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How to start a cleaning business in the UK

Cleaning isn’t a side-hustle with a mop; it’s a routing, labour and compliance business where minutes, mileage and method statements decide margin. The UK market is fat with demand in 2026, but pricing discipline and VAT planning—not Instagram—separate the busy from the profitable.

USUK Startup editorial· Reviewed against UK gov.uk and regulator guidanceLast updated May 2026Reviewed against UK gov.uk sources

The economics of cleaning in Britain are brutally simple: time on site minus time in transit. Every niche—domestic, end-of-tenancy, Airbnb turnovers, commercial offices, post-build, carpets and ovens—lives or dies by utilisation and repeatability. The single most important truth: the hourly you bill is meaningless without controlling the hours you can sell. A solo cleaner doing 25 billable hours at £22 only earns £550 a week before costs if travel and cancellations erode the rest. Build tight routes, lock in recurring contracts, and avoid the VAT cliff at £90,000 until your pricing can carry it. This guide sets out the actual numbers, gear, compliance and sales channels that matter in 2026, without the franchise hype or “be your own boss” fluff.

Direct answer

Cleaning isn’t a side-hustle with a mop; it’s a routing, labour and compliance business where minutes, mileage and method statements decide margin. The UK market is fat with demand in 2026, but pricing discipline and VAT planning—not Instagram—separate the busy from the profitable. Use the key facts, step list and official source links on this page to confirm the decision before you spend money or register anything.

VAT registration threshold (2026)
£90,000 rolling 12 months (HMRC)
Typical London domestic hourly rate (2026)
£20–£25 to client; agency margins 25%–40%
Public liability insurance for cleaners
£120–£300 per year for £2m–£5m cover; add treatment risks/key cover
DBS check costs (2026)
Basic £18; Standard £18; Enhanced £38 (DBS)

Checklist

Quick checklist

  • Define a tight service map by postcode sector and publish service days to avoid random routing and travel drag.
  • Write a flat-fee rate card with a minimum call-out, add-ons, and a cancellation/access policy that you actually enforce.
  • Register with HMRC and the ICO; if incorporating, file with Companies House and diarise the £34 confirmation statement.
  • Buy insurance with explicit treatment risks and key cover; store certificates and schedules in a “tenders” pack.
  • Assemble COSHH assessments and Safety Data Sheets for every chemical; train staff and get signed inductions.
  • Kit list ready: Sebo upright, Numatic/Nilfisk tub, Vileda mop, microfibres, PPE, labelled caddy; spares to swap-in mid-day.
  • Create a Google Business Profile with photos, service areas and booking link; ask for a review after every job in week one.
  • Choose payments (SumUp/Zettle/GoCardless) with card-on-file or DD; stop accepting cash for recurring work.
  • Build a simple key management log and locked storage; add key/lock cover to insurance and document procedures.
  • Track cost per lead and per acquisition by channel; kill any source that doesn’t pay back in three jobs or fewer.
  • Monitor rolling turnover monthly to manage the VAT threshold; model prices inclusive of VAT before you need to register.
  • Document a re-clean policy and 48-hour fix; turn complaints into process improvements and review asks.

Section 01

The 2026 UK cleaning market: where demand and margin actually sit

Demand has normalised post-pandemic and shifted towards recurring domestic, Airbnb turnovers and resilient commercial contracts in managed offices and housing blocks. The big buckets are: domestic weekly/fortnightly cleans; end-of-tenancy and inventory-standard deep cleans; Airbnb/short-let turnovers with linen logistics; commercial daily office/retail/common-area cleaning; and specialist add-ons (carpet extraction, oven degreasing, post-build sparkle). Domestic remains fragmented—tens of thousands of sole traders and small agencies—while commercial work is concentrated among FM firms, with local operators winning on responsiveness. Margins are best where jobs are standardised and clustered geographically (Airbnb blocks, managed apartments, multi-site retail), and worst where one-offs drive travel and quote time (scattergun end-of-tenancy without agent relationships). Barriers to entry are low, so differentiation is reliability, DBS-backed trust, insurance, and the ability to deliver at short notice without no-shows. The price ceiling in London is higher, but so are wages, fuel, parking and ULEZ risks; regions trade at lower rates but can be more routable.

