Contract cleaning company with a small team
Win contracts for schools, larger offices and business units, and run a small team of cleaners.
- £1.5k-8k
- Full-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
A cleaning business that holds contracts for larger sites such as schools, offices and industrial units. You tender or quote, schedule staff, supervise quality and handle supplies.
Your first three steps
- Work out a realistic cost per cleaner hour, including wages, pension, insurance and supplies
- Set up as a sole trader or limited company and arrange public liability insurance
- Contact local property managers and schools and ask how they award cleaning contracts
Who pays
Schools and academies, property managers, larger offices, care providers and local businesses that outsource cleaning.
How it makes money
Monthly contract fees charged to clients, minus wages, supplies and insurance. Margin comes from well-priced contracts and efficient scheduling.
Skills that help
- Managing and scheduling staff
- Quoting and pricing contracts
- Quality checking and client communication
Watch out for
- Employer's liability insurance once you take on staff
- Employment duties such as right-to-work checks, minimum wage, payslips and workplace pensions
- DBS checks, which schools usually require for cleaners, check what the client needs
- Tendering can be slow and larger clients may pay on 30 to 60 day terms, so keep cash in reserve
- Staff cover for sickness, as missed cleans can lose a contract
- VAT registration, check when you may need it as contracts grow
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: contract cleaning company with a small team
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 contract cleaning company?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on equipment, supplies and insurance. Clients may pay on longer terms, so it is worth keeping some cash in reserve.
How much can a contract cleaning business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on the number and size of contracts you win and the size of your team. These are estimates and your own results will vary.
What rules should I check before taking on cleaning staff?
Check employer's liability insurance, right-to-work checks, minimum wage, payslips and workplace pensions. Schools usually require DBS checks for cleaners, so check what each client needs. Also check when VAT registration may apply.
Other ways to run this business
Similar cleaning ideas
Farm and rural water tank cleaning
Clean large storage tanks, troughs and private supply tanks for farms, estates and rural homes with a van and pressure kit.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Local cleaning supplies delivery round
Buy cleaning chemicals, tools and paper in bulk and deliver them to local cleaners, offices and small businesses.
- £1.5k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Man and van rubbish removal
Collect unwanted items and household rubbish from homes and small businesses in your own van.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Commercial pool maintenance contracts
Look after pools at hotels, gyms, holiday parks and schools on regular contracts.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Boat prep for dealers and brokers
Get boats sale-ready or handover-ready for dealers, brokers and charter firms on a regular contract.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Boat cleaning for marinas and charter firms
Win regular cleaning contracts with marinas, hire fleets and charter operators, with a small team.
- £1.5k-7k
- Part-time
- Out and about