St George in the East · Greater London
How to Start a Cleaning Business in St George in the East
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to St George in the East and the wider Greater London area.
Explore the full Cleaning Business Launch Kit — £22Before you start a cleaning business in St George in the East, it's worth knowing exactly what's legally required and what's just commercial expectation. Here's the breakdown for St George in the East and the wider Greater London area.
What the rules say
Cleaning is one of the least regulated trades to start in the UK: no general licence is needed for ordinary domestic work, though waste-carrying has its own separate registration rules if you take it away yourself. Public liability cover isn't a legal must-have as a sole trader, but clients and agents routinely ask for it. Employers' liability insurance is the one genuine legal trigger -- it kicks in as soon as you take on non-family staff.
Quick answers
Do I need a qualification to be a cleaner in St George in the East?
No qualification is legally required to start cleaning for clients in St George in the East. 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 St George in the East?
Most people starting out in St George in the East 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 St George in the East?
Yes -- many cleaners in St George in the East 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 St George in the East?
Many cleaners bring their own supplies and equipment as standard, though some clients prefer to provide their own. Confirming this with each client in St George in the East before the first visit avoids any confusion.