How to Start a House Cleaning Business (Solo Guide)

Step 1: Decide what you’ll clean and where

Before any paperwork, get clear on the kind of work you want. As a solo cleaner, it helps to start narrow.

• Type of cleaning. A common starting point is residential standard cleans (the regular weekly or every-other-week visit). Deep cleans and move-out cleans pay more per job but take longer and are less steady.
• Area. Pick a small service area, like a few nearby towns or zip codes. Less driving means more paid hours.
• Schedule. Decide which days and hours you’ll work. Many people start part-time while keeping another job.
• What you won’t do. Maybe no carpets, no outside windows or no homes with certain pets. Saying it up front saves awkward talks later.

Write this down in a few lines. That’s your simple business plan, and it will guide every choice below.

Step 2: Choose a business structure

The business structure is the legal form your business takes. For a solo cleaner, the two usual choices are a sole proprietorship and an LLC (limited liability company).

According to the SBA’s guide to business structures:

• You’re automatically a sole proprietorship if you do business but don’t register as any other kind of business. It’s easy, but your business and personal assets and debts are not separate, so you can be held personally liable.
• An LLC protects you from personal liability in most instances, so things like your car, house and savings usually aren’t at risk if the business is sued or goes bankrupt.

Many solo cleaners start as a sole proprietor and form an LLC later. Others want the protection from day one. Rules and fees for forming an LLC are set by each state, so check your state’s business filing office before you decide.

Step 3: Pick a name and register it

Your business name shows up on your texts, flyers and bank account. Pick something easy to say and spell, and check that no one nearby is already using it.

If you operate under a name that isn’t your own legal name, you may need to register it (often called a “DBA” or “doing business as” name). Where you register depends on your state and county, so look up your state or county’s business registration page.

Step 4: Get an EIN from the IRS

An EIN (employer identification number) is like a Social Security number for your business. Banks often ask for one to open a business account, and you’ll need one if you ever hire.

Getting one is fast and free. The IRS says you can get an EIN directly from the IRS in minutes for free, and you never have to pay a fee for an EIN. Watch out for websites that charge for it.

Step 5: Check licenses and permits

There’s no single rule for the whole country. The SBA’s licenses and permits guide explains that requirements and fees vary based on your business activities, your location and government rules, and that you’ll have to research your own state, county and city regulations.

For a house cleaner, that usually means checking:

• Your city or county for a general business license
• Your state for any business registration or tax account
• Whether your state charges sales tax on cleaning services

A quick call or email to your city or county clerk’s office can answer most of this.

Step 6: Get insurance

Accidents happen. You might break a vase, or someone might trip over your vacuum cord. The SBA’s business insurance guide describes general liability insurance as coverage for any business that protects against financial loss from things like bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses and defending lawsuits.

For a solo house cleaner, general liability is the one to start with. Some clients also ask whether you’re “bonded.” A bond is not the same thing as liability insurance, so ask a local insurance agent to explain what each one covers and to quote both.

If you drive to jobs, also ask the agent whether your car insurance covers driving for work.

Once you have insurance, say so on your flyers and in your texts. It helps homeowners trust someone new.

Step 7: Open a separate bank account

Keep business money and personal money apart from day one. It makes taxes much easier, because every deposit and every supply purchase is in one place.

Open a checking account for the business, then:

• Put every cleaning payment into it.
• Pay for supplies, gas and insurance from it.
• Pay yourself by moving money to your personal account.

Step 8: Set up for taxes

When you work for yourself, no one takes taxes out of your pay. You handle it.

• Self-employment tax. The IRS self-employment tax rate is 15.3% (12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare). You generally owe it if your net earnings from self-employment are $400 or more in a year. That’s on top of income tax.
• Estimated taxes. The IRS says sole proprietors generally have to make estimated tax payments if they expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file. Individuals use Form 1040-ES, and the year is split into four payment periods, each with its own due date.

A simple habit helps: move a set share of every payment into a savings account for taxes. For example, if you set aside 25%, a $160 clean means $160 × 0.25 = $40 goes to your tax savings. The right percentage depends on your situation, so ask a tax pro to help you pick yours.

Step 9: Gather your supplies

You don’t need to spend a lot to start. Many cleaners begin with good versions of what they already use at home. A basic kit:

• A reliable vacuum with attachments
• Microfiber cloths (lots of them)
• Mop and bucket
• Spray bottles and an all-purpose cleaner
• Glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner and a degreaser
• Scrub brushes, sponges and a toilet brush
• A caddy or tote to carry it all
• Gloves

Keep your receipts. Supplies you buy for the business are business costs, and you’ll want a record at tax time.

Step 10: Set your prices

Pricing is where many new cleaners get stuck. The basic idea: figure out the hourly rate you need to earn, time how long homes take you, then set a flat price that goes up or down with the size of the home.

For the full step-by-step method, with real math and an example price list, read our guide on how to price house cleaning. To get a quick number for a home right now, try our free cleaning price calculator.

Step 11: Find your first clients

Your first clients almost always come from people near you. Some good places to start:

• People you know. Tell friends, family, neighbors and coworkers you’re taking clients. Ask them to pass your number along.
• Local groups. Neighborhood groups, community boards and local online groups are where many people ask, “Does anyone know a good cleaner?”
• Flyers and door hangers. Focus on one or two neighborhoods close together, so your clients end up near each other.
• Reviews and referrals. After a great clean, ask happy clients to tell a friend or leave a review.

Make it easy for people to get a price. With CleanPal, you can share a quote link anywhere: homeowners pick their home, see your price and leave their phone number so you can text them back. They never see your rates, only the price.

Step 12: Keep every client’s details in one place

When you’re solo, your memory is your system. That works for three clients. It gets hard at fifteen. For each client, keep track of:

• Address and gate or door code
• Their usual price and how often you clean
• Notes like “dog named Max” or “no bleach on the counters”
• When you last cleaned

CleanPal saves these details with each client. Each client’s page shows your notes, the gate or door code in big print, and photos. Photos are stored privately, so only your account can open them.

Can you run a remote cleaning business?

A “remote cleaning business” usually means the owner books and manages jobs while other people do the cleaning. That’s possible, but it’s a different business. Hiring employees means handling payroll and employment taxes. The IRS explains that employers must deposit and report federal employment taxes, such as federal income tax, Social Security tax, Medicare tax and federal unemployment tax.

It is usually easier to start by doing the cleaning yourself. You learn how long jobs really take, what clients want and what to charge. Then, if you want to grow, you’ll know exactly what to teach the people you hire.

How to start a house cleaning business: your checklist

Here’s everything above in one list:

1. Decide your services, area and schedule.
2. Choose a sole proprietorship or an LLC.
3. Pick a name and register it if needed.
4. Get a free EIN from the IRS.
5. Check your city, county and state license rules.
6. Get general liability insurance.
7. Open a business bank account.
8. Set money aside for taxes from every job.
9. Gather your supplies.
10. Set your prices.
11. Tell everyone you’re open for clients.
12. Keep client details organized from day one.

Learning how to start a house cleaning business is mostly about taking the first steps in order. Do the paperwork once, set fair prices, treat every client well, and word of mouth will do much of the rest.

Try CleanPal free for 14 days ($0 today), and use our free cleaning price calculator to price your first homes.