Starting a cleaning business is a great way to enter a lucrative industry with the potential to generate regular income. Statista data estimates that the UK household cleaners market will reach £776m in 2025, with the total number of users in the market reaching 6.4m by 2029. In 2023, it was estimated that around 75,565 cleaning businesses were operating in the UK.
However, one of the biggest decisions you’ll face is whether to focus on domestic or commercial cleaning. Each option has its advantages and challenges, so understanding the key differences will help you determine which is right for your business.
If you’re wondering how to set up a domestic cleaning business, this guide will help you explore your options.
- Personal client relationships – Many clients prefer regular, trusted cleaners. Working for individuals can be more rewarding as homeowners are typically more grateful for receiving quality services, and there’s greater scope for forming deep relationships.
- High demand – Many busy professionals and families need household cleaning help.
- Potential for recurring business – Clients can request regular services to keep on top of cleaning around the home. You may also get repeat jobs at certain times of the year due to events like birthdays or Christmas parties.
Potential downsides of domestic cleaning
While domestic cleaning has many benefits, there are some challenges to consider:
- Lower hourly rates – Domestic cleaners typically charge less than commercial cleaners when they start. However, rates can be increased over time as you acquire more high-paying clients.
- Cancellations – Homeowners may cancel or reschedule appointments.
- Limited scalability – Expanding beyond a local area may be difficult if the return of a cleaning job isn’t enough to warrant the travel.
- Working alone – Many domestic cleaners operate solo, meaning the workload can be physically demanding.
Pros of commercial cleaning
Commercial cleaning focuses on businesses, offices, retail stores, schools, hospitals, and other commercial properties. These services are usually performed after business hours and include carpet cleaning, window washing, and general office maintenance.
Advantages:
- Higher earnings – Commercial cleaning contracts are often more lucrative than domestic jobs as business premises usually take longer to clean due to size and complexity.
- Long-term contracts – Businesses often sign contracts for regular cleaning, providing a stable income.
- Scalability – Commercial cleaning allows for business growth, including hiring staff and expanding to multiple locations.
- Different client priorities – Commercial clients tend to be more focused on efficiency and results rather than personal service. This can be an advantage if the client is clear in their business cleaning goals.
Cons of commercial cleaning
Despite its advantages, commercial cleaning comes with certain drawbacks:
- Higher initial investment – You may need specialised equipment such as industrial vacuums, carpet cleaners, and floor polishers.
- Competitive market – Winning contracts against established cleaning companies can be challenging.
- Staffing requirements – Scaling a commercial cleaning business often requires hiring and managing employees.
- Work during unsociable hours – Many commercial jobs take place in the evenings or weekends so as not to disrupt business operations. This is a major sacrifice for most people and might not be possible for those with children or caregiver responsibilities.
Choosing the right direction for your business
There are many different types of cleaning businesses with the potential to be profitable. While some offer both domestic and commercial cleaning, this isn’t recommended when starting. Here’s some advice on choosing what kind of cleaning services you should provide:
When deciding between domestic and commercial cleaning, consider the following factors:
- Budget – If you have limited startup funds, domestic cleaning may be the easier option.
- Scalability – If you want to grow a large business, commercial cleaning or franchise opportunities can provide more options for expansion.
- Work-life balance – Domestic cleaning offers more flexible hours, whereas commercial cleaning often requires late-night or early-morning work.
- Client preferences – Do you prefer working closely with individual homeowners or handling large-scale contracts?
It’s also beneficial to go a step further and think about the specific type of cleaning your business will provide. For instance, you could offer carpet cleaning services for offices or furniture cleaning for households. Deciding whether you should niche down your cleaning business is an important decision for business owners.
Commercial vs domestic oven cleaning
As a professional oven cleaner, there’s a choice between cleaning home ovens and ovens in commercial spaces. To decide which is best for you, be mindful of the types of ovens and oven features in either case. For domestic oven cleaning services, there are a wide variety of ovens that you’ll be cleaning, including:
- Free-standing ovens
- Built-in ovens
- AGA ovens
- Range-style ovens
Commercial settings can also sport a range of different ovens, with some of the common examples being:
- Conveyor belt ovens
- Deck ovens
- Combi ovens
- Brick ovens
- Wood fire ovens
In either case, it’s important to have skills and experience in cleaning a variety of ovens so you aren’t missing out on potential clients. A great way to prepare is to keep a stock of quality cleaning equipment and products which can be used on any job. At Ovenu, our world-class domestic oven cleaning products are formulated to deal with difficult oven grease without using caustic soda. If you’re planning on operating a solely domestic cleaning service, as Ovenu does, it’s best to use non-corrosives to avoid the potential dangers of cleaning products.
Cleaning franchise support
If you’re struggling to decide which type of cleaning business is right for you, a straightforward solution is to approach a franchise. These businesses have already made all the hard decisions and spent years perfecting their business plan.
At Ovenu, we took our time deciding on the best direction for the business, where it would operate, its services and schedule. Despite all this forethought and business experience, our early years weren’t without their challenges. That’s why we’re helping new business owners break into the market by providing targeted franchise support.
Get in touch with us today to discuss how you want to move forward with your cleaning business.
