COSHH assessments, RAMS documents, MTD ITSA guidance, tax-deductible expense lists, pricing benchmarks, templates, and more — everything a cleaning business owner needs, in one place.
Featured resources
Commercial clients require a Risk Assessment and Method Statement before you step on site. This guide covers every element a RAMS must contain, with a downloadable template and real-world examples.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment is replacing the annual tax return. This guide explains who it applies to, when it starts, and exactly what you need to do — including digital recordkeeping and quarterly submissions.
All resources
Everything you need to meet COSHH regulations — from identifying hazardous substances to writing assessments that satisfy an HSE inspection.
How to write a Risk Assessment and Method Statement that satisfies commercial clients and facilities managers — with a complete template.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is live. Know who it applies to, what changes, and how to stay compliant with quarterly digital submissions.
The April 2026 National Living Wage increase affects every cleaning business with staff. Here's the new rates, the cost impact, and how to adjust your pricing.
Every allowable expense a cleaning business can claim — equipment, mileage, insurance, training, clothing and more — with worked examples and HMRC guidance references.
The £90,000 threshold, when to register, how VAT affects your pricing, and why some sole traders register voluntarily. Plain language, no jargon.
Market size, number of businesses, average turnover, employment figures and growth trends — all cited, all sourced, and updated for 2026.
Average hourly and fixed rates for residential, commercial and specialist cleaning across UK regions — so you know if you're undercharging.
How Class 4 NI works for self-employed cleaning business owners — current rates, profit thresholds, how it's calculated and how to pay via Self Assessment.
From registering as a sole trader to getting your first clients — a complete step-by-step guide to launching a residential cleaning business in the UK.
Practical tactics for finding and converting your first residential clients — local marketing, word of mouth, Facebook groups, and how to price to win.
A professional quote template for domestic cleaning clients — covers regular cleans, one-offs and deep cleans with editable pricing tables.
A legally considered service agreement for domestic cleaning clients — including cancellation terms, liability clauses and access arrangements.
How to get your first commercial cleaning contract without a limited company — what insurances you need, how to pitch, and what clients actually look for.
The tender process demystified — how to respond to ITTs, price competitively, and differentiate your cleaning business from larger competitors.
A professional proposal for commercial cleaning contracts — covers scope of work, frequency, pricing, method statements and references section.
A robust B2B service agreement for commercial cleaning clients — covering TUPE, COSHH obligations, access arrangements, KPIs and termination clauses.
Equipment costs, insurance requirements, training, and how to build a customer base for window cleaning, pressure washing and softwash services.
How to structure a profitable window cleaning round — pricing by frequency, round routing, client retention and how to sell and buy rounds.
A professional quote template for exterior cleaning jobs — window cleaning, pressure washing and softwash, with per-service and package pricing options.
How to safely handle and apply softwash chemicals — COSHH considerations, PPE requirements, environmental controls and a risk assessment template.
PAYE vs subcontracting, employment law basics, DBS checks, payroll setup and how to manage your first employee — everything a growing cleaning business needs.
A UK-compliant written statement of employment particulars for cleaning staff — covering hours, pay, holiday entitlement and conduct expectations.
How to maintain quality, track attendance and keep cleaners motivated when you can't be on site — scheduling tools, check-in systems and feedback processes.
A step-by-step checklist for onboarding a new cleaning client — from initial enquiry through to first clean and follow-up, so nothing gets missed.
A clear complaint resolution process for cleaning businesses — how to acknowledge, investigate and resolve client complaints to protect your reputation.
How much cover you need, what policies cover, what they don't, and how to compare quotes without getting sold insurance you don't need.
What UK GDPR means for cleaning businesses — client data, staff records, CCTV in client homes, privacy notices and what ICO registration you actually need.
Editable cleaning schedule templates for residential and commercial clients — daily, weekly and periodic tasks, with sign-off fields for quality assurance.