Section 02

Realistic earnings by niche in 2026

  • Domestic recurring: client rates £18–£22 per hour in regions and £20–£25 in London. A solo operator with 25 billable hours/week at £22 achieves ~£28,600 revenue a year; with modest add-ons (oven, inside windows) this can reach £32,000.
  • End-of-tenancy: flat-rate by property size. Typical agency-approved rates (ex VAT) London: 1-bed £180–£230; 2-bed £220–£300; 3-bed £300–£420; add carpets (£80–£160) and oven (£60–£110). Regions trend 10%–20% lower. Two-person teams average £28–£38 billable per hour combined.
  • Airbnb/short-let turnovers: per-turn fee plus linen. London 1-bed £55–£85 cleaning fee, linen/laundry £15–£25 per set; regions £40–£65 plus £10–£20 linen. Best margins when you control keys/smart locks and batch cleans in the same block.
  • Commercial offices and common areas: often priced hourly. Regions £15–£20; London £18–£25 to client for small contracts; larger sites priced per spec rather than per hour. Reliability and cover for holidays/sickness are table stakes.
  • Specialist oven cleaning: single oven £60–£90; range cooker £110–£160; add-on upsell to end-of-tenancy or domestic deep clean. With a heated dip tank, one technician can do 4–6 ovens/day.
  • Carpet and upholstery: per room £25–£45 or minimum call-out £80–£120. Kitting up costs more upfront, but a competent technician can generate £300–£600/day if routes are tight.
  • Post-build/sparkle cleans: day rates £160–£240 per cleaner regions, £200–£280 London ex VAT. PPE, RAMS and site inductions add overhead; margins depend on snagging control and dust management.

Section 03

Choosing structure: sole trader or limited company, and what it changes

Under £50,000 profit with low risk, many start as sole traders: fewer filings, simpler tax, and no Companies House fees. You must still register for Self Assessment with HMRC by 5 October after your first tax year of trading and keep digital records if you fall into Making Tax Digital for ITSA from April 2026 (mandatory for self-employed with business income over £50,000; £30,000 from April 2027). A limited company gives liability separation (creditors chase the company, not you) and better optics for commercial contracts, but brings directors’ duties, payroll for a salary, corporation tax, and Companies House admin. As at 2026, incorporating online costs £50 and a confirmation statement filing is £34 via Companies House. If you plan to hire, bid for tenders, or scale above the VAT threshold, many choose a company from day one to ringfence risk and present insurance and safety documentation professionally. Either way, open a dedicated business bank account and separate money from day one.

Section 04

Registrations, licences and compliance: the dull bits that keep you trading

  • HMRC: register as a sole trader for Self Assessment or incorporate and register the company for Corporation Tax. If employing, register as an employer with HMRC before your first payday and operate PAYE with Real Time Information.
  • ICO: you’ll be processing customer details and often holding keys and alarm codes. Most micro businesses must pay the ICO data protection fee—usually £40 per year (tier 1; more if larger). Maintain a basic privacy notice and secure key/data storage.
  • DBS: not legally mandatory for domestic, but clients and agents increasingly expect a Basic DBS (£18) for cleaners who enter homes. Schools, care settings and some housing contracts may require Standard/Enhanced checks via the employer.
  • COSHH and HSE: the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 require risk assessments, access to Safety Data Sheets and training on storage/handling of chemicals (alkaline degreasers, descalers, bleach). Have written risk assessments if you employ five or more people (HSE).
  • Waste carrier: if you transport client waste (e.g., builders’ debris), you may need to register as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency. Many domestic cleaners won’t, but post-build and oven-cleaning operators often do. Upper Tier registration fees apply for carrying others’ waste.
  • Keys and alarms: keep a key log, code list and locked storage; insurers often require demonstrable controls for “key cover”.
  • Food premises: if you clean commercial kitchens, expect to liaise with the Food Standards Agency/Local Authority EHO on chemical storage and hygiene controls during deep cleans; method statements should reference food-safe chemicals and segregation.

