Start Your Cleaning Service
Cleaning services are recession-proof gold. Low startup costs, recurring revenue, and everyone needs it. Time to clean up in business.
Why Cleaning Is a Money Printer 💵
Cleaning services are the ultimate recurring revenue business. Your clients need you every week or month, forever. No selling, just showing up and getting paid. Average cleaning business owner makes $50K working solo, $150K+ with a small crew.
The market is massive - $51 billion in the US alone. And here's the kicker: most cleaning companies suck at business basics. Show up on time, do good work, and answer your phone? You're already top 20%.
Why It's Awesome ✅
- → Recurring revenue (holy grail)
- → Super low startup costs
- → Cash business (get paid same day)
- → Recession-proof demand
- → Easy to find workers
- → Scale without you cleaning
Reality Check ⚠️
- → Physical work (at first)
- → High employee turnover
- → Dealing with gross stuff
- → Trust is everything
- → Competition on price
- → Cancellations happen
Pick Your Cleaning Niche 🎯
Residential Cleaning
Best to StartHouses and apartments. Easier to land, personal relationships, flexible scheduling.
Frequency: Weekly/Biweekly
Profit Margin: 30-50%
Commercial Cleaning
Offices, retail, medical. Bigger contracts, evening work, more stable.
Frequency: Daily/3x week
Profit Margin: 20-35%
Specialized Cleaning
Post-construction, move-in/out, Airbnb turnovers. Higher rates, project-based.
Frequency: One-time
Profit Margin: 40-60%
Real Numbers (Not Fantasy) 💰
You can literally start with $500 and a car. Here's the realistic breakdown:
Use Client Supplies Strategy
Many residential clients prefer you use their supplies (they trust their products). This cuts your costs by 50% and eliminates restocking headaches. Just bring the equipment.
Equipment That Actually Matters 🧽
The Essentials
- ✓ Quality Vacuum
HEPA filter, $200-400. This is your moneymaker.
- ✓ Microfiber Everything
Cloths, mops, dusters. $50-100 initial investment.
- ✓ Cleaning Caddy
Carry supplies room to room. $20.
- ✓ Basic Chemicals
All-purpose, glass, bathroom, disinfectant. $50.
- ✓ Extension Duster
For ceiling fans and corners. $30.
Level Up Equipment
- + Backpack Vacuum
3x faster than regular. $400-600.
- + Steam Cleaner
Chemical-free deep clean. $200-400.
- + Floor Buffer
For commercial accounts. $500-1500.
- + Carpet Cleaner
Add-on service goldmine. $500-1000.
- + Pressure Washer
Exterior cleaning upsell. $300-500.
Pricing That Makes Money 💸
Residential Formula
Base rate: $25-35/hour per cleaner. Most homes take 2-4 hours. Charge flat rates based on size:
- • 1-2 bedrooms: $80-120
- • 3 bedrooms: $120-180
- • 4+ bedrooms: $180-300
- • Deep clean: Add 50%
Commercial Formula
Charge by square foot or hourly. Typical rates:
- • Small office (under 2,500 sq ft): $150-300/clean
- • Medium office (2,500-5,000 sq ft): $300-600/clean
- • Large office (5,000+ sq ft): $0.05-0.20/sq ft
- • Medical/dental: Add 30-50% premium
Specialty Services
Higher margin add-ons to boost revenue:
- • Move-in/out clean: $200-500
- • Post-construction: $0.10-0.50/sq ft
- • Window cleaning: $10-15 per window
- • Carpet cleaning: $25-50 per room
- • Pressure washing: $0.15-0.30/sq ft
The 3x Rule
Whatever you pay workers, charge clients 3x that amount. Pay $15/hour? Charge $45/hour. This covers labor, supplies, insurance, and profit. Works every time.
Getting Clients (They're Everywhere) 🎯
Nextdoor App
Goldmine for residential. Post in neighborhood groups, respond to requests.
Success rate: 1 in 10 posts = new client
Facebook Groups
Local community groups, mom groups, business groups. Free and effective.
Tip: Offer first clean at 50% off
Door Hangers
Old school works. Hit nice neighborhoods on weekends.
Conversion: 0.5-1% (500 hangers = 2-5 clients)
Referral Program
Give clients $25 for each referral. They become your sales force.
ROI: 5x return on referral payments
Property Managers
One PM relationship = 10-50 recurring cleans. Gold for move-outs.
Approach: Offer free sample clean
Google My Business
Free listing. Get reviews, show up in "near me" searches.
