Types of Cleaning Services You Can Offer When Starting a Cleaning Business

Starting a cleaning business can be one of the most reliable ways to earn an income while helping people keep their homes, offices, and workplaces in good shape. There are many different types of cleaning you can explore, and each type of cleaning business has its own benefits, challenges, and opportunities. Some focus on residential cleaning, others on commercial cleaning, and some on more specialist services such as carpet cleaning, window cleaning services, or even biohazard cleaning.

The cleaning industry is growing, with cleaning companies across the UK offering cleaning services such as deep cleans, office cleaning service contracts, and eco-friendly cleaning packages. But before you start planning your future as a business owner, it’s important to understand the different types of cleaning services available, the cleaning services you can offer, and how to decide on the right path for you.

Residential Cleaning: House Cleaning Services, Apartment Cleaning, and Domestic Cleaning Jobs

Residential cleaning is one of the most common cleaning business ideas for people who are thinking about starting your own cleaning business. It involves providing house cleaning services for clients who want a clean home but may not have the time or energy to manage all the cleaning tasks themselves.

Regular housekeeping

Regular cleaning is the backbone of most domestic cleaning services. It can involve cleaning floors, bathroom cleaning, kitchen cleaning, dusting, and general tidying. Many house cleaning business owners also provide laundry services, curtain cleaning, blind cleaning, and furniture cleaning as part of their cleaning package.

Clients often book house cleaning on a weekly or fortnightly basis. This kind of cleaning job usually involves basic cleaning tasks like wiping down counters, vacuuming, and ensuring the space looks tidy. A reliable professional cleaning service in this area can quickly grow a loyal customer base.

Deep cleaning services

Sometimes a home needs more than just regular cleaning. A deep cleaning service is a thorough option that covers areas not usually included in day-to-day house cleaning services. This could mean scrubbing ovens, performing a window clean, gutter cleaning, apartment cleaning, or tackling hidden spots that don’t often get attention.

A deep clean can also include sanitization services, making it especially popular after an illness, before hosting an event, or when someone moves into a new property. Airbnb cleaning is a growing part of this niche, as hosts want their homes spotless between guests. Services such as deep cleaning often pay more per visit, so they can be a profitable cleaning choice for a new business owner.

Commercial Cleaning and Office Cleaning Services: Janitorial Services and School Cleaning Services

While house cleaning focuses on private homes, commercial cleaning deals with workplaces and public spaces. Types of commercial cleaning services vary depending on the building, but they usually include office cleaning, school cleaning, and retail space maintenance.

Offices

Office cleaning service providers often offer both regular cleaning and deep cleaning service options. Standard cleaning tasks include vacuuming, emptying bins, wiping desks, and ensuring shared spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens are hygienic.

Larger contracts can involve janitorial services, where cleaners are on-site daily to focus on cleaning and maintaining facilities throughout the day. With so many cleaning services to offer, an office cleaning contract can be steady and dependable, providing reliable income for cleaning companies.

Retail spaces

Shops, shopping centres, and supermarkets also require commercial cleaning service contracts. These jobs may include cleaning display areas, cleaning floors, polishing windows, and making sure the store always looks inviting to customers. Window cleaning services are especially valuable here, as clear glass creates a professional look.

Retailers often want green cleaning services that use eco-friendly cleaning cleaning products and techniques to protect staff and shoppers. Offering these services provide an edge over competitors who only use harsh chemicals.

Specialist Cleaning Services: Carpet Cleaning Service, Upholstery Cleaning, and End of Tenancy Cleaning

There are also different types of cleaning that focus on specific skills or equipment. These specialist cleaning services can be highly profitable because not every cleaning business has the expertise or cleaning equipment required.

Carpet and upholstery

Carpet cleaning service and upholstery cleaning require special machines, detergents, and cleaning supplies. When you cleaning carpets, you need to use the right cleaning solution to avoid damaging the fibres. This is a niche area where a professional cleaning service can charge higher rates.

If you want to start a carpet cleaning business, you will need to invest in good cleaning equipment, learn proper methods for carpet cleaning or upholstery, and advertise your ability to deliver a thorough cleaning. Clients often want to offer this service as part of a wider house cleaning business package.

End-of-tenancy cleaning

Another lucrative area is end of tenancy cleaning. Landlords and letting agents often hire professional cleaning teams to prepare a property for new tenants. This involves services such as deep cleaning, kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning, window clean, and sometimes curtain cleaning or furniture cleaning.

