How Much Does It REALLY Cost to Start a Solo House Cleaning Business?
My Real Supply Budget
Do you really need hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars in fancy cleaning products and equipment to start a solo house cleaning business?
Nope.
After more than 18 years of cleaning houses and running my own cleaning business, I can tell you this: you do not need a truckload of fancy cleaning products and expensive equipment just to get started.
So, come on.
Let’s take a walk down this virtual digital cleaning products and supplies aisle together and see approximately how much it can cost to get a solo house cleaning business up and running.
Grab your calculator, pen, and notebook.
Let’s get calculating!
And subscribe to my channel so you can also learn how I use many of these cleaning products and supplies in my daily house cleaning business—and even around my own home.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Solo House Cleaning Business?
Based on the cleaning products, supplies, equipment, and insurance in my example below, you could put together a basic solo house cleaning business setup for around:
Cleaning Products, Supplies + Insurance: approximately $257
Cleaning Products, Supplies + Insurance + Optional Vacuum + Steamer: approximately $557
But keep something important in mind:
Not everything on this list is a monthly expense.
Some products will need to be replaced more often, while supplies such as your broom, mop, ladder, microfiber cloths, vacuum, and steamer may last you much longer.
So think of this as a rough-draft starter budget that can also help you figure out your future monthly cleaning supply expenses.
Your actual cost will depend on what you already own, which products you choose, how many houses you clean, where you shop, and how quickly you go through your supplies.
You Don't Have to Follow My Cleaning Supply List to the “T”
You do not have to follow me to the “T.”
I want you to use this list like a rough draft.
Look at the cleaning products and supplies you are already using to clean your own home or products you are already familiar and comfortable with.
Write those down.
Write down approximately how much each one costs.
Then calculate what your cleaning business supply budget might look like.
That's the whole lesson here.
I don't want you just buying things because somebody online told you that every “professional house cleaner” needs them.
Start with what makes sense for your business.
Do You Need Fancy Cleaning Products to Start a House Cleaning Business?
I often hear people say:
"Well, I need fancy cleaning products and supplies before I can start a house cleaning business."
But trust me, you don't.
With over 18 years of house cleaning experience, I've walked into plenty of my clients' homes and seen them using almost the same types of cleaning products I've been using.
You don't have to make starting your cleaning business more complicated—or more expensive—than it needs to be.
What matters is knowing how to use your products correctly, safely, and efficiently and knowing which products work on which surfaces.
And most importantly, you need to know your numbers.
Because knowing approximately how much money you need to get started is one of the right first steps to take.
Knowing how much you are spending on cleaning products and supplies as your business grows can also help you understand what it really costs you to operate your business.
So...
Calculator? Check.
Pen? Check.
Notebook? Check.
Let's get calculating.
My Solo House Cleaning Business Products & Supplies List
I do much of my cleaning product and supply shopping at Dollar Tree or Amazon, depending on what I need and where I can get the better value.
These prices are only rough estimates and can change depending on where and when you shop.
Sponges & Scrubbing Supplies
1 pack steel wool — $1.50
1 pack green dish sponges — $1.50
1 pack blue dish sponges — $1.50
1 pack Magic Eraser sponges — $1.50
320P grit sandpaper — $1.00 per sheet
Now you may be asking:
Why do I buy green and blue dish sponges?
Simple.
I use my blue sponges for kitchens only and my green sponges for bathrooms only.
That little color system helps me keep the sponges separated by cleaning area.
Cleaning Products
Ajax — $1.50
Totally Awesome Cleaner spray bottle — $1.50
3-in-1 Lysol Power Cleaner — $4.00
Dawn Dish Soap — $5.00
Stainless Steel Polish — $9.00
Granite or Marble Polish — $9.00
Lemon Oil — $8.00
Pledge — $6.00
Glass Cleaner — $4.00
Zep Floor Cleaner — $13.00
Again, you don't necessarily need to buy every product I use.
This is my rough-draft shopping list based on products and supplies I have used in my cleaning business.
Your list may look different.
Cleaning Rags, Gloves & Personal Supplies
Gloves — $3.00
Hand Sanitizer — $1.50
Kirkland Microfiber Rags — $30.00
Small microfiber rags in different colors — $20.00
Microfiber Magic Streak-Free Cleaning Cloths, pack of 6 — $18.00
I like having different types and colors of microfiber cloths because I can separate them for different cleaning jobs and areas of the home.
Basic House Cleaning Equipment
Scrub-head mop — $15.00
Broom — $10.00
Folding buckets — $10.00
Small ladder — $28.00
These are examples of supplies that you probably will not be buying every month.
Once you have them, they become part of your cleaning equipment until they need replacing.
That is another reason I don't want you to look at this entire list as one big monthly expense.
Two Cleaning Tools I Consider Optional When You're Just Starting
Shark Vacuum — Approximately $125
Optional
Shark Steamer — Approximately $175
Optional
Why do I say these are optional?
