Lazimkey

How to Start a Cleaning Business

Book your first paying customer in under 30 days.

Time: 2–4 weeksBudget: $500 – $3,0009 steps

Cleaning is one of the most cash-positive businesses you can start. The main risk is bad scheduling and slow payments — both fixable with a $50/month software stack.

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  1. 1

    Decide residential vs commercial

    Very different pricing, staffing, and sales cycle. Pick one to start.

  2. 2

    Form an LLC and get insurance

    General liability + bond. $500–$1,200/year.

  3. 3

    Website with online booking

    Website

    A one-page website with an instant-quote form converts 3–5x better than a phone-only funnel. Hostinger + a booking embed does it for under $10/month.

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  4. 4

    Job scheduling software

    Jobber, Housecall Pro, or ServiceTitan for larger crews. Pays for itself the first missed appointment it prevents.

  5. 5

    CRM for repeat and referral customers

    CRM

    80% of your revenue in year two will be repeats and referrals. Track them from job one.

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  6. 6

    Marketing: local SEO + Nextdoor + Google Business

    SEO

    Rank for 'house cleaning [city]'. Semrush finds the exact queries.

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  7. 7

    Price the first 3 jobs at cost

    Trade money for reviews. Ask for a Google review at the end of every job.

  8. 8

    Payments — no invoices sitting for 30 days

    Card-on-file or day-of payment. Same-day pay is the whole point of this business.

  9. 9

    Hire your first cleaner (when solo-booked > 30 hrs/week)

    Use a checklist and pay slightly above market to reduce turnover.

FAQ

Do I need a special license?
Most states don't require one for residential cleaning; commercial contracts may require bonding and additional insurance.