Start your business
House cleaning business starter kit: what it costs
A commercial vacuum, mopping, cloths and chemicals: specs and prices from the makers' and stores' own pages (Oct 30, 2026), plus booking software and the licensing basics.
Not tested by us. We haven't used any of this equipment. Specs and prices are copied from each maker's or retailer's own product page, read Oct 30, 2026 and linked next to every number. No rankings, no ratings: the order is by category or by the numbers.
Short version
- House cleaning is the cheapest of the three trades to start: the big-ticket item is a good vacuum, and the rest is supplies you restock every month.
- Many cleaners carry a backpack vacuum because it moves room to room without dragging a canister. Compare weight and filtration on the maker's page.
- Restock costs add up. Put your monthly supply spend into our house cleaning quote calculator so every price covers it.
- Total your startup budget with the startup cost calculator.
Equipment, with listed prices
Listed prices by category, from the products below (read Oct 30, 2026):
- commercial backpack vacuum: $746.00 to $777.00 (2 listed)
- commercial backpack vacuum (HEPA option): $429.99
- commercial upright vacuum: $279.99
- commercial canister vacuum: $209.99
- mop system: $44.96
- microfiber cloths: $24.00 to $35.00 (2 listed)
- concentrated all-purpose cleaner: $118.09
- EPA-registered disinfectant (concentrate): $86.67
| Product | Specs (from the maker's page) | Listed price | Stores |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProTeam Super Coach Pro 10 backpack vacuum (10 qt, with tool kit) commercial backpack vacuum |
The Amazon button goes to a Super Coach Pro 10 listing we found by search; check it is the same kit before buying. | $777.00 ProTeam store, listing | ProTeam (opens ProTeam in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| ProTeam Super Coach Pro 6 backpack vacuum (6 qt, with wand kit) commercial backpack vacuum |
| $746.00 ProTeam store, listing | ProTeam (opens ProTeam in a new tab) Search Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Sanitaire TRANSPORT corded backpack vacuum SC570A commercial backpack vacuum (HEPA option) |
| $429.99 Sanitaire store, listing | Sanitaire (opens Sanitaire in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Sanitaire TRADITION upright vacuum SC886G commercial upright vacuum |
| $279.99 Sanitaire store, listing | Sanitaire (opens Sanitaire in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Sanitaire EXTEND canister vacuum SC3700A commercial canister vacuum |
| $209.99 Sanitaire store, listing | Sanitaire (opens Sanitaire in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| O-Cedar H2prO flat mop system mop system |
Consumer-grade mop system; price from Walmart.com. | $44.96 Walmart.com, listing | Walmart (opens Walmart in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Uline microfiber general purpose towels S-12812 (12-pack) microfiber cloths |
| $35.00 Uline, listing | Uline (opens Uline in a new tab) |
| Rubbermaid Commercial microfiber cloths 1820579 (24-pack) microfiber cloths |
Walmart.com marketplace listing, sold and shipped by Staples Business. | $24.00 Walmart.com, listing | Walmart (opens Walmart in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Rubbermaid Commercial Deluxe Carry Caddy FG315488BLA cleaning caddy |
No price on the maker's page; it links to resellers. | price not listed on the page we read | Maker's page (opens Maker's page in a new tab) Search Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Zep Tuff Green concentrated all-purpose cleaner (5 gal) concentrated all-purpose cleaner |
| $118.09 Zep store, listing | Zep (opens Zep in a new tab) Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
| Zep DZ-7 neutral disinfectant cleaner (2 L x 4) EPA-registered disinfectant (concentrate) |
| $86.67 Zep store, listing | Zep (opens Zep in a new tab) Search Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab) |
Listed in category order, not ranked. Prices are what the linked page displayed on Oct 30, 2026, before tax and shipping; we don't print Amazon prices. Store buttons are separate links to separate stores.
Software you'll need
Cleaning businesses book recurring visits and get paid on a schedule; online booking and automatic reminders save hours a week. These apps list cleaning among the trades they serve.
| App | Entry price | Source | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuoteIQ | from $29.99 per month, billed monthly | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit QuoteIQ (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Jobber | from $29 per month, billed annually (1 user) | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Jobber (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Housecall Pro | from $59 per month, billed annually | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Housecall Pro (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| GorillaDesk | from $49 per month for the first route, billed monthly | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit GorillaDesk (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Markate | from $45.95 per month billed yearly ($49.95 monthly) | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Markate (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| ZenMaid | from $19 per month at the calculator's lowest setting; rises with team size | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit ZenMaid (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| BookingKoala | from $27 per month, "starts at" | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit BookingKoala (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
| Service Autopilot | from $49 per month, annual subscription, plus sign-up fee | pricing page, checked Oct 29, 2026 | Visit Service Autopilot (opens the vendor site in a new tab) |
Licensing, insurance and registration
Rules depend on your state, county and city, so we point you to the official sources instead of guessing. None of this is legal advice.
- Register the business and get local licenses. The SBA's launch guide walks through registering, state and federal tax IDs, licenses and permits, and business insurance. SBA: Launch your business
- Get an EIN. Free from the IRS; you'll want it for a business bank account and for hiring. IRS: Get an EIN
- Insurance. General liability is the usual starting point when you work on other people's property; ask an agent for quotes in your state. The SBA guide covers the types. SBA: Get business insurance
- Helpers. Before paying someone to help, check whether they're an employee or a contractor. IRS: Contractor or employee?
- Bonding. Many cleaning businesses carry a janitorial or fidelity bond alongside liability insurance, since you work inside clients' homes. Ask your insurance agent; the SBA guide covers insurance types. SBA: Get business insurance
- Cleaning chemicals. Keep safety data sheets for the products you use; OSHA's Hazard Communication standard explains labels and SDS. OSHA: Hazard Communication
More buying guides
See all our home and yard buying guides.