In short
To start a cleaning business in the UK: choose your services, register as self-employed with HMRC, get public liability insurance and a basic DBS check, set your prices, buy your kit and start finding customers. No licence is needed for domestic cleaning, and you can start for a few hundred pounds.
1. Decide what kind of cleaning you will offer
Most people start with regular domestic cleaning — the same homes every week or fortnight. It is steady, repeat income and easy to schedule. Once you are established you can add higher-value work:
- Deep cleans — one-off, top-to-bottom cleans, usually priced higher per hour
- End-of-tenancy cleans — landlords, letting agents and tenants getting deposits back
- Carpet and window cleaning — need specialist kit, but pay well
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. You then file a tax return each year and pay Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance on your profit.
- The first £1,000 of self-employed income each year is covered by the trading allowance
- Keep records of everything you earn and spend — supplies, travel and insurance are allowable expenses
- You only need to register for VAT if your turnover goes over the VAT threshold
3. Get public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement, but almost every customer will expect it — it covers you if you damage something or someone is hurt. If you take on staff, employers’ liability insurance becomes a legal requirement.
4. Get a basic DBS check
You will be working in people’s homes, so a criminal record check builds trust fast. As a self-employed person you can apply for a basic DBS check online yourself. Upload it to Holler alongside your insurance to get a verified badge on your profile.
5. Set your prices
Cleaners charge by the hour or by the job. Look at what others near you charge, then work out what you need to earn after your costs. Price deep and end-of-tenancy cleans higher than regular cleans — they are harder work.
Use the free cleaning price calculator to estimate how long a job will take, and the earnings calculator to see what you take home.
6. Buy your kit
Decide whether you bring your own products and equipment or use the customer’s. Bringing your own looks more professional and lets you charge a little more. A basic starter kit — vacuum, microfibre cloths, mop, sprays and gloves — costs far less than most businesses need to start.
7. Find your first customers
- List on Holler — customers searching your postcode see your services, prices and reviews, and pay in the app. You pay no subscription or lead fees.
- Ask every happy customer for a referral — word of mouth is the cheapest marketing there is
- Local community groups online — introduce yourself with a photo and a clear price
Questions people ask
Do I need a licence to start a cleaning business in the UK?
No. There is no licence for domestic cleaning in the UK. You do need to register as self-employed with HMRC, and you should have public liability insurance.
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?
Very little. Your main costs are cleaning supplies, insurance and a DBS check. Many cleaners start using customers’ own equipment and buy their own kit as they grow.
Can I start a cleaning business with no experience?
Yes. Many successful cleaners started by cleaning for friends and family. Start with regular domestic cleans, ask for reviews, and build from there.
How do cleaners get paid on Holler?
Customers pay in the app when they book. Once the job is complete, your money is paid out to your bank through Stripe — no invoices or chasing payments.
Keep reading
How to become a self-employed cleaner in the UK
Become a self-employed cleaner in the UK: check your status, register with HMRC, keep records, get insured and DBS checked, set prices and find customers.
How much do self-employed cleaners earn?
What a self-employed cleaner really takes home: worked examples of rates, hours, travel, supplies, fees and tax, plus the things that push your earnings up.
Earnings calculator for self-employed pros
Free earnings calculator for self-employed cleaners and tradespeople: enter your price and jobs per week to see your take-home per job, week and year.
Insurance for cleaners and cleaning businesses
Cleaning business insurance explained: public liability, employers’ liability (a legal must if you employ staff), keys cover, and what to check in a policy.