
Key Takeaways
- 01Picking a niche helps you focus resources, dominate one area, and start with less investment
- 02Residential and commercial cleaning remain the most accessible entry points for new businesses
- 03Specialized services like pool cleaning and carpet cleaning can earn $20k-$50k annually
- 04Green cleaning is a growing trend as customers prefer eco-friendly services
- 05Offering flexible scheduling and personalized services helps you stand out from competitors
Ah, we see that you are looking to start your own cleaning business. That's great. So, as a token of our support, let us give you a warning!
Not defining your market and target audience is one of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a business.
Why? Let's see the difference it can make.
Picking a Niche vs. Not Picking a Niche
| Picking a niche | Not picking a niche |
|---|---|
| You have a direction to focus on | Your focus gets scattered everywhere |
| You can dominate one area | You become a jack of all niches |
| You can start your business with lesser investment | Your business demands more investment |
| Your resources are used more efficiently | Your resources also get scattered inefficiently |
| Your marketing gets more targeted | Your marketing starts shooting everywhere |
| You will feel less overwhelmed | You will feel overworked |
| Your execution gets comparatively easier | Your execution gets tough |
Were these 7 reasons enough for you to side with picking a niche? Then, come on. We will show you 9 niche cleaning business ideas from which to start your journey (the smart way).
9 Profitable Cleaning Business Ideas
The cleaning industry is a vast space with many small niches. And as we have seen, just randomly going about any of them can be a huge mistake. So, here are profitable and popular cleaning business ideas you can start with.
Pick just one or two cleaning services off this list. This will help you start your business with ease and focus.
1. Residential cleaning
A residential cleaning business focuses on cleaning the houses of homeowners. Many homeowners like to delegate it to a house cleaning business that does the job for them in exchange for a fixed amount.
This is why it is a lucrative cleaning business niche. In the US, you can easily get $25-$40 per hour as a residential cleaning professional.
Various residential cleaning services:
- Regular cleaning
- Deep cleaning
- Move-in/Move-out cleaning
- Window cleaning
Free resource: Download house cleaning invoice templates.
2. Commercial cleaning
As the name suggests, commercial cleaning is a cleaning service dedicated to commercial buildings.
Have you ever seen any boss swipe the floor of his office? Most probably, no, because bosses look to hire someone for the job and instead focus their time on growing the business.
So you could be that someone who they hire to clean their offices and earn around $30k to $50k per year, even as a small business.
Various commercial cleaning services:
- Office cleaning
- Hospitality cleaning
- Commercial window cleaning
- Industrial cleaning
3. Pool cleaning
Do you know the pool cleaning industry is worth $8 billion in the US alone? Thus, choosing pool cleaning as your initial business niche is also a great option.
This can include both: residential and commercial complexes but specializes solely in cleaning swimming pools.
Various pool cleaning services:
- Regular pool cleaning
- Chemical treatment
- Pool deck cleaning
- Tile and grout cleaning
4. Waste disposal
An average American throws out 4.9 pounds of waste every day (and that's just one person). Think about the amount of waste produced by the whole population.
That's a call for you to start a waste disposal business and help mother earth while earning a handsome income.
Various waste disposal services:
- Hazardous waste disposal
- Recycling services
- Organic waste disposal
- Construction and demolition waste disposal
- Municipal waste collection
5. Carpet cleaning
Starting a carpet cleaning business is another great niche that may pull the cords of your heart.
A carpet cleaner earns $14.68 per hour, as per PayScale. This can result in an earning in the range of $20k - $49k per year.
- Steam cleaning: Uses hot water extraction to deep clean carpets
- Dry cleaning: Chemical cleaning method that uses minimal moisture
- Deep cleaning: Intensive cleaning for heavily soiled carpets
- Upholstery cleaning: Extends your service to furniture and other fabrics
6. Pressure washing
This means using high-pressure water spray to clean concrete surfaces, buildings, and vehicles. So for this, you will need special cleaning equipment such as pressure washers.
Various pressure washing services:
- House washing
- Roof cleaning
- Gutter cleaning
- Graffiti removal
- Driveway and walkway cleaning
7. Green cleaning
Green cleaning is a popular trend in this industry as people are preferring businesses with eco-friendly services. So if other cleaning businesses in your region are not taking advantage of this trend, this is your opportunity.
Various green cleaning services:
- Eco-friendly house cleaning
- Green carpet cleaning
- Green floor cleaning
- Air duct cleaning
8. Pest control cleaning
Residential and commercial property owners often feel the need for pest control as the population of rodents and insects rises.
Various pest control services:
- Residential pest control
- Commercial pest control
- Mosquito control
- Rodent control
- Organic pest control
9. Crime scene cleaning business
A crime scene cleanup business may test your sensitivity level. However, you would be surprised to know that such a cleaner can earn around $25k to $70k per year!
Are you wondering what you need to do in this? You will have to clean up bodily remains after an accident, crime, or natural death. On top of this, your duty will also be to clean the area around it after such an event.
You will need specialized training, equipment, and materials, along with a strong heart, to pull this off. This isn't for everyone, but it can be highly lucrative for those who can handle it.
Various crime scene cleaning services:
- Homicide cleaning
- Biohazard cleaning
- Infectious disease cleaning
- Odor removal
Once You Start Your Cleaning Business, We Suggest InvoiceOwl For Invoicing!
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Start Your FREE TrialFrequently Asked Questions
Beyond the 9 main niches covered in this article, there are many other specialized cleaning services you can offer:
- Hotel cleaning
- Boat cleaning
- Chimney cleaning
- Furniture cleaning
- Closet cleaning
- Vehicle cleaning
Each of these niches has its own unique requirements and potential customer base.
After picking a niche for your cleaning business, you will need to hunt for your first client. How?
Go places and start reaching out to see if anybody needs your services. You can even post about your services online to get any leads.
For more details, check out our guide on "How To Get Clients For a Cleaning Business."
You can stand out from your competitors by:
- Offering specialized services
- Providing exceptional customer service
- Utilizing eco-friendly cleaning products and methods
See what they are offering and how you can provide something better than them. Then create a marketing strategy and business model that takes advantage of those gaps.








