Thinking of starting your own cleaning business?

There’s no better time to start—it’s a $110 billion industry, and over 55% of existing cleaning business owners expect their revenue to grow. 

But before diving in, you want to understand the initial financial implications so that you can launch the business confidently. 

To begin with, the average costs of starting a cleaning business range between $2,000 and $15,000. This typically covers:

• Essential equipment and supplies, e.g., mops, scrubbers, vacuum cleaners, etc. 

• Licenses and insurance to cover emergencies.

• Operational costs like office space, wages, and utility bills. 

Below is a breakdown of what it will cost to start a cleaning business in 2025, including tips on saving money and avoiding common mistakes.

How much does starting a cleaning business in 2025 cost?

It costs $2,000 to $10,000 to launch a cleaning business. However, your total investment depends on factors like your niche—residential or commercial—business location, and services offered. 

Here’s what the startup cost usually includes:  

Equipment and supplies 

Residential or house cleaning: Between $20 and $800 for essentials like cleaning cloths, mops, cleaning solutions, and vacuum cleaners. 

Commercial cleaning businesses: $50 to $3,300 for cleaning agents, disinfectants, industrial vacuum cleaners, and floor scrubbers. 

Insurance 

According to Insureon, a digital agency for business insurance, a cleaning business should budget between $48 and $178 monthly. 

• General liability insurance ($48 per month): Pays legal costs for injured customers, damaged client property, advertising injuries, libel, or copyright infringement. 

• Workers' compensation ($136 per month): Covers workers’ medical expenses when injured on the job.  

• Janitorial bonds ($11 per month): Protects your clients if a customer steals from them. 

• Commercial auto insurance ($173 per month): Pays medical bills and property damage when your vehicle is involved in an accident. 

• Commercial umbrella insurance ($67 per month): Increases insurance coverage when a claim exceeds the limits of the current policy. 

Licensing and permits

Budget $100 to $500 for cleaning business license and legal fees. This license is typically obtained from your local government, allowing you to operate the business without legal issues. 

Depending on your state or city, you might need worker certifications to ensure the business complies with zoning laws or environmental regulations.  

Marketing/branding 

Plan to spend $300 to $1,500 to advertise your cleaning business. This can include a business website, launching Facebook ads, Google ads, local advertising, and email marketing campaigns. 

Transportation 

It can cost over $5,000 to purchase a vehicle for your cleaning services. Since you’re just starting, using your vehicle might be a good idea. You only need to customize it with the company’s branding: name, colors, and logo.

This cost also includes gas costs and occasional repairs.

What essential equipment and supplies will you need?

Cleaning businesses typically need three essentials to streamline operations: quality equipment and supplies, reliable transportation, and a digital tool.

Basic cleaning equipment

For residential cleaning services serving homeowners and renters, here are the janitorial equipment and tools needed to kick things off: 

• Mop and bucket

• Broom and dustpan

• Washable mop pads

• Cleaning brushes

• Rubber gloves

• Cleaning aprons

• Microfiber cloth

• Shoe covers

• Glass cleaners

• Air fresheners

• Vacuum cleaners

 And here’s what commercial service businesses need: 

• Pressure washers

• Carpet cleaning machine

• Floor buffer

• Squeegees

• Grease removers

• Extendable polls

• Backpack vacuum cleaners

• Trash can

• Microfiber

• Dilution control system

Transportation

You will need a reliable vehicle to move equipment and employees around for multiple jobs. 

Good transportation improves scheduling, ensures punctuality, and helps build trust with clients. Branded vehicles also provide advertising opportunities for your cleaning company, helping boost local visibility. 

Consider using your vehicle, getting a truck, or a van for a new business. 

According to Car and Driver, purchasing a new van may cost upward of $43,000. For used vans, budget between $24,500 and $38,750, depending on the mileage and model. 

Leasing is another option, with services like Budget Truck Rental charging $19.99 per day plus $1.19 per mile.   

Software tools

As a startup with expenses, you will need a digital tool to automate administrative tasks and streamline operations.

Instead of manually managing appointments, coordinating employee shifts, and monitoring supplies, investing in cleaning business software like Aspire helps you run operations more efficiently.

For instance, Aspire enables you to optimize processes and drive business growth with:

• Customer relationship management to monitor work tickets, progress, and resolve client issues quickly.

• Crew management to communicate job schedules, track time so you can pay the correct hourly rate, and improve accountability. 

• Estimation software to create accurate estimates, factoring in current equipment and labor costs. 

• Equipment management to track all your cleaning supplies and equipment, record repairs, and analyze their lifespan.

• Billings and payments to generate invoices and monitor business transactions in a single location.

• Reporting software gives you insight into key performance indicators, such as costs, productivity, and profitability, so that you can improve operations. 

It’s a smart investment that will help you run the business more efficiently and scale faster without becoming overwhelmed by administrative tasks.

What licenses, insurance, and legal documents are required?