Section 05

Insurance that actually pays out: covers, insurers and realistic premiums

Public liability is a must and many managing agents, councils and retailers insist on £5m. Employers’ liability is a legal requirement if you employ anyone (including labour-only temps) and is usually issued at £10m. Cleaning-specific risks include “treatment risks” (damage arising from your cleaning chemicals to fixtures/fabrics), “key and lock replacement”, fidelity/crime (employee theft), and tools-in-transit. Indicative 2026 micro-business premiums: £2m–£5m public liability from roughly £120–£300 per year; add employers’ liability and treatment risks and you’re typically in the £220–£600 range for a two-to-four-person team with no claims. Quotes vary by London postcode, high-risk work (stone floors, chandeliers), and whether you do height or builder’s cleans. Named UK options include Hiscox (cleaners insurance with treatment risks), AXA, Aviva and Zurich via brokers such as Simply Business, Public Liability Shop and PolicyBee. Always check that keys, carpets/upholstery, and “inefficacy” are clearly covered—not all cheap policies are.

  • Document your method statements and COSHH assessments; insurers look for them during claims.
  • Ask for specific wording for “treatment risks” and “keys/lock replacement” on the schedule.
  • Hold copies of employer and public liability certificates for tenders; display employers’ liability where staff can see it (can be digital).
  • Reassess sums insured yearly as payroll and turnover move; some policies rate by wage roll and number of employees.

Section 06

Tools of the trade: equipment list and 2026 UK prices

Buy once, cry once. Domestic start-ups can run with a compact upright plus a tub vacuum, colour-coded microfibres, mop system, caddy and PPE. For specialist work, invest in extraction and steam. Realistically priced kit from UK suppliers in 2026: Sebo Dart 2 upright £330–£380; Numatic Henry HVR200 or commercial NRV240 tub vacuum £150–£220 (Screwfix/Toolstation); Nilfisk VP300 HEPA tub £160–£220; Kärcher NT 30/1 Tact wet & dry £230–£320; Kärcher Puzzi 10/1 carpet extractor £650–£850; Kärcher SG 4/4 steam cleaner £1,000–£1,300; Vileda UltraSpeed Pro mop kit £70–£120; Unger window squeegee kit £30–£60; colour-coded microfibres £8–£15 per 10-pack; Nitrile gloves £5–£8 per 100; FFP3 dust masks £3–£5 each. Oven-cleaning dip tank systems for vans run £1,200–£2,000. Chemicals from Evans Vanodine, Selden, Clover and Ecover Pro: multi-purpose cleaner 5L £9–£14; degreaser 5L £11–£16; descaler 5L £10–£15; non-caustic oven gel £12–£20. Budget for PAT testing of electrical kit annually when working on commercial sites.

  • Label and keep Safety Data Sheets for every chemical on the van and in the office; HSE/HMs inspectors and insurers will ask.
  • Colour-code cloths/mops (red bathrooms, blue general, green kitchen, yellow specials) to match commercial specs.
  • Standardise your caddies so any cleaner can swap in; keep spares on hand to avoid missed slots.
  • Buy a basic tool kit (scrapers, blades, grout brush, detail brushes) and a head torch for ovens/appliances; it saves rework.

Section 07

Pricing that protects your margin: hourly traps and flat rates that work

Hourly billing looks easy but pushes all routing risk onto you. Clients cancel, traffic kills hours, and your “effective hourly” collapses. For domestic recurring, flat fees per visit tied to a standard spec and estimated time keep you in control. For end-of-tenancy, price by bedrooms/bathrooms with listed extras (inside oven, carpet extraction, blinds). For Airbnb, charge a per-turn fee with linen logistics separately; use photo checklists and charge for excessive mess. Commercial is often quoted hourly for compliance optics, but win on a fixed monthly fee tied to a measurable schedule (5 days/week, X hours/day, consumables included/excluded). London can carry higher flat fees, but don’t underprice parking and ULEZ/CAZ exposure.

  • Domestic flat fees by size (London guide): studio £55–£70; 1-bed £65–£90; 2-bed £85–£120; 3-bed £110–£160, assuming 2–4 hours and standard spec.
  • Regions: discount those guide fees by roughly 10%–20% depending on affluence and travel time.
  • Minimum call-out: set £60–£80 to avoid unprofitable 1-hour jobs; raise for Zone 1 if parking is risky.
  • Charge for travel beyond your core area or cluster jobs by postcode sector to neutralise mileage.
  • Cancellation policy: 50% fee if <24 hours; full fee if you arrive and can’t access. State it on every confirmation.
  • Price lists should break out add-ons: inside windows £15–£30; fridge/freezer £15–£25; oven £60–£90; carpets from £80 call-out.

