Residential house cleaning service

Busy families, dual-income couples, older homeowners, and people preparing for guests or a move.

Flat price per visit based on home size, or an hourly rate. Recurring weekly or biweekly clients give steady income, and deep cleans and move-out cleans earn higher one-off fees.

• Thorough and reliable
• Good time management
• Trustworthy with keys and access codes

• General liability insurance, and whether a bond would help win client trust
• Whether your city or county requires a business license, and how to register as a sole proprietor or LLC
• Workers' compensation rules once you hire helpers, and how your state treats employees versus contractors
• Physical strain and chemical safety, so plan your hours and never mix products

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $200 to $1,000, depending on whether you bring your own supplies and how you handle insurance and registration. Monthly revenue is typically around $600 to $3,500, depending on how many clients you take on.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and how to register as a sole proprietor or LLC. Also look into general liability insurance, whether a bond would help, and workers' compensation and employee versus contractor rules in your state if you hire helpers.

Being thorough, reliable and good at time management matters, as does being trustworthy with keys and access codes. Estimates suggest at least about 8 hours a week to start. Plan your hours around physical strain, and never mix cleaning products.