Starting a house cleaning business can be a fantastic way to build financial independence and take control of your schedule. Whether you’re looking to create a side hustle or a full-time business, following the right steps from the start is crucial for long-term success.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through 4 critical steps to starting your house cleaning business the right way. From getting your business legal to learning the ins and outs of cleaning, these steps will set you up for a smooth and profitable launch.

1. Get Your Business Legal

The first and most important step when starting your house cleaning business is to ensure that everything is legal. It might feel tempting to skip this step to start making money right away, but getting the legal groundwork in place will save you headaches down the road.

Here’s what you need to do:

✅ Register your business: Choose a business name and officially register it with your state or local government. This step formalizes your business and protects your brand.

✅ Get a business license: Depending on where you live, you may need a business license or permit to legally operate your house cleaning business.

✅ Get insurance: Protect yourself and your clients by getting general liability insurance. This will cover you in case of accidents, damages, or other incidents that could arise while you’re working in someone’s home.

✅ Open a business bank account: Keep your personal and business finances separate by opening a dedicated business bank account. This makes tracking expenses and income easier when tax season rolls around.

Getting your business legal from the beginning creates a professional image, protects you from legal issues, and builds a solid foundation for growth.

2. Start Solo

Starting your house cleaning business solo offers some incredible advantages that can set you up for long-term success. First and foremost, you get to keep 100% of the profits, which means you directly benefit from every job you take on. There’s no need to split earnings or manage payroll, so your expenses remain low, and you can maximize your income right from the start.

Running the business on your own also gives you complete control—you're the decision-maker in every aspect, from choosing clients to setting your rates and deciding your schedule. This flexibility is ideal if you’re looking for a business that fits your lifestyle.

This is how I primarily ran my cleaning business for years, and it allowed me to create a streamlined operation that worked around my life, not the other way around. Plus, when your business is set up properly, with efficient systems and a steady base of recurring clients, it’s absolutely possible to make six figures as a solo cleaner. Without the expense and need to manage a team, you can focus on delivering exceptional service, building strong relationships with clients, and growing your business at your own pace—all while keeping things simple and profitable.

3. Learn the Business

Running a successful house cleaning business involves more than just cleaning. You’ll need to develop a solid understanding of the business side to ensure that your company thrives. Here are some key areas to focus on:

🎉Pricing: Learn how to price your services correctly. You don’t want to undercharge and work for less than you’re worth, but you also don’t want to overcharge and lose potential clients. Consider factors like the size of the home, the level of cleaning required, and local market rates. I’ve created resources like ‘The Quick Guide to Pricing Cleaning Jobs’ that can help you nail this part down. I've included the pricing guide as a bonus in the How To Start a House Cleaning Business Start-Up Guide, so be sure to check it out for extra value!

🎉Time management: Efficient time management is essential to running a profitable cleaning business. Learn how to estimate how long each cleaning job will take, and schedule your day accordingly. This allows you to take on more clients and maximize your earnings.

🎉Customer service: Excellent customer service sets you apart from other cleaning businesses. Building strong relationships with your clients through clear communication, reliability, and consistency will lead to repeat customers and valuable referrals.

🎉Cleaning techniques: Even if you have years of experience cleaning your own home, it’s important to master efficient and professional cleaning techniques that save you time and deliver high-quality results. Start with basic cleaning skills and develop systems and checklists for each job so you don’t miss any critical tasks.

Take the time to truly learn the business side of house cleaning, and you’ll set yourself up for greater efficiency and profit.

4. Build Your Client Base

No business can thrive without clients, so building your client base is crucial. Start by focusing on the following strategies:

🚀Networking: Spread the word to your family, friends, and local community. Most cleaning businesses grow through referrals, so let people know you’re open for business.

🚀Social media: Create a professional business profile on Facebook to showcase your services, share client testimonials, and build relationships with potential clients. Join local community groups to introduce your business and most importantly get to know the local people in these groups. they will be a great sourse of referals and even clients themselves.

🚀Offer a promotion: Consider offering a limited-time discount for first-time clients to help you quickly attract a few initial customers. You can also provide incentives for clients who refer new customers to you.

🚀Flyers and business cards: While digital marketing is great, don’t forget about traditional methods like handing out flyers or leaving your business card with local businesses, coffee shops, or community boards. These can help you reach people who may not be as active online.

By focusing on building your client base from the start, you’ll have a steady flow of jobs that will keep your business moving forward.

Starting a house cleaning business can be incredibly rewarding when done right. By following these four critical steps—getting your business legal, deciding whether to go solo or partner up, learning the ins and outs of the business, and building a strong client base—you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful and profitable company.Take the leap, and remember that a well-planned foundation is the key to long-term success!

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For over 30 years, Trisha built and ran her own successful cleaning business, handpicking her schedule and consistently earning $5,000+ a month—all while working part-time as a solo cleaner. Now, she’s here to help you do the same! Whether you’re just starting solo or already have a small team, Trisha’s vast experience can help you grow your business and boost profits without adding more hours. She'll teach you how to avoid common mistakes new cleaning business owners make and run your business profitably from day one. With over three decades of experience, learning from Trisha is the fastest, most reliable way to launch or scale your thriving cleaning business!