Even though selecting the best vehicle for your cleaning business vastly varies from choosing one for personal use, it's not as overly complex as you might imagine.
However, choosing the best vehicle for your cleaning business can seem overwhelming when you don't know all of the options and factors to consider.
Whether your current vehicle for your cleaning business just bit the dust, or you're looking for your first one, this article will help.
By the end of this article, you'll find out everything you need to know about choosing the best vehicle for your cleaning business:
On average, it takes less than one tenth of a second for us to judge a person by their face. Typically, longer exposure doesn't significantly alter those impressions either.
The same is true of the way people judge companies and their employees.
If a potential client’s opinion is built in less than a tenth of a second of seeing your company, it’s going to be based on:
Remember, your vehicle is a mobile billboard, and you should be using it as such.
In the same way that you take great care with your service quality and marketing, you should carefully consider the message your cleaning vehicle sends.
If it's constantly dirty and damaged, held together by duct tape and prayers, then it's time to consider investing into a new vehicle for your cleaning business.
Wading through the endless ocean of makes, models, and options of vehicles for your cleaning business can be intimidating.
Here are a few basics to consider:
Also, consider whether you want to purchase new or used.
In order to make the best choice between a new vs. used cleaning vehicle, it's important to heavily base your decision on budget.
However, a new vehicle is likely a great choice if you:
These are a few pros and cons to both:
| Pros | Cons |
| Manufacturer's warranty | Higher upfront cost |
| No pre-existing conditions | Quickly depreciates in value |
| Easier to standardize fleets | Could be damaged by cleaners |
In addition to the standard manufacturer's warranty, consider purchasing additional dealership warranties to further protect your investment.
| Pros | Cons |
| Lower upfront cost | No manufacturer's warranty |
| Slower depreciation in value | Possible pre-existing conditions |
| Won't be as noticeable if it's damaged by the cleaners | Limited options for standardizing fleets |
If you decide to go with used vehicles, then consider having a trusted, professional mechanic do a thorough inspection before purchasing.
In addition to a CARFAX Report, it's crucial to find out the vehicle's history.
For example, if it was previously used in a business, then it's probably not a good idea to purchase it since it's been heavily used.
If you're a residential cleaning business, or you're looking for a more budget-friendly option with great fuel economy, then a car might be the best vehicle for your cleaning business.
Below, there's a compiled list of cars using several different resources to find the best ones for your cleaning business.
These are some of the best cars for cleaning businesses:
| Specs Overview | Toyota Prius | Toyota Corolla | Honda Civic Hatchback | Chevy Malibu | Kia Soul |
| Base 2025 MSRP | $27,950 | $22,050 | $24,950 | $25,800 | $20,290 |
| MPG (≈ varies based on model) | ≈ 57 city ≈ 56 hwy | ≈ 32 city ≈ 41 hwy | ≈ 30 city ≈ 38 hwy | ≈ 28 city ≈ 36 hwy | ≈ 27 city ≈ 33 hwy |
If you're in the commercial cleaning business, you're looking for a larger vehicle, or you have the budget for a van/added fuel costs, then a cargo van might be the best vehicle for your cleaning business.
When it comes to cargo vans, there are a wide variety of options. This means your selection will heavily depend on your budget, hauling needs, nearby dealerships, and local market availability.
Take a look at some of the best cargo van options on the market that cleaning businesses swear by:
| Specs Overview | Ford Transit | Mercedes Sprinter | Dodge Ram ProMaster | Chevy Express | GMC Savana |
| Base 2025 MSRP | $46,890 | $50,900 | $44,405 | $40,700 | $40,700 |
Keep in mind, most of the cargo vans listed here also manufacture compact cargo vans as a smaller, more budget-friendly option.
Even though financing can be intimidating, a trusted financial advisor can help you make the best choice for your business based on your budgeting needs.
In most circumstances, you'll choose between these main finance options:
Remember, even if you have the ability to pay all cash for your cleaning business vehicle, it's important to consider the cost of financing against the value between:
That said, even if you can pay cash money for a vehicle, you should consider the cost of financing against the value that money would accrue in savings and the value of fluidity (having cash on hand).
Use a financial calculator (e.g. Bankrate) to weigh the total cost of an auto loan vs. what the money would make in a business savings account.
Keep in mind, having a significant amount of money in the bank can protect your business from catastrophes and help you weather seasons of poor cash flow. Sometimes, it pays to finance.
Your CPA (i.e. certified public accountant) can help you make the best decision for your cleaning business.
Did you know, one car wrap can generate between 30,000 to 70,000 views per day?
That’s 30,000 to 70,000 impressions you could be making every day, if you use wraps on your cleaning vehicles.
To top that off, about 59% of people would rather purchase from a brand they're familiar with.
This should put the cost of a wrap for your vehicle into perspective:
Also, 47% of 18-34 year-olds found car wraps to be more memorable than typical commercials.
Imagine putting the power of a TV commercial on your company vehicle. You don’t pay for ad time every month; you pay once, and you’ve got your billboard—that's what you'll get with vehicle wraps.
A clean, recognizable cleaning vehicle is not only a rolling advertisement for your business, but it's also essential for the professional branding and reputation of your cleaning business.
Your wraps should include concise information that's easily legible and memorable at a glance:
As a result, you can establish a positive reputation with a memorable brand—allowing you to charge premium prices.
If you're just getting started, or if vehicle wraps don't fit into the budget right now, consider magnet clings in the meantime.
While, they’re not as big or noticeable as a full wrap, they’re significantly more affordable and still generate a substantial amount of impressions.
Most local print shops or online merchants (e.g. VistaPrint) can make them for around $100 a pair (one for each side).
To track the effect of your magnets or wrap, consider including an “offer word” on them. For example, “Call and mention ‘Car’ for $5 OFF!"
This way, you’ll be able to track who’s coming in from your vehicle advertisements.
In order to keep your cleaning business' vehicles running smoothly for many years to come, it's important to properly maintain them.
Since you’re using your company vehicle to advertise your brand, you want to keep it clean. However, washing a vehicle every day isn't feasible either. More than likely, it'll be more cost effective and efficient to pay for an unlimited washing plan at a local car wash.
Instant invoicing
Better scheduling
Manage your clients and employees all in one system
Choosing the best vehicle for your cleaning business is an investment.
While this investment is a huge decision, you likely found this page because you already know you need to purchase a new vehicle.
Now, you know how to:
Always remember, it's important to do your research. Consider bookmarking this page so you can reference back to it as you make this decision.
Talk to everyone you can... Your insurance agent, cleaning business owners in Facebook groups and online forums to gather as much information as you can. In turn, you'll have everything you need to make the right decision.
At last, you have all the information you need to choose the best vehicle for your cleaning business!
Related: Best Cleaning Equipment Essentials for Professionals
Originally published March 28, 2019 7:00 AM CT, updated Aug 23, 2024 2:28 PM CT
Tags: Business Operation, Featured Post
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