INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You are going to need some money on the front end to start a cleaning company. You will need to buy equipment, for example.  You may be able to obtain traditional financing to get your business started. Lenders may want to see a formal business plan, in which you pull together all aspects of your business, from the financing and expenses, to the name, marketing plan, and customer base.   Include all expenses, such as insurance, taxes, transportation expenses, cleaning supplies, and so forth, when determining your budget. Develop a billing system. Will you do work on credit? This can be more common when dealing with businesses.  Specify when a bill becomes past due and any late payments. Use spreadsheets and accounting software to manage your budget. You might want to consider an investor who would contribute to the financial costs of the business. Check into whether you qualify for government programs that give grants to small businesses, especially those started by minorities, women, and veterans. Open a business checking account. Contact an accountant, and decide whether you want to create a Limited Liability Corporation or corporation to run your business. Research before you set your price.  To determine how much you will charge your customers, you need to figure out your costs.  Assess how much you pay for labor and materials. Turn the cost of labor into an hourly rate. The average rate that most cleaning services charge customers is between $75 for a rural areas and as much as $150 for an urban area. But it really depends on what the competition is charging, so make sure you research what other cleaning companies in the area charge. Determine whether to charge a flat rate or an hourly rate. Usually cleaning services charge a flat rate. You need to consider the size of the house, how many times you will be cleaning the property, and about how many hours it will take to clean.   Sometimes cleaning services will charge a different rate for special projects or by room. It costs more to clean a kitchen than a bedroom, for example, but this can become very complex. With very large homes, some services charge a square foot rate. Determine how much you are paying for overhead. For example, what’s the cost of all non-labor expenses that would be incurred by your business? Examples of overhead include paying for gas for your van or utilities and cleaning supplies. Figure out how much profit you are seeking to accrue. This is usually a must for any business like a cleaning service.  You can get liability insurance through local insurance agents in your area.  Experts say $500,000 is a good amount to get, but you should rely on the advice of a professional who can assess your specific business needs. The average cost for liability insurance for this kind of business is about $500 a year.  Liability insurance is important in case there is an accident or damage caused during the cleaning process. You might also consider bonding insurance, which would protect you from problems with employees, such as stealing or failing to properly do the job. Cleaning companies require some start-up equipment.  The good news is that cleaning companies typically have pretty low expenses compared to other businesses.   Obviously, you need to purchase cleaning supplies, such as mops, dusters, vacuum cleaners, and the like. You will need a vehicle for your cleaning crew. You could put your company name on the side of it to help brand the company. You will probably need a truck or van if your service will perform janitorial services. You could start with just yourself or advertise for a couple of maids or janitorial workers.  Try to save money wherever you can. For example, you might buy equipment that can do multiple jobs, such as a steam cleaner that also serves as a dry vacuum. You could advertise traditionally in the newspaper or online for employees or you could use sites online where employees are seeking jobs in cleaning.

SUMMARY: Create a budget. Set your prices. Obtain liability insurance. Buy equipment. Decide on staffing levels.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night is extremely important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Getting a good night's sleep improves your ability to learn, make good decisions, and cope with change. Lack of sleep is also linked to depression, heart disease, and obesity.  Everybody requires a different amount of sleep. Some will feel good and rested after six hours, others after 10. Experiment with sleeping a different amount of hours per night and see which quantity makes you feel best.  Create a good bedtime ritual. Relax with a book for 30 minutes before bed, or stretch and drink herbal tea. It's also important to stick to a sleep schedule, even on the weekends, so that your body can stay consistent. Yoga is a great activity for creating strength, flexibility, and mind-body awareness. It strengthens the core, back, arms, and legs, and allows you to focus on simply breathing and being present in your body. Invest in a few classes to learn the proper technique. After, you can either continue classes or practice on your own. Meditation helps you to become more connected with yourself and the world around you. It helps you to diminish ego and recognize your thoughts as simply thoughts, patterns that encourage mindfulness, joy, and contentment.  Start slow. Give yourself seven to 10 minutes a morning to sit and concentrate on your breathing. People who are open minded and curious about the world around them tend to have better mental health. Learning leads to creativity and higher self-esteem. Try to learn something new everyday!  Read a book that interests you for at least 15 – 20 minutes a day. Learn a new language. Learning another language keeps your brain active. It broadens your perspective of the world and opens you up to new travel opportunities. Download the app Duolingo on your smartphone for an easy and accessible language learning tool. Giving yourself time to spend with loved ones leads to increased happiness. Even if you're busy at work, taking just 30 minutes a day to grab a meal or talk on the phone with somebody you care about will improve your feelings of connectedness and self-worth.

SUMMARY:
Get enough sleep. Practice yoga. Start meditating. Keep your mind stimulated. Make time to socialize.