Household helper for busy families
Take care of the odds and ends for busy households: tidying, laundry, shopping and errands.
- £100-500
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A flexible household helper service covering tidying, laundry and ironing, supermarket shopping, parcel returns, waiting in for deliveries and other practical jobs that busy people never get round to.
Your first three steps
- Write a simple price list of tasks and bundles, checking what similar local services charge
- Get public liability insurance and set up a simple way to track hours and expenses
- Post in local parent groups and neighbourhood apps and offer a trial two-hour session
Who pays
Working parents, professionals, landlords and second-home owners who want someone dependable to handle the small jobs.
How it makes money
Hourly rate or a fixed price per task bundle, with a monthly retainer for regular clients who want a set number of hours.
Skills that help
- Organised and good at planning a route
- Discreet and trustworthy
- Able to follow a client's list and instructions
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, and check whether your policy covers using your own car for errands
- If you drive for clients, check your car insurance covers business use
- Register as self-employed with HMRC and keep records of income and expenses
- Be clear about what is included so jobs do not turn into unpaid extras
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: household helper for busy families
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 household helper business?
Startup costs are typically around £100 to £500, depending on what equipment, insurance and transport you need. These are estimates, so list the services you plan to offer and cost them before you begin.
How much can a household helper earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £400 to £2,200, depending on how many clients you take on and the hours you work. This is revenue before expenses, and the estimate assumes at least around 8 hours a week.
What insurance and registration should I check?
Check public liability insurance, and whether your policy covers using your own car for errands. If you drive for clients, check your car insurance covers business use. Register as self-employed with HMRC and keep records of income and expenses.
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