With the cleaning industry projected to reach $5.8 billion in 2024, expanding your services can unlock new revenue streams. Upholstery cleaning is in high demand as more homeowners seek convenient, full-service solutions for their cleaning needs.
Adding upholstery cleaning to your existing carpet cleaning business allows you to tap into this growing demand without significantly increasing overhead. Explore the benefits of adding upholstery cleaning to your offerings and detailed profit breakdowns to show how this service can positively impact your business.
The Benefits of Adding Upholstery Cleaning
Adding upholstery cleaning to your services can benefit your business by helping keep your customers happy, bringing in more income, and giving you an edge in a competitive market.
- Increased customer retention. Customers appreciate service providers who can handle multiple tasks, particularly in busy dual-income households. Nearly 80% of these households are expected to use professional cleaning services within the next few years.
Adding upholstery cleaning to your offerings can encourage repeat business by becoming a convenient, one-stop solution for all their home care and maintenance services. - Higher profit margins. Upholstery cleaning often yields higher profit margins than carpet cleaning because it involves specialized techniques and is perceived as a premium service. Customers value professional upholstery cleaning for its ability to preserve their valuable furniture, making it an investment in maintaining the quality and lifespan of their pieces.
- Lower equipment costs. If you already own a DryMaster carpet cleaning system, adding upholstery tools and specialized chemicals, such as the Upholstery Detailer Tool or the Recirculating Drapery & Upholstery Tool wand, doesn’t cost much, and it is a low-risk investment in your business’s long-term success.
Profit Breakdown: How Upholstery Cleaning Can Increase Your Bottom Line
Incorporating upholstery cleaning into your service lineup can boost your bottom line. When you offer an additional service that commands higher rates and often involves less labor than carpet cleaning, you can increase the overall value of each job.
The following numbers demonstrate how adding upholstery cleaning to your services can increase revenue.
- Average price per upholstery cleaning job: $175
- Cost per job (cleaning solution + labor/Technician): $25
- Net profit per job: $150
- If you do it yourself rather than a technician then your profit is about $20 more per job
If you perform five upholstery cleaning jobs per week, you can expect:
- Weekly upholstery revenue: 5 jobs x $175 = $875
- Weekly upholstery costs: 5 jobs x $25 = $125
- Weekly upholstery profit: $875 – $125 = $750
- If you do it yourself then weekly profit is $850 (weekly upholstery cost is only $25 when you clean yourself)
Even if you only add this service for 50% of the year, you can still see an increase in overall profits. For example:
- Annual upholstery revenue: $875 x 26 weeks = $22,750
- Annual upholstery costs: $125 x 26 weeks = $3,250 (with a Technician) and if you clean it yourself, the annual cost is only $650
- Annual upholstery profit: $22,750 – $3,250 = $19,500
- If you do it yourself then annual profit is $22,100 (without a technician)
This added revenue stream helps offset slower periods, keeps your business active during seasonal fluctuations, and provides an additional service to improve customer retention.
Profit Impact on Your Business
If your carpet cleaning business currently earns a net profit of $50,000 per year. Adding upholstery cleaning to your services could generate an additional $22,100 annually, augmenting your overall profit by around 44% This increase requires very little added labor or overhead, making it an easy way for you to improve profitability.
The extra revenue can be reinvested into expanding your service area, improving marketing strategies, or hiring additional technicians, setting the stage for further growth without stretching your current resources too thin.
Pricing Your Upholstery Cleaning Services
Setting fair prices for upholstery cleaning helps cover costs, builds customer trust, and maintains a competitive edge. The type of fabric, the level of soiling, and the size of the furniture all impact the amount of time and effort required for cleaning, which should be reflected in the pricing.
Pricing too low can undermine the perceived value of your service and reduce your profits, while setting prices too high may push potential clients toward more affordable competitors. A well-balanced pricing strategy ensures that you cover labor, materials, and overhead while making a reasonable profit.
Fair pricing also builds customer loyalty, making retaining clients and growing referrals easier. Here’s a typical pricing breakdown to consider:
- Single sofa (3-seat): $100 – $400
- Loveseat: $70 – $200
- Dining chair: $20 – $40 each
- Ottoman: $30 – $65
- Recliner: $50 – $90
- Leather cleaning: $150 – $500 per item
You could also offer a full upholstery cleaning package that includes a sofa, loveseat, and dining chairs at a discounted price. Offering bundled packages can increase the average ticket price and encourage customers to choose full-service options.
Return on Investment for Upholstery Cleaning Equipment
Investing in upholstery cleaning equipment can deliver a quick return on investment (ROI), thanks to the low, upfront costs and high profit margins. For instance, purchasing upholstery cleaning tools like the Upholstery Tool High Pressure, which costs around $250, can be recouped within one to two jobs, given an average net profit of $150 per job.
After this initial payback period, all future upholstery jobs contribute directly to your gross profit. This minor upfront cost, combined with the increased demand for upholstery cleaning services, makes it an excellent option for carpet cleaners looking to expand their revenue streams.
Also, adding upholstery cleaning could qualify you for valuable tax deductions. Costs related to new equipment, cleaning solutions, and even vehicle expenses when expanding your service area are often deductible. These tax savings reduce your taxable income and help you reinvest in growing your business and improving profitability.
Marketing Your Upholstery Services
Once you’ve added upholstery cleaning to your list of services, you need to promote it to your existing and potential customers. Some key strategies to consider for spreading the word and driving bookings include:
- Email campaigns. Send targeted emails highlighting the benefits of upholstery cleaning. Emphasize how it can extend the life of furniture, remove allergens, and refresh their homes.
- Website updates. Make sure your website reflects the new service. Create a separate webpage on the site with detailed descriptions, before-and-after photos, and clear calls to action to make it easy for customers to book an appointment.
- Social media engagement. Post before-and-after photos or videos to Instagram or TikTok showing the transformation upholstery cleaning can offer. Run polls or interactive Q&A sessions to engage your audience and educate them on the importance of regular upholstery care. Share customer testimonials and behind-the-scenes looks to build credibility and showcase your expertise.
- Seasonal promotions. Offer special discounts tied to seasonal events, like “Spring Cleaning” or “Holiday Prep,” to capture customers when they’re more likely to be thinking about rejuvenating their homes.
As a DryMaster affiliate, you’ll also gain access to a range of professional marketing materials, including print assets like fridge magnets, posters, and flyers. These tools help grab customers’ attention and complement your online marketing efforts, creating a comprehensive strategy to drive growth.
Grow Your Business and Profits With Upholstery Cleaning Services
Adding upholstery cleaning to your service list is a straightforward way to increase profitability and broaden your revenue streams without spending a lot of capital. Using your existing DryMaster equipment and promoting upholstery cleaning as a value-added service, you position your business for long-term success and sustained financial growth.
To learn more about incorporating upholstery cleaning or another secondary service like duct cleaning into your business, request a free DryMaster business guide and take the next step toward growing your business.