How to create a professional brand — logo, van livery, uniforms, social media and website — without spending a fortune before you have the revenue to match.
A complete 8-step guide to starting any type of cleaning business — from choosing your sector and legal setup to pricing, first clients, tax and growth.
The complete equipment and compliance checklist for domestic cleaners — from vacuums and microfibre cloths to COSHH, insurance, software and business documents.
Everything a window cleaner, pressure washer or softwash operator needs — pressure washing kit, WFP systems, working at height safety, van setup and RAMS.
The complete checklist for commercial cleaning contractors — industrial equipment, COSHH, RAMS, £5m insurance, DBS checks, staff compliance and quality management.
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Professional documents you can put your name on — contracts, quotes, schedules, and procedures built for cleaning businesses.
When cleaning businesses join Cadi, we feature their story here — how they started, how they grew, and what worked. Real businesses, real numbers.
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Straight answers. No fluff. Always referencing current UK law and figures.
Yes — if you use cleaning chemicals (and virtually all cleaning businesses do), UK law under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 requires you to carry out COSHH assessments. This applies to sole traders as well as employers. A COSHH assessment documents which hazardous substances you use, the risks they pose, and the controls you have in place. Failure to have adequate COSHH assessments can result in enforcement action by the Health and Safety Executive.
RAMS stands for Risk Assessment and Method Statement. Commercial clients and facilities managers routinely require a RAMS before allowing contractors on site — it shows you have assessed the hazards in your work and planned a safe method of operation. While no single law mandates a document by that name, the requirement flows from the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Most commercial cleaning contracts will not proceed without one.
MTD ITSA (Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment) applies to cleaning businesses with total gross self-employment income above £50,000 from April 2026, and above £30,000 from April 2027. Under MTD ITSA you must keep digital records and submit quarterly updates to HMRC using compatible software, replacing the annual Self Assessment return. If you are currently below these thresholds you are exempt for now, though HMRC has signalled further expansion of MTD ITSA in future years.
Cleaning business owners can claim allowable expenses including cleaning equipment and supplies, work clothing not suitable for everyday wear, vehicle costs (actual expenses or 45p/mile for the first 10,000 miles), public liability insurance, relevant training courses, accountancy fees and marketing costs. You cannot claim ordinary clothing, personal expenses or meals unless travelling overnight for business. Keeping receipts for everything is essential — HMRC can request them up to five years after the relevant tax year.
At minimum, most cleaning businesses need public liability insurance — typically £1m to £5m cover — to protect against claims for damage or injury caused during your work. If you employ staff, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement with a statutory minimum of £5m cover. Commercial clients will usually require evidence of both before allowing you on site. Depending on your work, tools and equipment cover and professional indemnity insurance may also be worth considering.
Yes — if you earn more than £1,000 from self-employment in a tax year (the trading allowance), HMRC requires you to register as a sole trader and complete a Self Assessment tax return. Registration is free and must be done by 5 October following the end of your first trading tax year (April to April). Even small amounts of cleaning income above the trading allowance must be declared — HMRC cross-references bank payments, online platforms and client records.
The VAT registration threshold for 2026-27 is £90,000 of taxable turnover in any rolling 12-month period. If your cleaning business exceeds this, you must register for VAT within 30 days. Voluntary registration below the threshold can be beneficial if your clients are VAT-registered (they can reclaim the VAT you charge). Domestic cleaning is standard-rated at 20% — there is no reduced rate for cleaning residential properties, unlike some other domestic services.
UK residential cleaning rates in 2026 typically run from £15–£25 per hour for regular cleans, with one-off deep cleans often at £20–£35 per hour or on a fixed-price basis. London and South East rates are generally 20–30% above the national average. When setting your price, factor in all costs (travel, supplies, insurance, tax), local market rates, and your desired profit margin. Many cleaning businesses price regular clients slightly lower to secure recurring weekly or fortnightly income over higher-margin but less predictable one-off work.