How to Start a Cleaning Business in the UK: Costs, Pricing & First Customers
How to Start a Cleaning Business UK | Costs & Customers
Domestic and commercial cleaning is one of the UK’s most in-demand and flexible industries. Whether you're going solo or building a team, starting a cleaning business is affordable, profitable, and full of long-term opportunity, especially if you know how to market yourself properly online. See our fully setup and hands off cleaning website design service
In this guide, we’ll cover the essentials of getting started, from equipment to earnings, and how a proper website and lead system from SMB Booster can help you grow from day one.
Why Start a Cleaning Business?
Low startup costs – You can begin with basic tools and supplies.
Massive demand – Homes, landlords, offices, letting agents & builders all need cleaning services regularly.
Repeat customers – Many clients want weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleans.
Flexible schedule – Work when it suits you, part-time or full-time.
Scalable – Start solo and grow into a team-based operation.
How Big Is the Market?
The UK cleaning industry is worth over £59 billion, and continues to grow every year. Post-COVID, demand for deep cleans, commercial sanitising, and end-of-tenancy cleans has skyrocketed.
Add to that builders cleaning, carpet cleans, move-in cleaning, void cleans, and house cleans amongst many others, and you realise their is a massive market to tap into.
Whether you’re targeting homes, offices, shops, gyms, or rental properties, there’s room for new, reliable cleaners in almost every town and city.
Set Up Your Cleaning Business Properly
Before taking your first booking, organise the practical foundations of your business.
Business Structure and Records
Decide whether to operate as a sole trader or through a limited company. The right choice depends on your circumstances, so get advice if you are unsure.
Keep records of income and expenses from the start and check your registration and tax responsibilities. The official GOV.UK guide to setting up as a sole trader is a useful starting point.
Insurance
Speak to an insurer about the cleaning services you intend to provide. Ask about public liability, accidental damage, treatment risks and loss of customer keys, including any exclusions.
If you employ staff, check the employers’ liability insurance requirements. This cover is generally compulsory for employers, although exemptions exist.
Training and Safe Working
Choose training relevant to the tasks you will undertake, especially before offering specialist services.
Chemical safety involves assessing risks and controlling exposure, as well as providing appropriate information and training. A course certificate alone does not replace safe working procedures.
Read the HSE guidance on COSHH for cleaning businesses and follow the instructions for the products and equipment you use.
Clear Customer Agreements
Confirm the cleaning tasks, price, access arrangements, payment terms and cancellation policy before starting.
Agree how keys will be handled, how additional work will be authorised and how customers should raise any concerns. Clear expectations help both sides understand the service being purchased.
Basic Equipment You'll Need
Here’s a typical kit list to start with:
Vacuum cleaner (commercial or portable)
Mop, bucket, brushes & cloths
Microfibre cloths & dusters
Cleaning solutions (eco-friendly options are a plus!)
PPE – gloves, apron, mask
Branded T-shirt/uniform (great for trust & branding)
Vehicle (optional, but helpful for scaling)
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Cleaning Business?
Your startup budget depends on the services you offer, the equipment you already own and whether you will work alone or employ a team.
A domestic cleaning business using basic equipment will have different needs from a company offering carpet cleaning or larger commercial contracts. Build your budget around the work you intend to take on.
Allow for:
Equipment: a suitable vacuum, mop system, brushes, cloths and storage.
Products and consumables: cleaning solutions, replacement cloths and appropriate protective equipment.
Insurance: cover suited to your services, working arrangements and customer requirements.
Transport: fuel, parking, maintenance and suitable vehicle insurance.
Business administration: phone costs, bookkeeping and any professional advice you need.
Marketing: branding, a website and a realistic budget for reaching potential customers.
Working capital: money to cover expenses while you wait for customer payments.
Separate one-off purchases from ongoing costs. Avoid buying expensive specialist machines until you have a clear reason to offer that service.
A useful starting point is to obtain actual quotes for your essential purchases and recurring expenses. This gives you a budget based on your business rather than a generic estimate.
