Office and small business cleaning
Clean small offices, shops and studios on a regular contract, often before or after hours.
- £200-1.5k
- Part-time
- 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
Regular cleaning of small commercial spaces such as offices, salons, surgeries and shops, including bins, floors, kitchens and toilets.
Your first three steps
- Visit a few small businesses nearby and ask who handles their cleaning and what they pay
- Get public liability insurance and write a simple one-page quote and contract
- Offer a trial month to one or two local businesses and ask for a written reference
Who pays
Small businesses, landlords, shared workspaces and property managers.
How it makes money
Monthly or weekly contract price, based on the size of the space and how often you visit. Contracts give more predictable income than one-off jobs.
Skills that help
- Reliable and consistent
- Working independently, often out of hours
- Basic quoting and invoicing
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and check whether clients ask for a specific level of cover
- Key and alarm code security, so agree clear rules with each client
- Safe handling of cleaning chemicals, so check COSHH guidance
- Employer's liability insurance and right-to-work checks if you hire staff
- Losing one large client can hit income, so aim to build several
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: office and small business cleaning
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 an office cleaning business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around £200 to £1,500, depending on equipment, supplies and insurance. Check public liability insurance, and whether clients ask for a specific level of cover before you take on contracts.
How much can an office cleaning business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £600 to £3,500, depending on how many regular contracts you win. Losing one large client can hit income, so aim to build several clients.
What rules should office cleaners check in the UK?
Check public liability insurance and key and alarm code security, and look at COSHH guidance for safe handling of cleaning chemicals. If you hire staff, check employer's liability insurance and right-to-work checks.
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