Nashville welcomes over 15 million visitors each year. That means thousands of Airbnb rentals need cleaning after every guest. Add fast population growth and a booming economy, and Nashville is one of the best cities in the country for a cleaning business. This guide covers how to tap into the tourism market, set prices, and grow.
Why Is Nashville's Cleaning Market Booming?
Nashville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the South. Over 2 million people live in the metro area. That number grows every year.
But what really sets Nashville apart is tourism. Over 15 million tourists visit each year for music, food, and nightlife. Many stay in short-term rentals that need cleaning between guests.
What Makes Nashville Special
- Massive tourism — 15 million visitors a year drive huge demand for rental cleaning
- Airbnb hotspot — Nashville has thousands of active short-term rental listings
- Fast population growth — people are moving here from more expensive cities like LA and New York
- Wealthy suburbs — Franklin and Brentwood have high-income families who hire cleaners
How Do You Build an Airbnb Turnover Business in Nashville?
Nashville is one of the top Airbnb markets in the country. Downtown, the Gulch, East Nashville, and 12South are packed with short-term rentals.
Airbnb hosts need cleaners they can count on. Guests check out and new guests check in the same day. Fast, reliable cleaning is everything.
How to Get Airbnb Clients in Nashville
- Join Nashville host Facebook groups — hosts ask for cleaner recommendations all the time
- Contact property management companies — many Nashville hosts use managers who handle dozens of rentals
- Offer same-day turnovers — if you can clean a rental in 2 to 3 hours between checkout and check-in, you will always have work
- Be ready for weekends — Friday and Saturday are the busiest turnover days in Nashville
For a full guide, read our Airbnb cleaning business guide.
What Should You Charge in Nashville Areas?
Nashville prices range from premium in Belle Meade to moderate in Murfreesboro. Turnover pricing is different from standard home cleaning.
Nashville Neighborhood Pricing Guide
- Belle Meade — $200 to $350 per visit
- Franklin — $160 to $250 per visit
- Brentwood — $150 to $240 per visit
- East Nashville — $120 to $190 per visit
- Murfreesboro — $100 to $160 per visit
- Downtown Airbnb turnovers — $100 to $200 per turnover depending on the size
Use our price calculator to find the right rate. Check the full Tennessee pricing guide for more details.
What Cleaning Niches Are Unique to Nashville?
Nashville's tourism and growth create several niches you will not find in most cities.
- Airbnb turnovers — the biggest niche in Nashville. Thousands of rentals need cleaning every week. See our Airbnb cleaning guide.
- Bachelorette party recovery — Nashville is the top bachelorette party city in the country. Rentals used for parties often need heavy cleaning. Charge extra for these jobs.
- Move-in cleans for relocations — hundreds of people move to Nashville every week. Real estate agents need move-in cleaning. See our move-out cleaning guide.
- Event venue cleaning — Nashville has hundreds of bars, concert halls, and event spaces that need regular cleaning
How Do Nashville Seasons Affect Your Business?
Nashville tourism is not the same all year. Knowing the busy and slow seasons helps you plan.
Nashville Cleaning Calendar
- Spring (March to May) — tourism picks up fast. CMA Fest in June is a huge event.
- Summer — busy tourist season. Airbnb demand stays strong.
- Fall (September to November) — the busiest season. Perfect weather brings the most visitors.
- Winter (December to February) — tourism slows down. This is when you lean on residential recurring clients.
The smart move is to build a base of regular residential clients that pay your bills year-round. Then add Airbnb work on top during busy seasons.
How Do You Get Cleaning Clients in Nashville?
Nashville has a strong community feel. People talk and share recommendations. Use that to your advantage.
Best Ways to Find Clients in Nashville
- Airbnb host Facebook groups — this is the fastest way to get turnover work in Nashville
- Google Business Profile — set up your profile and collect reviews from happy clients
- Nextdoor in the suburbs — Franklin, Brentwood, and Hendersonville residents use Nextdoor to find local services
- Property management companies — landing one property manager can give you 10 or more regular turnover jobs
For more ideas, read our full guide on how to get cleaning clients.
How Do You Register a Cleaning Business in Nashville?
You need to register your business before you start cleaning in Nashville. Most cleaning businesses choose to form an LLC. It protects your personal assets if something goes wrong.
