Cleaning

stoneybrokeme

Hi, I am thinking about starting up a small cleaning business. Has anyone got any advice for me please? eg insurance, what to charge etc:)

Many thanks

Peter_Pan

I would check out any local ads from cleaners and see what they charge locally, i would think it depends on your area or talk to people you know that have cleaners and see how much they pay. Perhaps you could talk to some friends and see what they think is a reasonable figure to charge.

One way to stand out from the crowd would be to offer something different such as using eco-friendly products.

I'm afraid i can't help on the insurance side of things although i would think you would need public liability insurance in case you damaged an antique worth millions or similar.

Good luck

patman99

Be aware that most cleaning companies have 2 person crews (for H&S reasons).
The average in Essex seems to be £20 p/hr.
As for insurance, at the very minimum you will need Public Liability, Employers Liability, Employees Liability and obviously, insurance for your vehicles and equipment.

Don't forget that you will need to register with HMRC as either self employed or as a business. You may end-up paying Corporation Tax, and if you work from home don't forget to get the required planning permission.

ginaf

my ex husband ran a cleaning business and he cleaned pubs in the morning before they opened and he charged £300 pw for one pub and £270 pw week for the other one this was for about 4 hours a day but it was 7 days a week and that took its toll on him never having a day off. out of this he paid for cleaning stuff, petrol, business car insurance as he used to clean windows and carried ladders that was extra by the way £40 a fortnight for the windows and really cheap set-up, and public liability insurance. thats all i know as i wasnt involved in the business side of things so dont know how businesses are run.
i will follow this thread as its something i have thought about myself but never knew how to go about running my own business and was also put off because this market seems to be flooded at the mo with people trying to make extra cash.

good luck