How to start a cleaning business in 2026: a step-by-step guide

To start a cleaning business, choose residential or commercial work, register and insure the business, buy basic supplies, set your prices, and get a website where clients can book you. You don’t need much money at first. A few hundred dollars for supplies, a phone, and a car can cover the basics. The harder part is setting prices that cover your costs, keeping your schedule full, and turning first-time clients into regulars.

This guide covers what you need to get a cleaning business off the ground, including choosing between residential or commercial cleaning, the legal steps, insurance, supplies, pricing, your website, and finding your first clients. It's for people in the US starting out with a tight budget or no professional cleaning experience.

Quick answer: how to start a cleaning business

The 10 steps to start a cleaning business:

1. Choose residential cleaning, commercial cleaning, or a specialized service.
2. Write a one-page business plan with your prices and target clients.
3. Pick a business name and a business structure (sole proprietorship or LLC).
4. Register the business, get a business license and an EIN, and open a business bank account.
5. Buy general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance once you hire.
6. Buy basic supplies and a good vacuum cleaner.
7. Set your pricing strategy: hourly, flat rate, or per square foot.
8. Build a website with online booking and set up your Google Business Profile.
9. Find your first few clients through neighbors, local groups, and property managers.
10. Systemize booking, invoicing, and payments so you can grow and hire.

Is a cleaning business worth starting?

It can be, if you price each job carefully and keep your schedule full.

The cleaning industry has steady demand. Homes and offices need cleaning every week. According to Stripe's guide to starting a cleaning business, the global cleaning services market was worth about $415.93 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow around 6.9% a year through 2030.

The barrier to entry is low. You don't need a degree, a storefront, or expensive equipment. Clients tend to book weekly or biweekly cleaning services, which means you don’t have to find new work every time. A few repeat customers give you a steady base of income.

Running a cleaning business has downsides, too. The work is physical, and when you’re the only person doing the job, your income depends on how many hours you can put in. Once you add staff, you also have to pay for wages, insurance, supplies, and travel. Stripe's guide mentions one large janitorial company with a net margin of about 3.1% in 2025. You may have better margins and fewer overhead costs as a one-person cleaning company, but you still need to price each job carefully.

Step 1: Choose residential or commercial cleaning

This choice affects your business model, your prices, your schedule, and how you find clients.

Residential cleaning

Residential cleaning means cleaning houses and apartments. It's a common starting point for solo cleaners because you can take on smaller jobs without a crew. Most appointments happen during the day, and a happy customer can bring in more work through referrals. Home cleaning clients usually want recurring service plus the occasional deep cleaning.

Commercial cleaning

Commercial cleaning covers offices, clinics, gyms, shops, and other commercial spaces. These jobs often come with regular cleaning contracts, so you know when the next payment is coming in. The trade-off is that you’ll likely need to work evenings or outside business hours. Larger spaces may also require extra cleaners, more insurance coverage, and sometimes specialized training. Many commercial cleaning businesses (sometimes called a janitorial business) start residential and add commercial later.

Specialized services to consider

A specialized service lets you charge more than other businesses nearby. Common options include:

• Move-out cleaning for renters, landlords, and real estate agents
• Deep cleaning for first visits, seasonal cleans, and homes that need extra work
• Carpet cleaning and upholstery
• Window cleaning and window washing
• Eco-friendly cleaning using plant-based cleaning products
• Vacation rental turnovers in tourist areas
• Post-construction cleaning

You can offer these as add-ons to your standard cleaning jobs or as your main niche.

Step 2: Write a simple business plan

You don’t need a long business plan. One page covering the basics is enough. Answer these questions:

• Who are your potential customers, and where are they?
• What cleaning services will you offer, and at what price?
• How many jobs a week do you need to cover your costs and pay yourself?
• What do your startup costs look like?
• Which marketing channels will you use to find clients?

Look at what other cleaning services in your area charge. Search Google for "house cleaning near me" and note prices, packages, and reviews.

