How to Start a Cleaning Business in 2025

There is probably no better time to start a business simply because small businesses are now booming. And as more businesses are propping up everywhere, the demand for various types of services also rises. This is especially true for cleaning services.

But, starting a cleaning business can seem a bit daunting because the employee turnover rate in this industry is high and a lot of businesses are also looking for green cleaning companies which makes things a bit more challenging.

So, why should you consider starting a cleaning business? Well, even with these obstacles in mind, the cleaning industry is still on the rise, which is why it’s a good time to get into this type of business.

So, to help you start out, we have created a simple guide and checklist for your cleaning services.

Let’s get started!

Key takeaways

• Low startup costs, high profit potential
• Specialize in niche services
• Build a loyal customer base
• Effective marketing is key

Get Started: Set Up Your Cleaning Business

Starting from scratch? First, pick your business name and get the necessary paperwork sorted. It might cost a little upfront, but it’s essential for running a legit cleaning business and gaining loyal clients.

You’ll probably want to form an LLC or corporation to protect your business. Do some quick research to find an available name, then kick off the paperwork process.

Make sure you check if a business license is needed for your area. Once you’re set, you can start offering cleaning services—even as a one-person business. Don’t worry, you’ll grow and expand in no time. If needed, get a cleaning invoice template too.

Pros and Cons of Starting a Cleaning business

Not sure if starting a cleaning business is the right move? No worries, you will probably find it’s a great fit. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide.

Advantages of Cleaning Services

• Low Startup Costs: You don’t need much to get started—just some basic equipment and cleaning supplies. It’s a budget-friendly business to launch.
• Low Overhead and Operating Costs: With minimal expenses, like cleaning materials and transportation, you can keep your costs down and profits up.
• Scalability: Whether you start solo or with a small team, it’s easy to scale. As your client base grows, you can hire more staff and expand your services.
• Recurring Revenue Opportunities: Cleaning services are often needed regularly. This means more chances for ongoing contracts and stable income.
• High Demand for Cleaning Services: There’s always a need for cleaning, both residential and commercial. You’ll have a steady flow of potential clients.
• Flexible Work Hours: Set your own schedule. You can choose to work part-time, full-time, or grow your hours as your business expands.

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Make invoicing simple with Billdu, the best invoicing app for cleaners. Download our free cleaning invoice template in Word and start sending professional invoices today!

Disadvantages of Cleaning Services

• High Competition: There are plenty of cleaning businesses out there, so standing out can be tough. You’ll need to offer something unique to attract clients.
• Demanding Physical Work: Cleaning isn’t easy. It’s a physically demanding job that can be tiring, especially if you’re handling multiple clients in a day.
• High Employee Turnover Rate: Keeping staff can be a challenge, as many find the work tiring or move on quickly. You’ll need to be ready for frequent hiring and training.
• Unstable Income During Slow Seasons: Some months can be slower than others, which means income might fluctuate. It’s important to plan for these quieter times.
• Liability and Insurance Costs: With cleaning comes risk—like damages or accidents. You’ll need proper insurance, which adds to your expenses.
• Challenges with Client Retention: Keeping clients happy isn’t always easy. There’s a risk of losing them to competitors, so providing consistent quality is crucial.

11 Tips for Starting a Cleaning Business

Ready to launch your cleaning business but not sure where to start? These eleven practical tips will help you get off the ground and set yourself up for success.

1. Market and Competitor Research

Start by looking for inspiration from the thousands of cleaning businesses already out there. Study your local market to see what services are in demand and how competitors price their offerings.

Understanding the competition will help you find ways to stand out and offer something unique to attract clients.

Key points include:

• Examine market competitors – while studying the market, it’s important to do an analysis of your competitor and their target audience as well. Conduct a SWOT analysis to find out your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and then build opportunities out of this.
• Find your target market – once you have looked through the competition, it’s time to determine your target market. If most cleaning competitors in your area focus on residential properties then you should probably consider going down the commercial cleaning route and vice versa.