Section 08

The financial model: sample P&L you can actually build to

Margins come from sold hours minus paid hours and overhead. Three worked examples, all pre-VAT. 1) Solo domestic route, regions: 25 billable hours/week at £20 = £500; annual revenue £26,000. Costs: fuel/parking £1,800; chemicals/consumables £700; insurance £220; phone/software £360; marketing £800; equipment depreciation £400; mileage notional if claiming HMRC 45p rate on 8,000 miles = £3,600 (deductible). Before tax profit roughly £18,000–£20,000 depending on mileage method. 2) Two-person end-of-tenancy team, London: 8 jobs/week average £240 = £1,920 revenue. Wages £15/hour each for 30 on-site hours + 10 travel/admin = £1,500 gross; NI/pension on top if employed; fuel/parking £150; chemicals £80; insurance allocation £20; marketing/agency fees £60. Operating profit ~£110–£200/week unless utilisation rises to 10–12 jobs (then £500–£800). 3) Small commercial contract: 5,000 sq ft office, 2 hours/day, 5 days/week at £22/hour London = £220/week; monthly £953. Wages at £13/hour net to cleaner plus holiday cover uplift ~£1,250/month if employed across sites; add supervision, consumables and overhead and you’re at a thin 10%–15% net unless the site is clustered with others.

  • Owner-operator domestic can see 40%–60% net margins because wage is profit; once you hire, expect 10%–25% net after paying market-rate wages and overhead.
  • Crossing £90,000 turnover without repricing can erase margin overnight as VAT forces a 20% price rise or a 16.7% revenue haircut if you absorb it.
  • Offer maintenance add-ons (quarterly oven, annual carpets) to lift average revenue per customer without increasing travel.

Section 09

Finding clients that stick: channels that work and those that burn cash

Google Business Profile dominates local intent. Populate it with before/after photos, service areas and hours; ask every happy client for a review with a direct link. Facebook local groups and Nextdoor convert if you post specific slots (“Tuesday mornings in GU1”) and show DBS/insurance in the image. Lead marketplaces are double-edged: Bark delivers volume but with price shoppers and £6–£20 per lead; conversion can be acceptable if you call instantly and pre-qualify. Checkatrade and similar directories bring trust but expect £70–£130/month plus VAT subscriptions and pressure to discount; good for commercial common areas and end-of-tenancy via agents. For Airbnb, pitch property managers and co-hosts, not individual hosts; integrate with Turno/ical and show linen plans. Old-fashioned works: introduce yourself to estate and letting agents with a tight rate card and 24–48 hour turnaround promise. Track cost per acquisition by channel and cull ruthlessly.

  • Google Ads on “cleaner near me” in London can run £2.50–£6.50 CPC; make your landing page quote-ready with postcode selector and minimum fee visible.
  • Respond to Bark leads within 2 minutes and open with availability in their street; otherwise you’re the fifth caller and dead on price.
  • A printed A5 through the right letterboxes beats a random flyer drop: target new-build estates and student lets in July–September.
  • For agents, publish a ready-to-send invoice template with job photos embedded and public liability certificate attached; remove friction.

Section 10

Retention and repeatability: how you keep customers for years

Cleaning is habit-based revenue. Win, prove trust, set a slot, never miss. Reliability, the same faces and fast fixes on issues beat clever branding. Build a standard checklist (by room), text the client on arrival/exit, and photograph issues proactively (lime scale damage, pre-existing stains). Offer a satisfaction fix within 48 hours for domestic and same/next-day for Airbnb, but be clear on what’s fair wear versus add-on. Keep a key-safe system and a strict lateness/cancellation policy for both sides. Annualise the relationship: pre-sell a spring deep clean, an oven refresh in Q3 and a carpet clean in Q4; direct debit or card-on-file via GoCardless, SumUp or Zettle to reduce no-pays. For commercial and blocks, check-in with the site contact monthly, log issues, and spot-sell consumables management if margins allow.

