March 18, 2022
Becoming a house cleaner in 2022 is a great way to tap into a growing market, with recent research showing that one in ten households in the UK employ a domestic cleaner – and this number is constantly on the rise.
As we continue to navigate the ups and downs of the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, demand for cleaners all over the UK has risen – from cleaners Chichester right up to cleaners Edinburgh.
So, if you are thinking about starting your own cleaning business in 2022, we have compiled this guide to help you to get started with this low-cost business idea.
The first thing you need to do is identify what market you are going to serve and what type of cleaner you are going to be.
There are three main cleaning markets:
The decision you make as to which market you are going to target will be based on your experience mostly, but you should also think about the relative size of each of these markets in your local area. The independent cleaners who offer Maid Service Oxford through the Maid App also tend to offer commercial cleaning as well, as there is a large market for this in the Oxford area.
If you are going to set up your own domestic cleaning business, you will need to ensure you are familiar with safety guidelines set by the government to make sure both you and your clients are kept as safe as possible.
Domestic cleaners don’t generally need to have specific qualifications but you will need to have basic written and oral skills as well as a responsible attitude. Commercial cleaning or specialist cleaning jobs, on the other hand, may require you to have a specific qualification as well as access to specialist equipment.
If you want to stand out from all of the other cleaners in your area, you may want to think about completing one of the courses run by the British Institute of Cleaning Science.
If you are planning on setting ourself up as a domestic cleaner, then you will probably just need to invest in a few essential cleaning items such as:
Again, this will be different if you want to target the commercial or specialist markets, as then you will need to buy industrial vacuum cleaners or steam mops that can cost thousands of pounds.
How much do you want to charge? Will you charge by the hour or a flat fee?
Many of the independent maids who find clients through the Maid App use an hourly fee as they find it helps when they don’t know how long each client will want them to clean for. A flat fee, however, is sometimes preferred by clients as they will know exactly how much they are paying in advance.
Again, it would be good to do a little research in your local area to discover a little more information about the going rate before you decide.
You may want to think about setting up a business bank account to keep your cleaning money separate from your personal finances. Some kind of online payment system may also be a good idea, as most people do not want to pay in cash these days either.
Now you have made a lot of the important decisions, you should make sure you have a proper business plan in place as this will not only help you to get your cleaning business off the ground, but also help you to grow. Make sure you include things such as
Now it’s time to pitch your services to the market you have identified in step one. The way you will do this depends on the market you have chosen, but the simplest way for domestic cleaners to find clients is through the Maid App.
You can download Maid App though the Apple App Store or via Google Play. Then all you need to do is click “Sign up as a Maid” and follow the simple instructions. Customers will then be able to search for your services via the relevant location, and then contact you directly if your services are of interest to them. You can then manage all of your clients through the app for free.
Maid App is a perfect self-employment opportunity for those cleaners who have a high standard of work and who love what they do.
As part of your business plan process, make sure you think about growing your cleaning business.
If you are a one-man band domestic cleaner, then you may want to stay that way and that’s great. But you should keep in mind that cleaning businesses have the potential to grow into small businesses that empty several people. If you build up a good reputation with clients, and more people want to use your services, then you may need to take on other cleaners to help you cope with the demand.
As with any other self-employed profession, self-employed cleaners have legal obligations that they must take of particularly relating to tax.
As a self-employed cleaner you will need to register as self-employed with HMRC, and complete a Self-Assessment Tax return on an annual basis. You will need to make a payment on account every 31st of July, and make sure your tax bill is paid by 31st January every year as well.
It is also important to think about public liability insurance as this can protect you from claims arising from injury, or a loss suffered by your client due to your work.
If you are interested in becoming a cleaner, and have already registered as self-employed through HMRC, then download the Maid App today to find local clients. You will join a happy band if independent cleaners based through the UK, from cleaners Portsmouth to cleaners Holyhead.