Because if you already have a good working vacuum at home, use it.
Get your cleaning business up and running first.
Then, as you start getting more and more clients and begin seeing some profit, you can invest in another vacuum that may work better for your business.
You don't have to buy everything on Day One.
The same goes for a Shark steamer.
Maybe you can add one later as you get more clients.
In the beginning, you can use your scrub-head mop for your mopping.
I have other videos showing how I use my Shark steamer to make parts of my cleaning job easier and help give certain floors a nice clean finish.
After seeing how I use it, you can decide whether investing in a Shark steamer makes sense for your cleaning business—or even your own home.
That is how I want you to think like a business owner.
Don't just spend. Calculate first.
What About House Cleaning Business Insurance?
ERGO NEXT Insurance — My Example: Approximately $55 Per Month
ERGO NEXT Insurance was formerly known as NEXT Insurance.
For me, business insurance would not be something I would put on the optional side of my list.
I recommend that a solo house cleaner seriously consider business insurance because when you're entering other people's homes and working around their furniture, floors, appliances, decorations, and valuable belongings, accidents can happen.
You could accidentally break or damage something.
Having the appropriate business insurance can help protect your business depending on your policy and what it covers.
It can also help you look more established and professional and give potential clients another reason to feel comfortable allowing you into their homes.
Having house cleaning business insurance may also help when working with other cleaning companies or businesses that require contractors to carry their own insurance.
Important: Business insurance does not replace any business license, registration, permit, or other requirement that may apply where you operate. Check your own city, county, and state requirements.
And don't assume your insurance will cost exactly what mine costs.
Your insurance price can vary depending on your location, coverage, business, policy limits, and other factors.
Don't Forget Your Transportation Costs
Your cleaning products aren't the only expenses involved in running a solo house cleaning business.
You also need reliable transportation.
You need to think about:
Gas
Car insurance
Vehicle maintenance
Travel between cleaning jobs
Getting to your clients' homes on time
Having reliable transportation and enough gas to get back and forth between your cleaning jobs can make your business day run much smoother.
Remember:
Your car may not be a cleaning product, but getting yourself and your cleaning supplies from House A to House B is part of operating your business.
My Rough-Draft Solo House Cleaning Startup Cost
Based on the prices I listed above:
Cleaning Products + Supplies + Insurance = Approximately $257
Cleaning Products + Supplies + Insurance + Shark Vacuum + Shark Steamer = Approximately $557
And remember—this does not mean you're going to spend $257 or $557 every month.
Some of these are startup purchases.
Some will last several months.
Some may last years.
Some cleaning products may need to be replaced regularly depending on how many clients you're cleaning for.
That's why I teach you to track your numbers.
Start With What You Have—Then Upgrade as Your Business Grows
If you're starting your solo house cleaning business on a budget, don't let a long shopping list scare you.
Look around your own house first.
You may already have:
A vacuum.
A broom.
A mop.
Microfiber clothes.
A bucket.
Cleaning products.
A small ladder.
Use what you already have when it makes sense.
Then calculate what you're actually missing.
You can always upgrade your equipment as you begin getting clients and making money.
That is much better than spending hundreds of dollars buying fancy cleaning equipment before you have your first paying client.
Build your cleaning business like a real business.
Know what you're spending.
Know what you actually need.
And calculate before you buy.
Quick Questions, Clean Answers!
How much money do I need for cleaning supplies to start a house cleaning business?
There is no one exact amount because it depends on what you already own and which products you use. My rough-draft example comes to about $257 for cleaning products, basic supplies, equipment, and one month of my example insurance cost.
Do I need professional cleaning products to start a house cleaning business?
Not necessarily. I started with practical products that worked for the cleaning jobs I was doing. You can begin with products you already know how to use and upgrade or change products as your business grows.
Do I need to buy a new vacuum before starting my cleaning business?
No. If you already own a reliable vacuum that can handle your cleaning jobs, you can start with it. Once your business begins making money, you can decide whether investing in another vacuum makes sense.
Do I need a steam mop for a house cleaning business?
No. A steamer can be useful, but I consider it optional for someone just starting. A good mop can get you started, and you can invest in additional equipment later.
Should a solo house cleaner have business insurance?
I recommend looking seriously into business insurance before entering clients' homes professionally. Coverage and legal requirements vary, so make sure you understand the policy you're purchasing and the requirements where you operate.
The Bottom Line
Starting a solo house cleaning business does not mean you have to walk into a store and buy every fancy cleaning product you see.
Start simple.
Use what you already have.
Make a list.
Write down the prices.
Grab your calculator.
And get calculating.
Because knowing exactly what you're spending on cleaning products, supplies, equipment, transportation, and insurance can help you price your cleaning jobs more like a business owner—and less like someone who is just guessing.
Stay tuned, my Bonafide Peeps!
I'll show you how I use these cleaning products and supplies to get my cleaning jobs done right—while still working with a business budget.
Happy Business! You Got This!
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