Cove · Rushmoor
How to Start a Cleaning Business in Cove
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Cove and the wider Rushmoor area.
Open the Cleaning Business Launch Kit to see everything included — £22A cleaning business is one of the lowest-friction ways to start self-employed work in the UK, and Cove is no exception. Before you take your first booking in Rushmoor, here's the honest picture on licensing, insurance and what actually gets you clients.
What the rules say
You don't need a general licence to run a domestic cleaning business in the UK. The exception is waste carrying -- if you remove a client's waste yourself, that has its own registration requirement. Public liability insurance remains commercially expected rather than legally required for a sole trader, but employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement from your very first non-family employee onward.
Quick answers
Should I register as a sole trader or a limited company in Cove?
Most people starting out in Cove begin as a sole trader -- it's simpler to set up and run. A limited company can make sense later as the business grows; the Cleaning Business Launch Kit covers the trade-offs in detail.
Can I subcontract for an agency instead of finding my own clients in Cove?
Yes -- many cleaners in Cove start by subcontracting through an agency or cleaning company before building a direct client base. Either route has different implications for how you're paid and taxed.
What should I bring to a cleaning job in Cove?
Many cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment as standard, though some clients prefer to provide their own. Confirming this with each client in Cove before the first visit avoids any confusion.
Do I need a licence to start a cleaning business in Cove?
No general licence is required for ordinary domestic cleaning in Cove or anywhere else in the UK. If you plan to carry waste away from a client's property yourself, check whether you need to register as a waste carrier.