2. Make your Business Plan

With a general idea of what the market looks like and determining your target market, it’s time to build a business plan that will increase your chances of success for your cleaning business.

Here are some key points for your planning:

• Establish Your Services – Your plan should outline the services you wish to provide (e.g., general cleaning, pool cleaning, window cleaning). Start by specializing in one or two services before expanding.
• Find Your Unique Selling Point –  As a newcomer, identify what will set you apart—be it pricing, quality, eco-friendliness, or flexibility.

Choose specific invoice templates for each profession (for example, a window cleaning invoice template)

3. Find Your Mission Statement

This will be your company’s vision and the reasoning behind the how and why of your services. This will help you keep a prioritization of your goals and tasks and focus your energy in the right place. Your mission statement will help potential customers see your vision as well.

Think of it as a way of showing yourself, your employees, customers, and even potential investors what your company does and what it strives for.

4. Establish Clear but Realistic Business Goals

Setting business goals is one of the most important aspects of a business plan, especially for starting businesses. This clarity helps you and your staff understand your objectives and provides motivation for growth.

Without a goal to work towards, even as the business owner, you might notice a drop in motivation and efficiency which results in poor performance which ultimately leads to worse profits. So, create some simple and realistic goals such as: improving customer relationships, finding new customers, increasing profits, improving marketing, etc.

5. Budgeting/Financial Planning

Establishing a realistic budget for your cleaning business is another essential part of every business plan. Without budgeting, you might start overspending/running out of cash which is usually the number one cause for failed startups. 

Carefully plan out your expenses for equipment, staff, overhead, and other startup costs, and make sure to include emergency funds as well. 

Here are some tips for proper budgeting:

• Find the operating and startup costs of cleaning businesses
• Keep close track of all of your income
• Be wary of taxes
• Invest in invoicing software like Billdu

Keep the finances of your cleaning business under control!

Keep your cleaning business finances under control with Billdu’s easy expense tracking. Stay on top of invoices and payments, so you always know where your money is!

6. Prepare a Strong Marketing Strategy To Find Your Clients

One of the reasons why businesses end up with a flawed business model is because of a weak marketing strategy. Small cleaning businesses always have a slow beginning, but it’s essential to find clients who need your services at this time.

The best way to do this is through a marketing strategy. You can build a strong email marketing campaign considering it is still one of the most effective marketing strategies in the past couple of years, with about 64% of small businesses using email marketing.

Social media marketing, influencer marketing, and proper SEO are also very strong methods for marketing, especially for smaller businesses. Finding a local influencer can provide a significant influx of clients to kickstart your cleaning business.

You should create a website as soon as you start your business to have a place where you can redirect your traffic from your social media accounts. This is where you can showcase your services, portfolio, and your pricing as well. Fortunately, setting up a website nowadays is pretty easy since hosting WordPress websites is pretty affordable and provides you with all the necessary tools.

Alternatively, you could also hire a freelancer to create the website for you.

7. Create Your Branding

Your branding should be part of your marketing strategy. The company name and logo need to leave a strong first impression and grab the attention of potential clients. Managing your brand effectively ensures that your company name and logo leave a strong first impression and grab the attention of potential clients. It also needs to be easily memorable so that you can naturally grow your brand reputation.

Here are some tips for designing your logo or brand:

• Check out your competitors’ branding/logo.
• Check out the different types of logos.
• Hire a graphic designer to help you visualize your ideas.
• Test out different variations to see which best fits your company.

Pro tip: Add your logo to all business documents such as service invoices, professional quotes and more.

8. Register your business 

With a business plan and a target audience in mind, it’s time to establish your company. Register your company name and make sure you have all the necessary licenses (if needed) to start operating, as well as permits for staff. This will depend on your area.