  • Send a “what we did” message with two photos per clean for the first month; it builds trust and reduces micro-complaints.
  • Offer “slot protection” for clients on standing order/DD and release unprotected slots if invoices lag; train demand to behave.
  • Measure churn: number of recurring clients at month end divided by starting clients; aim for <3% monthly churn.
  • Quarterly NPS survey by SMS with a one-tap Google review link for promoters; this is free marketing.

Section 11

Routing, travel and the hidden tax on your time

Travel is the profit killer. Design your service area to be drivable in loops, not spokes. Work in postcode sectors (e.g., SW11) and publish the days you serve each. Charge a premium or travel fee outside your core. In London, avoid non-compliant vehicles—ULEZ is £12.50/day for cars/vans that don’t meet standards; add likely parking at £2–£6/hour in Zones 1–3 to quotes. In Birmingham, Bristol and other Clean Air Zones, vans can also attract daily charges if non-compliant. Use tools like Google Maps, Circuit or YourDriverApp to sequence stops; allow 15 minutes between urban jobs for pack-down, travel and parking, and 30 minutes if crossing boroughs. For Airbnb, secure smart lock access and a guaranteed lift or key safe to avoid concierge delays. Keep a backup car kit; public transport can be faster in central zones than hunting for parking.

  • Set minimum 90-minute bookings for domestic unless the home is on the same street as another client; half-hours are margin poison.
  • Bundle Airbnb cleans by building: push for hosts in the same block and lock in set turn times aligned with check-out windows.
  • Track “effective hourly rate” per job including travel and admin; fire the lowest quartile and replace with clustered work.

Section 12

Hiring your first cleaner: status, pay and the paperwork that matters

Decide early: employees or self-employed subcontractors. HMRC looks at control, substitution and mutuality of obligation. If you set hours, provide kit/uniform, require personal service and manage holidays, they are likely employees—put them on PAYE, provide holiday pay (5.6 weeks pro rata), pay employer NIC where due and enrol them in a pension (NEST is common) if eligible. If you genuinely hire self-employed cleaners, they should control their schedule, provide their own kit and be free to substitute; get them to invoice and keep the contract tight, but misclassification risk remains. Piece rates can work for domestic and end-of-tenancy, but if workers are employees you must be able to show their average hourly meets at least the National Minimum/Living Wage across pay periods. Do a right-to-work check, collect references, and consider paying for a Basic DBS. Pay market rates or churn will kill you—London cleaners expect double-digit hourly net pay in 2026 and reliable hours.

  • Budget for non-productive time: travel, training, and handovers. Your payroll will include more than “on mop” hours if they’re employees.
  • Issue basic RAMS and COSHH training on day one; get signatures and store digitally for HSE/insurer queries.
  • Trial shifts should be paid. Unpaid trials attract HMRC/ACAS attention and sour your reputation.
  • If you supply kit and branded uniform, track it; deduct only lawful, pre-agreed amounts and never below minimum wage in a pay period.

Section 13

Winning commercial contracts: documents, procurement and politics

Commercial buyers are risk managers. They want cover, compliance and a quiet life. Prepare a tender pack: insurance certificates (public £5m, employers £10m), RAMS for tasks, COSHH folder, training matrix, risk assessments, DBS policy, method statements for floors/carpets, and an escalation process. Join an SSIP scheme such as CHAS or SafeContractor if you target larger sites; it shortens procurement. Register on Contracts Finder and local authority portals; small lots appear for housing blocks and community centres. Managing agents value speed and supervision; promise and deliver supervisor check-ins and holiday/sickness cover. Read TUPE: if you take over a site with existing staff, you may inherit them and their terms. Price monthly, not hourly, with a clear consumables policy (toilet roll/soap disposal included or pass-through). Public sector expects 30-day payment terms; insert late payment clauses for private clients and enforce them.

  • Walk the site with a laser measurer and agree the spec room-by-room; challenge “5 days/week” if occupancy is hybrid and 3–4 days would suffice.
  • Quote a separate “sparkle/deep” on mobilisation to reset standards; otherwise you’re maintaining someone else’s dirt at a maintenance price.
  • Provide a logbook on site and a QR code for issues; make Facilities Managers look good and they’ll protect your contract.
  • Ask directly about TUPE and incumbent staff; surprises here sink small operators.

