Starting a cleaning business in the UK means choosing between sole trader and limited company status, registering for VAT once you cross £90,000 in turnover, and pricing jobs correctly from day one.
Most new cleaning businesses in the UK start as a sole trader — it's the simplest way to begin, registered with HMRC for Self Assessment rather than as a separate legal entity, though you're personally liable for the business's debts. Many owners later set up as a limited company, registered with Companies House, mainly for the liability protection it provides — the company is a separate legal entity from you personally, and your personal assets are protected if something goes wrong on a job.
There's no single right answer for every new owner. Sole trader status is faster and cheaper to set up; a limited company costs more to run (annual accounts, Companies House filings) but limits your personal liability.
Whichever structure you choose, you'll generally need to:
You're required to register for VAT once your taxable turnover crosses £90,000 in any rolling 12-month period — this is the current HMRC threshold. Below that, registration is optional, though some businesses register voluntarily anyway so they can reclaim VAT on their own expenses (equipment, supplies, fuel). Once registered, you'll need to charge VAT on your cleaning services and file regular VAT returns.
Before your first paid job, get:
Starting lean is realistic for domestic cleaning specifically:
Don't guess at pricing — use real local numbers as your anchor. Here's what this app's own calculator quotes for a standard house clean in a few regions:
If you want to quote jobs this consistently — the same pricing logic every time, specific to your region, instead of guessing or rebuilding a spreadsheet — try Clean Estimator free for 14 days. It's built around exactly the pricing data used throughout this guide.
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