Cleaning business startup cost calculator

Every line I teach new owners to budget for, in order. Put in your real numbers and see what it takes to open your doors, and about what it costs each month after.

Your costs

Business registration (LLC or DBA)Varies by state. Look it up on your Secretary of State's website.
EINFree on IRS.gov. Never pay a website for it.
Free
City or county business licenseCheck whether your city or county needs one, and what it costs.
Business insuranceGet a real quote before you launch.
Busy BookYour monthly plan.
Business phone (Quo)
DomainYour website address, paid once a year.
Business email
Gusto (contractor plan)A monthly fee plus a little per partner. Watch for promos.
Finding partnersPosting your job ad can be free. Sponsored posts are optional, so set a cap.
Background checksPer check. Some owners have the applicant pay.
First lead budgetWhat you'll spend on paid leads like Thumbtack to land your first bookings. Prices vary by market.

Why a remote cleaning business costs less to start

When I started, y'all, I was broke as a joke, okay? So I had to figure out what I truly needed and what could wait. In a remote cleaning business your partner cleaners are independent contractors who bring their own supplies and equipment. That means no van, no warehouse and no closet full of vacuums, so the biggest costs of a traditional cleaning company mostly go away.

What's left is the stuff that makes you a real business: registering it, your EIN (free), any city or county license, insurance, your software, a business phone, and a small budget to find partners and land your first bookings. Get a real insurance quote and check your state's fee instead of guessing, because those two change the most from place to place, right?

For every line explained, read cleaning business startup costs.

Questions

How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?

It depends on your state's registration fee, your insurance quote and how much you put toward your first leads. In a remote model your partner cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment, so the biggest costs of a traditional cleaning company mostly go away.

Is an EIN free?

Yes. You get your EIN for free on IRS.gov. Never pay a website for it.

What do new cleaning business owners overspend on?

Equipment, a fancy website, paying someone to file free forms, and ads before their prices and partner cleaners are ready.

More free tools

House cleaning price calculator

Bedrooms, baths and square feet in, a flat price out, with repeat-client discounts.

Is my city a good place?

A free market report for any U.S. city, with real Census numbers and local prices.

Free printable templates

A room by room checklist, a service agreement, an estimate and an invoice.

Cleaning business name ideas

Name ideas from your city and your style, with the three checks to make before you pick one.