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How to Start a Commercial Cleaning Business

Commercial cleaning runs on contracts — offices, clinics, gyms and retail cleaned on a set schedule, often after hours. Steady monthly contracts make it predictable, but bidding accurately and keeping reliable staff are what make it profitable.

Reviewed November 5, 2026 · Sources linked inline

Startup costs

We haven't found a reliable published cost range for this business, so we don't show one. Costs vary widely by market, equipment and whether you buy new or used. Plug your own quotes into the worksheet:

Open a commercial cleaning cost worksheet →

SBA 7(a) loans in this industry

Janitorial Services (NAICS 561720): 1,677 loans approved in FY2024–FY2026. Median loan $139,000; middle half $50,000–$250,000.

Loan size is not startup cost — these loans also fund acquisitions, real estate and working capital. Full breakdown and caveats →

How much competition is there?

Census industry: Janitorial Services (NAICS 561720)

Nationwide: 67,799 employer establishments (2023) and 1,173,265 businesses without employees (2024).

See counts for your county → Counts aren't a measure of saturation — see the caveats on the tool page.

Equipment and supplies

  • Commercial backpack or upright vacuums
  • Floor machine for larger accounts
  • Janitorial carts, mops and microfiber
  • Safety data sheets for chemicals
  • Inspection checklists or app

Licenses and registration

  • If you form an LLC or corporation, register it with your state; if you use a business name other than your own, file a trade name (DBA) where your state requires it (in some states that's the county).
  • Janitorial work generally doesn't need a state license, but check whether your city requires a business license or your state taxes cleaning services.
  • Many commercial clients ask for proof of insurance, bonding and background checks.
  • Set up payroll before hiring; misclassifying cleaners as contractors is a common, costly mistake.
  • Get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS if you will hire employees or form an LLC or corporation. Beware of sites that charge for this. [source]
  • Register an LLC or corporation with your state's business registration office (sole proprietors usually register a trade name/DBA instead). [source]

Insurance to consider

  • General liability
  • Janitorial bond
  • Workers' compensation
  • Commercial auto
  • Hired and non-owned auto

Get quotes from several carriers or an independent agent; coverage needs depend on your contracts, state and staff.

Financing options

  • SBA 7(a) loans — the SBA's main guaranteed loan program, made through participating lenders. [source]
  • SBA Microloans — smaller loans delivered through nonprofit intermediary lenders. [source]
  • SBA Lender Match — a free tool that connects you with interested SBA lenders. [source]
  • Free counseling from your local SBDC or SCORE chapter can help you build the business plan lenders ask for. [source]

Estimate payments with the loan calculator, then check runway with the cash flow projection.

Ongoing operating expenses

  • Wages and payroll taxes
  • Supplies
  • Insurance
  • Equipment replacement
  • Fuel
  • Marketing

Use the break-even calculator to see how many jobs or sales cover them.

Common mistakes

  • Bidding by square foot without timing the work
  • No written scope of work
  • Classifying cleaners as contractors
  • Taking accounts too far apart
  • No quality inspections

Finding customers

  • Small offices, clinics and gyms nearby
  • Property managers
  • Subcontracting for larger firms at first
  • Referrals from current accounts

Startup checklist

Ticks are saved on this device and appear on My plan.

Compare with other businesses

Sources