Scale Your Columbia Cleaning Business with MaidProfit
From Forest Acres to Irmo, the Vista to Shandon — MaidProfit helps Columbia cleaning companies serve South Carolina’s capital and University of South Carolina market.
Why Columbia’s Diverse Economy Fuels Cleaning Demand
Columbia is South Carolina’s capital and its second-largest metro area. The combination of state government, the University of South Carolina (35,000+ students), Fort Jackson (the Army’s largest basic training installation), and a growing healthcare sector creates a diverse economic base that drives consistent cleaning demand across multiple segments.
Forest Acres, Shandon, and the Lake Murray area represent Columbia’s premium residential markets. Government professionals, military families, and university faculty form a stable client base. The Vista District’s restaurants and offices provide commercial cleaning opportunities. Irmo and Lexington are growing suburban markets with family-oriented demand.
Columbia’s affordability makes it an excellent market for new cleaning businesses. Startup costs are low, while the combination of government, military, and university demand provides recession-resistant revenue streams. USC’s student population drives predictable move-in/move-out surges every August and May.
Government + Military + University = Stability
Columbia’s three economic anchors — state government, Fort Jackson, and USC — provide recession-resistant demand. Government workers and military families are reliable recurring clients with predictable schedules.
Everything you need to scale
Built specifically for cleaning businesses — not generic software adapted for your industry.
What Columbia Cleaners Charge
Columbia rates are moderate, reflecting the capital city’s blend of government, military, and university demographics.
| Service | Price Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Standard House Cleaning | $100 – $225 | $145 |
| Deep Cleaning | $185 – $410 | $280 |
| Move-Out Cleaning | $225 – $490 | $345 |
| Office Cleaning (per sq ft) | $0.07 – $0.16 | $0.11 |
| Recurring Weekly Service | $90 – $190 | $130 |
Forest Acres and Shandon command the highest residential rates. Lake Murray attracts affluent lakefront homeowners. The Vista district offers strong commercial demand. Irmo and Lexington provide growing suburban volume. USC-area move-outs are priced $150–$350 per unit.
Columbia Cleaning Business Requirements
City of Columbia Business License
Columbia requires a municipal business license based on gross revenue. Apply through the city’s Business License Division. Richland County also has a separate business license requirement.
South Carolina Business Registration
Register your LLC with the SC Secretary of State ($110). Register with the SC Department of Revenue.
South Carolina Sales Tax
Cleaning services are generally not subject to SC sales tax. Columbia’s combined local rate is approximately 8% for taxable items. Verify with the Department of Revenue.
Workers’ Compensation
SC requires workers’ comp for businesses with 4+ employees. Cleaning businesses pay $1.80–$3.20 per $100 of payroll.
General Liability Insurance
Recommended. Government and military clients often require proof of insurance. Expect $350–$700/year for $500K–$1M coverage.
Fort Jackson Contracting
Cleaning businesses serving Fort Jackson may need to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) for government contracts. This opens access to military housing and facility cleaning.
Up and running in minutes
No technical setup required. If you can send an email, you can run MaidProfit.
Simple, predictable pricing
No per-job fees. No surprise charges. Cancel anytime.
- Up to 50 jobs/month
- 1 team member
- Online booking page
- Client management
- Basic invoicing
- Analytics dashboard
- Integrations
- Unlimited jobs
- Up to 10 team members
- Online booking + client portal
- Full CRM
- Automated invoicing & payments
- Analytics dashboard
- QuickBooks + Stripe integrations
- Everything in Growth
- Unlimited team members
- Multi-location support
- Custom reporting
- Priority support + onboarding
- API access
- White-label options
All plans include a 14-day free trial. No credit card required.
Trusted by cleaning businesses everywhere
Hear from real cleaning business owners.
“Columbia’s government workers are our most reliable clients — consistent schedules, always pay on time. MaidProfit’s automated billing means I spend zero time chasing payments. 90 recurring clients and growing.”
“USC move-out season is our biggest revenue month. MaidProfit’s surge scheduling helped us handle 65 student apartments in three weeks last May. Automated invoicing collected every payment within 72 hours.”
“Forest Acres and Shandon families value consistency above all. MaidProfit’s quality tracking and client notes ensure every visit is perfect. Our retention rate is 96% — highest in the Midlands.”