lady cleaning couch

4 Critical Steps To Starting Your House Cleaning Business

October 20, 20245 min read

So you’re ready to start your own house cleaning business?

Smart move.


It’s low cost, high demand, and gives you something most jobs never will:
freedom.

Freedom over your time. Your income. Your clients.
But,
only if you start it like a business and not like “just something on the side.”

Because most people dive in, wing it, and burn out… all before they ever make real money.

If you want long-term profits and low-stress growth, there are 4 things you must do right from the jump.


These aren’t optional. Skip one, and you’ll be stuck spinning your wheels.

💥 Before You Go Any Further… Grab This Checklist

I’ve run a profitable solo cleaning business for over 30 years — and let me tell you, most of my early mistakes could’ve been avoided if someone handed me a clear, real-world startup roadmap.

So I made one for you.

👇This is the first tool you’ll use to go from “just getting started” to “I’ve got a business now.”

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1. Get Your Business Legal (No Skipping This)

This is the unsexy stuff that most people avoid — and then regret it later when something goes wrong.

You can’t afford to run your business under the table or hope you never get caught. Clients want to work with professionals, not risk-takers.

Here’s your no-BS legal to do checklist:

✅ Choose your business structure (sole prop, LLC — just decide)
✅ Register your business name (make it simple, relevant, and searchable)
✅ Get your license or permit (your city or county will tell you what you need)
✅ Set up a business bank account (don’t mix client cash with grocery runs)
✅ Get liability insurance (this isn’t optional — it’s protection)

You can clean like a pro, but if your business isn’t legit, clients won’t trust you — and worse, neither will you.

register business online

2. Start Solo (It’s a Power Move, Not a Starter Phase)

Everyone wants to jump straight to teams and scaling. But here’s the truth:

Starting solo means you keep all the profit, stay in full control, and learn how to run a lean business without chaos.

This is how I ran my business for years. I chose my schedule. I picked my clients. And I built a simple operation that gave me six-figure income without the headache of managing employees.

When you start solo:

  • You can charge more, because your quality stays high

  • You control every decision (no waiting on team members to show up)

  • You build rock-solid client relationships (which turn into referrals and reviews)

Start lean. Start smart.
You don’t need a team to win — you need a system.

cleaning girl

3. Learn the Business, Not Just the Cleaning

Here’s where most people go wrong:
They think cleaning skills = business skills.

Wrong.

You need to learn how to run your cleaning biz like a CEO — not a cleaner who’s hoping to figure it out on the fly.

Here’s where to focus:

🎯 Pricing with confidence — Not guessing. Not asking Facebook groups. Use flat-rate pricing that positions you as a pro and protects your profits. (Want help? Grab my Flat Rate Confidence Guide — I link it in the checklist.)

🎯 Time management — Know how long jobs take, and build a schedule that makes money, not burnout.

🎯 Customer service — Most clients don’t stay because you’re the best cleaner. They stay because you’re reliable, easy to communicate with, and trustworthy.

🎯 Cleaning techniques — Even if you’re great at cleaning your own house, you’ll need to create a repeatable, efficient system that gets consistent results.

The best cleaners aren’t the busiest.
The best business owners are.

lady talking on phone

4. Build Your Client Base Strategically (Not Desperately)

Clients don’t just fall into your lap. You’ve got to put yourself out there intentionally, but without looking like you’re begging for work.

Start here:

📣 Tell your network — Your first 3 clients are probably people you already know or people they know. Tell everyone.

📣 Set up your Facebook Business Page — Post photos, testimonials, and make it easy for people to find and message you.

📣 Join local Facebook groups — Not to spam. To connect. Be helpful. Be visible. Let people know what you do — and do it well.

📣 Use flyers + business cards — They still work. Post them on local community boards, leave them at coffee shops, and ask local businesses to share them.

📣 Ask for reviews — Even if it’s your first few clients, ask. Reviews build trust, and trust builds your business.

You don’t need 100 clients. You need the right 10 to start building momentum.

lady shaking hands

🚀 You Don’t Need a Team. A Logo. Or a Website

You need a clean plan, a confident mindset, and the kind of systems that let you start simple, profitable, and powerful.

That’s what the No BS Cleaning Business Start-Up Checklist gives you.

🎯 Download it now and start your business like a woman who knows what she’s doing — not someone hoping for the best.

📥 [Yes, I need the checklist!] No fluff. No fluffers. Just what works.

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Trisha Carinne

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!

Trisha Carinne

Trisha Carinne is a 30+ years successful cleaning business owner

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