How to Start a Cleaning Business: Step-by-Step Guide

Starting a cleaning business costs $500 to $2,000 and takes about two weeks to set up. You need basic supplies, insurance, a business license, and a plan to find your first clients. This guide walks you through every step from picking your niche to booking your first jobs.

Why Start a Cleaning Business?

The cleaning industry makes over $90 billion every year. It is one of the easiest businesses to start without spending a lot of money. You might want to replace a full-time job, earn extra money on the side, or build a company with workers. A cleaning business gives you a clear path to making money.

You do not need a special degree to start a cleaning business. All you need is basic supplies, a good car, and the drive to do great work. This guide walks you through every step. You will learn how to pick your focus area, find your first clients, and set up systems to grow.

How Do You Choose Your Cleaning Niche?

Not all cleaning businesses are the same. The type of cleaning you do decides who your customers are, how you set prices, what tools you need, and how you will grow. Here are the most common choices:

Residential Cleaning

This is the most popular place to start. You clean homes like apartments, condos, townhouses, and houses. Home cleaning lets you pick your own hours. It costs less to start, and you can get new clients fast through word of mouth.

• Startup cost — $500 to $2,000 for basic supplies, insurance, and marketing
• Typical clients — busy professionals, families, elderly homeowners, property managers
• Revenue per clean — $120 to $350 depending on home size and service type
• Best for — solo operators or small teams looking for recurring weekly/biweekly clients

Commercial Cleaning

Commercial cleaning covers offices, doctor's offices, stores, and warehouses. The jobs are bigger, but you need more workers, more tools, and you often have to work evenings or weekends.

• Startup cost — $5,000 to $15,000 for commercial-grade equipment and higher insurance limits
• Typical clients — property management companies, small businesses, medical offices
• Revenue per contract — $500 to $5,000+/month for recurring contracts
• Best for — operators who want large, predictable recurring revenue

Specialty Cleaning

Some cleaning jobs pay more because they need special skills or tools. Examples include cleaning after construction, carpet and furniture cleaning, window washing, and pressure washing.

How Do You Create a Cleaning Business Plan?

You do not need a 50-page paper. A one-page plan that answers these key questions will keep you on track:

1. What services will you offer? — Standard cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in/out, specialty services
2. Who is your target customer? — Homeowners, renters, property managers, businesses
3. What is your service area? — Define a radius (e.g., 20 miles) to control drive time
4. How will you price your services? — Flat rate, hourly, or per square foot (see our pricing guide)
5. What are your startup costs? — List every expense: supplies, insurance, marketing, vehicle costs
6. How will you get clients? — Online marketing, referrals, flyers, partnerships
7. What are your revenue goals? — Monthly income target for months 1, 3, 6, and 12

What Are the Legal Requirements for a Cleaning Business?

Setting up the legal side the right way keeps you safe and helps clients trust you. Here is what you need:

Business Structure

Most cleaning businesses start as a sole proprietorship (the simplest option, with very little paperwork) or a limited liability company (this protects your personal money and belongings). A limited liability company costs $50 to $500 depending on your state. It is the best choice for any business where you go into people's homes.

Business License

Most cities and counties require a general business license. Visit your local government website or city hall to apply. It usually costs $50 to $400 per year. Some states have extra rules for cleaning companies. Check your state's Secretary of State website to be sure.

Employer Identification Number

Get a free Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service at irs.gov. You need it to open a business bank account, file taxes, and hire workers later. Even if you work alone, it helps keep your Social Security number off business papers.

Business Bank Account

Open a business checking account right away. Mixing your personal and business money is one of the most common mistakes new cleaning business owners make. It makes taxes harder and weakens the protection your limited liability company gives you.

What Insurance Does a Cleaning Business Need?

Insurance is not something you can skip. One accident in a client's home without insurance could wipe out your business. Here is what you need:

• General liability insurance — Covers property damage, injuries to third parties, and accidents. Costs $400–$1,200/year. This is the minimum every cleaning business needs
• Workers' compensation — Required in most states once you have employees. Covers injuries to your staff on the job
• Commercial auto insurance — If you use a vehicle for business, your personal auto policy may not cover business-related accidents
• Bonding (surety bond) — Protects clients against theft by your employees. Costs $100–$500/year and builds client trust

For a deep dive into coverage types and costs, read our Cleaning Business Insurance Guide.

What Supplies and Equipment Do You Need?

You do not need fancy tools to start. Begin with the basics and buy better stuff as you make more money. Here is a list of what you need to start:

• Cleaning solutions — All-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom disinfectant, wood cleaner
• Microfiber cloths — Buy at least 20-30 in different colors for different surfaces
• Mop and bucket — A flat mop system is faster and more hygienic than string mops
• Vacuum cleaner — A reliable upright or canister vacuum. Backpack vacuums are great for speed
• Caddy or tote — Keeps supplies organized and portable from room to room
• Rubber gloves, trash bags, spray bottles — Basic consumables you'll restock regularly
• Dusters — Extendable duster for ceiling fans, blinds, and high shelves

Budget $200–$500 for your starter kit. For a complete list with product recommendations, see our Cleaning Supplies & Equipment Guide.

How Do You Set Your Cleaning Prices?

Setting your prices is one of the most important choices you will make. If you charge too little, you will burn out. If you charge too much, it will be hard to find clients. The goal is to find the right price where you can compete and still make good money.