How to Price Your Cleaning Services
Your cleaning rate needs to cover more than the time you spend inside a customer’s property.
Allow for cleaning time, travel, materials, equipment wear, administration and overheads. If you employ cleaners, include the full cost of employing them rather than just their hourly pay.
For fixed-price jobs, use this approach:
Estimated labour cost + travel and materials + a contribution to overheads + profit = your quoted price.
You should still account for your own working time when you are the person doing the cleaning.
Hourly Rate or Fixed Price?
Hourly pricing can suit regular domestic cleaning where the customer books a set amount of time and agrees the priorities.
A fixed price can suit a clearly defined job, such as an end-of-tenancy clean. However, it depends on understanding the property’s condition and exactly what the customer expects.
Put the agreed scope in writing. State what is included, what costs extra and how you will handle additional work.
Turnover Is Not Take-Home Pay
For illustration, 10 weekly customers booking three hours each at £20 per hour would generate £600 in weekly turnover.
That involves 30 cleaning hours, plus travel, quoting and administration. You would still need to deduct business expenses and allow for tax.
This is an example calculation, not a recommended cleaning rate or an earnings promise. After your first few jobs, compare the time and costs you estimated with what actually happened, then adjust your pricing where necessary.
Choose the Right Type of Cleaning Business
Before buying equipment or advertising, decide which customers you want to serve. Different cleaning services involve different schedules, expectations and costs.
Regular Domestic Cleaning
Weekly or fortnightly house cleaning can help you build a repeat customer base. Agree which rooms and tasks are included, who supplies the equipment and how much can realistically be completed during each visit.
Keeping customers within a manageable area can also reduce the unpaid time you spend travelling.
Commercial and Office Cleaning
Commercial work may involve cleaning outside normal business hours, following an agreed specification and meeting a client’s insurance and safety requirements.
Before quoting, establish the size of the premises, cleaning frequency, access arrangements and which consumables you are expected to supply.
End-of-Tenancy and Deep Cleaning
These jobs require careful assessment because the condition of two similarly sized properties can be very different.
Be clear about extras such as ovens, carpets, internal windows and heavy build-up. Photographs or a site visit can help you prepare a more accurate quotation.
Airbnb and Holiday-Let Changeovers
Holiday-let cleaning involves working around guest departure and arrival times. The service may also include linen changes, laundry, restocking and reporting damage.
Agree who supplies linen and consumables, how bookings are communicated and what happens when a property needs more work than expected.
You do not need to offer every service from day one. Start with work you can deliver confidently, then expand as you gain experience, equipment and reliable help.
How to Find Your First Cleaning Customers
Start with a clear offer: the cleaning services you provide, the area you cover and how someone can request a quotation.
Then use a few manageable ways to reach customers consistently.
Tell Your Existing Contacts
Let friends, family and local contacts know you are taking bookings. Be specific about the work you want rather than simply announcing that you have started a business.
A clear message about weekly domestic cleaning in a particular town is easier to pass on to a relevant customer.
Use Local Community Groups
Where group rules allow business posts, introduce yourself and explain your services. Use genuine photographs with permission and answer questions helpfully.
Avoid repeatedly posting the same sales message. Useful information and clear availability can give people a reason to contact you.
Approach Relevant Local Businesses
Match your approach to your service. Holiday-let owners, letting agents and office managers have different cleaning requirements.
Explain what you can help with, where you operate and how they can arrange a quotation. A focused introduction is more useful than sending everyone a long list of unrelated services.
Build Your Local Online Presence
Create a website that clearly explains your services and coverage. If your business is eligible, set up a Google Business Profile with accurate information.
Make it straightforward for someone to call, send a message or request a quote. Keep service descriptions and contact details consistent wherever your business appears.
Ask for Honest Reviews and Referrals
After completing a job, invite the customer to leave an honest review. You can also let them know you welcome introductions to other people who need your services.
Keep track of where enquiries come from. Over time, this will help you decide which marketing activities deserve more attention.