Step 3: Pick a business name and business structure

Pick a cleaning business name that's easy to remember, spell, and say out loud. It should also give people a rough idea of the services you offer. Check that the name isn't already registered in your state and that a matching domain is available.

Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the simplest business entity. You're a sole proprietor by default as soon as you start working for yourself. There’s usually less paperwork and no complicated setup, but you get no personal liability protection. If someone sues your business, your personal money and property could be at risk.

Limited liability company (LLC)

A limited liability company separates your personal assets from your own company, which can help protect your property or money if the company faces a lawsuit or certain debts. When you're cleaning other people's homes and offices, accidents can happen, even when you’re careful. That’s one reason many cleaning business owners choose this setup. Filing fees vary by state.

Step 4: Handle licenses, registration, and taxes

Business license

Most cities, counties, or states require a business license to operate a cleaning business, so get one before you take on paying customers. Check with your city or county clerk and your state's small business office. Depending on where you work, you may also need a vendor's license or a separate cleaning services license, according to Hiscox.

EIN and a business bank account

Get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You'll need it to hire employees and to open a business bank account. Use it for customer payments and expenses, so you can see how much the business brings in and what it costs to run.

Step 5: Get insurance coverage

Cleaning other people’s properties comes with some risks. Having the right business insurance can help cover you when accidents happen.

General liability insurance

General liability insurance covers property damage and injuries. For example, a broken vase or a client slipping on a wet floor. Many commercial clients and property managers won't hire a cleaning company without it.

Workers’ compensation insurance

Once you hire employees, most states require workers’ compensation insurance. It covers medical costs and lost wages if a cleaner gets injured on the job.

Bonding and commercial auto

A janitorial bond protects clients against theft by your staff, and it can give home cleaning clients extra peace of mind. If you drive between jobs carrying supplies, check whether you need commercial auto coverage, too.

Step 6: Buy cleaning supplies and equipment

Start with the right cleaning supplies for the services you offer and upgrade as you earn.

Basic supplies checklist

• All-purpose cleaners, glass cleaner, and a floor cleaner
• Disinfectant for kitchens and bathrooms
• Microfiber cloths in several colors (one color per room type to avoid cross-contamination)
• Scrub brushes, sponges, and a toilet brush
• Mop and bucket
• Trash bags
• Rubber gloves
• A cleaning caddy for carrying supplies from room to room

Equipment worth paying more for

Your vacuum cleaner gets a lot of use, so it’s worth spending a little more here. Look for a commercial-grade model with a HEPA filter and good pickup on pet hair. If you plan to offer carpet cleaning or window washing, budget for those cleaning solutions and tools separately.

Step 7: Set your pricing strategy

Hourly, flat rate, or per square foot

Most cleaning business owners charge in one of three ways:

• Hourly: Simple to quote, good while you're learning how long jobs take.
• Flat rate: A fixed price per visit. Clients like knowing the cost before the job starts.
• Per square foot: Common for commercial cleaning. Stripe's guide puts typical rates at about $0.10 to $0.50 per square foot.

Many owners offer tiered packages, such as standard, deep cleaning, and move-out cleaning. Extras like cleaning inside the oven or fridge can go on the quote as add-ons.

What to charge as a beginner

Smart Cleaning School suggests new house cleaners charge around $100 to $125 per house and aim for at least $30 an hour. Local prices vary a lot, so compare yours with nearby cleaning services and adjust after your first few jobs.

Step 8: Build a website and Google Business Profile

When someone needs a cleaner, they’ll often search online before hiring a service. If your page has no prices and no way to book, they'll call someone else.

What your cleaning business website needs

• A clear list of cleaning services and starting prices
• Online booking or a quote request form
• Your service area
• Reviews from satisfied customers
• Proof of insurance
• A way to pay online

Make time to set up your free Google Business Profile and link it to your site. That’s one more way to get your business in front of local customers.

How to build it with B12

B12 builds a working cleaning business website from a short description. You chat with the B12 AI Agent, and it creates the pages, the booking form, and the copy for you. You can add a booking page and online payments by asking the AI Agent. Website + Client Engagement adds client intake forms and email marketing.

