How To Write a Cleaning Business Plan

Cleaning is hard work—whether you’re mopping floors, organizing messy closets, or pressure washing fences and patios, strength and stamina are usually prerequisites.

It takes a different kind of strength and stamina to start a cleaning business, but the payoffs can be worth it. The global cleaning industry has grown considerably in recent years—it was estimated at $416 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $617 billion by 2030.

Whether you’re starting a residential or commercial cleaning company, or a more niche venture—organizing or junk removal, for instance—success starts with a solid plan. Here’s how to create a cleaning business plan.

What is a cleaning business?

A cleaning business is a company dedicated to cleaning, disinfecting, tidying, and organizing homes or businesses. Your cleaning business can take a generalist approach with broad capabilities or focus on specific scenarios and target markets. It can also be structured to offer on-demand services or services on a recurring weekly or monthly basis.

Whether your cleaning company has a couple of workers or is a large business with several employees and departments, a specialized business plan is essential. It’ll serve as your roadmap, helping you make day-to-day decisions. A business plan is also a useful document to share with partners and key employees to ensure you’re all on the same page. Finally, it’s an essential document if you’re applying for funding from investors or seeking a small business loan. 

Types of cleaning businesses 

• Commercial cleaning
• Residential cleaning
• Deep cleaning
• In-and-out cleaning
• Exterior pressure washing
• Sanitization and disinfection
• Professional organizer

There are many different cleaning business types you can pursue, including:

Commercial cleaning 

A commercial cleaning business involves cleaning spaces for commercial clients. This means cleaning spaces like offices, retail stores, schools, medical facilities, and stadiums, among others. As a commercial cleaner looking to scale your business, you can also add janitorial services and property maintenance as optional add-ons.

Residential cleaning 

Residential cleaning companies provide house cleaning services to homeowners and renters looking to tidy up their living spaces, often on a regular basis. This typically involves general cleaning like vacuuming, dusting, mopping, and bathroom and kitchen cleaning.

Deep cleaning

Deep cleaning goes beyond routine maintenance, targeting areas and details that regular cleaning often overlooks. A deep clean might mean scrubbing baseboards, door frames, windows, and window sills, washing baseboards and carpets, replacing HVAC filters and cleaning air vents, and disinfecting light switches, door handles, cabinet knobs, and other frequently-touched surfaces. 

In-and-out cleaning

Also known as moving cleaning, in-and-out cleaning is for clients moving out of a space or transitioning into a new one. Similar to deep cleaning, it can be more thorough than regular cleaning and encompass tasks like deep cleaning the oven and refrigerator.

Exterior pressure washing

Pressure washing involves using pressurized water to clean outdoor surfaces like patios, decks, sidewalks, and driveways. You can also pressure wash siding, windows, gutters, and roofs on homes and buildings. To get started, you’ll need to buy a pressure washer, which can run from a few hundred dollars to close to $1,000.

Sanitization and disinfection

Sanitation and disinfection services prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria by systematically treating surfaces, air circulation systems, and equipment with antimicrobial solutions. If you’ll be handling biohazards or pathogen decontamination, note that you’ll likely need accreditation, such as a Biohazard Cleaning Certification from organizations like the Global Biorisk Advisory Council or the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association. 

Professional organizer

Professional organizers declutter and sort spaces, from home offices and closets to storage units and entire workplaces. They may use processes like purging, alphabetization, color coordination, and zoning (placing the most used objects in easy-to-reach locations). 

How to write a cleaning services business plan

1. Conduct market research and find your target market
2. Compose an executive summary
3. Write a business overview
4. Detail your services and pricing
5. Put together a financial plan
6. Define your marketing strategy

While the details of your specific business plan will vary depending on the nature of the cleaning services you offer, the overall approach to writing a business plan remains consistent across business types. Here’s how to get started:

1. Conduct market research and find your target market

Before you begin writing your business plan, you need to be clear about the type of business you’re running (choosing from the categories above) and details about your industry, location, and target audience. Begin by conducting market research to uncover industry trends and areas of opportunity. Include an overview of competitors, the current state of the industry, potential challenges you may face, and areas where your cleaning business could carve a niche.

For example, if you’re starting an event cleanup company, you could compile a list of competing companies along with the types of events they service. You might find that your competitors largely cater to concert and festival venues but not sporting events, spotlighting a potential gap in the market that you can capitalize on.

Decide on your target audience and describe the types of prospective clients you hope to serve. Later on, you’ll design your marketing materials with this audience in mind. As a professional organizer, for example, you might describe your target market as busy professionals, families, or elderly folks who need help tidying up their homes or workspaces.

2. Compose an executive summary

The first section of a business plan is an executive summary. Though this appears first, it may be easier to write this part last, once you’ve worked out the details of your plan. In a few sentences, an executive summary describes your business concept, mission statement, goals, customer, and financial plan, though you’ll also explain these in more detail later. 

3. Write a business overview 

A business overview provides a little more detail about your company’s mission (remember to include your mission statement) and unique value proposition. Explain how your business is registered and structured (if you’re a limited liability company (LLC) or sole proprietorship, for example). If you already have multiple positions outlined, you can also create an organizational chart highlighting key roles.

If you have certifications or licenses, mention them. They can help build credibility, especially if you’re presenting this business plan to potential investors or loan officers. For instance, as a professional organizer, you may take the Certified Professional Organizer exam, administered by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO) through the National Association of Productivity and Organizers (NAPO).

Mention any insurance policies, mandatory and optional. This may include liability insurance, business owner’s insurance, and, if you’re hiring employees, workers’ compensation insurance. You may also need commercial auto insurance if you have a vehicle you use to carry equipment and travel from job to job.

4. Detail your services and pricing

In this section, outline all the services you plan to provide, as well as your pricing strategy. You can price your services by the hour, by service type, square footage, service frequency, any special requests, or equipment needed. You can also create bundles of services that you offer together, allowing customers to choose between a few levels. For example, you can have one rate for regular house cleaning that includes sweeping, mopping, and fridges, and a different rate for deep cleaning that includes ovens, kitchen shelves, and underneath heavy furniture. Start by comparing costs with other similar businesses in your local market.

5. Put together a financial plan 

Outline what you’re starting out with and your road to profitability. Identify any capital you’re investing in the business, as well as any loans or gifts received. Then, detail your financial projections for the first few years, including projected revenue and projected expenses. If you’re just getting started, you can use industry data to put together approximate figures. If you’ve been in business for a while, include a balance sheet, cash flow statement, and income statement.

6. Define your marketing strategy

Build a website that works as a central repository of relevant information—this is where clients can read about your services, check out reviews, and book appointments. Shopify websites are easy to put together and secure, and they offer appointment booking integrations so your clients can reserve a slot, check out, and pay with ease.

Cleaning is often a word-of-mouth business—ask regular clients to recommend you to others, and if you’re able, offer incentives (such as a future discounted cleaning) when they do. You can also distribute flyers, business cards, and door hangers. 

Outline your digital efforts as well. To market your business online, create profiles on sites like Taskrabbit, Yelp, and Thumbtack. Prioritize local search engine optimization (SEO) and claim your Google Business Profile so those looking for cleaning services in your area can find you.

*Shopify Capital loans must be paid in full within a maximum of 18 months, and two minimum payments apply within the first two six-month periods. The actual duration may be less than 18 months based on sales.