Mobile carpet cleaning service
Deep clean carpets and rugs in homes and offices using a portable extraction machine.
- $2k-10k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
6,673 US businesses with employees in this field, -3.3% in a year
NAICS 561740 “Carpet and upholstery cleaning services”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
Hot water extraction cleaning of carpets and rugs at the customer's home or office, plus pre-treatment of spots and stains. You travel to each job with a portable machine or a truck-mounted unit.
Your first three steps
- Take a carpet cleaning course or certification (for example through an industry body) and practice on friends' and family's carpets
- Price a portable extractor or used truck-mount against your budget, and check what your vehicle can carry
- Form an LLC or register as a sole proprietor, get general liability insurance, and contact local property managers and realtors for turnover cleans
Who pays
Homeowners, renters, landlords, property managers, real estate agents and small offices.
How it makes money
Price per room or per square foot, with add-ons such as stain treatment, deodorizing and protectant. Repeat work from property managers between tenants can fill your schedule.
Skills that help
- Using cleaning machines safely
- Knowing carpet fibers and stain types
- Customer service and clear quoting
- Basic scheduling and route planning
Watch out for
- General liability insurance, and check whether you need coverage for your equipment and vehicle
- Check with your city or county about a business license
- Risk of damaging delicate rugs or leaving carpets too wet, so test first and know when to say no
- Check rules on disposing of wastewater in your area
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire helpers
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: mobile carpet cleaning service
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 mobile carpet cleaning business?
Estimates suggest startup costs of typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on whether you buy a portable extraction machine or a truck-mounted unit, plus supplies, insurance and the vehicle you use.
How much can a mobile carpet cleaner earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many jobs you book, your prices and whether you serve homes, landlords or offices. You can begin from around 12 hours a week and build up.
What rules should I check before starting carpet cleaning?
Check general liability insurance and whether you need cover for your equipment and vehicle. Check with your city or county about a business license, rules on disposing of wastewater in your area, and workers' compensation insurance once you hire helpers.
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Photo: stevepb on Pixabay