Regular home cleaning service
Clean local homes weekly, fortnightly or as one-off deep cleans for busy households.
- £100-600
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
24,607 UK companies in this field, 48% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 81210 “General cleaning of buildings”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
Cleaning private homes on a regular schedule or as one-off jobs, covering kitchens, bathrooms, floors, dusting and tidying.
Your first three steps
- Check what local cleaners charge and set your hourly or per-visit rate
- Get public liability insurance and a basic kit of cloths, mops and products
- Tell neighbours and local community groups you have space for regular clients, and ask for reviews
Who pays
Busy families, professionals, older people and landlords or tenants needing a one-off clean.
How it makes money
Hourly rate or fixed price per visit. Regular clients give steady income, and one-off deep cleans are usually priced higher.
Skills that help
- Thorough and reliable
- Good time management
- Trustworthy and friendly with clients
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and check whether cover includes damage to clients' belongings
- Holding clients' keys, so agree how they are stored and keep a clear record
- Register as a sole trader with HMRC and check whether you need to keep records of income
- Physical work, so pace your hours to avoid strain
- Employer's liability insurance if you take on staff
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: regular home cleaning service
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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 a home cleaning business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around £100 to £600, depending on the equipment and supplies you buy and the insurance you choose. Public liability insurance is worth checking, including whether it covers damage to clients' belongings.
How much can a home cleaner earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £400 to £2,500, depending on how many clients you take on and how many hours you work. It is physical work, so pace your hours to avoid strain.
What do I need to check before cleaning homes for a living?
Check public liability insurance, register as a sole trader with HMRC and check whether you need to keep records of income. Agree how clients' keys are stored, and check employer's liability insurance if you take on staff.
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