How to start a cleaning business

Most new cleaning businesses start with one kind of work and add more later. The choice affects your supplies, your schedule and how you price.

• Residential (houses and apartments): flexible hours, many small clients, often weekly or every-two-weeks visits.
• Move-in and move-out cleans: bigger one-off jobs, often booked through landlords and real-estate agents.
• Vacation rentals: quick turnovers between guests, scheduled around check-outs.
• Commercial (small offices): evening work, fewer but larger clients, usually invoiced monthly.

Write down what's included in a standard clean and what counts as an extra (inside the oven or fridge, interior windows, laundry). Clients will ask, and it makes pricing much easier.

• Pick a name and check that it isn't already taken in your state and as a domain or social handle.
• Choose a structure. Many cleaners start as a sole proprietor; others form an LLC to keep personal and business liability separate. An accountant can tell you which fits.
• Register the business and get any licenses your state, county or city requires. Requirements vary a lot, so ask your local business office.
• Get an EIN from the IRS (free) if you'll hire help or want to keep your Social Security number off paperwork.
• Open a separate business bank account so income and expenses are easy to track at tax time.

Clients are letting you into their homes and offices, so insurance matters, and many commercial clients will ask for proof.

• General liability insurance covers damage to a client's property and injuries.
• A janitorial or surety bond reassures clients against theft claims.
• Workers' compensation is usually required once you have employees; rules depend on the state.
• Commercial auto coverage may be needed if you drive for the business.

Ask a few insurers for quotes that cover cleaning work specifically.

Start with a kit you can carry into any home, and add specialty items as jobs need them.

• Microfiber cloths in a few colors (one color per area keeps kitchens and bathrooms separate).
• All-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, disinfectant, degreaser and a bathroom cleaner.
• A vacuum that handles carpet and hard floors, a mop and bucket, a duster with an extension pole.
• Scrub brushes, a toilet brush, sponges, gloves, trash bags and a caddy to carry it all.
• Optional: a steam mop, a HEPA vacuum for allergy-sensitive clients, eco-friendly products if you'll market them.

Most clients prefer a flat price per clean. Work it out from how long the job takes and the hourly rate you need, then add extras on top. Recurring clients usually get a small discount because their homes stay cleaner between visits.

Re-check the price after the first two or three visits to a home. If a clean keeps running long, adjust it or quote the extra work separately.

• Tell people you already know: friends, family, neighbors and former coworkers often become the first clients and referrals.
• Create a free Google Business Profile so you show up in local searches and maps.
• Post in local community groups and neighborhood apps, following each group's rules.
• Leave cards or flyers with real-estate agents, property managers and vacation-rental hosts.
• Ask every happy client for a review and a referral; it's the cheapest marketing there is.

Recurring clients are the backbone of a steady cleaning business. When a one-off clean goes well, offer a weekly or every-two-weeks schedule.

Decide how you'll get paid before your first job. Send an invoice after each clean (or once a month for commercial clients) that lists each service and the due date, and make it easy to pay.

Clients pay faster when the invoice has a pay-by-card button. For weekly clients, recurring invoices can go out on their own, and reminders can follow up when someone pays late.