Dulwich · Greater London
Launch a Cleaning Business in Dulwich
Licensing, insurance and your first bookings -- covering Dulwich and the surrounding Greater London area.
Open the Cleaning Business Launch Kit to see everything included — £22Starting a cleaning business in Dulwich? Good news: there's very little standing in your way legally. This guide walks through what you genuinely need in place before your first job across Dulwich and the wider Greater London area.
What the rules say
No general licence is required to run an ordinary domestic cleaning business in the UK -- though specific sub-activities, such as carrying waste away from a client's property, have their own registration requirements. Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's near-universal in practice and often expected by clients and letting agents. Employers' liability insurance becomes a legal requirement the moment you take on any non-family staff.
Quick answers
Do I need insurance to clean houses in Dulwich?
It isn't a legal requirement as a sole trader, but public liability insurance is strongly recommended and often expected by clients and letting agents across Dulwich and Greater London. If you ever employ staff, employers' liability insurance becomes a legal requirement.
Do I need a qualification to be a cleaner in Dulwich?
No qualification is legally required to start cleaning for clients in Dulwich. Industry training such as BICSc becomes more commercially relevant once you're employing staff or taking on larger recurring contracts.
Should I register as a sole trader or a limited company in Dulwich?
Most people starting out in Dulwich 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 Dulwich?
Yes -- many cleaners in Dulwich 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.