What to Ask Before Giving a Cleaning Quote
A short conversation before quoting can prevent misunderstandings and help you allow enough time for the job.
Ask:
What type of cleaning is required?
Where is the property, and is parking available?
How many rooms and bathrooms need cleaning?
What condition is the property currently in?
Is this a one-off job or a regular booking?
Which tasks are priorities?
Are ovens, carpets, windows or other extras required?
Who supplies the equipment and cleaning products?
Are there pets, access restrictions or delicate surfaces to consider?
Is there a deadline or a limited window in which to complete the work?
For larger or less predictable jobs, request photographs or arrange a visit before confirming a fixed price.
Send the quotation in writing with a clear list of inclusions and exclusions. If the customer’s requirements change, agree any price adjustment before carrying out the additional work.
What Should a Cleaning Business Website Include?
Your website should help potential customers answer three questions quickly:
Do you provide the cleaning I need? Do you cover my area? How do I get a quote?
Include clear descriptions of your main services, the locations you cover and straightforward ways to contact you.
Useful features include:
Separate pages for your main cleaning services.
Accurate information about the areas you serve.
Genuine photographs of your work, used with permission.
Customer reviews you have permission to display.
A quote form that collects the details you need.
Easy-to-use phone and messaging buttons.
A layout that works properly on mobile phones.
Start with useful pages for the services and locations that matter most to your business. Each page should help the visitor understand your offer.
If you would like help putting this together, our cleaning company website design service includes £0 upfront design and a £25/month package covering hosting, SSL, ongoing support, minor updates and Business Hub access.
A website gives you a place to explain your services and receive enquiries. Building visibility and winning customers also takes consistent marketing, reliable service and follow-up.
Keep Track of Enquiries, Quotes and Repeat Bookings
Once enquiries start arriving, give every request a clear next step.
Record the customer’s contact details, required service, location, quotation status and any agreed follow-up date. Keep notes of what you have promised so you can pick up the conversation without asking the customer to repeat everything.
A simple process might be:
New enquiry → Details collected → Quote sent → Follow-up → Booking confirmed
For repeat customers, keep a record of cleaning frequency, agreed tasks and relevant preferences. Handle customer information carefully, and avoid storing access codes or key details in unsecured notes.
You can use a spreadsheet initially or manage your enquiries with Business Hub, which brings contact records, forms and other business tools into one place.
If you regularly miss calls while cleaning or driving, missed call text back is an optional service to explore. An automatic acknowledgement can give the caller a way to reply while you arrange a proper follow-up.
Your First 30 Days: A Cleaning Business Startup Checklist
Use this as a planning guide and adjust the pace to suit your circumstances.
Week 1: Define Your Offer
Choose your main cleaning services and coverage area.
Decide which types of customers you want to serve.
List your essential equipment and ongoing costs.
Check your business setup, insurance and training needs.
Week 2: Prepare to Take Bookings
Work out your pricing and quotation process.
Write a clear list of what each service includes.
Prepare customer terms and a job checklist.
Set up your contact details, website and enquiry process.
Week 3: Start Reaching Customers
Tell relevant contacts that you are taking bookings.
Introduce your business in suitable local groups.
Contact potential customers who match your services.
Record enquiries and follow up on quotations.
Week 4: Review and Improve
Compare estimated cleaning times with actual job times.
Check whether your prices cover your costs and working time.
Ask customers for feedback and honest reviews.
Review where enquiries came from.
Adjust your services, coverage or processes where needed.
Your first month is about building a workable service and learning from real enquiries and jobs. You do not need a large team or a complicated system to begin.
Starting a Cleaning Business? See What Your Website Could Look Like
Give potential customers a clear picture of what you offer, where you work and how to request a quote.
At SMB Booster, we build websites around your cleaning services and your business, with £0 upfront design and £25/month for hosting, support, minor updates and Business Hub access.
Explore our cleaning company website design service.
Want to picture your website before deciding? Tell us about your business and request your free website mock-up.