Section 14

Tax, VAT and the traps that catch small cleaning firms

Track taxable turnover monthly. At £90,000 in a rolling 12 months you must register for VAT. Many domestic clients cannot recover VAT; if you add 20% overnight, expect churn unless you pre-price with VAT in mind. Options: stay below the threshold with a waiting list and price discipline; or cross it with a price rise and a pivot to VAT-registered clients (commercial, managed blocks, landlords). The VAT Flat Rate Scheme tempts small service businesses, but cleaning is often a “limited cost trader” due to low goods spend, forcing a punitive 16.5% of gross turnover—worse than standard VAT for most. Mileage: you can claim HMRC’s 45p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles (25p thereafter) or actual costs; be consistent. As a sole trader, you’ll pay income tax and Class 4 NIC on profits, with payments on account if your bill exceeds £1,000. Companies pay corporation tax on profits and director/shareholders then extract salary/dividends. Making Tax Digital for ITSA starts from April 2026 for those over £50,000 business income—use software (Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent).

  • Quote including or excluding VAT consistently; if you’re near the threshold, present VAT-inclusive prices so the step-up is palatable.
  • If 70%+ of clients are domestic, consider staying under £90k with a waiting list, or splitting routes geographically under one entity to manage demand rather than creating artificial structures.
  • If you buy lots of kit/consumables (post-build, carpets), VAT registration can be margin-neutral or positive due to input tax recovery.
  • Set aside 20%–30% of net receipts weekly into a tax pot; missed payments on account cripple cashflow.

Section 15

Health, safety and quality control without bureaucracy creep

HSE expects proportionate risk management. For five or more employees, document risk assessments; below that, still write them. Cover slips, trips, falls; manual handling; COSHH for chemicals; lone working; sharps and biological hazards in some settings; and work at height if ever on steps. Train staff to read labels, dilute properly, and never mix chemicals (bleach + acid = chlorine gas). Provide gloves, eye protection for decanting, and FFP3 masks for post-build dust. Appliance isolation for ovens; electrical awareness around wet areas. Keep a simple quality audit: 10-point checklist per site, random spot checks weekly, and re-clean protocol. Record incidents and near-misses. Many commercial sites require RAMS pack acceptance before start; keep yours templated and editable. Portable Appliance Testing of your electrical kit is commonly requested by managers annually; book it and keep the stickers on.

  • Never stand on client furniture or climb above safe step height; Working at Height Regulations apply even to step ladders.
  • Use colour-coded cloths/mops and separate toilets from kitchens; a basic but frequent audit fail.
  • Keep Safety Data Sheets and dilution charts in the van and digitally; QR code them on the caddy.
  • For lone workers in large buildings or late shifts, use a check-in app or WhatsApp protocol; document it.

Section 16

Common failure modes and how to dodge them

The usual story: a flood of one-off end-of-tenancy jobs at loss-making rates, no-shows from casual staff, and a panicked lurch over the VAT threshold without repricing. Underpricing domestic work to “get in the door” sets a low anchor you spend a year trying to lift. Unrouted jobs burn time; you end up paying employees to sit in traffic. No treatment risks cover and a ruined marble bathroom can wipe out a year’s profit. Cash collection sloppiness—no card-on-file, no late-fee policy—starves growth. And then there’s growth through lead generators without brand: you are commoditised and one bad week of reviews ends the flow. The antidote is dull: standardise, systemise, cluster, pre-qualify, and say no. Make VAT a strategic decision, not an accident. Invest in one specialist upsell (carpets or ovens) so every van can add £80–£150 to a route day without a second trip.

  • Refuse “can you just” extras on-site unless priced; scope creep eats half-hours that were your margin.
  • Don’t scale before you can cover sickness/holiday; one absence should not cancel a day of work.
  • If you take keys, log them. Lost keys without cover are an insurer’s delight and your nightmare.
  • Quote post-build only after walking the site; photos understate plaster dust and snagging.

