How to start a cleaning business in the UK.
The steps in order, from setting up to your first cleaners, with what the law requires and where to check it. Written by people who run cleaning companies.
1. Choose what you'll clean
Homes, offices or short-let turnovers each run differently. Homes are regular rounds paid weekly. Offices are contracts with monthly invoices and evening work. Airbnb turnovers are same-day jobs at weekends. Start with one, and add the others once the first runs smoothly.
2. Sole trader or limited company
- Sole trader: the quickest start. You must register for Self Assessment once you earn more than £1,000 in a tax year (6 April to 5 April), and keep records from day one. GOV.UK
- Limited company: keeps the business separate from you and is easier to grow or raise money into. Registering online with Companies House costs £100 and usually takes 24 hours. GOV.UK
Many cleaners start as sole traders and change later. Ask an accountant which suits your income.
3. Insurance
- Employers' liability is compulsory as soon as you employ anyone, with cover of at least £5 million. The fine is £2,500 for every day without it. Employing only family members is the main exception. GOV.UK
- Public liability isn't a legal requirement, but most offices and letting agents ask for it before they hire you.
- Consider cover for keys and lock changes if you hold customers' keys.
4. Employ or subcontract your cleaners
Calling a cleaner self-employed doesn't make them so. HMRC looks at how the work really happens. Someone is more likely self-employed if they quote for work, aren't directly supervised, invoice you, pay their own tax and get no holiday or sick pay. GOV.UK: Employment status
If you set the hours, supply the products and tell them how to clean, they are probably employees. Then you need payroll (PAYE), holiday pay and employers' liability insurance.
5. Prices and terms
Price by the hour for regular cleans and by the job for deep cleans, end of tenancy and turnovers. Write your terms once: cancellation notice, what happens if you can't get in, how you handle breakages, and when payment is due. Send them with every booking confirmation.
6. VAT
You must register once your turnover over any 12 months goes past £90,000. Before that it's optional, and it usually makes sense only if most customers are businesses. Read our VAT guide for cleaning businesses.
7. Invoicing and records
Number every invoice, keep every receipt, and match bank payments to invoices each week. How to invoice cleaning clients.
8. Tools that save hours
A WhatsApp group and a spreadsheet work for the first few customers. Past 3 cleaners, most owners move to one system for bookings, the cleaners' day, invoices and the books. That's what we built Spick HQ for, from £29 a month with every feature.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Check GOV.UK or ask an accountant for your situation.
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