Last updated on March 17th, 2026 at 11:14 am
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Learn how to start a cleaning business that is successful and make money.
Starting a cleaning business is one of the easiest businesses you can start with very little money. Many people fail before they ever get their first client because they don’t know the exact steps to follow.
If you want to start a profitable cleaning business from home, this guide will walk you through everything step-by-step.
The need for professional cleaning services is continually on the rise, as individuals and businesses seek convenience and efficiency.
With a solid plan and dedication to exceptional services, you can establish a successful cleaning business that exceeds the expectations of your clients.
Let’s look at the crucial steps involved in starting your cleaning business from scratch.
Does It Cost A Lot To Start A Cleaning Business?
One of the best things about starting a cleaning business is that the startup costs are very low.
You can start your cleaning business from home and expand later as your business grows.
Most beginners start with only a few essential tools like:
You don’t need expensive equipment or an office in the beginning.
The good thing about a cleaning services business is that the expenses for running the business are incredibly low.
You can start a cleaning business from your own home and move your business once you start getting some profit.
Step 1 Research The Cleaning Industry
When you’re looking to start any business, the first thing you should do is research.
You should look at other cleaning companies in your area and understand:
- what services they offer
- how they price their services
- what customers like about them
- what customers complain about
This helps you identify gaps in the market where you can stand out.
For example, you might specialize in:
- residential cleaning
- office cleaning
- Airbnb cleaning
- move-in/move-out cleaning
Choosing a niche can make it easier to attract customers.
It’s important to understand what your business is all about, only then will you be able to set your goals.
Step 2 Write Down Your Goals
After doing your business research, write down your goals and what you want to achieve after a specific time.
Have a clear goal when starting your cleaning business, do you intend to do it as a full-time job or as a side job?
Once you understand the market, write down your goals.
Ask yourself:
• Will this be a side hustle or full-time business?
• Will you work alone or hire employees later?
• Do you want to focus on homes, offices, or both?
Having clear goals helps you make better business decisions as your company grows.
Write down your business goals because it helps with future decisions, and you can avoid wasting time and making mistakes.
If you want help creating a complete business plan for your cleaning business, check out my beginner-friendly guide:
A Business Plan That Sets You Up For Success →
Step 3 Choose Your Cleaning Company Name
When naming your cleaning business, it’s important to choose a name that is:
• easy to spell
• professional
• easy to remember
• related to cleaning
Examples include names like:
• Sparkle Clean Services
• Fresh Start Cleaning
• Pure Shine Cleaning
Make sure to check that your business name is not already registered and this helps avoid any legal issues with using another company’s name.
If your goal is to grow your cleaning business and then sell it, then it’s wise to avoid using your name.
Step 4 Register Your Business
Once you have figured out your cleaning business’ name and checked if it’s available, register your business.
This also depends on the country or state you live in and the laws in place about registering businesses.
Register your business name before making things like business cards or uniforms, this is to avoid any loss in case the name you choose was already registered.
Registering your business makes it legal and professional.
The process depends on where you live, but it usually involves:
• registering your business name
• choosing a business structure
• applying for a tax number
Registering your business also helps build trust with clients.
Step 5 Get A License For Your Cleaning Business If Required
Depending on where you are operating your business, make sure you find out if running a cleaning business requires a license.
This is because some places don’t require a license for a cleaning business and others do.
In certain industries, a license is required to show that you are legally permitted to conduct business in your city or area.
So it’s always a good idea to first check with your city to avoid any confusion or mistakes.
Step 6 Get Insurance For Your Cleaning Business
Insurance is really important when you are thinking about starting a cleaning business and it’s required if you want to start your business the right way.
General liability insurance is good because it protects you as well as your clients and it’s not that expensive.
Tip: It pays off to buy insurance from well-known companies because it makes your cleaning business look more professional and makes your clients feel protected.
Step 7 Start Marketing Your Cleaning Business
There are many resources when it comes to marketing your cleaning business and it doesn’t have to be fancy when you are just getting started.
As a new business, one of the first ways to advertise your cleaning business is through word of mouth.
It’s good to even start within your neighborhood and you don’t have to drive that far.
Another way of marketing is by giving out a few business postcards to the neighbors of a client you just did a job for.
Supporting other local businesses in your area is great because they will support you in return.
Having your cleaning business name printed on your uniforms is another way of advertising your business.
Your current customer reviews are a way of marketing and there are tools you can use to get your clients to leave reviews after you finish a job.
As soon as you finish and close a job, there are tools that you can use to communicate with customers, they get an email asking them to leave a Google, Facebook, or yelp review.
It’s really important to let your customers know that if there’s something that was not satisfactory then they can let you know.
Ask them to allow you to fix what wasn’t pleasing to them before leaving a review.
Having a website is a great advantage for your cleaning business because it makes your company look more professional.
