Mobile sofa, chair and mattress cleaning
Deep clean sofas, chairs and mattresses at customers' homes and offices, priced per item.
- A$2k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A mobile service using a portable extraction machine to clean lounges, dining chairs, armchairs and mattresses on site, including stain and odour treatment.
Your first three steps
- Complete a short upholstery cleaning course and practise on old furniture to learn fabric care codes
- Get an ABN, public liability insurance and a portable extractor with suitable solutions
- Offer introductory prices to neighbours and approach local property managers and short-stay hosts
Who pays
Households, renters preparing for a bond clean, property managers, Airbnb hosts and small offices.
How it makes money
Fixed price per item or per room, with add-ons such as stain treatment, fabric protection and mattress sanitising. Repeat work from property managers and hosts helps fill the week.
Skills that help
- Knowing fabrics and stain types
- Careful, tidy work in other people's homes
- Clear quoting and customer service
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and check whether cover includes damage to customers' furniture
- Risk of shrinking, colour run or water marks on delicate fabrics, so test a hidden spot and explain limits before starting
- Check whether you need GST registration once your turnover reaches the threshold
- A ute or van to carry the machine and water, plus safe lifting of heavy equipment
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: mobile sofa, chair and mattress cleaning
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an upholstery cleaning business?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your extraction machine, equipment and supplies. You will also need a ute or van to carry the machine and water, which may affect your costs.
How much can mobile upholstery cleaning earn?
Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many jobs you book and how you price per item. Households, renters, property managers and small offices are typical customers.
What should I check before cleaning customers' furniture?
Things to check: public liability insurance, including whether it covers damage to customers' furniture, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold. Delicate fabrics can shrink or mark, so test a hidden spot and explain limits first.
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