How to start a cleaning business, step by step

Picture two people starting a cleaning business in the same town, in the same month. One prints flyers that say "we clean anything," buys a van full of supplies and takes every call. The other decides to clean homes on a weekly or biweekly schedule within fifteen minutes of where she lives, keeps the supply kit small and turns down anything else for the first six months. A year later, the second one usually has the fuller calendar and the better margins.

Cleaning is one of the easiest home service businesses to start, which is exactly why focus matters. This guide covers the decisions that shape a cleaning business in its first year, in the order you face them.

Step 1: choose residential or commercial first

The two markets feel similar but work differently:

Start with one. If commercial interests you, the commercial cleaning guide covers contracts, bidding and staffing for offices.

Step 2: decide what you will and will not clean

Write a standard service list for a regular visit, a separate list for first or deep cleans, and a short list of extras you charge for separately (inside the oven, inside the fridge, interior windows). Say clearly what you do not do, such as heavy mold, hazardous waste or anything that needs a ladder above a certain height.

A clear list makes quoting fast, sets expectations and makes it much easier to train your first employee later.

Step 3: check the local rules

Do not assume that cleaning needs no license just because it is not a construction trade. The SBA explains that the licenses and permits you need from your state, county or city depend on your business activities and your location, and recommends checking each level. At a minimum, ask your city and county whether you need a general business license, and register your trade name if you use one: the SBA notes that most states require you to register a DBA if you use one.

The general setup steps (business structure, EIN, bank account, taxes) are the same for every home service business and are covered in the guide to starting a home service business.

Step 4: insurance and bonding

You will be inside people's homes, handling their belongings, with chemicals, water and electrical appliances. General liability insurance covers claims for bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses and defending lawsuits, as the SBA describes it, and many customers expect it even from a one-person business.

Once you hire, the SBA lists workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance as required for businesses with employees, with some states requiring more. Some customers also ask whether you are bonded; ask your insurer what their bond or employee dishonesty coverage includes, so you can answer accurately.

Step 5: build a small, reliable supply kit

You do not need a van full of products to start. You need a kit that covers your standard service list, that you can carry in one trip and restock easily:

• a good vacuum suited to the floors you clean most
• microfiber cloths in different colors for kitchens, bathrooms and dusting
• a mop system and buckets
• a short list of products: all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, degreaser, floor cleaner
• gloves, a caddy, trash bags, spare vacuum bags or filters

Keep the product list short. Fewer products means faster training, fewer mistakes and simpler reordering.

Step 6: take chemical safety seriously

Mixing the wrong products can hurt someone. If you have employees, OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard requires employers with hazardous chemicals in the workplace to have labels and safety data sheets for the products workers use and to train workers to handle them appropriately. Keep a folder with the safety data sheet for every product in your kit, and make "never mix products" the first rule you teach.

Step 7: set prices from your real costs

Price per visit from your own timings: how long your team takes in a home of a given size, multiplied by the real cost of an hour of work, plus overhead, supplies and a margin. Price the first clean separately, because it takes longer.

The house cleaning pricing guide works through a full example: a recurring biweekly visit at $210 and a first clean at $345, built from example costs you can replace with yours.

Step 8: budget the first year

Most cleaning businesses start with modest one-time costs. The bigger commitment is the monthly side: insurance, fuel, phone, software, advertising and restocking supplies, before the customer list is full. The cleaning business startup costs guide walks through a worksheet you can fill in with your own numbers.

Step 9: find recurring customers

One-off cleans pay the bills; recurring customers build the business. A few habits that help:

• offer a clear recurring option (weekly, biweekly, monthly) on every quote
• keep your service area tight, so visits can be scheduled back to back
• ask every happy customer for a review and a referral on the day of the clean
• keep the same cleaner or team on the same homes where you can

Step 10: hire the right way

When you hire help, decide carefully whether they are employees or independent contractors. The IRS looks at three kinds of evidence: behavioral control (whether you control how the work is done), financial control (how the worker is paid, who provides the tools, who covers expenses) and the relationship itself (contracts, benefits and whether the work is a key part of your business). It also says there is no set number of factors that decides it. If you set the schedule, provide the supplies and train people to your checklist, get professional advice before treating them as contractors.

What to do next

Write your standard service list today, then time your first few visits carefully: those timings will set your prices. The house cleaning pricing guide shows how to turn them into a price.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to start a cleaning business?

Requirements depend on your state, county and city, and the SBA recommends checking all three. Ask your city and county about a general business license, and register your trade name if you use one.

Should I start with homes or offices?

Homes are usually easier to start with: daytime work, quick decisions and a small kit. Offices bring larger contracts but more equipment, night work and staffing questions.

Can my cleaners be independent contractors?

It depends on the whole relationship. The IRS looks at behavioral control, financial control and the type of relationship, with no set number of factors. Get professional advice before classifying workers as contractors.