Cleaning Business Ideas: 24 Unique Ways to Kickstart Your Company

1. Residential cleaning

If you decide to start a residential cleaning business, you can offer basic and deep home cleaning services for kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living spaces.

On average, a house cleaning business owner makes over $127,000 USD per year. You could make even more with additional services and a larger cleaning crew.

READ MORE: How much to charge for house cleaning

2. Commercial cleaning

Offering commercial cleaning services usually include cleaning offices, retail stores, schools, industrial facilities, and other commercial spaces. It can even include unique spaces like airports.

This type of cleaning takes time but can be profitable. In fact, just one commercial client could earn you upwards of $28,000 a year with the right cleaning contract.

READ MORE: Is a cleaning franchise worth it?

3. Carpet cleaning

Carpets get dirty fast, thanks to people and pets walking on them all day. You can offer one-off or regularly scheduled carpet cleaning, or even same day emergency carpet cleaning for clients who need a quick fix.

If you start a carpet cleaning business, you can expect to make $23,000–49,000 per year. Some business owners’ salaries are even higher, depending on how much they charge for services.

READ MORE: Is a cleaning business profitable?

4. Window cleaning

You can clean window interiors and exteriors for homes and buildings. Consider starting a window cleaning business or offering window cleaning as one of several cleaning services.

This service is easy to provide and can be profitable, earning you $28,000–62,000 per year. The more experience you get, the more you can charge for your window cleaning services.

READ MORE: How to price window cleaning jobs

5. Pressure washing

You can make money by pressure washing siding, fences, houses, roofs, sidewalks, driveways, and other exterior surfaces that build up grime over time.

Pressure washing isn’t just satisfying—it can also be a profitable business idea, with some pressure washing businesses making over $200,000 in the first year.

READ MORE: How to start a pressure washing business

6. Pool cleaning

Residential and commercial swimming pools need to be skimmed regularly and treated with chemicals to keep the water safe. Many pool owners don’t have time to do this themselves. You can help with that.

The average pool cleaner makes $35,000 a year, with some earning as much as $49,000 annually. You may be able to earn even more if you start a pool cleaning business yourself.

7. Chimney cleaning

If there are many homes in your community with fireplaces and chimneys, you might be able to start a chimney cleaning company. This involves not just cleaning but also inspections and repairs.

On average, a chimney sweep makes over $38,000 a year. As the business owner, you can expect to make even more—especially if you’re properly pricing your chimney cleaning services.

READ MORE: 550 cleaning business name ideas to get you started

8. Airbnb cleaning

Like hotel rooms, Airbnb rentals need to be cleaned between guests. This cleaning service includes tasks like washing bed sheets, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming carpets, and wiping down surfaces.

If you charge $200 per visit and clean at least five Airbnbs a week, you can expect to make more than $50,000 a year. You’ll make even more when you get more clients for your cleaning business.

9. Trash bin cleaning

Curbside residential trash bins are often sticky, smelly, and a breeding ground for bacteria. You can clean these bins with a specialized vehicle. That’s right, you don’t even have to touch the bins yourself.

Assuming you clean 25 bins a day for $10 each, five days a week, that could mean a minimum of $65,000 per year as a trash bin cleaner. The only limit is how many bins you can clean per day.

READ MORE: How these entrepreneurs started a trash bin cleaning business

10. Gutter cleaning

If you’re comfortable with heights, you might want to remove leaves, branches, and debris from gutters. This helps homeowners and businesses avoid damage from backed-up rainwater.

The average gutter cleaning job pays $160. That means you could be making over $40,000 per year if you complete five jobs every week. The more jobs, the more you make.

11. Air duct and dryer vent cleaning

Dryer vents and air ducts build up dust and lint over time. They must be cleaned to reduce the fire risk and keep dryer units from burning out.

This type of cleaning should be done at least once a year and ideally every six months. You can easily win repeat clients as a duct or vent cleaner—and make more than $39,000/year on your own.

READ MORE: How to run a successful cleaning business

12. Crime scene cleaning

Depending on the crime that happened there, some homes or businesses might need in-depth cleaning before they can be used again.

The average crime scene cleaner makes anywhere from $25,000–80,000 per year. Expect to make even more as the business owner—and if you’re willing to clean up messier crime scenes.

