What is a cleaning business?
A cleaning business is paid to keep homes, offices or other premises clean, either once-off or on a regular contract. It is one of the most accessible businesses to start in South Africa because you work on the client's premises, the equipment is affordable, and demand comes from households, companies and the public sector.
Common services include:
- Residential cleaning: regular home cleaning, move-in and move-out cleans
- Office and commercial cleaning: daily or weekly contracts for offices, shops and clinics
- Deep cleaning: carpets, upholstery, kitchens and once-off spring cleans
- Post-construction cleaning: removing dust and rubble after building or renovation work
- Specialised cleaning: windows at height, industrial sites or sanitising services
Starting with one or two services and doing them well is usually better than offering everything from day one.
How do I start a cleaning business in South Africa?
Start by deciding who you will clean for, then set up the business so those customers can pay you and trust you. Households will often pay a sole proprietor; offices, property managers and government usually expect a registered company with a tax number and bank account.
A practical order is:
- Choose your niche and the area you will serve
- Choose your business structure and register it
- Register for tax and open a business bank account
- Buy equipment and products, and arrange transport
- Work out your prices from your costs
- Get your first customers, then build regular contracts
- Prepare for bigger contracts and tenders (CSD, B-BBEE affidavit, company profile)
The step-by-step section near the end of this guide covers each step in order.
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business?
The cost depends mostly on whether you start alone from home or with a team, a vehicle and commercial equipment. A home-based residential cleaner can start with a small budget; an office-cleaning company with staff and machines needs much more.
| Cost item | When you need it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration | Before chasing contracts or tenders | Optional for a sole proprietor; expected by most corporate and government clients |
| Equipment | From day one | Vacuum, mops, buckets, microfibre cloths, ladders; carpet or floor machines later |
| Cleaning products | From day one | Buy in bulk once you have regular clients |
| Transport | From day one | Own car, taxi fares for staff, or a bakkie for equipment |
| Uniforms and protective gear | When you employ staff | Gloves, masks and branded uniforms build trust |
| Insurance | Before commercial work | Many commercial clients ask for public liability cover |
| Marketing | Ongoing | Flyers, a Google Business Profile, WhatsApp Business, a simple website |
| Wages | When you employ staff | At least the national minimum wage, plus UIF |
Do I need to register a cleaning company?
No, you do not need a registered company to clean homes as a sole proprietor, but you must still declare your income to SARS. You do need a registered company (or at least a registered business with a tax number) for most office contracts, property managers and all government work.
A private company, (Pty) Ltd, is the most common choice because it:
- Keeps your personal assets separate from business debts
- Makes it easier to open a business bank account
- Is what most corporate clients and tender documents expect
- Lets you register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD) as a company
How do I register a cleaning company?
You register a private company with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). Registration is done online and usually takes a few working days once your name is approved and your documents are in order.
You will need:
- Certified copies of the ID documents of all directors
- Contact details and residential addresses of directors
- Two to four proposed company names (CIPC will reject names that are already taken or too similar)
- The business address and a valid email address
After registration you receive your company registration certificate (COR 14.3) and you can open a business bank account. See our full guide on how to register a company in South Africa.
What tax requirements apply to a cleaning business?
Every business must be registered for income tax with SARS. A company pays income tax at 27% of taxable profit, while a sole proprietor's business profit is taxed in their personal tax return.
Other taxes apply when you reach certain points:
- VAT: compulsory once your taxable turnover exceeds R2.3 million in any 12 months (from 1 April 2026). You may register voluntarily earlier if you meet SARS's conditions.
- PAYE: you must deduct and pay over employees' tax when an employee earns above the tax threshold.
- UIF: 1% from the employee and 1% from you as employer, on each employee's pay.
- SDL (Skills Development Levy): 1% of payroll once your annual payroll is more than R500,000.
Most clients and every government tender will ask for proof that your tax affairs are in order, through a tax compliance status PIN. See how to get a tax clearance certificate.
What rules apply when I hire cleaners?
When you employ cleaners you become an employer, with legal duties. Plan for these before you sign your first contract, because they affect your pricing.
- Minimum wage: the national minimum wage is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026 for most workers. The contract cleaning sector also has its own sectoral determination with conditions of employment, so check the current rules with the Department of Employment and Labour.
- UIF: register as an employer and pay contributions every month.
- COIDA: register with the Compensation Fund so staff are covered for injuries at work, and submit your annual Return of Earnings. Cleaning involves wet floors, ladders and chemicals, so this matters. See COIDA registration.
- Employment contracts and payslips: give every employee a written contract and a payslip.
What licences or permits do I need?
There is no single national "cleaning licence" in South Africa. What you need depends on where and how you operate.
- Your municipality may have rules on running a business from home, signage or storing chemicals.
- Store and use chemicals safely: keep them labelled, follow the manufacturer's safety data sheets and train staff.
- Some specialised work (for example pest control, work at height or handling hazardous waste) has its own regulations, registrations or training requirements.
- Some clients, such as hospitals, mines and food factories, set their own site requirements, inductions and safety files.
What equipment do I need?
