create initial designs, sketches, and prototypes. Then, you'll require more funding for manufacturing and larger-scale production and distribution.

How Do I Raise the Money?

As we explained earlier, there are three scale tiers of startup costs to start your own shoe line (small, medium, and large). Your funds to launch can come from a variety of sources:

• Personal funds
• Personal loan from family or friends
• Business investors (Afshan's path to launch)

The SBA also has loan programs and other funding programs to help small businesses launch. Another option, if you have good credit, is to use a credit card with an interest-free period to help launch things. Ideally, you'll make enough money to pay off the card before the interest kicks in. You can also try crowdfunding, a home equity loan, or a rollover for business funding from your retirement plan (ROBS). However you obtain your funding, be sure to understand the risks before taking on any debt. If you want to educate yourself further, the SBA has a great course on business financing.

9. Build Your Team: Sketches & Shoe Designs

If you haven't already, the next step is to bring your ideas into reality by sketching and designing your shoe line. You may think, "How can I create my own shoe line if I'm not talented at shoe design?" Don't worry! It's not a deal-breaker—you just need to build a team that can help. When Afshan started her business, she was working for Microsoft as a software engineer. [su_quote]What inspired me to start a shoe business was... I was traveling across different parts of the world when I was with Microsoft, and I would come across these beautiful, local artisan arts and crafts that I would find and bring back to Seattle.[/su_quote] She took her affinity for local artisan arts and crafts and worked with them directly to create her shoe line. You can also hire local artisans to sketch and design your shoes. NOVICA and the Unicef Marketplace are good spots to find artisan designers. Look at their products on those sites and reach out to them directly. However, if you're short on local talent, there are other options.

Freelance Designers and Software Shoe Designs

There are several freelancing sites on the web with a pool of shoe designers who can help you turn your ideas into reality. Upwork and Fiverr are two trustworthy sites where you can explain your ideas and negotiate rights and pricing before hire. If you want to design your own shoes, there are software programs to assist. Shoemaster and Romans CAD are two design options that allow you to create 2D or 3D models you can use for prototyping.

10. Create Prototypes and Analyze Materials

[su_quote]In the beginning, [our investment] was mostly spent on research [and] prototyping.[/su_quote] As Afshan explained, the prototype stage is key to developing your shoe line. You must review your designs and take into account all of the materials that go into creating the shoe. They must be financially viable for manufacturing, and you may need to alter your design for the shoe to be wearable.

The Mockup Shoe

The first version of the prototype may be a non-wearable "mockup" shoe made with low-quality materials. Create this shoe to get a full visual of the patterns and designs. It helps determine if the shoe is feasible for manufacture.

The Final Sample

Your final sample is a base production shoe and is the launch point for any shoe line. This is the shoe to bring to manufacturers for evaluation and into pitch meetings for potential investors. You'll also use your prototypes as the base for your marketing campaigns.

11. Patents and Trademarks

In the shoe line business, it's important to protect your designs and brand by filing for patents and copyrights with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This way, if someone steals your designs or logos and tries to profit from them, you're legally entitled to payment or royalties. For filing, you can find an experienced patent and trademark attorney, or the U.S. PTO has all of the information you need for patent and trademark registration on their site. They also have a search function so you can see if you're not infringing on someone else's design before you begin.

Keep Track of Everything

An important note before filing or working with an attorney: During your shoe line development, keep a record of your designs and ideas. You can use a platform like Evernote (it syncs with multiple devices) or XMind (for professional prototyping) to keep things organized and well-documented. It's important to keep your notes as a record of a claim on a patent. When you develop your prototype, photograph it extensively and store the files securely.

12. Manufacturing: How Do You Get a Shoe Made?

With your designs, prototypes, patents, and trademarks in place, it's time to secure the manufacturing arm of your shoe line. In our connected world, there are a lot of options. But first, here are some questions to answer before you go to production:

What is the Location of the Manufacturer?

Where you manufacture is a key part of your brand identity. Ever notice how some companies stamp "Made in the USA" in large print on the side of their box? Be mindful of your choice if you intend to integrate your manufacturing process into your brand. Also, if you intend to import your shoes from another country, you could face import taxes based on the country of origin. However, sometimes it's cheaper to import the item and pay the fee than to have it manufactured in the U.S. Either way, it's a calculation you must consider when choosing a manufacturer.

Does the Manufacturer Have Minimum Order Requirements?

Most manufacturers require a minimum quantity with each order, and it can cut deeply into your budget if you're not prepared to make a quick turn on revenue. Review the requirements from any manufacturer before signing an agreement.

Can Your Manufacturer Handle Growth?

