How Much Does It Cost to Start a Cleaning Business?
Opening a cleaning business typically costs $2,000–$13,000; our worked example comes to $4,610. The largest line is vacuums, caddies and cleaning tools. Here is every line with the range we found in published prices, what moves it, and what it costs to run each month.
Price your own cleaning businessFree numbers first · $49 for the full planStartup costs, line by line
| Item | Our example | Typical range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacuums, caddies and cleaning tools | $900 | $200–$2,000 | Commercial vacuums, caddies and microfiber; add a floor machine only when you take on offices or hard-floor work. |
| Opening supplies and chemicals | $500 | $100–$500 | Chemicals, cloths, bags and paper goods for your first weeks of jobs. |
| Uniforms and safety gear | $300 | $25–$300 | Matching shirts and gloves help clients trust a stranger in their home; add safety gear for commercial work. |
| LLC filing and registered agent, first year | $350 | $134–$749 | State filing fees vary; a registered agent is required in most states. |
| Licenses and permits budget (confirm with your city and county) | $500 | $59–$500 | A business license, plus bonding and insurance proof — many clients and every commercial account will ask for it. |
| Logo, website and printed materials | $800 | $238–$1,038 | Logo, a simple website or booking page, cards and signage. |
| Working capital: 3 months of fixed costs | $1,260 | computed | Cash to carry fixed costs and wages while sales build. Lenders look for it. |
| Total to open | $4,610 | $2,000–$13,000 |
Ranges come from published prices, insurer cost data and trade sources — see every source. The working-capital reserve is 3 months of fixed costs. Replace each line with your own quotes in the calculator below.
Monthly running costs
Once open, a cleaning business has fixed costs that arrive every month and variable costs that rise with every sale.
| Cost | Typical |
|---|---|
| Insurance and bonding | $60 / month |
| Marketing and listings | $300 / month |
| Phone, scheduling and invoicing software | $60 / month |
| Cleaning supplies | 6% of sales |
| Fuel and vehicle wear | 5% of sales |
| Card processing | 3% of sales |
What labor costs by state
Wages for house cleaners vary widely by state — the national mean was $17.83 an hour in 2025. Our example is owner-operated, but these are the rates you will pay when you hire. Highest and lowest:
| Highest | Mean wage |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $25.18 |
| New York | $23.88 |
| California | $22.08 |
| District of Columbia | $21.83 |
| Nevada | $20.89 |
| Washington | $20.61 |
| Massachusetts | $20.38 |
| New Jersey | $19.10 |
| Lowest | Mean wage |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $12.43 |
| Louisiana | $13.15 |
| Alabama | $13.40 |
| Arkansas | $13.86 |
| West Virginia | $13.97 |
| Oklahoma | $14.21 |
| Texas | $14.56 |
| South Carolina | $14.88 |
Paying for it
In our example the owner’s own $4,610 covers the whole budget, so there is no loan payment. If you borrow, budget for one: at the bank prime rate of 7% plus 6.5 points (the SBA’s maximum for a small loan) over 7 years, every $10,000 borrowed costs about $185 a month.
Break-even
Covering year-one fixed costs takes about $488 in monthly sales — about 1 cleaning visit per week at $150 per cleaning visit.
This covers the business’s costs, not your own pay — the break-even calculator shows both.
Your own numbers
Questions
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?
Typically $2,000–$13,000, based on published prices and cost data for each line; our worked example comes to $4,610, including $1,260 of working capital. The largest line is vacuums, caddies and cleaning tools ($900 in the example).
What are the monthly costs of running a cleaning business?
Fixed costs in our model run $420 a month before loan payments — insurance and bonding, marketing and listings, phone, scheduling and invoicing software. Costs that rise with each job add about 14% of every sale.
How can I start a cleaning business for less?
Start residential with the car you already have, buy supplies as the first jobs come in, and add commercial equipment only when you land a commercial account. Do not skip insurance and bonding — clients ask for both.
Can I get a loan to start a cleaning business?
Many owners use equipment loans or small-business loans, usually alongside their own cash. Lenders will want a business plan that shows your costs, a realistic first year and how the payment is covered.
Related
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 — NAICS 561720 (Janitorial Services).
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census — receipts, payroll and employment.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2024.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 — Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners.
- Federal Reserve, bank prime loan rate (via FRED).
Figures are computed by Main Street Plans from the published federal files listed above. See how we build our numbers.