Special · Business made simple
A cleaning company: a business with almost no capex
One of the few businesses you can launch with a minimal start. A full break-down of three formats — residential, commercial and specialised: market, staff, taxes and payroll. Plus a 3-year financial plan.
Three cleaning formats
From one-off apartment cleaning to regular corporate contracts. Format drives both investment and revenue stability.
Residential (B2C)
Apartments and houses, one-off and recurring orders. Can start with basic tools and self-employment.
Commercial (B2B)
Offices, malls, regular cleaning under contract. Most stable revenue, but needs crews and equipment.
Specialised
Post-renovation cleanup, upholstery and carpet dry-cleaning, window and facade washing, disinfection. Special equipment — higher ticket.
◦ Data as of 2026. Refreshed quarterly.
Why cleaning is a resilient niche
Cleaning is always needed and has no seasonality; the outsourcing culture is growing — hiring a contractor is cheaper than keeping an in-house cleaner.
Demand
Big cities — high demand and competition; in the regions cleaning is bought mainly by businesses — an open B2B niche.
Competition
Fragmented market. Winners are quality, reliability and recurring contracts — not the lowest price.
Trend
Businesses outsource cleaning more often; specialty services grow — post-renovation, disinfection.
Cleaner pay by city
Staff is the biggest cost line. Pay is typically per-area piece-rate, hourly or shift-based (2/2, 3/3).
Kyiv
Highest rates; cleaning companies with pro equipment pay above budget agencies.
Lviv
Stable demand, near-capital level in the tourist season.
Dnipro · Odesa
Lower than capital rates; team leads and specialty operators — higher.
◦ Indicative, 2026 (Work.ua / Jooble / industry data). Minimum wage from January 2026 — 8,647 UAH. The industry's main challenge is churn and no-shows — build a substitution reserve.
How a cleaning company earns
Revenue comes from two order types: one-offs (mainly B2C) and recurring contracts (B2B). Contracts give predictable cash flow and make the business durable.
Cost. Roughly 12 UAH per m² cleaned — everything then depends on crew utilisation and logistics.
Economics example. ~450,000 UAH/mo revenue, ~270,000 direct cost, ~116,000 other expenses → net profit around 64,000 UAH/mo (for a multi-crew company).
Key. Staff utilisation (no idle crews) and legal employment — this defines the real margin.
Three start models
Cleaning is a rare business you can realistically launch with almost no capex. Key is to allocate the budget, not to buy everything at once.
Micro-start
- Basic tools and chemicals
- Self-employed / 1 crew
- No premises or vehicle
- Social-media marketing
Small company
- Several cleaners
- Pro equipment
- Advertising and website
- Reserve fund
Full-format
- Staff of 6+
- Cargo vehicle
- Manager, full equipment set
- Working capital
◦ Cost ~12 UAH/m²; with 150–300K UAH investment the business often pays back in the first year. Keep a reserve fund — 5–10% of profit monthly.
Whose money to open with
Cleaning has one of the lowest entry thresholds, so every funding source works — and grants especially.
Own funds
Simplest path, especially for a micro-start: only your money at risk.
Loan / "5-7-9%"
Bank loans for sole proprietors and SMBs, including the state "Affordable loans 5-7-9%" program.
eRobota grant
"Own Business" state microgrant for a small-business launch — funds do not need to be repaid (subject to conditions). Around 250–500K UAH (a separate scaling track goes up to 2.5M UAH). Latest at erobota.diia.gov.ua.
Equipment and vehicle leasing
Pro equipment and a cargo vehicle can be leased or paid in instalments.
◦ E.C.Consulting helps prepare the grant application and file the reporting — without the mistakes that trigger claw-backs.
Sole prop. or LLC — and why no licence is needed
Sole prop., group 2
Optimal for B2C and start. With military levy and ESV ~4,500 UAH/mo. Up to 10 employees. Turnover cap 7.21M UAH/year.
Sole prop., group 3
Convenient for B2B without VAT. Cap 10.09M UAH/year. Settlements with legal entities.
LLC, standard
Big B2B contracts, tenders. Typically VAT. Staff, partners, scale.
Permits: good news for cleaning
- Cleaning services require no licence — register a sole prop. or LLC (NACE 81.21, 81.22, 81.29).
- Notify the fire service about starting operations (if you have premises or serviced facilities).
- Sanitary books for staff.
- Fiscal register — for cash payments (B2C); B2B is usually non-cash, on invoice and act.
Buy a proven model — or build your own
From scratch
Cleaning is easy to launch alone and cheaply. Own brand and full margin, but processes and clients — on you.
Franchise
Brand, standards, training and client flows. Local and international players on the market.
Market terms
Royalty — fixed 5,000–12,000 UAH/mo or 3–7% of turnover; initial fee and support vary.
◦ Before signing, ask for the full financial model, the support list and contacts of active franchisees. For orientation, not a recommendation.
What only practitioners know
Legal staff employment is everything
The temptation to pay 'under the table' or hire cleaners as pseudo-sole-proprietors is trap №1 of the industry. A transparent model protects against back-charges and fines.
Bet on recurring B2B contracts
One-off orders give chaotic revenue. Contracts with offices and malls give predictable cash flow.
Don't cut corners on equipment
Kärcher, Tennant, Comac, Truvox — equipment with service and repair pays back in quality and speed.
Think through logistics
Getting crews and equipment to the site — a cargo vehicle or a driver with their own car. It affects unit cost more than it seems.
CRM and schedules — against the 'human factor'
An app for orders, shifts and QA reduces failures and no-shows.
Where beginners lose money
Where to source chemicals and equipment
Pro chemicals
Distributors of pro cleaning chemicals — must be licensed, safe and matched to your equipment.
Equipment
Kärcher, Tennant, Comac, Truvox, Berner. Pick a supplier that offers repair and maintenance.
Consumables
Mops, wipes, sponges, bags, agents — wholesale suppliers with regular deliveries.
◦ Chemicals must match your equipment brand — otherwise you damage the tech and void the warranty. Names for orientation, not advertising.
Take these with you
Discuss your case with an accountant
We pick the form, register the business and — most importantly — set up staffing correctly.
Other 'Business made simple' guides
Beauty salon, coffee shop and new guides in the works.
◦ Useful: CRM for orders and crew schedules, B2B chemical and equipment marketplaces, registers to check name / trademark.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to open a cleaning company?
From 15–40K UAH for a micro-start (tools and chemicals) up to 150–400K UAH for a full-format company with a vehicle and staff. One of the few businesses you can start with almost no capex.
Is a licence required?
No. Register a sole prop. or LLC (NACE 81.21/81.22/81.29) and staff up legally. Cleaning doesn't need special licences.
How do I pay cleaners legally?
Via employment contracts or a properly documented outsourcing arrangement. Pseudo-sole-proprietors and 'envelope' pay are the industry's №1 trap: the tax authority reclassifies it as hidden employment with retroactive charges and fines. We build a model without this risk.
How much does a cleaning company earn?
Depends on utilisation. Benchmark: ~450K revenue, ~270K direct cost, ~116K expenses → profit around 64K UAH/mo for a multi-crew company.
Can I get a grant for cleaning?
Yes. The 'Own Business' state microgrant (eRobota) fits well: funds can go to equipment, chemicals, vehicle, rent, marketing or a franchise. Indicative — 250–500K UAH (with a scaling track up to 2.5M UAH). Latest at erobota.diia.gov.ua.
Ready to turn numbers into a real launch?
Our team helps pick the legal form, register the business and take the full accounting off your plate.
Book a consultation