Starting a cleaning business can be a profitable and flexible career choice, even if you have no prior experience in the industry. With minimal startup costs and a high demand for cleaning services, it’s an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to build a successful business. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to launch your own cleaning business from scratch.
Cleaning businesses also have high earning potential, with many cleaning jobs that can pay 50K without a degree.
What do you need to start a cleaning business?
You don’t need years of experience or expensive certifications to start a cleaning business. Instead, you need a few essentials to get started. The requirements to start a cleaning business in the UK include:
- Basic Cleaning Supplies and Equipment – Depending on the type of cleaning service you offer, you may need general cleaning products and tools like disinfectants, sponges, microfiber cloths, vacuums, and mops. It’s important to have quality cleaning products appropriate for your niche.
- Business Registration and Insurance – Register your business legally and invest in liability insurance to protect yourself from potential claims.
- Pricing Strategy – Research the market to determine competitive pricing for your services.
- Marketing Plan – Create a simple website, set up social media accounts, and use local advertising to attract your first customers.
- Reliable Transportation – You’ll need a way to travel to clients’ locations, either a personal vehicle or a company van.
- Customer Service Skills – Good communication and professionalism will help you build a strong reputation and secure repeat clients.
Expert tips for starting a cleaning business with no experience
While experience can be advantageous, you can still run a successful cleaning business with the right character and approach to the role. Even if you’re not confident that you have these qualities right now, they can always be learned through networking and research. Our expert tips include:
- Start Small and Specialise – Instead of offering a broad range of cleaning services, focus on a niche such as residential cleaning, oven cleaning, or office cleaning. This helps you establish the business in a new area and avoid competing with massive market players.
- Learn on the Job – Take online courses, watch tutorials, or shadow experienced cleaners to develop your skills.
- Offer Competitive Rates – Attract your first clients by offering affordable prices while maintaining quality service.
- Seek Customer Feedback – Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and referrals to grow your business. Positive reviews convince potential customers to choose your services over a competitor’s.
- Stay Organised – Use scheduling and invoicing tools to manage appointments and finances efficiently. This is especially useful if you aren’t experienced in running fulfilling business services and staying on top of admin duties simultaneously.
Types of cleaning businesses that don’t require experience
Some specialist kinds of cleaning require service providers to have certain training and qualifications, such as healthcare cleaning. However, there are cleaning businesses which don’t require any experience. If you’re looking for a cleaning business idea which comes without any formal experience requirements, here are some options to consider:
Residential Cleaning
Home cleaning services require minimal equipment and can be started quickly. The only real requirement for success is to have a network of local contacts to help establish yourself.
Oven Cleaning
A cleaning service that is in high demand and doesn’t require professional experience. While it might seem like a specialised business, oven cleaning is very straightforward. Experience can be helpful to increase efficiency with each job and expand your offerings, although this isn’t always easy to acquire within a niche. Instead, oven cleaning franchise support can provide professional training and help you develop a repeatable workflow without extensive trial and error. Our packages include an in-depth week-long training course followed by ongoing marketing and technical support.
Window Cleaning
A business model for highly-demanded cleaning services that only requires basic tools. However, there may be additional safety precautions and equipment involved to ensure safe working conditions.
Carpet Cleaning
With the right equipment, you can offer carpet and upholstery cleaning services with no experience.
Airbnb & Rental Cleaning
With the rise of short-term rentals, providing quick turnover cleaning services can be a profitable niche. There isn’t any requirement for prior experience in this kind of cleaning, making it ideal for a career change or to supplement other income streams.
Start with professional franchise support
If you’re new to the cleaning industry, joining a reputable cleaning franchise can provide the training, support, and brand recognition you need to succeed. Our franchise package offers:
- Proven Business Model – Step-by-step guidance to help you run a successful cleaning business.
- Comprehensive Training – Learn the best cleaning techniques, customer service, and business management skills.
- Marketing Assistance – Get help with branding, advertising, and client acquisition.
- Operational Support – Access business tools, software, and supplier discounts.
Starting a cleaning business with no experience is entirely possible with the right approach. You can build a thriving cleaning business with minimal risk by focusing on a niche, learning essential skills, and leveraging franchise support.
If you’re worried about starting your cleaning business from scratch and want a leg up on the competition, joining forces with a cleaning franchise can be an effective solution. Get in touch if you have any questions about our franchise support to help get your own cleaning business off the ground.