Reigate · Mole Valley
How to Start a Cleaning Business in Reigate
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Reigate and the wider Mole Valley area.
Open the Cleaning Business Launch Kit to see everything included — £22Before you start a cleaning business in Reigate, it's worth knowing exactly what's legally required and what's just commercial expectation. Here's the breakdown for Reigate and the wider Mole Valley area.
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
Do I need a licence to start a cleaning business in Reigate?
No general licence is required for ordinary domestic cleaning in Reigate 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.
How do I find my first cleaning clients in Reigate?
Most new cleaning businesses in Reigate start with word-of-mouth, local Facebook groups, and a Google Business Profile. The Cleaning Business Launch Kit includes a full marketing workbook with practical steps for building a client base from a standing start.
Can I run a cleaning business from home in Reigate?
Yes -- most domestic cleaners are sole traders who travel to clients, so you don't need commercial premises in Reigate to get started.
Do I need insurance to clean houses in Reigate?
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 Reigate and Mole Valley. If you ever employ staff, employers' liability insurance becomes a legal requirement.