For residential and light office cleaning, start with good basic equipment rather than expensive machines.
| Starter kit | Add later |
|---|---|
| Vacuum cleaner (dry, or wet and dry) | Industrial floor scrubber or polisher |
| Mops, buckets and colour-coded microfibre cloths | Carpet and upholstery extraction machine |
| Brooms, dustpans, squeegees and a step ladder | High-pressure washer |
| General-purpose, glass, bathroom and floor cleaners | Window-cleaning poles for height |
| Gloves, masks and branded uniforms | Vehicle branding and a trailer |
How much should I charge for cleaning services?
Set your prices from your real costs plus a profit margin, not from what the cheapest competitor charges. Cleaning is usually priced per hour, per visit, per square metre, or as a fixed monthly contract.
To work out a monthly contract price:
- Estimate the hours needed per visit and the number of visits per month
- Multiply by the hourly cost of each cleaner, including UIF, COIDA and leave
- Add products, equipment wear and transport
- Add a share of your overheads (phone, insurance, admin, marketing)
- Add your profit margin
Here is a worked example with illustrative figures only (use your own costs):
| Line | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 40 cleaner-hours a month x R45 per hour (wage plus UIF, COIDA and leave) | R1,800 |
| Products and equipment wear | Estimate per month | R400 |
| Transport | Estimate per month | R300 |
| Share of overheads | Phone, admin, insurance, marketing | R250 |
| Total cost | R2,750 | |
| Price with a 20% margin | R2,750 x 1.2 | About R3,300 a month |
See our guide on how to price your services.
How do I find cleaning customers?
Your first customers usually come from people who already know you, then from local online searches and referrals. Corporate and government contracts come later, once you have references.
| Customer type | Example | How to reach them |
|---|---|---|
| Households | Busy families, elderly people | WhatsApp Business, community groups, referrals, Google Business Profile |
| Small offices and shops | Dentists, accountants, salons | Walk in with a company profile and a written quote |
| Property managers and body corporates | Complexes, estates | Email a company profile, offer a trial clean |
| Construction companies | Builders finishing projects | Offer post-construction cleaning |
| Government | Schools, clinics, departments | Register on CSD and respond to tenders and quotations |
A professional company profile and a simple website make you look established when you approach businesses.
How do I get cleaning contracts?
Cleaning contracts come from being reliable and easy to buy from. Offer a site visit, give a clear written quote that states exactly what is included and how often, and ask satisfied clients for a reference letter.
Clients will often ask for:
- Company registration documents
- Tax compliance status PIN
- Proof of COIDA registration (letter of good standing)
- B-BBEE affidavit or certificate
- Public liability insurance
- References from current clients
How do I get government cleaning tenders?
Government departments, municipalities and state-owned entities buy cleaning services through quotations and tenders. To be considered, register on the National Treasury Central Supplier Database (CSD), keep your tax status compliant, and watch for opportunities on the eTenders portal and your municipality's and province's procurement pages.
Smaller requests for quotations go to suppliers already on CSD, which is why registering early matters. Larger tenders need a complete bid with pricing schedules, compliance documents and often a site visit or briefing session. See how to get government tenders and CSD registration.
Can a cleaning business register on CSD?
Yes. Any South African business, including a sole proprietor or a (Pty) Ltd cleaning company, can register on the Central Supplier Database. Registration on the CSD itself is free. You need your registration details, tax number, banking details confirmed by your bank, and director information.
What are the common mistakes when starting a cleaning business?
- Pricing too low to win the first contract, then losing money on every visit
- Ignoring labour laws: no contracts, no UIF, no COIDA, or wages below the minimum
- Taking on too much too soon: a large contract without enough staff or transport
- No written agreement: not stating what is included, how often, and payment terms
- Missing compliance renewals: an expired tax PIN or COIDA letter can disqualify a tender bid
- Not keeping records: you need invoices and expenses for SARS and for loans later
How can Uminathi help?
You can do every step in this guide yourself. If you would rather focus on cleaning and let someone else handle the paperwork, Uminathi can register your company, sort out your tax, CSD, COIDA and B-BBEE paperwork, and write a company profile you can send to prospective clients.
Step by step
- Choose your niche. Decide whether you will clean homes, offices, construction sites or offer specialised cleaning, and which area you will serve.
- Choose and register your structure. Start as a sole proprietor or register a private company (Pty) Ltd with CIPC, which most corporate and government clients expect.
- Register for tax and open a bank account. Register with SARS, then open a business bank account in the company's name.
- Buy equipment and arrange transport. Start with basic equipment and products for the jobs you have, and plan how you and your staff will get to sites.
- Register as an employer when you hire. Register for UIF, PAYE where it applies and COIDA, give written contracts and pay at least the minimum wage.
- Set your prices. Price from your real costs: wages and contributions, products, transport, overheads, then your profit margin.
- Find your first customers. Use referrals, WhatsApp Business, a Google Business Profile and direct approaches with a company profile and written quote.
- Get ready for contracts and tenders. Register on CSD, keep your tax status compliant, get a B-BBEE affidavit and collect reference letters.