Key: 5+ reviews = 3x more calls
30 Days to Your First 10 Clients 📅
Week 1: Setup
- □ Form LLC and get insurance
- □ Buy basic supplies and equipment
- □ Set pricing and service offerings
- □ Create simple flyer/business cards
- □ Set up Google My Business
Week 2: Launch
- □ Clean for 3 friends/family (free/discounted)
- □ Take before/after photos
- □ Get testimonials and reviews
- □ Post in 5 local Facebook groups
- □ Distribute 200 door hangers
Week 3: Momentum
- □ Book first 5 paid clients
- □ Join Nextdoor and post intro
- □ Contact 3 property managers
- □ Set up online booking system
- □ Order professional shirts
Week 4: Scale
- □ Hit 10 recurring clients
- □ Implement referral program
- □ Raise prices for new clients
- □ Hire first helper (if needed)
- □ Celebrate your success! 🎉
Scaling to $100K+ (The Blueprint) 📈
Phase 1: Solo Operator ($30-50K)
Clean 3-5 houses per day, 4-5 days per week. You do everything.
Timeline: Months 1-6 | Clients: 20-30
Phase 2: First Hire ($50-75K)
Bring on a part-time helper. You both clean, doubling capacity.
Timeline: Months 6-12 | Clients: 40-60
Phase 3: Small Team ($75-150K)
2-3 employees. You clean less, manage more. Add commercial accounts.
Timeline: Year 2 | Clients: 80-120
Phase 4: Owner/Operator ($150K+)
Teams handle cleaning. You handle sales, scheduling, quality control.
Timeline: Year 2-3 | Clients: 150+
The 40/40/20 Rule
When scaling: 40% of revenue goes to labor, 40% to operations/supplies/overhead, 20% profit. If your numbers are off, adjust pricing or efficiency, not quality.
Best LLC Services for Cleaning Businesses 🏢
Insurance companies require an LLC before they'll cover you. And you NEED insurance in the cleaning business. Here are the best services to get set up fast:
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness stands out as our top pick for LLC formation services thanks to its unbeatable combination of value, features, and support. Three packages available: Starter ($0 + state fees) includes free year of Worry-Free Compliance, Pro ($199/yr) adds 1-day rush processing and business documents, and Premium ($349 first year, $399 renewal) includes everything plus registered agent service and Money Pro bookkeeping trial. All packages include 100% accuracy guarantee, award-winning lifetime support, Velo AI assistant, and mobile app access.
Best for: Entrepreneurs who want comprehensive support and compliance tools at an affordable price
Pros:
- ✓ Starter package is $0 plus state fees
- ✓ Free year of Worry-Free Compliance (Starter)
- ✓ Rush 1-day processing (Pro/Premium)
Cons:
- × Registered agent not included in Starter/Pro
- × Special offers auto-renew after trial period
Inc Authority
Inc Authority offers genuinely free LLC formation with free registered agent service for the first year. While their basic package is unbeatable for price, be prepared for upselling attempts and note that the registered agent service renews at $119/year. They're perfect for entrepreneurs who want the absolute lowest cost and don't mind a more hands-off approach.
Best for: Budget-conscious entrepreneurs comfortable with DIY approach
Pros:
- ✓ Truly free basic formation
- ✓ Free registered agent for first year
- ✓ Free tax planning consultation
Cons:
- × Aggressive upselling tactics
- × Processing can be slow (7-10 days)
Bizee
Bizee (formerly Incfile) offers lightning-fast LLC formation with their $0 package. They're perfect for entrepreneurs who need to form their LLC quickly and affordably. With same-day processing in many states and a year of free registered agent service, Bizee provides exceptional value for basic LLC formation needs.
Best for: Budget-conscious startups needing fast formation
Pros:
- ✓ $0 basic formation package
- ✓ Same-day processing available
- ✓ Free registered agent for first year
Cons:
- × Operating agreement not included in basic package
- × Limited customer support hours
Why These Services?
ZenBusiness for the compliance reminders (cleaning businesses need various licenses), Inc Authority for the truly free formation, and Bizee for the fast processing when you need to start ASAP.
Real Questions, Real Answers 🤔
How much can I really make?
Solo: $30-50K working part-time, $50-75K full-time. With 2-3 employees: $75-150K. With 5+ employees: $150K-500K. The average is around $50K solo, $120K with a small team.
Residential or commercial to start?
Start residential. Easier to land, faster payment, more flexible. Add commercial once you have a team. Mix of both is ideal for stability.
Do I need to be bonded?
Some states require it, most don't. But it's cheap ($100/year) and makes clients trust you more. General liability insurance is mandatory though - never clean without it.
How do I find good employees?
Indeed and Facebook jobs work best. Pay $2-3 above minimum wage to start. Look for reliability over experience - you can train cleaning, you can't train showing up.
What about taxes and payroll?
Use Gusto or Square Payroll ($40/month). They handle everything. Save 30% for taxes. Pay employees legally - workers comp claims without proper coverage will ruin you.
Best scheduling software?
Start with Google Calendar (free). Graduate to Jobber ($50/mo) or Housecall Pro ($65/mo) when you hit 20+ clients. They handle scheduling, payments, and customer management.
Ready to Build Your Cleaning Empire? 🧹
The demand is there, the money is real, and you can start this weekend. Get your LLC, grab some supplies, and let's clean up in business.