Before you register your business, you will need to come up with a company name. This step is crucial for establishing your brand identity, aligning it with your services/products, and ensuring compatibility with your logo. This is very important because once you’ve established your brand, rebranding is hard, expensive, and risky.

9. Acquire The Necessary Equipment

Your next step is to equip your company with the necessary tools. However, which tools you should get depends entirely on the style of your services.

Here are some examples:

• Residential cleaning – for domestic cleaning you will need more basic equipment such as a vacuum cleaner, kitchen and bathroom cleaning solutions, microfiber cloths, garbage bags, mops, buckets, etc. Although you may offer services using the client’s own cleaning equipment.
• Commercial cleaning – heavy-duty vacuum cleaner, pressure washer, various disinfectants, industrial mops and buckets, steam cleaners, floor scrubbers, etc.

Also, consider that purchasing higher-quality (more expensive) equipment will be a better financial decision in the long run. For example, basic vacuum cleaners may cost no more than $100, while high-end vacuum cleaners can cost up to several thousands of dollars. But, it’s been proven that these high-end vacuum cleaners last longer, have a longer warranty, and are much more effective at removing fine dust and allergens.

Uniforms are another necessity if you want to upkeep your brand identity!

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10. Set Your Pricing Model

This should be another important step in your checklist for your cleaning business. If you have already done your research within the market and analyzed your competitors, then you should have a general idea of what your pricing should look like.

However, you will still need to account for your fixed and variable costs. You can follow this formula:

• Price per cleaning job = (total costs per job + labor cost) + profit margin

A good profit margin should be around 20% to 30%, however, if you want to be ahead of your competitors then go for the lower profit margin and you can then raise it as you strengthen your brand reputation and influence.

Furthermore, if you want accurate tracking of your payments, records, payment confirmation, as well proper tax returns, you have to consider investing in a proper invoice template. Templates ensure that your invoices stay consistent and  relay all of the relevant information. They also show that extra bit of professionalism to your clients.

11. Launch Your Cleaning Business

With everything at the ready, it is time to finally launch your startup! Once you do, make sure to advertise your launch on all your socials.

As your business grows, be sure to be open to any suggestions and feedback to improve and optimize your services.

Types of Cleaning Services

To shape your cleaning business, you should take a look at the different types of cleaning services to figure out which best fits your idea.

• Residential cleaning – also known as domestic cleaning is a service that focuses on cleaning residential properties like an apartment or a house. This type of business can be initiated on a smaller scale, starting with as few as three employees or even less. Bigger operations might require a larger workforce.

• Commercial cleaning – services for company offices, restaurants, government buildings, etc. This entails cleaning restrooms, kitchens, as well as office spaces, lobbies, and hallways. For this type of service, a company would need a team of around ten employees, depending on the size of the operation.

• Window cleaning – a more niche service, but definitely high in demand especially in larger cities (specifically cities with office buildings or skyscrapers). This entails cleaning windows of large or tall buildings with glass facades. However, to start a business revolving around these services, you would require extensive knowledge to ensure your and your employees’ safety as well as expensive equipment such as water purifiers, solutions, window cleaning lifts, suspended platforms, etc.

• Carpet cleaning – services specialized in carpet cleaning either for residential or commercial needs.

Note that these are some of the types of cleaning companies/services, as there are many other types such as wall cleaning, sanitization/disinfection, dry cleaning, curtain cleaning, pool cleaning, HVAC cleaning, and more.

Conclusion

To make sure you don’t miss any critical steps, here’s the final checklist to ensure the success of your cleaning business.

If your cleaning business is in the UK, use an invoice template tailored for UK regulations.

• Research the market and define your niche
• Create a business plan
• Decide on a business structure (LLC, sole proprietorship, etc.)
• Register your business 
• Get business insurance and bonding
• Purchase the right equipment and supplies
• Set up your pricing 
• Create a marketing strategy
• Launch and manage your operations

Good luck on your journey to success!