With the growing population of the United Kingdom, cleaning services have seen a corresponding increase in demand. For this reason, it is a smart business venture to start a cleaning business in the UK and with this comprehensive article, you have all the information you need to launch a successful cleaning business in the UK. In this article, we discuss in detail the pros and cons of the cleaning business in the UK, the processes involved in starting one, and even funding opportunities for cleaning business owners in the United Kingdom. Let’s begin.
What We Covered In This Article
Demand for Cleaning Services in The UK
Over the years, the cleaning industry in the UK has experienced a steady increase in demand. This can be associated with the growing population of the country and the busier schedules of the populace. The UK cleaning industry is a particularly large one as it contributes an estimated value of £55.5 billion to the UK economy while employing over 1 million individuals. In addition to this, the demand for cleaning services in the United Kingdom is estimated to have a compound annual growth rate of 4.48% between the years 2023 – 2028. These numbers are proof that the cleaning industry in the United Kingdom is a thriving one.
Benefits of Starting a Cleaning Business in The UK
There are many advantages to starting a cleaning business in the UK. Here’s a list of some of them:
1. High and consistent demand
The United Kingdom has a robust population with people from different parts of the world and these people are constantly in need of cleaning services. A major advantage of starting a cleaning business is its constant demand. The cleaning business is not seasonal and hence, you are sure to receive patronage in any season.
2. Low start-up cost
The cost of starting a cleaning business is relatively low. Because the cleaning business is not very demanding in terms of equipment, you can start a cleaning business with as low as £2,000.
3. Flexible work hours
The nature of the cleaning business allows you to choose your work hours. In other words, you can run a cleaning business alongside another business or while working a job.
4. Diverse customer base
Because of the diversity and vastness of the UK population, the country has the potential to give a large custom. This will give your business the potential to accept different kinds of cleaning jobs, thus, increasing profit made.
Risks of Starting a Cleaning Business in The UK
1. Competitive
Because the cleaning business is relatively cheap and easy to start, it is very competitive. It may be challenging to make your cleaning business stand out among the many others. While it may be a challenge, it isn’t unachievable, and besides, entrepreneurs never back down from a challenge.
2. Subject to economic fluctuations
Cleaning businesses are greatly affected by negative changes in the economy. This is because when the disposable income of your clients reduces, they will think to cut costs and they are likely to cut back on the cleaning services your business offers them.
3. Physically draining
While the cleaning business is easy to start, getting the job is quite exhausting. Many of us are experienced with chores and we understand how much of your energy they take. This disadvantage can be circumvented, however, by hiring people to render their assistance with the cleaning jobs.
4. Heavily dependent on customers
The cleaning business is very dependent on clients and as such, the success of your business fully relies on the quality of your customer service. A single bad review does more damage for a cleaning business than it would any other business.
How Profitable is The Cleaning Business in The UK?
The profitability of a cleaning business in the UK is dependent on many factors. Some of these factors include:
- Your choice of location
- Pricing and marketing strategies
- Services offered
- The efficiency of your business
However, the cleaning business in the United Kingdom is generally very profitable as the country’s demand for its services is high.
How Much Money Does a Cleaner Make in The UK?
The average annual salary of a cleaning business owner in the UK ranges from £50,000 – £150,000 annually. The amount of money your cleaning business makes is also dependent on factors like the size of your business, your business location, and the cleaning services you offer.
Do I need Licenses to Start a Cleaning Business in The UK?
No, you do not need any specific licenses to start a business. However, you still need to comply with the regulations within your jurisdiction for you to operate your cleaning business legally. Some of these legal obligations include:
- Registering your business.
- Getting insurance.
- Complying with the health and safety laws in your jurisdiction.
- Adhering to the data protection laws in your business jurisdiction.
How to Become a Self-Employed Cleaner in The UK
Becoming a self-employed cleaner in the UK is basically offering freelance cleaning services. In this case, you may not necessarily have a brand or employees as you can simply choose when and how you offer your cleaning services. Here’s an overview of how to become a self-employed cleaner in the UK:
1. Gather knowledge
Before you go into freelance cleaning, you need to have gained sufficient knowledge. Although cleaning may seem like something everyone can do, you are a professional and the quality of your work should be higher than any random person’s. You also need to understand the fastest and most efficient methods of cleaning because you may have multiple job offers at once and fast and shabby jobs will only do you harm. For this reason, we recommend that you pass through a series of training programmes before you launch your freelance cleaning business.
2. Purchase the necessary cleaning equipment
You need to get corresponding equipment for the type of cleaning services you have chosen to offer. You will also need to purchase protective gear to ensure your safety while handling all the toxic cleaning chemicals that are necessary for a thorough cleaning job.
3. Register your business
As a self-employed cleaning business, you need to register your business with the HMRC (His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs). While you are bound by the law to register your self-operated cleaning business with the HMRC, there are certain benefits of the registration. Some of these include boosting your professional credibility and granting you access to certain benefits such as the State Pension.
4. Plan your business
Because you are self-employed, you may not have an elaborate business plan. However, to make the most of your entrepreneurial journey, you need to plan out every step. This planning involves considering your budget and coming up with the best pricing and marketing strategies for your business. Please note that your budget isn’t the only factor to consider. It would help if you also considered your target market’s purchasing power among other determinants.