You need a business license to run a cleaning service. Without one, you risk the ability to secure new clients as the business is considered fraudulent or illegal.

To secure your business license, you must first define the business structure—a limited liability company, corporation, or sole proprietorship—as this determines IRS reporting and tax deduction purposes. 

Next is the business registration. But if the name differs from your legal name (e.g., Royal Flush Cleaners), it must be registered as a DBA (Doing Business As).  

After registration, you’ll need the licenses listed below. 

Licenses needed and standard requirements

A general business license is needed to run a cleaning business legally.  It’s also called a vendor's license, which acts as permission from your city, province, and state to operate in an area.

Here are other permits you may require:

• Home-based business permit. If you will be operating from home, some local governments may demand that you acquire a special license to use your home as a business front.   

• DBA license. You need this license if the business is called something different from your legal name. It protects customers from unethical business practices and keeps other services from using the business name. 

• Sales tax license. If your business sells cleaning products to customers, some states, such as New York, California, Colorado, and Iowa, require this permit for tax purposes. 

In other states (West Virginia, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Hawaii), tax services are charged by default as part of the general business license. 

And how do you get these licenses?

While the process varies per state, most require you to:

• Register the business name. 

• Register with the state tax board. 

• File for a DBA.

• Apply for a business license.

Visit this link for information on obtaining a cleaning business license for each state.  

Business insurance is a must-have expense

With the business registered and licenses obtained, you need insurance to protect the company in emergencies and give you peace of mind.

Here are cleaning business insurance to have: 

• General liability insurance: Covers costs for injured customers, damaged client property, advertising injuries, or copyright infringement. 

  • Median monthly cost: $48 

• Workers' compensation insurance: Covers workers’ medical expenses when injured on the job.  

  • Median monthly cost: $136

• Commercial property insurance: Protects the building, whether rented or owned, and the equipment used for your cleaning business.

  • Median monthly cost: $67

• Business income insurance: Replaces lost income when you cannot operate because of property damage. 

• Janitorial bonds: Covers your clients if an employee steals from them. 

  • Median monthly cost: $48

• Commercial auto insurance: Pays medical bills and covers property damage if your company vehicle gets in an accident. 

  • Median monthly cost: $173 

• Commercial umbrella insurance: Increases your insurance coverage when a claim exceeds the limits of the current policy. 

  • Median monthly cost: $67

What are the ongoing costs of running a cleaning business?

Beyond your initial expenses—equipment, licenses, transportation, and software—recurring costs can creep up if not tracked properly. 

Here are typical costs to keep in mind:

• Team training: Around $1,000 per employee

• Office space: $20-$50 per square foot

• Utilities: Including electricity, internet service, and phone service. ($50-$300 monthly)

• Security system: $50-$100 monthly

• Office supplies and furniture: $200-$1,000 (one-time payment)

• Fuel costs: $150-$200 monthly

Aspire’s smart job costing capabilities enable cleaning businesses to track costs automatically to keep expenses from adding up quickly.  

Instead of using Excel or Google Sheets to log every transaction and compare it against your budget, Aspire simplifies expense tracking with:

• Real-time cost tracking: This feature automatically records labour, material, and equipment usage as a project progresses. It ties expenses to jobs, allowing you to see profitable projects. 

• Labor cost calculation: Aspire simplifies labor cost calculation with built-in time tracking based on hours logged by your workers. 

• Budget monitoring: It compares the estimated job cost with the actual costs to identify overruns and adjust quickly.

How to save money when starting a cleaning business

You’ve seen the average startup cost for a cleaning business. But what if you can’t afford it? How do you launch a new janitorial service without spending as much?

Here are different ways to cut costs and save money when starting your business.

Start lean and scale smart

To keep your initial investment low, here are some ideas you can implement:

• Use basic uniforms (color-coded or branded) instead of full uniforms. 

• Invest in used or refurbished cleaning tools where possible. You can get this on eBay, Sweepscrub, or Cleanfreak.

• Handle jobs yourself first before hiring employees. If you must hire, employ part-time workers.

• Build your website with a site-building tool like Squarespace or Wix. 

• Use multi-purpose cleaning solutions, such as hydrogen peroxide cleaners that can be used for different tasks. 

• Train employees—temp or full-time—before sending them out. They will be interacting with clients, so you need them equipped enough to find opportunities to upsell. 

• Offer bundle cleaning services, such as roof and window cleaning. It’s a good way to increase customer value and income per job. 

• Use the right equipment for the job. This will help you be more productive and save costs. 

Focus on high-impact, low-cost marketing strategies

While launching a full-scale marketing campaign can help you reach potential clients, leveraging low-cost options lets you save money and nurture accounts. 

See some tremendous cost-effective options below:

• Creating a business page for free on local listings.  

• Registering your cleaning service on Google Business Profile. This helps you appear in local search results and Google Maps, generating potential leads. 

• Leveraging online communities like NextDoor or Reddit to get commercial clients.

• Creating a business page on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok. 

• Partnering with local businesses at exhibitions or networking events.