[su_quote]For the last four years, I have been working on building an infrastructure on the supply chain side. We literally started from 200 pairs a month, [and] we are at a point where we can do 1,000 pairs a month.[/su_quote] Like Afshan, you'll want to start small and should research standard shoe sizes customers typically order. Ideally, your business will grow, so you want to be sure that your manufacturing arm can handle growth. This is always a work-in-process, but it isn't fun or profitable to pause due to supply issues.

What's the Price Point of My Shoe Line?

Pricing is deeply rooted in the amount of funding you have and your brand. Lower-end brands sell shoes for as low as $20 – $30 per pair because brands work to keep their materials and manufacturing price point low. However, luxury brands sell at prices starting at $250 and can increase to over $1,000 based on perceived value. Before choosing a manufacturer, you must review your branding and price point. Then you can match up with a manufacturer who can deliver in your range.

Tech Pack Submission and Manufacturing Resources

With those questions answered, you must create and submit a tech pack. It's a package that contains all the designs, specifications, and components necessary to turn your prototype into a finished product. Think of it as a blueprint for your shoe design. There are thousands of manufacturers in the world to develop your shoe line, but here are a few standouts:

• Otabo
• Italian Shoe Factory
• Modern Vice
• Alanic

13. Packaging and Distribution

A shoebox says a lot about a brand, and it's one of the top marketing opportunities in the shoe business. Top shoe lines deliver shoes in a box that prominently features their label as many people keep and reuse shoeboxes for years. To keep with this industry trend, here is a list of custom shoebox manufacturers:

• The Premium Boxes
• The Custom Printed Boxes
• The Printing Daddy
• Fantastapack

Walking Your Shoes from Point A to Point B

The last element of the fulfillment process is shipping the product safely from your site to the customer. It's important to work with various shipping agencies (UPS, FedEx, DNS, USPS) to find the lowest prices to ship your goods. Otherwise, it can cut into your profits.

14. Establish a Marketing and Sales Plan

With your supply chain in place, the last step before opening your shoe line is establishing your marketing and sales plan. Your marketing strategy is what your business will thrive on. Base it on the extensive market research put into your business plan. Forbes has an excellent resource on developing a marketing strategy. A sales strategy defines your approach to selling your product. Both plans are essential to revenue generation and should be two of your biggest investments. If you don't have experience, consider hiring a marketing and sales consultant through a freelancing site like Upwork.

Digital Marketing & Social Media

Digital marketing means engaging potential customers on digital platforms through email campaigns, newsletters, digital advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media. The key to digital marketing is that it nets a higher ROI (return on investment) than traditional marketing methods.

Social Media

Your social media presence is essential to your brand and is a great way to engage with your customers. It's also the primary method you can use to obtain analytics and figure out better ways to market your product. Interact with your customers via posts and encourage them to post pictures about your shoe line! Afshan used social media to develop marketing relationships with influencers who are also sustainability advocates. Through those relationships, she was able to increase her brand's reach, directly access her target market, and turn her customers into marketers.

Website

If you're starting an ecommerce-based business like Afshan, then your website is your storefront. That means you need to invest heavily in designing and optimizing your site. If you’re not good at web design or don't have experience, there are a lot of resources to help you find a reliable web designer and webmaster to run your site. However, as an ecommerce business, work with a designer and webmaster with experience setting up and maintaining an ecommerce shopping cart.

Refine Both Strategies and Watch Your Revenue Grow

Fuchsia's revenue jumped from $150k in 2019, but they're already at $400k in 2020 and on track to do $1 million by the end of the year. We asked Afshan what contributed to the large jump in revenue and she said, [su_quote]I think we got really good at the sales funnels and our marketing and being able to run and scale that marketing with a positive ROI (return on investment).[/su_quote]

Conclusion

With these steps, you now know the essentials and have resources on how to start a shoe line. As we said, analysts expect the shoe industry to grow over the next decade. So get started now to make your presence known and take your place. To send you off, here's one final piece of advice from Afshan on how to be successful in the industry: [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] Do you have any experience in the shoe or fashion industry? Let us know what you think!

Did you know there are nearly 50K food trucks in the U.S.?

From Asian street food to burgers, sweet treats, and pizza, there’s a food truck for everything. So for those who want to open a food truck, unique food truck names help them stand out from the pack.

We’ll share what makes a good food truck business name, provide lots of food truck name ideas, and show you how to register your food truck name after you choose one.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] Get ready to find the perfect business name for your new food truck.

