Cleaning Business Start Up Checklist

Starting a cleaning business is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to become your own boss. With low startup costs, flexible hours, and high demand, it's a great business for anyone who loves cleaning and wants financial independence.

But where do you start?

This step-by-step checklist will guide you through launching your profitable cleaning business—from setting up legally to landing your first clients.

📌 Step 1: Lay the Foundation

Before booking your first client, it's important to establish a strong business foundation. Here’s what you need to do:

✅ Choose Your Niche – I recommend starting with residential cleaning. Master the basics before expanding into office cleaning, Airbnb turnovers, or post-construction cleaning.

✅ Pick a Business Name – Choose something professional, memorable, and available for registration. Check if the domain and social media handles are available too!

✅ Register Your Business – Decide on a business structure:

• LLC (Limited Liability Company) – Offers legal protection.

• Sole Proprietor – Simplest but less protection.

• DBA (Doing Business As) – If you want a trade name.

✅ Get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) – Required for tax purposes, especially if you plan to hire in the future.

✅ Obtain Necessary Licenses & Permits – Local laws vary, so check what’s needed in your city and state.

✅ Purchase Business Insurance – Liability insurance is essential! It protects you if something goes wrong at a client’s home.

✅ Set Up a Business Bank Account – Keep personal and business finances separate to stay organized.

✅ Create a Simple Bookkeeping System – Use QuickBooks, Wave, or Google Sheets to track income and expenses from day one.

📌 Step 2: Set Up Your Pricing & Services

Once your business is legally set up, it’s time to decide what you offer and how much you charge.

✅ Decide on Your Services – Start with basic services and add-on options:

• Standard Cleaning

• Deep Cleaning

• Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning

✅ Set Your Pricing – Choose between flat-rate pricing or hourly rates. Remember: Charge for value, not just time!

✅ Create Service Packages – Example:

• Weekly/Bi-weekly Maintenance Cleaning

• One-Time Deep Cleaning

✅ Draft a Cleaning Checklist – This ensures consistency and efficiency for every job.

✅ Set Policies for Payments, Cancellations & Reschedules – Outline deposit requirements, cancellation fees, and rescheduling rules upfront.

📌 Step 3: Get Your Supplies & Equipment

You don’t need to buy everything at once—start small and upgrade as your business grows.

✅ Keep Supplies Simple – Start with the basics and expand as needed.

✅ Use Your Clients’ Vacuum & Mop – This prevents spreading germs, dust mites, and pet dander between homes.

✅ Choose Your Preferred Cleaning Products – Decide between eco-friendly, high-end, or budget-friendly options.

✅ Get a Carry-All Caddy – Stay organized and efficient on the job.

✅ Order Business Cards or Flyers (Optional) – Great for networking and local advertising.

📌 Step 4: Attract & Retain Clients

You can have the best cleaning skills, but without clients, you have no business. Here’s how to start booking jobs fast:

✅ Set Up a Google Business Profile – This is a FREE and powerful tool for local visibility.

✅ Create a Facebook Business Page – Even a basic page builds trust and helps people find you.

✅ Join Local Facebook Groups – Engage in conversations before offering your services. Don’t just spam your links!

✅ Ask Family & Friends for Referrals – Your first few clients often come from your personal network.

✅ Offer a Referral Discount – Reward clients who send new business your way.

📌 Step 5: Create a Schedule That Works for YOU

✅ Decide Your Availability – Which days/hours will you work?

✅ Group Clients by Location – Save time and gas by scheduling clients in the same area.

✅ Set Up Automatic Reminders for Clients – Reduce no-shows with text, email, or app notifications.

📌 Step 6: Make Your Business Profitable & Sustainable

✅ Set Income Goals – How much do you want to earn per month?

✅ Track Income & Expenses – Use a bookkeeping system to stay organized and profitable.

✅ Increase Prices Over Time – As you gain experience and demand grows, raise your rates accordingly.

✅ Focus on Recurring Clients – One-time cleanings are great, but weekly and bi-weekly clients provide steady income.

✅ Learn to Say NO to Bad Clients – Trust your instincts and avoid problem clients who undervalue your work.

✅ Work Smarter, Not Harder – Batch jobs together, optimize your supplies, and refine your processes to increase efficiency.

Succeeding in Your Solo Cleaning Business Isn’t About Guesswork—It’s About Strategy.

Growing a profitable solo cleaning business isn’t just about taking on any job that comes your way or hoping things will fall into place.

It’s not about trial and error, wasting time on mistakes that could have been avoided. That’s like trying to clean a house without the right tools—frustrating, exhausting, and inefficient.

You need proven strategies, expert advice, and clear steps to build a business that works for YOU.

What if you could build a successful and profitable cleaning business in a fraction of the time it takes most people? How much easier would that make things?

That’s Exactly What the Profitable Solo Cleaner Society is For.

The Profitable Solo Cleaner Society is a paid membership community designed to give you the guidance and knowledge you need to grow a successful solo cleaning business—faster and smarter.

Starting a cleaning business isn’t just about offering cleaning services because you need extra income or want to be your own boss. It’s also not about randomly taking on clients and hoping things work out—that’s like throwing a dart at a target with your eyes closed.

If you want to build a profitable, long-term cleaning business, you need a clear and effective strategy. That means:

✅ Setting up the right foundation – Policies, pricing, and checklists that keep your business organized and profitable.
✅ Knowing how to attract quality clients – Not just any clients, but ones who pay well, respect your time, and want ongoing services.
✅ Understanding pricing for profit – Charging the right rates so you’re making money, not just working hard.
✅ Creating systems that make things easier – So your business runs smoothly and doesn’t feel chaotic.

Inside The Profitable Solo Cleaner Society, I help solo cleaning business owners get clients, price jobs for profit, and build a business that works for them—without burnout or wasted time, to achieve your goals much faster! Learn More Here

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For over 30 years, Trisha built and ran her own successful cleaning business, handpicking her schedule and consistently earning $5,000+ a month—all while working part-time as a solo cleaner. Now, she’s here to help you do the same! Whether you’re just starting solo or already have a small team, Trisha’s vast experience can help you grow your business and boost profits without adding more hours. She'll teach you how to avoid common mistakes new cleaning business owners make and run your business profitably from day one. With over three decades of experience, learning from Trisha is the fastest, most reliable way to launch or scale your thriving cleaning business!