Steps to Register
- Choose a business name — pick a name that is not already taken in your state. Check the Secretary of State website to be sure.
- File your LLC — file your paperwork with the Tennessee Secretary of State. The filing fee is $300.
- Get an EIN — apply for a free Employer Identification Number from the IRS. You need this to open a business bank account.
- Open a business bank account — keep your business money separate from personal money. This protects your LLC status.
You can file your LLC online. It usually takes a few days to process.
- sos.tn.gov — Register your LLC with the Tennessee Secretary of State
- nashville.gov — Apply for a Nashville business license
- irs.gov — Apply for a free Employer Identification Number
What Permits and Licenses Do You Need in Nashville?
Nashville requires a business license from the Davidson County Clerk. The fee is $30.
What You Need to Get Started
- LLC or business registration — file with the Tennessee Secretary of State (fee: $300)
- EIN — free from the IRS, needed for bank accounts and taxes
- Sales tax permit — apply for a free permit from the Tennessee Department of Revenue. You must collect and remit tax on cleaning services.
Cleaning services are taxable in Tennessee. The rate is 7% state + local (up to 9.75% total). You must collect sales tax from your clients and send it to the state.
What Insurance Do You Need for Cleaning in Nashville?
Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Every cleaning business needs at least general liability insurance.
Types of Insurance for Nashville Cleaners
- General liability — covers damage to a client's property. Most clients expect at least $1 million in coverage. Costs about $30 to $50 per month.
- Workers compensation — covers injuries to you or your employees on the job
- Commercial auto — covers your vehicle while driving to jobs (your personal auto policy may not cover business use)
- Bonding — a surety bond protects clients against theft. Some clients require this before they hire you.
Workers comp. Tennessee requires workers comp if you have 5 or more employees. Sole proprietors and partnerships with fewer than 5 employees are exempt.
Read our full cleaning business insurance guide for a complete breakdown of coverage types and costs.
- tn.gov/commerce — Tennessee Department of Insurance
- MaidProfit Insurance Guide — What coverage you need and what it costs
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Cleaning Business in Nashville?
Starting a cleaning business in Nashville does not cost a lot of money. Most people can get started for under $2,000.
Startup Cost Breakdown
- LLC filing fee — $300
- General liability insurance — $500–$800/yr
- Cleaning supplies and equipment — $200–$400
- Marketing (website, business cards, ads) — $200–$500
Estimated total: $1,200–$2,000
You do not need a van or a storefront to start. Most cleaners use their own car and buy basic supplies from a wholesale store. You can add more equipment as you grow.
Start with basic supplies and upgrade as you earn. Many successful Nashville cleaning businesses started with less than $500 in equipment.
Startup Checklist for Nashville
Here is everything you need to do to start your cleaning business in Nashville. Follow these steps in order.
- Choose your business name — make sure it is available in your state
- File your LLC — register at sos.tn.gov (fee: $300)
- Get your EIN — apply free at irs.gov
- Get your local license — apply for a Davidson County business license ($30) at nashville.gov.
- Get your sales tax permit — apply at tn.gov. You must collect tax on cleaning services.
- Get general liability insurance — at least $1 million in coverage
- Open a business bank account — keep personal and business money separate
- Buy basic supplies — cleaning products, microfiber cloths, a vacuum, and a mop
- Set up your online presence — create a Google Business Profile and a simple website
- Start marketing — post on Nextdoor, ask friends for referrals, and start collecting reviews
- Tennessee Cleaning Business Guide — Full guide to starting a cleaning business in Tennessee
- MaidProfit Insurance Guide — What coverage you need and what it costs
- How to Get Cleaning Clients — Proven ways to fill your schedule fast
- How to Price Cleaning Services — Set prices that cover costs and earn profit
What Mistakes Do Nashville Cleaning Businesses Make?
Nashville is a great market, but these mistakes can limit your growth.
- Relying only on Airbnb work — tourism slows in winter. Without residential clients, your income drops too.
- Underpricing party turnovers — bachelorette party rentals are messier than normal. Charge 25 to 50 percent more for heavy-mess turnovers.
- Ignoring the suburbs — Franklin and Brentwood have wealthy families who pay well for regular cleaning. Do not focus only on downtown.
- Not planning for events — CMA Fest, ACL, and holiday weekends bring demand spikes. Have extra help ready.