• What makes a good food truck business name?
• 24 Good Food Truck Name Ideas
• 24 Funny Food Truck Names
• 18 Clever Food Truck Names
• 20 More Good Truck Names
• 22 Taco Truck Names
• 22 Catchy Food Truck Names
• 22 Mexican Food Truck Names
• 38 Names For Ice Cream Trucks
• 18 Good Names For A Food Truck Business
• 32 Cool Food Truck Names
• 32 Creative Food Truck Names
• 34 Food Cart Names
• 34 Breakfast Food Truck Names
• How To Register Your Food Truck Name
• Great Resources For Food Trucks
• Next Steps After Choosing Your Food Truck Name[/su_note]

What makes a good food truck business name?

When choosing a name for your food truck business, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind:

• Memorability: Your name should be easy to remember and pronounce.
• Relevancy: Your name should reflect the type of food you serve or the atmosphere of your truck.
• Uniqueness: Your name should stand out from the competition.
• Timelessness: Your name should be something that will still sound good in a few years.
• Legality: Make sure your name is not already trademarked by another business.

With that in mind, take a look at the following food truck names. Consider them food for thought.

24 Good Food Truck Name Ideas

Consider the following list to name your own food truck business.

Pro Tip: Describe what your food truck serves in your business name. This will help people find you when they're searching online. Many of the food truck name ideas in this list focus on common searches.

24 Funny Food Truck Names

Some of the funniest food truck names are ones that are a play on words. Consider some of these fun food truck names:

18 Clever Food Truck Names

Other food trucks will have difficulty competing with these clever food truck business name ideas.

Pro tip: Don't be afraid to be creative and original with your food truck names. Funny business tames tend to help make your food truck stand out.

20 More Good Truck Names

Good names for food trucks are abundant. Consider some of these names for your truck.

Pro Tip: Once you have a few food truck name ideas, test them out on your friends, family, and potential customers. Get their feedback and see what they think is the perfect food truck name.

22 Taco Truck Names

Let’s taco bout some taco truck names. Whether you prefer a crunchy taco, soft taco, or enchilada, you need a great name for when you sell out of a taco trailer or truck. Check out some of these ideas.

22 Catchy Food Truck Names

Looking for a juicy name for your food truck? Try some of these food truck name ideas.

Pro Tip: Once you've chosen a food truck’s name, you need to protect it. Make sure to register it with the appropriate government agencies. This will protect your name from being used by other businesses.

22 Mexican Food Truck Names

Pro Tip: This list is just the start. Your food truck name could even be in Spanish—just make sure it’s clear to all customers what you’re offering.

38 Names For Ice Cream Trucks

18 Good Names For A Food Truck Business

Pro Tip: Food trucks normally cost between one-sixteenth and one-third of what it costs to start a restaurant. That makes a food truck a great way to become a food entrepreneur.

32 Cool Food Truck Names

32 Creative Food Truck Names

Pro Tip: If you can’t think of a show stopping name, the simpler the better. Let potential customers know what to expect.

34 Food Cart Names

34 Breakfast Food Truck Names

How To Register Your Food Truck Name

You’ll have to go through some extra steps to register your food truck’s name because food establishments commonly need health inspections. This goes for a brick-and-mortar restaurant, too.

1. Do your research: Check if the name you want is available in your state by searching the state's business name database. Make sure another company hasn’t trademarked the name. You’ll also want to check if the domain name and social media profiles are available.
2. Choose a legal structure: Decide whether you want to operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC. Each legal structure has its own advantages and disadvantages—learn more here.
3. File for a business license: Contact your local city or county clerk's office to find out what licenses and permits you need to operate a food truck.
4. Register your business name: File a DBA (“doing business as”) name with your state's business registration office. This will allow you to operate your food truck under a name other than your legal name.
5. Get insurance: Purchase liability insurance and commercial auto insurance to protect yourself from financial losses.
6. Open a bank account: Open a separate bank account for your food truck business. This will help you keep your business finances separate from your personal finances.
7. Get a health permit: Contact your local health department to learn what health permits you need to operate a food truck.

Great Resources For Food Trucks

We’ve talked with a lot of food truck business owners about how to get started in the food truck industry. Check out some of our other resources for food truck owners:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaU6uY9Yy7XltYGQUA7hfYfjwCWGHgwiC&si=OOB_j4ljnatWK8zs

• Food truck buying guide: Learn more in our blog about buying a food truck.
• Food truck financing: You might have a great idea for a new food truck, but you’ll need money to start your food business. Here’s more about food truck financing.

Next Steps After Choosing Your Food Truck Name

You finished the naming process, but there is still plenty of work to do in your culinary adventure. Start by checking out our step-by-step guide on how to start a small business.