The demand is high, as moving tenants need the property spotless to get their deposit back, and landlords need a fresh start for new residents. Many cleaning companies include this in their list of cleaning packages.

Industrial and Hazardous Cleaning Jobs: Medical Cleaning, Sanitization Services, and Post-Build Clean Ups

Not all cleaning job opportunities are in homes or offices. Some different types of cleaning services deal with tougher environments where safety and specialist training are key.

Construction site cleanup

After a building project, post-construction cleaning is essential. This may involve cleaning dust, plaster, and debris from floors, walls, and surfaces. It is one of the profitable types of cleaning services if you can work efficiently and safely.

Construction firms often book this kind of service might regularly, making it a stable option if you build the right connections.

Biohazard cleaning

Medical cleaning and biohazard cleaning are highly specialised areas. They require professional cleaning training, strict safety measures, and specialist cleaning products. This can include cleaning blood, chemical spills, or hazardous waste.

Because of the skills required, these are some of the most profitable cleaning services you can provide, though they are not suitable for everyone.

Mobile and On-Demand Cleaning: Airbnb Cleaning, Event Cleaning, and Pool Cleaning, Window Cleaning

Technology has changed the way people book cleaning services for your business. Services like app-based platforms have made it easier to book a professional cleaning service in minutes.

App-based services

Mobile apps let clients book house cleaning, office cleaning, window cleaning or even pool cleaning at the tap of a screen. These apps often allow you to choose a cleaning package and schedule a cleaning job when convenient.

For a business owner, this means a new way to reach customers and offer cleaning services offer quickly. It’s also a competitive space, as many cleaning services offer on-demand availability.

Event cleaning

Another niche is event cleaning, where you focus on cleaning and maintaining venues before, during, and after parties, weddings, or festivals. This type of cleaning job can involve cleaning up rubbish, cleaning floors, and restoring the venue to its original state.

Event cleaning is often a one-off, but it can pay well. If you combine it with other services you offer, you can create a versatile and profitable cleaning model.

Pros and Cons of Each Type of Cleaning Business

Each type of cleaning service has advantages and challenges:

• Residential cleaning: Easy to start and steady work, but margins can be lower unless you offer a deep clean or extras like laundry services.
• Commercial cleaning: More reliable contracts, especially with school cleaning services or office cleaning service providers, but may require more staff.
• Specialist cleaning services: High profit and less competition, but you’ll need training, cleaning equipment, and investment.
• Industrial cleaning: Very profitable cleaning but requires training and can be dangerous.
• Mobile/on-demand: Flexible and modern, but highly competitive, and apps take a share of your earnings.

Which Model Fits Your Skills and Goals?

Choosing the right cleaning path depends on your resources and ambitions. If you’re looking to start a cleaning company with minimal costs, domestic cleaning or apartment cleaning may be a good choice. If you want to scale up, contracts in office cleaning or school cleaning are better long-term.

Those who want higher profits might explore services such as deep cleaning, dry cleaning services, or sanitization services. You might also consider combining green cleaning or green cleaning services with your model to stand out, especially as more people want eco-friendly cleaning options.

For creative cleaning business ideas, you could create a cleaning package that mixes cleaning carpets, window cleaning services, and pool cleaning, or focus only on profitable types of cleaning services like post-construction cleaning or end of tenancy cleaning.

If you dream of running your own cleaning business, think about what cleaning services you can offer, what services provide the most value, and how many cleaning services offer, start a cleaning business with the resources you have.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Type of Cleaning Service for a Successful Cleaning Business

There are many different types of cleaning available for anyone thinking of starting your own cleaning business. From regular cleaning in homes to commercial cleaning service contracts, and from specialist cleaning services like carpet cleaning or upholstery to event cleaning or medical cleaning, each path has unique opportunities.

Success comes from choosing the type of cleaning business that matches your skills and ambitions. By offering cleaning services you can offer that meet demand—whether that’s green cleaning services, professional cleaning, or end of tenancy cleaning—you can build a successful cleaning company.

In the end, choosing the right cleaning model isn’t just about what’s most profitable cleaning, but also about creating cleaning services for your business that bring value to clients, keep spaces healthy, and set you apart in the growing cleaning industry.