How to Start a Commercial Cleaning Business in 2026: 14 Practical Steps

1. Develop your cleaning skills

Make sure you have the cleaning skills needed to service commercial spaces and keep your clients satisfied. If you don’t already have general cleaning skills, it’s a good idea to work at a local commercial cleaning company.

You don’t need any special training or certifications to get started. But if you want, you can pursue optional training at a community college or trade school, or become ISSA-, OSHA-, or IICRC-certified.

Training and work experience can give you an advantage over competitors. It’ll also teach you how to safely use cleaning equipment, apply the correct cleaning chemicals, and provide the best results to clients.

2. Plan your commercial cleaning business

Figure out how your cleaning business will operate and write it down in a business plan. Your business plan clarifies your goals, defines your brand, and helps you make strategic decisions about your company.

It’s also a critical step if you plan to get business financing. Banks and potential investors need this information to understand whether your business is a safe venture to support.

Your commercial cleaning business plan should include the following:

• Cover page and table of contents for easy reading
• Executive summary or “elevator pitch,” including how much funding you need 
• Overview that summarizes your business model for commercial clients
• Services list and pricing strategy, showing which commercial cleaning services you’ll offer at specific price points
• Target market research showing how many potential clients are in your service area, what problems you can solve for them, and how much they’re willing to pay for cleaning services
• Competitive analysis that outlines competing commercial cleaning businesses and what sets your company apart
• Marketing plan to reach potential clients, including channels and costs 
• Employee planning that describes whether you’ll work alone, add partners, or hire a team of cleaners
• Timeline for growth, including estimates for expanding labor and operational costs
• Financial projections, including how much you think you’ll make in the first year, how many commercial cleaning contracts you need to find, and what you plan to pay yourself

READ MORE:Unique cleaning business ideas to kickstart your company

3. Choose between franchising and operating independently

Decide whether you want to buy into a commercial cleaning franchise or start an independent business. There are pros and cons to each business model, so let’s take a closer look at both.

READ MORE: Is a cleaning franchise worth it?

4. Get business financing

Get the startup funding you need to pay for cleaning equipment, supplies, insurance, marketing, transportation, and other business expenses. These are a few common ways to secure the capital you need:

• Personal savings: A common way to fund a new business is by using your own savings. This helps you avoid taking on debt with monthly loan repayments or interest. However, make sure to maintain a personal financial safety net in case the business takes time to earn a consistent income.
• Business loan: Get a small business loan, government funding, or business financing to help cover startup costs. These loans can provide plenty of capital, but they require regular repayments and interest. Your approved loan amount also depends on factors like your credit score, financial history, and business plan.
• Credit card: A business credit card can cover smaller startup expenses, like supplies, fuel, or marketing costs. Credit limits are determined by your credit profile and financial history. While they’re convenient, credit cards usually have higher interest rates than traditional loans. If you use a credit card, do it strategically and pay it off quickly.
• Small business grant: Programs like Jobber Grants provide startup capital to help entrepreneurs get their small businesses off the ground. If you’re selected for a grant, you don’t need to pay it back. This gives you no-strings-attached money to cover all your startup expenses.

5. Pick a legal business structure

Choose a business structure and form a legal entity. Although this process can change based on where you live, you’ll most likely pick from the following options:

• Sole proprietorship: In the U.S., you can register as a sole proprietor, which gives you complete control over your business entity. Sole proprietors assume responsibility for the business assets and debts.
• Partnership: If you’re going into business with two or more people, you can register as a partnership. Because there are different types of partnerships, it’s best to check with your legal representative or within your jurisdiction for specific partner benefits.
• Limited liability company (LLC): If your business is medium or high-risk, or if you want to limit your personal liability, consider forming an LLC. You can also manage liability (and protect your personal assets) by forming an S-corporation.

READ MORE:Should I incorporate my small business?

6. Choose a commercial cleaning business name

Pick a cleaning business name that sounds professional, stands out from competitors, is easy to say and remember, and isn’t already in use. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

7. Register your commercial cleaning business 

Once you have a name, register your business with your local registry for tax purposes. Here are a few country-specific requirements you should know about:

• United States: Check to see if anyone else in your state is using the same name, then trademark your small business name and register your domain name.
• Canada: Register your trade name and trademark it to protect your brand. If your business entity has the same name as you, you don’t need to register it.
• United Kingdom: Register as a sole trader or business partnership, make sure your name is available and not trademarked, and register your company name.
• Australia: Register your business name through the Business Registration Service, ASIC, or a private service provider. You don’t have to register if your business operates under your personal name.

Apply for an employer identification number (EIN) if you have employees or plan to hire them in the near future.

You may also need to sign up for a general business license to operate in your town, city, or state. If you don’t know local regulations, just Google “YOUR CITY NAME + business laws”.

8. Open a small business bank account

Sign up for a business bank account to keep business payments and cash flow separate from personal expenses. This makes your business look more legitimate to clients, and it makes your financial reporting easier at tax filing time.

