How to start a cleaning business in the UK without paying for leads

Cleaning is one of the simplest ways to work for yourself. Start-up costs are low and you choose your own hours. The part that worries most people is finding customers.

Many new cleaners assume they have to pay a lead site to get work. You do not. This article covers the basic setup, then the ways to find customers that do not cost you money before you earn any.

The setup: short and cheap

There is no licence for domestic cleaning in the UK. You do not need formal qualifications. What you do need is simple.

1. Decide what you will offer. Most people start with regular domestic cleaning. The same homes, every week or fortnight. It is steady work and easy to plan. Deep cleans and end of tenancy cleans can come later.
2. Register as self-employed with HMRC. Most new cleaners start as a sole trader. You need to register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the end of the tax year in which you started. Our guide on how to register as self-employed walks through it.
3. Get public liability insurance. It is not a legal requirement. But almost every customer will expect it, and it covers you if something gets damaged. Read more on cleaning business insurance.
4. Get a basic DBS check. You will be working in people's homes. A basic DBS check builds trust quickly, and you can apply online yourself.
5. Set your prices. Cleaners charge by the hour or by the job. Our guide to pricing cleaning jobs can help.

Keep a record of everything you earn and spend from day one.

Why paying for leads hurts a new business

Lead sites usually charge in one of two ways. You pay a fee for each lead, or you pay a monthly subscription to be listed. Either way, you pay before you earn.

That model has some problems when you are just starting:

• You can pay for a lead and not win the job. The same lead may go to several other cleaners.
• Some leads are not real. People are comparing prices, or never reply.
• A subscription keeps running in a quiet month.
• When several people chase one lead, the cheapest price often wins.

A simple check helps. Add up a month of lead or subscription fees. Divide it by the jobs that actually came from it. That is your real cost per job, and it is often a surprise.

Where your first customers really come from

People who already know you

Your first few customers usually come from people who already trust you. Tell friends, family, neighbours and former colleagues that you have started. Say what you offer, where you work and what you charge. Ask them to pass it on.

Local community groups

Neighbourhood groups online are full of people asking for a cleaner. When you post, use a friendly photo of yourself. Say which areas you cover and what you charge. Mention your insurance and DBS check. Reply quickly. Check each group's rules on business posts first.

Reviews and referrals

Most people check reviews before they let someone into their home. Ask every happy customer for a review, just after a job they are pleased with. Ask them too if they know anyone else who needs a cleaner. A recommended customer arrives already trusting you. Read how to get more reviews for more.

Turn one-off cleans into regulars

A regular weekly or fortnightly customer is worth far more than a one-off. At the end of a first clean, ask if they would like you to come back. Offer a set day and time.

Where Holler fits

Holler is a UK app for booking local cleaners. It works on a different model to lead sites. You only pay when a job is done.

• Listing is free. There is no subscription, no listing fee and no lead fees.
• One flat commission. Holler takes 8% of each completed booking. Stripe's card processing fee is charged separately.
• You set the terms. Your services, prices, hours and the area you cover.
• You get paid on time. The customer pays in the app when they book. Once the job is complete, the money goes to your bank through Stripe. No invoices to chase.
• Your reputation is yours. Ratings only come from real, completed bookings. Upload your insurance and DBS certificate to get a verified badge.

Holler is useful from the first day with the clients you already have. Send them your Holler link and they can book and pay you in the app, with reminders and chat for every job. Holler is opening area by area across the UK. As it opens near you, customers searching your postcode can see your prices and ratings too.

Before you start

Be honest with yourself about the numbers. Use the free earnings calculator to see what you take home from a job after fees. Use the cleaning price calculator to estimate how long a clean will take.

For the full step by step, read our guide on how to start a cleaning business. And for more on winning work without lead fees, see how to get customers without paying for leads.

Start small. Do a few homes really well. Ask for reviews.