A crime scene cleanup business, just like any other service-based business, is a business that usually doesn’t attract huge startup capital especially if the owner of the business wants to start small and then grow the business.
A crime scene cleanup business is a niche idea in the cleaning and janitorial services industry. The fact that crime scenes can somehow be difficult to clean means that a certain level of professionalism will be required to clean them.
As a matter of fact, those involved in cleaning crime scenes usually follow the instructions of investigators in charge of investigating the crime.
So, if you are looking to start a crime scene cleanup business, you should first acquire the required skills before drawing an estimate of what it will cost you to start the business.
Actually, it can cost you as low as $5,000 or even lower to start a small-scale crime scene cleanup business especially if you will be operating the business from your home, a shared office, or a virtual office.
Estimated Cost of Opening a Crime Scene Cleanup Business
The items that you would need if you intend to launch your own crime scene cleanup business in the United States of America include;
- Incorporation fees in the United States of America would cost $700
- Fees for Liability insurance and business license would cost $1,000
- Permits and OSHA certification would cost $1,000
- Amount needed to acquire a facility to store equipment and gears would cost $40,000
- Equipping the facility with office supplies would cost $1,500
- Cost of acquiring van would cost $5,000
- Cost of acquiring working equipment and gear would cost $20,000
- Cost of official website $500
- Additional expenditure would cost $1,000
With the above details, if you intend to lunch a small scale crime scene cleanup business in the United States of America, you would need at least $80,000.
For those intending to start their crime scene cleanup business on a medium scale, then you might be looking towards getting $160,000. If you want to start a large scale crime scene cleanup business in the United States of America, then you would need $320,000 and above.
Be that as it may, there are key factors that can determine the total budget of starting a crime scene cleanup business and that is what we will discuss in this article.
Factors That Can Influence How Much It Costs to Start a Crime Scene Cleanup Business
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Your Choice of Location
When it comes to starting any business, one of the major factors that will influence how much you will spend to start the company is your choice of location.
The truth is that the location of a business will determine how much you will spend on rent or lease, the amount you will spend on acquiring licenses and permits, the amount you will spend on utilities, and every other cost associated with locations.
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The Cost of Training and Certifications
As stated earlier in this article, a crime scene cleanup business is not one of those cleaning and janitorial businesses that anyone with little or no training can start.
In essence, if you are looking to start a crime scene cleanup business, then you should have a budget for training and certifications.
This is so because the crime scene cleanup business requires specialized training and certifications and the amount you will spend can significantly influence the overall cost of starting the business.
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The Cost of Licensing and Permits
Aside from training and certifications, you are also expected to create a budget for licensing permits. As a matter of fact, you cannot legally start a crime scene cleanup business without first obtaining the specific licenses and permits needed to start the business.
Basically, you should make plans to obtain licenses and permits such as Business License, Environmental, and Health Permits, Vehicle Permits, Contractor’s License, Hazardous Waste Transport Permits, Federal Firearms License (FFL), or state-specific permits for handling weapons.
In case you are not sure of the required licensing permits required to start a crime scene cleanup business in your city, you should check with your local government or regulatory agencies. Please note that costs for these licenses and permits can vary.
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The Cost of Insurance Policy Cover
Another cost that will add up to the overall cost of starting a crime scene cleanup business is the amount you are expected to spend in acquiring insurance policy cover for the business.
As expected, crime scene cleanup businesses typically require liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance to protect against potential risks and liabilities.
Please note that the cost of insurance policy coverage will depend on factors such as the size of your business and the coverage limits you choose.
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Equipment and Supplies
The cost of equipment and supplies is yet another major cost that can influence the overall cost of starting a crime scene cleanup business.
Note that you will need various equipment such as personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning agents, disinfectants, waste disposal containers, and specialized cleaning tools.
The amount you are to spend on equipment and supplies will depend on the size of your business and the crime scene cleanup projects you are handling per time. But the bottom line is that it is a significant cost that will influence the overall cost of starting the business.
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The Cost of Purchasing a Utility Truck (Vehicle)
Another major cost that will determine the over cost of starting a crime scene cleanup business is the cost of purchasing and perhaps maintaining your utility trucks or vehicles.
Please note that depending on the size of your business, you may need a dedicated utility truck for transporting your workers, equipment, and supplies to and from crime scenes.
It is important to note that the cost of a suitable utility truck will depend on your preferences and also your decision to settle for outright purchase or lease.
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The Cost of Marketing and Advertising the Business
If you have plans to start a crime scene cleanup business, then you should do all that it takes to secure crime scene cleanup contracts to market and promote your services.
Even though there are no specific costs attached to marketing and advertising a business, the bottom line is that if you want to launch a business that will win a fair share of the available market in your location, then you must be ready to invest a significant amount to promote your crime scene cleanup business.
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Operational Expenses
Lastly, another cost that can influence the overall cost of starting a crime scene cleanup business is the amount you are expected to spend on operational expenses.
For a crime scene cleanup business, you should make plans to spend on operational expenses like rent for office or storage space for your supplies and equipment, utilities, fueling, maintenance, office supplies, and any additional employees you may hire when you have a project that requires additional workers.
In conclusion,
All the factors listed above, and others can influence the overall cost of starting a crime scene cleanup business. But it is important to state that there is no specific amount required to start a crime scene cleanup business. The cost of starting a crime scene cleanup business is at the desecration of the entrepreneur who wants to start the business.