The Common · Horsham
Launch a Cleaning Business in The Common
Licensing, insurance and your first bookings -- covering The Common and the surrounding Horsham area.
See what's inside the Cleaning Business Launch Kit — £22The Common 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 Horsham.
What the rules say
There's no general licence standing between you and starting a domestic cleaning business anywhere in the UK -- although carrying a client's waste away yourself brings its own registration requirement. As a sole trader, public liability insurance stays optional in law but is expected by most clients and letting agents in practice. The one line that does become a legal requirement is employers' liability insurance, and only once you employ anyone outside your family.
Quick answers
Can I run a cleaning business from home in The Common?
Yes -- most domestic cleaners are sole traders who travel to clients, so you don't need commercial premises in The Common to get started.
Do I need insurance to clean houses in The Common?
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 Common and Horsham. If you ever employ staff, employers' liability insurance becomes a legal requirement.
Do I need a qualification to be a cleaner in The Common?
No qualification is legally required to start cleaning for clients in The Common. 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 Common?
Most people starting out in The Common 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.