How Much It Costs to Open a Cleaning Business: Examples
Starting a cleaning business can be an exciting and profitable venture, but it comes with important upfront costs.
From securing the right equipment to building a client base through effective marketing, every step requires careful financial planning. In this post, we’ll break down the key startup costs involved in launching a cleaning business, with both low and high estimates to give you a clear understanding of the investment required.
We’ll also provide real examples from 10 leading cleaning franchises to highlight the range of expenses you might face. Additionally, we’ve included a detailed example budget to help you plan your cleaning business’s launch and a free downloadable template to assist with your financial projections.
By the end of this post, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how much it costs to start a cleaning business and the key factors that influence your startup investment.
FREE CLEANING BUSINESS BUDGET TEMPLATE
This is our free budget template built for entrepreneurs who need to estimate their startup costs for a cleaning business. We’ve included low and high estimate cost breakdowns. Free download.
10 Real Cleaning Business Examples
Before we dive into a budget example for starting a cleaning business, let’s first look at some of the most well-known cleaning franchises and how much they actually cost to get started.
Some of the most well-known cleaning franchises, like Merry Maids, require an initial investment, ranging from $89,619 to $125,023, depending on factors like location, the size of your team, and the services you offer.
Other cleaning businesses, such as mobile or specialized cleaning services, can require less upfront investment, with some options, like MaidPro, costing around $60,000 to $100,000 to get started.
These examples highlight how startup costs for cleaning businesses can vary greatly depending on factors such as location, the size of the operation, equipment needs, and whether you invest in a franchise or an independent business.
Startup Costs: The Merry Maids Example
Merry Maids, a leading residential cleaning franchise, requires an initial investment ranging from $126,880 to $165,610. For non-franchise cleaning businesses, the initial franchise fee of $55,000 is non-applicable, reducing the overall startup cost.
Other key expenses include travel and training expenses ($2,500 to $3,500) and real estate improvements ($2,000 to $4,000) for setting up an office. Office equipment and software costs range from $6,950 to $11,250, and opening inventory like cleaning supplies costs between $6,500 and $8,000.
Insurance ranges from $3,400 to $9,400, and professional fees for legal or accounting services vary between $5,000 and $15,000. Additionally, it’s recommended to allocate $38,000 to $43,000 for working capital during the first three months of operations to pay for salaries and other operating expenses.
Cleaning Business Startup Cost Breakdown
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business? Starting a cleaning business can range between $60,000 and $170,000, depending on factors like equipment, size, and service offerings.
Smaller cleaning businesses can operate with essential equipment and a moderate marketing budget. Larger or specialized cleaning businesses, such as commercial or niche cleaning services, may require more advanced equipment, employee training, and branding efforts.
- Low Estimate: Around $60,000 covers basic equipment, initial inventory, minimal marketing, and essential business permits.
- High Estimate: Up to $170,000 includes premium equipment, expanded services, marketing strategies, and working capital for larger-scale operations.
| Cost Category | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment and Supplies | $10,000 | $25,000 |
| Office Equipment and Software | $5,000 | $11,250 |
| Marketing and Branding | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Business Licenses and Permits | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| Insurance (First Year) | $3,400 | $9,400 |
| Employee Training and Hiring Costs | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Real Estate (Office Setup/Lease) | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Professional Fees (Legal, Accounting) | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Miscellaneous Costs | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Working Capital – 3 months | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Total | $60,000 | $170,000 |
Equipment and Supplies
One of the key startup costs for a cleaning business is the equipment and supplies needed to provide cleaning services.
This category covers everything from basic cleaning tools to more specialized equipment for commercial or niche cleaning services. The costs can vary depending on the scale of your operations and the services offered, such as residential, commercial, or specialty cleaning.
For a smaller cleaning business, the cost of equipment and supplies starts at around $10,000, covering essential items like cleaning products, vacuums, mops, and protective gear. This setup is ideal for residential or small-scale cleaning businesses.
For a larger or more specialized cleaning business, the costs can rise up to $25,000, especially if you’re investing in advanced or commercial-grade equipment like floor buffers, pressure washers, and specialized cleaning chemicals for niche services like carpet cleaning or sanitation.
| Cost Component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Cleaning Tools (Mops, Vacuums, etc.) | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Cleaning Products and Chemicals | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| Protective Gear and Uniforms | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Specialized Equipment (Buffers, Washers, etc.) | $2,000 | $8,000 |
| Transportation (Vans or Trucks) | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| Total Costs | $10,000 | $25,000 |
Office Equipment and Software
Setting up office equipment and software is essential for managing the administrative side of a cleaning business. This includes tools for scheduling, invoicing, customer management, and overall business operations. The cost of office equipment and software depends on the scale of your business and the complexity of your needs.
For a smaller cleaning business, office equipment and software costs can start at around $5,000, covering basic office furniture, a computer, and essential software for bookkeeping and scheduling.
For a larger or more established cleaning business, these costs can go up to $11,250, which would include multiple workstations, more advanced software for customer relationship management (CRM), and potentially cloud-based solutions for more efficient operations.
| Cost Component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Office Furniture | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Bookkeeping and Invoicing Software | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Scheduling and CRM Software | $1,500 | $3,500 |
| Printer, Phone, and Other Office Tools | $500 | $1,000 |
| Total Costs | $5,000 | $11,250 |
Marketing and Branding
Marketing and branding are critical investments for attracting customers and building your cleaning business’s reputation. These costs can vary widely depending on the size of your business, target market, and the marketing strategies you choose to implement.
For a smaller cleaning business, marketing and branding expenses may start at around $5,000, which would cover essentials like logo design, website creation, and initial advertising, such as flyers and online ads.
For larger or more competitive cleaning businesses, marketing costs can reach up to $20,000. This higher budget would cover a comprehensive marketing strategy, including professional branding services, social media campaigns, Google ads, and ongoing promotions to build a strong local or regional presence.
