Start a Cleaning Business
Honest, practical guidance on starting a cleaning business in the UK — insurance, trust, pricing, and building a client list that keeps coming back. Delivered over video call, wherever you're based.
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How to Start a Cleaning Business
Cleaning is a clearly service-based business — you go to the client's home or premises — and one of the most naturally recurring trades on this list, with most clients booking weekly or fortnightly rather than one-off. That regularity is genuinely valuable once you've built up a solid client list.
What You'll Need to Get Started
Public Liability Insurance
Typically £50–£120 a year. Not always a strict legal requirement for a sole trader, but most clients — especially commercial ones — expect to see it.
A DBS Check
A Basic check costs £18 direct through gov.uk and usually arrives within 14 days — a small cost for a genuine trust signal.
Reliable Kit & Supplies
Vacuum, mop and cleaning products — plus a clear decision on whether you or the client supplies them.
A Plan for Growing Beyond Yourself
Cleaning often scales through hiring — employer's liability insurance becomes a legal requirement the moment you do.
Registering Your Business
Most cleaners start as sole traders — the simplest structure, requiring registration with HMRC for Self Assessment once you earn over £1,000 in a tax year. A limited company is worth considering later, particularly once you're hiring.
The Real Costs of Starting
A basic start can cost as little as £150–£500 with your own equipment; a fuller professional setup — kit, insurance, marketing — typically runs £1,500–£2,500. Public liability insurance averages around £50–£120 a year, and a DBS check is a flat £18. Our free Planning Tool gives you an honest first estimate based on your specific plans.
How We Help Cleaning Business Owners Specifically
Beyond the general start-up support, we help with the things that matter most for this trade: building trust and getting found locally through your Google Business Profile and reviews, turning first cleans into steady recurring bookings through winning and keeping customers, and — once you're ready to hire — keeping wages and costs under control through straightforward financial tracking.
How much of this have you already worked out?
- Do you have insurance that covers you properly if something's damaged in a client's home?
- Have you decided whether you or the client supplies cleaning products, and priced accordingly?
- How will you handle it when you're fully booked yourself — will you turn work away, or start building a team?
- Do you have a system for scheduling recurring clients so nothing gets missed as your list grows?
These aren't trick questions — most people starting out haven't sat down and answered them either. Your free call is where we figure out which of these matter most for you; working through the answers properly is what the ongoing mentoring is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a qualification to start a cleaning business?
Do I need a DBS check?
Should I supply my own cleaning products?
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?
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