Common pricing ranges for residential cleaning:

• Standard cleaning — $120–$250 for a typical 3-bedroom home
• Deep cleaning — $200–$450 (1.5x to 2.5x standard pricing)
• Move-in/out cleaning — $250–$500+ depending on home condition
• Hourly rate — $25–$50 per cleaner per hour

For detailed formulas, per-square-foot rates, and commercial pricing, read our complete Pricing Guide or use the Price Calculator.

How Do You Build Your Cleaning Business Brand?

You do not need a fancy logo to start. But looking professional helps people trust you and brings in better clients.

• Business name — Choose something memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to cleaning. Check that the domain name is available
• Simple logo — Use Canva or a freelancer on Fiverr to create a clean, professional logo
• Business cards — Print cards to leave with clients after each clean. Include your phone, email, and website
• Uniform or branded shirt — Even matching t-shirts with your logo create a professional impression
• Vehicle branding — Magnetic signs for your car are inexpensive ($50–$150) and generate local awareness

How Do You Get Your First Cleaning Clients?

This is where most new business owners have a hard time. But steady effort pays off fast. Here are the quickest ways to get your first clients:

Set Up Your Online Presence

1. Google Business Profile — Free and essential. This puts you on Google Maps and in local search results
2. Facebook business page — Post before/after photos, share tips, and ask for reviews
3. Simple website — Even a one-page site with your services, prices, and contact form adds credibility

Use Word-of-Mouth

• Tell everyone you know — Friends, family, neighbors, church members. Personal referrals convert at 3-5x the rate of ads
• Offer a referral bonus — Give existing clients $25–$50 off their next clean for every new client they refer
• Ask for reviews — After every job, send a follow-up text or email asking for a Google review

Use Lead Generation Platforms

• Thumbtack — Pay-per-lead platform where homeowners request cleaning quotes
• Nextdoor — Neighborhood social network where residents recommend local businesses
• Yelp — Claim your business profile and respond to every review
• Facebook groups — Join local buy/sell/trade and neighborhood groups to offer your services

For a complete marketing plan, read our Marketing Your Cleaning Business guide. Also check out our How to Get Cleaning Clients Fast article.

What Systems Should You Build From Day One?

The cleaning businesses that grow are the ones with good systems. Even if you work alone, setting up steps and routines early saves time. It also keeps things from getting messy as you grow.

• Scheduling — Use software (like MaidProfit) or even Google Calendar to track appointments, avoid double-booking, and plan efficient routes
• Quoting — Create a standard process for estimating jobs. Our Quote Generator can help you produce professional quotes quickly
• Invoicing — Send invoices promptly after each job. Use our Invoice Generator for professional, branded invoices
• Checklists — Create room-by-room cleaning checklists so every job meets the same standard. Download our Cleaning Checklist Templates
• Client communication — Use templates for booking confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups. Check out our Email Templates

What Should You Do in Your First 30 Days?

Here's a realistic timeline for your first month:

1. Week 1 — Register your business, get an Employer Identification Number, open a business bank account, and apply for insurance
2. Week 2 — Buy supplies, set up your Google Business Profile, create a simple website or landing page, and print business cards
3. Week 3 — Start marketing: post on social media, tell your network, join Thumbtack/Nextdoor, distribute flyers in target neighborhoods
4. Week 4 — Book and complete your first 3-5 jobs. Ask every client for a Google review. Refine your pricing based on actual time spent

By the end of your first month, you should have the legal stuff done, your online pages set up, and at least a few finished jobs with good reviews.

What Are the Most Common Startup Mistakes?

After working with thousands of cleaning business owners, here are the mistakes we see the most:

• Charging too little — Setting prices too low to "win" clients leads to burnout and very little profit. Set prices to make money from day one
• Skipping insurance — One broken item or injury lawsuit can wipe you out. Insurance is a must
• No written agreements — Always use a written agreement that lists what you will do, your prices, how to cancel, and who is responsible if something goes wrong
• Trying to clean everything — Focus on one type of cleaning before adding more. Doing home, office, and carpet cleaning all at once lowers your quality
• Ignoring online reviews — Reviews are your best marketing tool. Ask every happy client for a review
• Not tracking money — From day one, write down every dollar that comes in and goes out. Use our Profit Margin Calculator to watch your profit

For a deeper dive, read our 10 Cleaning Business Mistakes to Avoid.

How Do You Grow Beyond Solo Cleaning?

Once you are fully booked and have more work than you can do alone, it is time to hire help. This is when you go from being a cleaner to being a business owner.

• Hire when you are 80% or more booked — Do not hire before you have enough work to keep workers busy
• Start with one part-time helper — Train them with your checklists and systems before hiring more people
• Get workers' compensation insurance — This is required in most states when you have workers
• Write everything down — Training guides, cleaning steps, and what each client likes should all be on paper

For detailed guidance on building a team, read our How to Hire & Train Cleaning Staff guide and How to Scale Your Cleaning Business.

Find Your State Guide

Every state has its own rules. Pick your state below for local details.

Your Cleaning Business Starts Today

Starting a cleaning business is one of the simplest ways to work for yourself. It costs little to start, there is always demand, you get repeat customers, and there is almost no limit to how much you can grow.

The key is to take action. Do not wait until everything is perfect. Start with the basics, do great work, and make your systems better as you grow. Every successful cleaning company you see today started with one owner, one mop, and one client.