Starting cleaning company

[MumOf32018]

Hi guys. I have been talking about starting a cleaning business for nearly a year and I'm finally just gonna bite the bullet. I just need a few tips before I do. So I've decide on 12ph. Just as an example... 2 x 4 hours a day would work out at £624pm. How do I then work out my earnings along with business expenses out of that? Any cleaners got any tips. I know the business is there in my area so I'm not worried about getting clients, although I don't expect to have hundreds through the door initially. Any words of wisdom? Just to add, I plan to use the clients products. TIA x

This is so weird as I was about to post almost this exact question. Also thinking about doing this and waiting for answers for similar questions, good luck to you!

Thank you! Good luck to you too. Its all quite daunting but I think once I actually get those first clients, it will all fall into place. X

Your business expenses are any expenditure in relation to the business, so cleaning products, fuel, liability insurance, business car insurance, cost (if any) of advertising. Set up a spreadsheet and enter any money you earn and any money you spend as a minus and then it will work out your earnings for you. Don't forget to register with HMRC as self employed.

It is daunting!

I think it's that initial plunge into something new and scary.

All great advice @delilahbucket

@delilahbucket, thank you. I have registered so that bits taken care of. All I need now are clients. 😁

Congratulations on your business! As @delilahbucket says, set up a spreadsheet and capture all incomings and outgoings. Allocate around 30% that you will not spend to go towards tax, NIC, insurances etc. Hopefully, your actual commitments will be less than this but you don't want to be surprised with a tax bill and no cash to pay.

My cleaner was very upfront with her conditions which I appreciated. Made it easier for me and meant I knew exactly what to expect. She would not clean "cluttered surfaces" for example, if I wanted shelves dusted and polished then I was to remove the items on them. Putting them on the floor was fine, she would clean them and return them (much more artistically than I managed!). She supplied everything except for a mop and bucket (great - I didn't have to worry about stocks). Payment was by same day bank transfer.

I have friends who work as cleaners and say their biggest challenge is getting paid promptly. Be very clear from the beginning what your terms are, what's included and what isn't and it will work out.

@OllyBJolly. Thank you! I do plan on using the clients own products but would open to suggestions. My reason for this is becuase some people prefer eco products. Some don't like certain smells ect. The only thing I planned to use was my hoover if required and mop and bucket. Can I ask how you found your cleaner. Looking at the best outlets to advertise to get those first few clients on.

I've never had a cleaner use anything other than my products and equipment. All cleaners I've ever had has been through word of mouth- get in with one family at a school and tell them to recommend you if happy. I've only lost cleaners thru moving (though one just disappeared even though I owed her money).
On first meeting I show them the house and tell them what I'd like them to prioritise. I ask them to tell me if there's any particular cleaning product I should get. I pay cash each week and give them a key (as word of mouth i know if i can trust them).
In return I expect them to show up on time and stay the agreed length of time. If I'm there I'll offer them a cup of tea if making one but I do not expect them to take more than a short break (I have her for four hours).
Cleaners have blind spots. One cleaner could never get round to cleaning the porch vestibule but cleaned the TV screens each week. Another seemed obsessed with cleaning out cupboards but never did the oven. I find i have to very specifically say if I want something done.
We are a messy family but I tidy up before she comes - I want her to clean, not tidy.
I pay £12.50/hour in a relatively low socio-economic area.

The biggest issue is cleaning corps; not mentioning names, retain cleaners on a basis that does not a/incentivize b/the cleaner is self-employed but not for the right reasons c/clauses and contracts that in the end exceed the value of your service delivery d/contractual terms that center around upmark cost on your hard work e/ no NI needs to be paid, when based on average stats for hours worked on a rolling average.......it goes on.

Where big cleaning firms win, is through reduced cost. Which is good, right? Not when it's at the expense of a cleaner who receives a fine for failure to return earning or appropriate documents. But this is where they lose, thus why there is threatening use of verbage to persue individuals who 'may encourage/engage in exclusive client access' or put bluntly, stealing their address book. Either way, legally they would not stand up in the context they state, for it would contravene Human Rights Act, Misrepresentative Act and the many more acts in this area. They can go to small claim's court where even in those situations, the cost to bring the case forward outweighs the cost of what they would get back.

This thread is on track! Good info re: working hours, national insurance threshold and mention of upper and lower limit. (This is important if you go limited to calculate when NI contributions are applicable, how many employees, high/low wage with dividend payout?

Feel free to ask any questions, good luck

OP did you go ahead with this?

@MumOf32018 don’t forget to add as an expense, your clothing and shoes, slippers etc. at least a pair a year of each! Also hand creams/extra toiletries etc that you wouldn’t need if not for your job.

That’s a low rate. Where we are (NW, coastal town) the going rate is upwards of £15 ph