For new cleaning business owners

Start your cleaning business without guessing.

What to charge, which license you need, what to put in your contract. Plain answers, with every rule linked to the official source and the date we checked it.

Price a cleaning jobGet the free starter kit
Official sources on every pageFree tools, no signupChecked October 2026
A cleaning caddy, notebook and laptop showing a pricing sheet on a bright kitchen table

What do you need to figure out today?

What should I charge?

Work out a price per clean from your time, supplies, driving and taxes, so every job actually pays you.

Open the price calculator →

Do I need a license?

What comes from your state, county and city, and the sales tax rule many new cleaners miss.

Check your state →

What goes in my contract?

A free residential cleaning service agreement you can edit: scope, payment, cancellations, keys, pets, damage.

Get the free contract →

What insurance do I need?

The main types explained in plain words, and what to ask an agent before you buy.

Read the insurance guide →

The 10 steps to a legit cleaning business

  1. Decide what you'll clean and for whomHomes, move-outs, offices, short-term rentals. It changes your pricing, insurance and, in some states, your sales tax.
  2. Choose a business structureSole proprietor or LLC are the usual starting points. SBA compares the options.
  3. Pick a name and register itIf you work under a name that isn't your own, most states require you to register it as a DBA.[1]
  4. Get a free EIN from the IRSIt takes minutes online and costs nothing. Never pay a website for it.[2]
  5. Licenses, permits and sales taxThese come from your state, county and city. Check your state.
  6. InsuranceClients will ask if you're insured. What the main policies cover.
  7. Set your pricesPrice from your costs, then compare with local cleaners. Use the calculator.
  8. Put it in writingA simple agreement prevents most disputes. Free template.
  9. Supplies and safetyBuy what your service list needs; if you hire, read OSHA's hazard communication guide for small employers.
  10. Keep records from day oneLog business miles (the 2026 IRS rate is 76¢ a mile from July 1)[3] and set money aside for taxes: self-employment tax alone is 15.3%.[4]

Why you can trust what's here

Most "how to start a cleaning business" articles repeat each other. We don't publish a rule, fee or number unless we've read it on the official page (IRS, SBA, or the state agency), and every one is linked with the date we checked it. If we couldn't confirm something, it isn't on the site. How we check facts.