Starting a cleaning business in Chicago, IL

Real numbers for Chicago from the U.S. Census Bureau, and what they mean if you're thinking about starting a cleaning business here.

C46 out of 100 for house cleaning demand, compared with the U.S.

Households1,146,5472,707,648 people

Median household income$75,134U.S.: $78,538

Households earning $100K+440,27438.4% of homes, U.S.: 39.3%

Homeowners45.5%U.S.: 65.0%

Median home value$315,200U.S.: $303,400

Two-income households32.3%U.S.: 36.2%

What the numbers mean for a cleaning business in Chicago

The typical household in Chicago earns $75,134 a year, about 4% below the U.S. median.

About 38.4% of households here earn $100,000 or more, roughly 440,274 homes. Those are your best prospects for regular house cleaning.

45.5% of homes are owned by the people living in them. With more renters, move in and move out cleanings can be a big part of your business here.

32.3% of households have two or more people working, and busy two-income families are a sweet spot for a cleaning business.

Numbers like these tell you if the demand is there, okay? They don't tell you who you're up against or what they charge. That's what the free market report is for: it looks at real cleaning companies in Chicago, their prices and their reviews, and the ZIP codes to start in.

Your next steps

Run your free Chicago reportLocal companies, their prices and the best ZIP codes to start in. Set your flat pricesThe free house cleaning price calculator, with your own rates. Add up your startup costsEvery line to budget for, and what it costs each month. Learn the remote modelRun it from your phone, with partner cleaners doing the cleanings.

More cities in Illinois

Aurora Rockford Joliet Naperville Elgin

Questions

Is Chicago a good place to start a cleaning business?

Chicago scores 46 out of 100, a grade of C, on the numbers that predict house cleaning demand: household income, $100,000+ households, homeowners, home values and two-income households, compared with the U.S., where 50 is about average. The free market report adds local cleaning companies and their prices.

How many households in Chicago earn $100,000 or more?

About 38.4% of the 1,146,547 households in Chicago, roughly 440,274 homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

What should I charge for house cleaning in Chicago?

It depends on the home and the type of cleaning. Use the free house cleaning price calculator with your own flat rates, and run a free market report for Chicago to see what local cleaning companies charge.

Numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 2019 to 2023 five-year estimates. The score compares Chicago with the U.S. on household income, $100,000+ households, homeowners, home values and two-income households, where 50 is about average.

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