Formation
Can a limited company have more than one SIC code?
Can a company have multiple SIC codes? Learn when to use more than one, how to cover different business activities and how to update your codes.
How to start a cleaning business in the UK
Learn how to start a UK cleaning business, price your first jobs, choose between sole trader and limited company, and prepare for your first client.
By Hugo Brooks3 November 20264 min read
Start with one service, a small area you can cover reliably and a price that accounts for travel and supplies. Then choose how to register, check your insurance and safety arrangements, and agree exactly what’s included before you take your first booking.
1. Choose the cleaning service you’ll sell
Service | What to agree before quoting |
|---|---|
Regular domestic cleaning | Which rooms are included, how often you’ll visit and who supplies products. |
End-of-tenancy cleaning | The property’s condition, whether it will be empty and which extras are included. |
Office cleaning | When you can access the premises, how keys or alarms are handled and who replenishes consumables. |
If you’re starting alone, try a small patch and group jobs by area. Two bookings that look profitable on paper can turn into a thin day once you add travel and parking.
2. Work out what to charge
Start with your costs and the time the booking takes up. Include cleaning time, travel, time spent quoting or invoicing, supplies and any parking. Decide whether to charge hourly or quote a fixed price for a defined scope.
Worked example. A two-hour clean takes two and a half hours once you allow for travel and admin. If you want £20 for each hour of your time and expect £5 in job costs, your starting quote is £55 before adding any allowance for overheads, profit or VAT where applicable. Use your own costs and target rate. This is a pricing example, not a market rate.
For fixed quotes, spell out extras such as oven cleaning, inside windows and heavy limescale. Getting something agreed ahead gives you something to refer back to if the job turns out to be larger than expected.
3. Decide whether to be a sole trader or a limited company
Structure | What it means for a cleaner |
|---|---|
Sole trader | You trade personally and are responsible for business debts. Check whether you need to register for Self Assessment and keep records from the start. |
Limited company | The company is a separate legal entity. You register it with Companies House and take on company accounts and filing duties. |
For example, someone testing a few regular domestic jobs might start as a sole trader. Someone preparing to take on larger contracts might compare the cost and admin of both structures before deciding. Check any requirements in the contracts you want to bid for.
Use the sole trader or limited company checker to compare your options, or register a limited company with FOUNDRS if you’ve decided to incorporate. See GOV.UK’s sole trader guidance for registration requirements.
What SIC code should a cleaning company use?
For routine cleaning of homes or offices, start by checking 81210 — General cleaning of buildings. If the business mainly cleans windows or provides a specialist service, compare 81221 — Window cleaning services and 81222 — Specialised cleaning services, as appropriate. Choose the code that describes the work you actually provide. Check the Companies House SIC list or use the FOUNDRS SIC Code Finder.
4. Get ready for your first booking
Check insurance. Ask about public liability cover for the work you’ll do and whether the policy covers damage to items you’re cleaning or lost client keys. If you employ staff, check employers’ liability requirements.
Plan how to work safely. Assess risks such as slips, manual handling and exposure to cleaning chemicals. Read product instructions and follow HSE guidance for cleaning businesses.
Confirm access and scope. Write down the agreed tasks, price, date and who supplies products. Agree what happens if the client cancels or you can’t gain access.
Set up payments and records. Decide when you’ll invoice and how customers will pay. Record income and keep receipts for equipment and supplies. If you incorporate, see how to set up your limited company banking.
5. Find a few repeat customers before expanding
Start with referrals, local groups where business posts are permitted, and businesses that need the type of cleaning you offer. Ask satisfied customers whether they’d like a regular slot. After the first few jobs, compare quoted time with actual time, then adjust your scope or price before taking on more work.