Here’s what you need to set up a business checking account:

• The business’s name and address
• Your legal name, birth date, and address
• Your business’s EIN (or your SSN/SIN)
• Valid government-issued personal ID

While you’re at it, you can also apply for a new business credit card to start building credit history and securing startup materials. Choose a card with a low interest rate that offers rewards for every dollar you spend.

You should also invest in accounting software like QuickBooks Online. This helps track income and expenses so you can file taxes with the Internal Revenue Service (U.S.), Canada Revenue Agency (CA), Companies House (UK), or Australian Taxation Office (AU).

READ MORE:30 small business tax deductions to save money when filing

9. Decide which cleaning services to offer

Determine the types of cleaning services you’ll provide to commercial clients, along with pricing for each. You can offer commercial and industrial cleaning services such as:

10. Price your cleaning services

Set competitive yet profitable prices for your services so you can reinvest in the business. To do that, you’ll need to understand your operating costs, market rates, and the specific needs of each job.

There are a few ways to price commercial cleaning jobs:

• Square footage rate is one of the most common types of cleaning rates. The average rate in the U.S. is $0.07–0.12 per square foot. In large spaces, pricing by square foot adds up fast.
• Hourly rate includes your labor cost per hour, plus overhead. You can charge $25–100 per worker per hour to cover costs and turn a profit. Hourly rates are best for lengthy tasks or if you don’t know how long a job will take.
• Flat rate pricing provides one predictable cleaning cost for the entire job—for example, $300 per cleaning. This rate works well when you know exactly how much time it’ll take to complete the job, since you’re rewarded for working faster.
• Room rate calculates the cleaning cost based on the number of rooms in the building—say, $75 per room. It works best in office buildings with multiple small rooms. (You wouldn’t want to set the same price for larger spaces, like cafeterias.)

To stay profitable, your pricing should factor in labor, supplies, and overhead. You should also charge more for specialty services, like sanitization, carpet cleaning, appliance cleaning, or disaster restoration.

11. Get commercial cleaning business insurance

Sign up for a commercial cleaning insurance policy that protects your business in case of property damage or employee injury. This reduces the risk to your business and helps protect your personal assets.

Policies start around $450/year for a business owner’s policy, which should include:

• General liability insurance in case of property damage or bodily harm
• Commercial property insurance for damage to your equipment or place of business
• Business income insurance to keep cash flowing after an incident or disaster

You can also add extra coverage to your small business insurance policy to cover the following:

• Commercial auto insurance if you drive a company car or truck
• Workers’ compensation insurance in case an employee is injured on the job
• Professional liability insurance for claims and lawsuits over professional mistakes
• Employment practices liability insurance for employee-related claims
• Crime insurance in case of criminal activity, like theft or vandalism
• Cyber liability insurance in case of a security breach or data leak
• Key person insurance to keep the business going if you physically can’t work anymore
• Commercial umbrella insurance for extra coverage on top of your other policies

Your business should also be bonded, which protects you if an employee steals or damages client property. Many clients prefer to work with bonded cleaning companies, making it a worthwhile expense.

12. Purchase equipment and cleaning supplies

Get the cleaning business supplies you need to do the job properly. Many commercial cleaners use janitorial suppliers like ULINE to save money when buying equipment. 

Some of the best products may cost a bit more, but they’re more likely to last without frequent replacements. When you’re starting out, plan to spend $500+ (USD) on commercial cleaning tools, equipment, and supplies like:

13. Create a commercial cleaning marketing strategy

Put together a marketing plan to promote your cleaning business and start building a list of potential clients. If you’re starting from scratch, use these tips for commercial client acquisition:

• Build a cleaning website that lists your services and lets your new clients easily book online.
• Set up social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram, and post content that educates or entertains your followers. You can also run paid social media marketing campaigns.
• Run cleaning ads on social media, or use Google Local Services Ads, to promote your business to local clients.
• Hand out business cards with your name, business name, and contact details. You can do the same with cleaning flyers, door hangers, postcards, and fridge magnets.
• Set up business directory listings, like a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business), and create accounts on lead generation sites like Thumbtack or TaskRabbit.
• Build relationships with realtors, property managers, and other business owners in your community. You can network, offer special savings, or ask for referrals.
• Start a referral program that rewards current clients for referring a new client. Then, ask satisfied clients to leave positive reviews on your social media.

14. Hire cleaners to grow your business

As your business grows, consider adding more staff to free up your time or to build a bigger operation. Here are a few roles you can think about hiring for when you’re ready to expand:

• Cleaners: More cleaners can help you accept more new cleaning jobs and opportunities. From there, you can keep hiring cleaners and growing your cleaning staff. Just make sure they’re using the same commercial cleaning checklist to ensure consistent, quality service.
• Site supervisor: When you have enough cleaners, assign a supervisor who’s responsible for training cleaners, scheduling teams, and dealing with on-site issues.
• Office manager: An office manager handles paperwork, client relationships, invoices for completed work, and payroll processes.
• Marketing specialist: A social media specialist or ads expert can be helpful for outsourcing marketing needs and helping your business grow.
• Sales agent: A sales rep is responsible for finding and bringing in new clients, winning new contracts, and renewing contracts with existing clients.