13. Disaster cleaning

Flooding, fire, mold, and natural disasters can damage homes and offices without destroying them. These spaces need to be cleaned before the owners can move back in.

You can make $3,900 per job on average as a disaster cleaner. With just one cleanup job each month, you could earn more than $46,000 per year.

14. Upholstery cleaning

Use specialized steam cleaning equipment to freshen up your clients’ couches, chairs, curtains, and fabric-covered items. This removes stains and makes the whole space smell clean.

The average upholstery cleaning job is $173. You can earn more for cleaning specialty materials like silk and leather. If you can schedule two jobs per day, you’ll likely make over $86,000 a year.

15. Closet organization

Many people struggle to keep their closets and cupboards clean and tidy. You can offer organizing services to help get them back on track.

Organizers charge $30–130 per hour, depending on the job and their experience level. If you charge $55/hour and work 30 hours a week, you’ll likely make over $82,000 a year.

READ MORE: How to promote your cleaning business like a pro

16. Clothing services

Many people don’t have time to wash, dry, fold, and put away laundry. You can offer this service on its own, or as part of regular residential cleaning services.

Let’s assume you charge $2 per pound of laundry and only accept orders that weigh at least 15 pounds. With five orders a day, you’ll likely make $30,000 a year.

17. Mattress cleaning

Everyone spends 6–8 hours a day in their beds. That means mattresses need cleaning just as much as any other surface. You can provide vacuuming and steam-cleaning for a better night’s sleep.

Your pricing could vary depending on the mattress size and the amount of work needed. If you charge $75 for a queen mattress and clean two mattresses a day, you can make over $37,000 a year.

18. Green cleaning

Green cleaning services use eco-friendly cleaning supplies that are often reusable, recyclable, and non-toxic. Some clients prefer green cleaning because it can be better for the environment.

This type of cleaning is often added onto other cleaning services. If you upcharge clients $10 for eco-friendly supplies and complete five green cleaning jobs a week, you’ll make an extra $2,500 a year on top of your normal prices.

19. Vehicle detailing

Detailing a vehicle is no different from cleaning any other space. When you start a car detailing business, you’ll vacuum, clean surfaces, and remove stains to keep clients’ vehicles looking like they’re fresh off the lot.

If you charge $250 for full vehicle detailing and can finish two vehicles a day, you’ll earn $125,000 a year before overhead and expenses.

READ MORE: How much to charge for car detailing

20. Boat cleaning

Like any vehicle, boats must be cleaned regularly—about once a month. You can also provide annual hull cleaning. These services keep the vessel clean and in good condition.

Let’s say you charge $15 per foot and only clean boats measuring at least 20 feet long. If you clean five boats a week, you’ll make at least $75,000 a year.

21. Move-in/out cleaning

Both residential and commercial clients may want their spaces deep-cleaned before moving in or after moving out. This ensures they’re starting or ending with a clean slate.

This type of cleaning is more detailed but can be worth the effort. If you charge $300 per move-in/move-out clean and you schedule five jobs each week, you can make more than $75,000 a year.

22. Post construction cleaning service

A brand-new home or office building is usually all dusty and dirty from construction sites. You can clean the space to make it ready for whoever is moving in.

You can make at least $100,000 a year providing construction cleanup services, assuming you charge $400 per job and you clean five new builds per week.

READ MORE: 27 cleaning industry trends to help you plan your business

23. Foreclosure cleaning

When the bank forecloses on a house, the home needs to be sold quickly but may not be clean enough for a realtor to list. You can provide deep-cleaning services to get the house ready for potential buyers.

If you charge $250 for foreclosure cleaning and complete five of these jobs per week, you can make more than $62,000 a year.

24. Niche services

If you focus on one niche, like busy professionals, you can offer specialized cleaning services to meet their unique needs.

They don’t even have to be cleaning related. Hardworking professionals might appreciate a house cleaner who also offers grocery shopping or is willing to walk their dog (or even scoop the poop).

Plan to offer these niche services as an add-on to your regular services. Depending on what you charge for these add-ons, you can make several thousand dollars extra each year.

READ MORE: Ideas for growing your cleaning business