St George's · Manchester
How to Start a Cleaning Business in St George's
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to St George's and the wider Manchester area.
Explore the full Cleaning Business Launch Kit — £22St George's is as good a place as any in the UK to start a cleaning business -- the trade has few legal barriers to entry. This guide sets out what to sort before your first client visit in Manchester.
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
Can I run a cleaning business from home in St George's?
Yes -- most domestic cleaners are sole traders who travel to clients, so you don't need commercial premises in St George's to get started.
Do I need insurance to clean houses in St George's?
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 St George's and Manchester. If you ever employ staff, employers' liability insurance becomes a legal requirement.
Do I need a qualification to be a cleaner in St George's?
No qualification is legally required to start cleaning for clients in St George's. 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's?
Most people starting out in St George's 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.