Take advantage of social media and join your local town groups and when someone is looking for cleaners, you can recommend your cleaning services to them.
It’s important to track how customers found you, this will help you know what marketing strategies work better.
Once your business begins to grow, you can get more clients by signing up on platforms like Care.com, Handy and more.
Step 8 Essential Tools For A Cleaning Business
When starting your cleaning business, you’ll need some basic supplies.
These basic supplies will help you complete most residential and small commercial cleaning jobs.
Common tools include:
Cleaning caddy or carrying bag
Cleaning Business Contracts And Checklist Forms
Having these essential tools allows you to clean efficiently and provide professional service to your clients.
This Cleaning Business Toolkit Bundle was created for beginners who want to look professional and stay organized. Inside you’ll find essential contracts, client forms, quote templates, checklists, and more.
Click here to get instant access tothe Cleaning Business Toolkit.
Step 8 Buy Or Design Your Cleaning Business Uniform
Your uniform doesn’t need to be fancy, but it should look clean and professional.
This helps your business stand out and builds trust with clients.
Simple things like branded shirts or neat work clothes can make a big difference
Step 9 Learn How To Properly Clean
If you are looking to start a cleaning business, you need to know how to clean properly.
Even if you already know how to clean, professional cleaning requires:
• using the correct products for different surfaces
• cleaning efficiently
• following a checklist
Using a cleaning checklist ensures that every job is completed properly.
How To Price Your Cleaning Services
Pricing can vary depending on the job.
Some cleaning companies charge:
• hourly rates
• flat rates
• square footage pricing
A good approach is to first inspect the home or office before giving a price.
Steps to price your job:
- Walk through the property with the client
- Estimate how many hours the job will take
- Add extra time in case the job takes longer
Most cleaning businesses charge their cleaning services separately such as:
• window cleaning
• roof cleaning
• gutter cleaning
Bundling services can increase your income.
As a business owner, you always want to be upselling even when the customer hasn’t asked for it.
When a customer asks for a window cleaning quote, don’t only give them a window washing quote, instead quote everything that might need cleaning around a home like swimming pools, roofs, gutters, and more.
This is a good way to let the customer know what other services you offer.
Offer clients a discount for choosing bundle cleaning, instead of cleaning just the house, add the roof, swimming pool, etc.
When people search for a cleaning company, they are looking for professionalism, good communication, and responsiveness, and following that will be your price because it will make your cleaning business stand out.
How much money can you make with a Cleaning Business?
The income potential depends on:
• how many clients you have
• the size of your team
• the services you offer
Many cleaning businesses make hundreds or even thousands of dollars per day once they have regular clients.
The key to success is consistency and good customer service.
Whether you are a solo cleaner or part of a team, the money you make depends on what stage your business is at.
Common Mistakes Cleaning Businesses Make
Some common mistakes include:
• not following up with clients
• not using a cleaning checklist
• not having a service agreement
Following up with customers helps build long-term relationships and repeat business.
If you’re a business owner, you are bound to make mistakes when you first get started.
We put together some mistakes that cleaning business owners make and how you can avoid these mistakes as a new business owner.
Even if you do make mistakes, don’t be hard on yourself because it’s not the end of the world.
Things you need to pay special attention to as a cleaning business owner include the following:
Clients Follow up
As a cleaning business, it’s crucial to do customer follow-ups.
You can set up a system where you do period follow-ups with your clients to avoid losing your customers to other cleaning companies.
Checklist
Use a checklist for your cleaning services from the beginning, it helps to get things done faster.
A checklist comes in handy, once you finish your job, you get someone to inspect it and sign off your work.
Having a checklist for everything that you do can save you some trouble and you can run your business smoothly.
If you’re starting a cleaning business, you’ll need contracts, pricing sheets, service lists, and client forms. Instead of figuring it all out yourself, grab my Cleaning Business Toolkit Bundle with professionally designed templates you can start using immediately.
Get the toolkit and simplify your cleaning business setup today.
Service Agreement
A service agreement is important for your cleaning business and not having one puts your business at a disadvantage.
As your cleaning business starts growing, you will find yourself signing contract agreements with different clients.
As a business, you also need to have a company service agreement contract to protect your company.
Contractors make you sign a contract agreement to protect themselves and you should protect your business too.
The last thing you want is to lose a contract after spending money, you can avoid this by having your clients sign a service agreement.
With a service agreement, you can write down everything you are supposed to be doing for a client in that agreement, if any problems arise, you can back refer to your service agreement.
In Conclusion
Starting a cleaning business is a great opportunity because:
• startup costs are low
• demand is high
• you can start from home
Many successful cleaning businesses began with just one person and a few cleaning supplies.
With hard work, professionalism, and consistent marketing, you can grow your cleaning business into a profitable long-term business.
If you’re serious about starting your cleaning business, download the Cleaning Business Starter Toolkit to get the templates and resources that will help you start faster.
Get the toolkit here →
