Hood-Cleaning-Business

Hood-Cleaning-Business

At any given moment, a commercial kitchen is subject to inspection. Commercial kitchen owners know that their business success lies in their ability to meet and maintain state and federal health and safety standards.Kitchen exhaust hoods are not only ripe for collecting grease and other contaminates, they can be a challenge to clean. 

Owners may contract out their regular hood cleaning to certified cleaners. If you are a hard worker, enjoy meeting people and understand the importance of planning, why not start your own hood cleaning business?

Instructions

1. • 1

     As an hood cleaning business, you'll be responsible for cleaning hoods, ducts, exhausts, fans and vents, as well as removing the waste and cleaning up the site afterwards. Excess grease can put a kitchen crew at risk of a grease fire. As a certified cleaner, you will need to adhere to current NFPA 96 standards, as laid out by the National Fire Protection Association, to prevent such occurrences.

     • 2

     Visit your county clerk to get your business license. If you don't intend to hire employees, you may choose to operate as a sole proprietor, which requires no further steps. However, if you intend to have employees, you will need to incorporate or form a limited liability company. Doing so will afford you a degree of personal liability protection that you won't have as a sole proprietor. Consider consulting with an attorney to help you decide which route to go. Regardless of your business entity, you will need to purchase business liability insurance and bonding coverage. Contact your bank to get connected to a provider or find a provider online. Expect to need at least $300,000 in liability insurance coverage. Your representative can help you find a plan that is right for your business.
     

     • 3

     Invest in a hot water power washer and nozzle system that will allow you to use both high and low pressure as necessary. Find nozzles that will allow you to adjust the pressure and the spray pattern. To avoid over-spray, look for pressure washers with a psi (pounds per square inch) of 3,500 or less. Additionally look for a GPM (gallons per minute) of at least 4. The GPM will determine how quickly you can complete the job. Keep in mind that your washer must stand the test of time. A more expensive washer that outlasts a cheaper model may be more financially advantageous in the long run. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on proper handling for maintaining your equipment.

     • 4

     Purchase a truck, trailer, coveralls, safety gear, buckets, gauges, a grease containment system, hinge kits, pumps, sprayers, guns, toolkit, vacuum system, mop, cloths, cleaning products, de-greaser, first aid kit, wands, hood stickers and steel toed boots.

     • 5

     Procure a list of restaurants in the local area, to include commercial kitchens on military bases and at schools. Contact each restaurant owner and inquire about their current hood cleaner, how often they get their ducts cleaned and how satisfied they are with the service. Describe your services, how you are certified and insured and explain why they should switch to you.

     • 6

     Design quality control surveys and follow up notices to be given to your customers.
     More Info: Kitchen Exhaust Cleaning Consulting!