Section 17

FAQ: blunt answers to the questions founders actually ask

  • Do I need a licence to start a cleaning business? No general licence, but comply with HMRC, HSE/COSHH, ICO fee and waste carrier rules if transporting others’ waste.
  • Should I franchise? Only if you value a brand and lead flow over margin and control. Independent operators with solid routing and reviews routinely out-earn franchisees after year two.
  • How much can I make personally in year one? A disciplined solo operator can clear £20,000–£30,000 before tax; more with strong upsells and minimal travel.
  • What insurance limit do I need? Many agents require £5m public liability; buy employers’ liability if you employ anyone. Add treatment risks and key cover.
  • Can I use contractors and avoid PAYE? Only if they are genuinely self-employed. HMRC looks at control, substitution and mutuality. Misclassification risks tax, penalties and back pay.
  • Is VAT the end of my domestic business? Not if you reprice and pivot towards VAT-registered clients or specialise in higher-ticket work. Plan for it early.
  • Do I need DBS checks? Not legally for domestic, but Basic DBS at £18 is a trust signal; Enhanced checks may be needed for schools/care contracts.
  • What software should I use? Xero/QuickBooks/FreeAgent for accounts; Jobber, Clean Smarts or Launch27 for scheduling; Turno for Airbnb.

Section 18

Step-by-step launch playbook for the first 90 days

  1. 01

    Decide your niche and service area

    Pick two primary revenue streams you can route together (e.g., domestic + Airbnb in the same postcodes). Map a tight service area by postcode sectors you can drive in loops.

  2. 02

    Choose structure and register

    Start as a sole trader or incorporate. If incorporating, file with Companies House (£50). Register with HMRC for tax and, if you will employ, set up PAYE. Register for the ICO data protection fee (usually £40).

  3. 03

    Insurance and compliance pack

    Buy public liability (£2m–£5m) and employers’ liability if employing. Add treatment risks and key cover. Assemble COSHH assessments and Safety Data Sheets; create RAMS templates. Decide if you need waste carrier registration.

  4. 04

    Kit up smartly

    Buy a Sebo upright and Numatic or Nilfisk tub, Vileda mop, microfibres, PPE and a caddy. If offering carpets or ovens, invest in a Kärcher Puzzi 10/1 or a dip tank setup. Label everything and build your checklist.

  5. 05

    Price list and policies

    Write a one-page rate card with flat fees by property size, minimum call-out, add-ons, cancellation and access policy. Prepare domestic and Airbnb checklists with time targets.

  6. 06

    Set up scheduling and payments

    Create a Google Business Profile. Choose scheduling software (Jobber, Clean Smarts, Launch27) and payments (SumUp/Zettle/GoCardless). Collect card details or set up DD for recurring clients.

  7. 07

    Acquire first 20 customers

    Post in local Facebook/Nextdoor with specific availability. Run £150–£300 of Google Ads to a landing page with minimum fees. Pitch 10 local letting agents with an end-of-tenancy one-pager and insurance certs.

  8. 08

    Standardise and document

    After five cleans, refine your checklists and timing. Photograph B&As; request reviews via a templated SMS. Build a key log and proof-of-service messages.

  9. 09

    Hire carefully

    When at 70% capacity, recruit one cleaner. Decide employment vs contractor; if employing, operate PAYE, holiday pay and pension. Induct with COSHH and shadow cleans; pay trial shifts.

  10. 10

    Expand clustered routes

    Fill gaps in your route days with adjacent postcodes. Offer small discounts for clients who move to your under-filled days/times to tighten routing.

  11. 11

    Add one specialist upsell

    Train and equip for either carpets (NCCA or manufacturer course) or ovens. Pilot pricing on existing clients to prove margins before marketing it outward.

  12. 12

    Prepare for VAT and tenders

    Track rolling turnover monthly. If you aim for commercial work, assemble your tender pack and consider CHAS/SafeContractor. Reprice with VAT in mind once you approach £80k–£85k turnover.

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18+, UK residents only. Offers are subject to each provider's terms. Tide: £75 paid after completing £100 of card transactions within 30 days of opening, plus a further £125 paid after depositing £5,000 within 7 days (total £200, code REFER200). Capital on Tap: 7,500 points (≈ £75) after first card transaction within 30 days; credit subject to status. We may receive a commission if you sign up — it doesn't change the offer to you.