Cleaning Business Startup Costs: What You Actually Need to Spend
A line-by-line breakdown of what it costs to start a remote cleaning business, what's free, what's monthly and where beginners overspend.
One of the best things about a remote cleaning business is how little it takes to start. You don't need a van, a warehouse or a closet full of vacuums. In this model your partner cleaners are independent contractors who bring their own supplies and equipment, so the big costs of a traditional cleaning company mostly disappear.
When I started, I was broke as a joke. I had to figure out what I truly needed and what could wait. This is that list.
The short answer
Most remote cleaning businesses can launch for a few hundred dollars up front, plus a handful of monthly bills. The two numbers that swing the most are your state's registration fee and how much you choose to spend on marketing.
| Cost | One time or monthly | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Business registration (DBA or LLC) | One time, plus some yearly state fees | Varies a lot by state, from about $50 to $500 for an LLC |
| EIN (tax ID) | One time | Free from the IRS |
| Business phone number | Monthly | Quo plans start around $15 a user each month |
| Business bank account | Monthly | Many online business banks, like Bluevine, have a plan with no monthly fee |
| Booking software and website | Monthly | Busy Book starts at $39 a month |
| General liability insurance | Monthly or yearly | Get quotes; it depends on your state and coverage |
| Card processing | Per payment | A small percentage of each card payment, through Square or Stripe |
| Marketing | Your choice | From $0 (Google Business Profile, local groups) to whatever ad budget you set |
| Cleaning supplies and equipment | Usually $0 | Your partner cleaners bring their own |
Prices change, so check each company's site for today's numbers.
What's free (so don't pay for it)
- Your EIN. Apply on the IRS website. Anyone charging you for this is charging you for a free form.
- Your Google Business Profile. It's how you show up on Google Maps. See Google Business Profile for cleaning businesses.
- Your business name search. Your state's Secretary of State website lets you search names for free.
- Showing up in local Facebook groups. It costs time, not money.
Registration: DBA or LLC
You need to be a legal business, but you may not need an LLC on day one. In some states an LLC is very expensive; in others it costs about the same as a DBA. If money is tight, many owners start with a DBA (a "doing business as" name) and form an LLC later.
I'm not an attorney or a CPA, so talk to one about your situation. The full breakdown is in do I need an LLC for a cleaning business?
Your phone, your bank and your software
These are your monthly basics, and they're worth it from day one.
A business phone number. Not your personal cell. Clients and cleaners will call at dinner time, and you need a line you can turn off. I use Quo (formerly OpenPhone). Their plans start around $15 per user a month, and texts sent from apps like Busy Book cost about a penny each from your Quo credits.
A business bank account. Keep business money separate from personal money from the very first payment. Bluevine has a business checking plan with no monthly fee and no minimum balance. More in business bank accounts for cleaning businesses.
Booking software. This is where clients book, your partners get their jobs and cards get charged. Busy Book starts at $39 a month with no fee per cleaner, and includes Sarah, an AI assistant who answers your leads by text. See the best cleaning business software for an honest comparison.
Insurance
General liability insurance protects your business if a home gets damaged. Require your partner cleaners to carry their own, and carry your own policy too, in case theirs lapses or doesn't cover enough. Costs depend on your state and coverage, so get a few quotes. Details in cleaning business insurance.
Marketing: start free, then spend on demand
You can get your first clients with almost no ad spend: a complete Google Business Profile, local groups, property managers and realtors. When you do spend, spend where people are already searching for a cleaner, like Thumbtack or Google, rather than on flyers. Read how to get cleaning clients and is Thumbtack worth it?
Where beginners overspend
- Equipment. In a contractor model, your partners bring their own supplies and equipment. Those are their business expenses. You don't need 15 vacuums and a storage unit.
- A fancy website. One clear page with your services, your area and a booking button is plenty to start.
- Paying someone to file free forms. Your EIN is free, and most state filings are simple online forms.
- Ads before structure. If you don't have partner cleaners and flat prices ready, ads just bring stress faster.
- Discounts to "get started." Low prices don't save you money; they cost you your best cleaners.
Questions people ask
How much money do I need to start a cleaning business?
For a remote cleaning business with contractor cleaners, usually a few hundred dollars up front for registration, plus monthly costs for a phone number, software and insurance. Your state's fees and your marketing budget are the biggest variables.
Do I need to buy cleaning supplies?
Not in a remote model with independent contractors. Your partner cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment, and can count them as their own business expenses. Some owners keep a small backup kit, but it isn't required.
Can I start a cleaning business with no money?
You can start with very little. The EIN, your Google Business Profile and local groups are free, and many owners start with a low-cost DBA before forming an LLC. You'll still want a business phone number and a way for clients to book and pay.
What's the biggest ongoing cost?
Usually your partner cleaners' share of each job, which is paid from each cleaning, followed by marketing. Your software, phone and insurance are smaller, steady monthly costs.
