How to Start a Cleaning Business in The Camp

The Camp 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 St Albans.

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

Can I run a cleaning business from home in The Camp?

Yes -- most domestic cleaners are sole traders who travel to clients, so you don't need commercial premises in The Camp to get started.

Do I need insurance to clean houses in The Camp?

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 The Camp and St Albans. If you ever employ staff, employers' liability insurance becomes a legal requirement.

Do I need a qualification to be a cleaner in The Camp?

No qualification is legally required to start cleaning for clients in The Camp. 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 The Camp?

Most people starting out in The Camp 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.