Try a prompt like this:

Build a website for Sparkle & Co., a residential cleaning business in Austin, TX. We offer standard cleaning, deep cleaning, and move-out cleaning. Add a booking form, a pricing section with starting prices, an FAQ, and a page about our insurance.

That's it. You can edit anything by asking the AI Agent to make the changes, then launch it free on a b12sites.com address, or on your own domain with a paid plan. Want a head start? Begin with the cleaning service website template (or the cleaning company website template for commercial work). Start for free on B12.

Step 9: Find your first clients

Residential clients

When you start a cleaning business, your first few jobs will usually come through people who already know you. Tell friends, family, and neighbors, and ask them to share your website. Post in local Facebook groups and Nextdoor, and ask happy customers for reviews.

Commercial clients

For commercial clients, reach out directly to small offices, clinics, gyms, and property managers. Property managers and real estate agents often need move-out cleaning on short notice and can send you steady work.

Turn satisfied customers into repeat customers

When someone likes your services, make it easy for them to book you again. Offer a discount for weekly or biweekly bookings, and start a referral program that gives clients a credit when they send someone your way. Use simple customer relationship management (even a spreadsheet works at first) to track each client's preferences, key codes, and pets.

Step 10: Run the business day to day

Past a handful of clients, scheduling by text gets messy. Use one system for online booking, reminders, invoices, and payments. Here's how to create an invoice for your cleaning business. This will save you time and help you keep up with the paperwork between jobs.

Hire when you're turning down work or when your schedule is full for several weeks in a row. Budget for pay and proper training. House cleaners earn an average of $21.01 an hour, according to Housecall Pro, which estimates the real cost to you at about $24 to $25 an hour after payroll taxes. Give new hires a clear checklist so they know how you expect each job to be done, especially on commercial sites. Make sure your workers’ compensation insurance is in place before their first shift.

How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?

Your startup budget depends on the services you offer and the supplies you buy up front. For a basic residential cleaning business, you can expect to spend under $1,000, according to Housecall Pro. This covers supplies, registration, and a basic website. Commercial cleaning costs more. Housecall Pro puts a commercial operation at $2,000 to $5,000 or more, mostly for specialized equipment, insurance, and staff. Costs climb fast once you add a car and staff. Your biggest recurring costs will be insurance, transportation (vehicle and fuel), supplies, and booking software.

Can you start a cleaning business with no money or no experience?

You can start a cleaning business without spending much. Use the cleaning supplies you already own, take on jobs yourself, and build a free website to find customers. You don’t need a separate office. You can handle calls and paperwork from home and travel to each job. But before you clean someone else’s property, make sure you have the right insurance.

You don't need professional experience either. You'll get faster with practice. Clean a few friends' homes at a discount while you get used to the work. Notice which rooms take the longest, what products work best, and how much time you need to finish the job. Use that information to set your prices.

Next steps

That's how to start a cleaning business: pick your niche, register and insure the business, buy basic supplies, set prices, and get online. Then give clients a website where they can see your services and book you. Build your cleaning business website with B12.

It can be. A basic residential cleaning business can start for under $1,000, according to Housecall Pro, and repeat clients keep your schedule full. Your profit depends on pricing each job to cover travel, supplies, insurance, and taxes. Smart Cleaning School suggests new solo cleaners aim for at least $30 an hour.

House cleaners typically charge $30 to $80 an hour per cleaner, according to Housecall Pro. That puts a 2-hour clean at about $60 to $160, depending on your area and the type of cleaning.

It's within the typical range of $30 to $80 an hour per cleaner, according to Housecall Pro. If you run the business yourself, that rate also has to cover travel time, supplies, insurance, and taxes.

Usually, yes. Most places require a general business license from your city, county, or state. Check your local requirements before your first paid job.

Start with your network, local online groups, and your Google Business Profile, then reach out to property managers and small offices. A website with online booking makes it easy for potential clients to say yes.