• Cold-calling prospects via phone to initiate conversations.

• Handing out flyers from door to door.  

Start with what you have

You don’t have to buy new or used equipment to start your cleaning business. 

Have a car or truck that can transport you and cleaning tools around? Use it! 

A laptop lying around at home? 

Install cleaning business software like Aspire on it and take control of your business from the start. 

You don’t need a fully-furnished office to get started. You can work from home to save on rental costs and office supplies.  

You could also launch the business using your home cleaning equipment. The point is to start with what you have, save money, and scale up. 

Use free or scalable digital tools to minimize cost

Digital tools such as Jobber might be expensive for a startup. They’re great, but at $30/month or more, the cost can quickly add up.  

To avoid that, use free tools to manage initial operations. 

• Google Sheets: Use Google Sheets for bookkeeping, to track expenses and client projects. However, you’ll need to input the data manually, compare it with your budget, and calculate the differences. 

• Google Calendar: Help with scheduling and project planning. 

• PayPay, Payoneer, or Venmo for invoicing.

• Canva: Create digital designs, logos, sales presentations, or social media content.   

But the challenge with these free tools is that you have to do everything in silos—switching between different tools. That can be overwhelming, especially as you scale the business. 

Your best bet? Plan to upgrade to a cleaning business tool like Aspire as operations grow. 

What mistakes should you avoid when budgeting for cleaning business startup costs?

You’re starting a business that’s part of the $100+ billion cleaning industry with huge potential. However, poor budgeting can derail your success before even landing your first client.

Here are common budgeting mistakes to avoid:

Underestimating your startup budget

Many new cleaning business owners only budget for tangible items like equipment or transportation, but overlook ongoing expenses. 

Things like marketing, fuel and transportation, licensing and permits, digital tool subscriptions, and insurance can pile up fast and eat into your profit. 

To avoid surprise when you start, prepare for these costs upfront.

Failing to differentiate recurring expenses

You need to identify the difference between one-time and recurring expenses because it can impact your cash flow. Knowing ongoing costs helps you:

• Create a realistic and sustainable budget.

• Avoid shortfalls and make smart financial decisions.

• Scale your cleaning business. You learn how much of your budget is tied to one-time investments and repeat costs.

• Predict profitability. Knowing recurring expenses can directly influence your overall profitability and break-even point.

Over-investing in non-essentials

Custom uniforms and flashy branded vans look professional, but are not must-haves.  

They’re extras that don’t directly contribute to customer acquisition. 

As a cleaning startup, it’s wise to avoid such expenses and focus your budget on costs that help grow the business: equipment, marketing, transportation, license, and insurance. 

Neglecting operational efficiency tools

Too many janitorial businesses invest in cleaning equipment and supplies, but not in digital tools to streamline their operations. 

They rely on manual processes that become cumbersome and time-consuming as the business grows. 

That’s what happened with Crystal Clean. The fast-growing cleaning company experienced a disconnect between operations and administration, making billing complicated. 

However, that all changed when they plugged their business into Aspire. Crystal Clean saw an immediate return on its investment with the digital tool, saving $23,000 monthly. 

Nathan McAlister, founder of Crystal Clean, says: 

“I need less admin help now, for sure. We didn't have per-property reporting before Aspire, which was not good. I'd look at the monthly P&L and say, ‘Oh shoot, that's lower than it should be. I wonder where the problem is?’

Then the investigation would begin, which is a lot of time wasted trying to determine which locations were a problem. Aspire allowed me to reduce my admin from $55,000 to about $32,000 monthly.”

As your cleaning business grows, invest in a system like Aspire to streamline your operations and generate reports, as it did for Crystal Clean.

Find other ways this digital tool helps your cleaning business below.

How can Aspire help manage and grow your cleaning business efficiently

Picture this: Your new cleaning service is kicking off, and new leads and clients call you daily—all signs of growth. 

However, managing your growing client base and projects is becoming more challenging. You typically have to switch between multiple apps to schedule, send estimates, bid on jobs, track time spent on a project, or communicate with customers. 

And generating reports to track project progress, client satisfaction rate, or business profitability?

You don’t even know where to get started with that. 

Well, that’s what Aspire specializes in. It simplifies business operations for growing cleaning services. 

Instead of operating in silos, switching between apps, and missing out on crucial data for your business, Aspire centralizes everything and takes your business to the next level. 

For instance, Solid Property Services, a San Diego-based cleaning firm, faced the challenge of monitoring accountability on existing work contracts. 

Juan Acosta, the company’s director of operations, says, 

“In the past, we had people overworking contracts, and the office wouldn't get that information until maybe a week down the line when their time cards were submitted. 

It would be very difficult for us to stop it in real time.

However, our gross margins have increased with Aspire, especially in our maintenance division. The margins are really tight there. So that's been a huge help.” 

Aspire is a cost-saving solution, not just an expense, to reduce the stress of future operational headaches. 

See how it works in real-time. Schedule a free demo today.