5. Promote your freelance cleaning business
After getting all the necessary cleaning equipment and meticulously planning out your business, you can begin advertising your cleaning services to potential clients. We recommend that you focus on online advertisement strategies because many people seek various services on online platforms. This, however, does not imply that you should ignore other promotional strategies. Find some balance between the two and don’t forget to be your own advertising agent too.
Cost of Starting a Cleaning Business in the UK
1. Business registration costs
This includes all the costs you should expect to incur while registering your cleaning business. You should expect to spend a maximum of about £100 on getting your cleaning business registered.
2. Equipment costs
The sum of money spent on getting equipment is dependent on the cleaning services you have chosen to offer. You should expect to spend between £300 – £1,000 on getting equipment for your cleaning business in the UK.
3. Transportation costs
We would recommend that you purchase a vehicle for your cleaning business as you will need to move from place to place to complete your cleaning jobs. The amount of money on getting a vehicle is dependent on various factors. For this reason, the cost of getting a vehicle for your cleaning business ranges from about £3,000 – £5,000.
4. Promotion and marketing costs
You may not need to spend any money on promoting your business as many of the digital marketing platforms are free to use. However, to increase your reach, you will need to spend some money. The amount of money spent on promotional and marketing strategies is completely up to your discretion.
Because of the low start-up costs of the cleaning business, you can start one with as little as £2,000. This is why it is the cleaning business is one of the cheapest and easiest businesses to start in the UK.
How To Start a Cleaning Business in The UK
1. Conduct market research
It is essential to research your target market before going into any business. This will help you understand the market needs and the best way to go about meeting them. Before you begin the process of launching a cleaning business in the UK, you need to thoroughly understand your target market first.
2. Draft a business plan
Reiterating what we have stated earlier, a self-employed cleaner may not need an official business (although recommended). A cleaning business owner, however, needs to have a business plan because drafting an excellent business plan is the first step to business success. A business plan helps you figure out the best way to run your business, thus, reducing risks.
3. Build your brand
After drafting your business plan, it is time to define your brand. This involves coming up with a creative brand name, business logo, and slogan. Building your brand is what sets your cleaning business apart from many others and makes it yours.
4. Register your business
Once you have drafted a business plan and created your brand, you have the blueprints for your cleaning business. Now, you must get the HMRC’s seal of approval on those blueprints by registering your business. Fortunately, the process of registering a cleaning business is not a tedious one.
5. Purchase the necessary equipment
The next thing to do after getting your business on the right side of the law is to purchase all the needed equipment and supplies. This is in preparation for when your cleaning business goes live as it is not the best practice to wait till you have your first customer before going shopping.
6. Get insurance
After getting the required equipment, you need to secure your business from risks by putting your business on an insurance plan. On average you should expect to spend about £600 on insurance yearly.
7. Implement promotional and marketing strategies
You have done all you need to do to ensure the smooth running of your cleaning business. Now, all you need to do is get people to know about your business. In this stage, you will implement effective promotional strategies that will help you grow your customer base.
How to Start an Online Cleaning Business in The UK
The processes of starting an online cleaning business in the UK are essentially similar to starting a regular one. There are a few differences, however, and these differences come into play after purchasing the equipment required to start a cleaning business.
1. Build a strong online presence
For you to increase your chances of running a successful online cleaning business, you need a strong online presence. This involves focusing majorly on digital marketing strategies.
2. Create an online store
For an online cleaning business, you need an e-commerce store. You can either build your website yourself or register for a free e-commerce store with one of the many e-commerce hosts. In any case, your online store needs to be user-friendly, effectively displaying your services to potential clients and ensuring clear communication between you and those clients.
How to Start a Cleaning Business in The UK with No Money
Yes, it is possible to start a cleaning business with no money and it involves implementing a few cost-cutting strategies. Some of these strategies include:
1. Use existing cleaning equipment
Every home has a few cleaning equipment to maintain the sanitary conditions of the environment. Rather than purchasing new equipment, you can utilize the cleaning equipment that you have available. As you get more clients, you can upgrade to purchasing professional-grade equipment.
2. Take the bus
Focus on cleaning jobs that you can easily complete without spending a lot on transport. That way you can wait till your business has earned enough money to purchase a company vehicle. Accept jobs you can complete while utilizing public transport services.
3. Leverage free marketing platforms
Make the most of social media marketing by constantly bringing up your business in any conversation you happen to be involved in. We recommend that you create social media accounts on all platforms and keep advertising your services.
These saving tips will keep your expenses at a minimum while you launch your cleaning business. As time goes on, your business will grow and become capable of handling bigger cleaning jobs.
Starting a Cleaning Business in The UK Checklist
- Conduct market research.
- Draft a business plan.
- Build your brand.
- Register your business.
- Purchase equipment and supplies.
- Get insurance.
- Implement effective promotional and marketing strategies.
Name Ideas for Cleaning Businesses in The UK
- Clearview Cleaners
- Sparkle Sprout Cleaning Services
- The Dirt Busters
- Radiant Rooms Cleaners
- FreshStart Cleaning Services
- Dazzling Domestics
Conclusion
In essence, starting a cleaning business in the UK can be a very lucrative business idea. With the country’s high demand for cleaning services and the business’s relatively low start-up costs, you have the potential to earn a lot more than you spend. The cleaning business in the UK, however, is very competitive but with the right marketing and pricing strategies, you can rise above the competition. Armed with all the information you need, we are certain that you are ready to launch your own cleaning business in the UK.