How to Start a Crime Scene Clean-Up Business
The one major drawback to starting a crime scene clean-up business (besides the obvious) is that you can't do it alone. Crime scenes are often so messy and so saturated with blood and other liquids that it can take ten people almost two weeks to thoroughly finish the job. Blood can seep through carpet to the concrete below or even through floors to sub-floors, and most crime scenes require airing-out before they are actually clean.
This means that if you want to start a crime scene clean-up business, you'll need help, either in the form of business partners or as employees. To save money, you can start by hiring independent contractors who are paid on a per-job basis. That way, you don't have to worry about paying salaries while you're just starting out.
Other than that, it's all sunshine and roses. Apartment complexes, businesses, home owners and property managers will hire crime scene clean-up businesses to take care of the nastiest parts of getting over violence. A single job can result in more than $20,000 of profit, after expenses, which means that a business owner can make a fantastic living from this job.
There are no major educational requirements for starting a crime scene clean-up business, but familiarity with stains, odor removal and hazardous wastes is necessary. You must be able to decide quickly whether you can remove stains or if you'll have to replace them, plus you can come into contact with toxic substances. You must wear thick gloves at all times---most double-glove to be sure---and you should never work at a crime scene that isn't well-ventilated.
In many cases, crime scene clean-up businesses have to install new carpet and tile, repaint walls, strip wallpaper and do other odd remodeling jobs while at work. This means that you should be familiar with home improvement concepts and procedures, and that you must have the capital to buy materials up front in order to get your first job.
The most difficult part of starting a crime scene clean-up business (besides the obvious) is figuring out how to advertise. Running a commercial on television is probably not a good idea, particularly since potential customers would be turned off by the crass nature of the ad. The best way, actually, is to get your business card to the local police department and the crime scene investigation unit. They can hand out your number to potential customers after violence has taken place, and that will be your primary source of opportunity.
In order to start a crime scene clean-up business, you'll need sufficient capital to buy cleaning and replacement materials and to hire at least two or three employees. Beyond that, you'll need a reliable vehicle and a business license, and you might want to be HAZMAT certified to be safe.
Published by Steve Thompson
Steve is a full-time freelance writer. In addition to the more than 3,000 articles he's written for AC, he has also written articles and other materials for more than 100 happy clients. He enjoys writing abo... View profile
- What First Responders Need to Know Before Entering a Crime Scene Every first responder should be properly prepared to enter a crime scene without contaminating evidence and this article explains how to do so.
-
Preserving an Outdoor Crime Scene
It is notoriously difficult for law enforcement personnel, crime scene technicians and the medical examiner to preserve an outdoor crime scene.
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Video Game Review This review is of the PC video game Crime Scene Investigation. It explores the ups and downs of this game.
-
What Happens when a Crime Scene is Discovered?
An explanation of the procedures followed by the police when a crime scene is discovered.
-
How to Detect Fingerprints and Blood at a Crime Scene
Have you ever wondered how fingerprints and blood are detected when invisible to the naked eye? This document focuses on various field tests which are utilized by CSIs at a crim...
- How to Clean a Crime Scene
- Odd Jobs: Crime-Scene Cleaner
- How to Take Photographs at a Crime Scene
- How to Properly Investigate a Violent Crime Scene
- How to Videotape a Violent Crime Scene
- How to Handle Gory Crime Scene Photos on the Jury
- How Software is Used for Crime Scene Analysis
|
|
26 Comments
Post a CommentThere is a lot of money to be made in this business, but you can't just buy some cleaning supplies and think you're going to pull in 6 figures just like that. It takes time building a reputation to really start making money. It's a hard business to advertise, so most is word of mouth in the professional community.
http://eugenecrimescenecleanup.com
I want to start a business in forensic cleaning. I have been in dentistry for 30 yrs and have had classes on hazmat but would like to take a more extensive class on that and cleaning chemicals needed for this line of work How do I go about getting the info Thank you.
Ithoughtaboutdoingthisyearsago.Doesanyonehaveanygoodnewsonhowtostartupthebusiness?Yearsago,therewerecleanupkitstogetstarted.Someonecontactmeplease,ifyouhavestartedacleanupbusinessandgivesomeinsite?...Thanksmzminque@yahoo.com
how doigetstartedandwhatkindoflic.doineedtogetandisthereanyschooling
HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING HAZEMAT CERTIFIED?
I am in the Sunnyvale area and have admin/office skills to offer or even clean up help. Hannah.hoban@mail.com
i've always been interested in this type of work for some reason. not that i have any morbid fantasies it just seems to be very lucrative. i am how ever confused as to what the proper equipment needed to start it up with would be. if you know plz contact me. mikemorton1001@gmail.com
how can i get the bussines license and clean up stuff plzz let me know @ ortiz.ruben63@yahoo.com
another company that does crime scene clean up throughout the u.s. is ABC ( http://www.acceleratedbioscenecleanup.com )
I only have experience in sanitation an basic maintenance type cleaning, but I feel like this line of business has brought out a new found passion. Please can someone experienced contact me at jacob.ortiz07@yahoo.com i have the right tools and more than enough ambition and willing to have a partner in thi business .