How to Start a Cleaning Business in Australia (2026): ABN, Insurance, Pricing and Your First 10 Clients

General information only. This guide isn’t legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change and depend on your state, council and situation, so check your own situation with the official sources linked here, or a registered tax agent or adviser.

Cleaning is one of the most accessible businesses to start: you can begin with a car, good equipment and a few clients. The owner of InstantBookingPro also runs a cleaning business operating across several states, so this guide comes from people who know the day-to-day of the job, not just the paperwork.

1. Choose your business structure

Most solo cleaners start as a sole trader: it’s the simplest and cheapest structure, but you’re personally responsible for the business’s debts. A company is a separate legal entity, costs more to set up (registering a proprietary limited company is $636) and has more reporting, but can limit your personal liability. business.gov.au compares them in the difference between a sole trader and a company.

2. Get an ABN (it’s free)

An Australian Business Number identifies your business to the government and your customers. It’s free to apply through the Australian Business Register, and you’ll need your business structure, proof of identity and details of your business activities. See register for an ABN on business.gov.au. If you’d be working as someone’s employee, you’re not entitled to an ABN for that work, even if it’s called contracting (ABN entitlement).

3. Register your business name

You must register a business name with ASIC if you trade under any name other than your own. “Jane Smith” doesn’t need registering; “Jane’s Sparkle Cleaning” does (ASIC: register a business name). It costs $47 for 1 year or $108 for 3 years (business.gov.au). Check the name is available, and check the matching domain name and social handles before you print anything.

4. Do you need a licence to clean in Australia?

The licences and permits you need depend on your business type, activities, state or territory and council. The official way to check is the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS), which lists what applies to your business and location.

If you’ll clean for NDIS participants or in aged care, screening rules can apply: an NDIS worker screening check in some roles, and a police certificate or NDIS check for aged care workers. If you use commercial-strength chemicals at work, Safe Work Australia explains how to use safety data sheets.

5. Get the right insurance

• Public liability insurance covers you if someone is injured or their property is damaged because of your negligence. business.gov.au notes some states and territories require it for certain occupations, and it’s often asked for by the people you deal with.
• Workers compensation is required by law if you have employees, through your state or territory scheme.
• Personal cover: as a sole trader, workers compensation doesn’t cover you, so consider your own income protection and personal accident, illness and disability insurance.
• Portable equipment insurance covers tools and equipment you take to jobs against loss, damage or theft.

Source: business.gov.au: types of business insurance. Get quotes from several insurers and read what each policy actually covers.

6. GST, BAS and record keeping

You must register for GST within 21 days once your GST turnover reaches $75,000 or more, or when you start a business you expect to reach that threshold in its first year. Below that, registration is optional; if you choose to register, you generally stay registered for at least 12 months. Once registered, you lodge a business activity statement (BAS), usually quarterly (ATO: registering for GST; BAS due dates).

Keep most business records for 5 years (ATO record keeping). A booking system that stores every booking with the customer’s details and booking history makes this easier from day one.

7. Hiring staff or subcontractors

When you grow beyond yourself, get the employment basics right:

• Cleaners employed by a contract cleaning business are generally covered by the Cleaning Services Award [MA000022], which sets minimum pay and conditions.
• Work out whether someone is an employee or an independent contractor. Calling an employee a contractor when you don’t reasonably believe it is sham contracting, which carries heavy penalties.
• Pay super guarantee for eligible employees. It’s 12% for 2026–27, and from 1 July 2026 it’s paid each payday (ATO: super guarantee).
• Arrange workers compensation insurance before anyone starts.

8. How to price your cleans

Customers trust a published price, and it lets them book without waiting for a quote. Rather than copying a competitor’s rate, build your price from your own numbers:

1. Work out your costs Insurance, supplies and equipment, vehicle and fuel, phone, software, accounting, and super and tax set-asides.
2. Be honest about billable hours Travel, quoting, admin and gaps between jobs aren’t paid. Count only the hours you’ll actually spend cleaning.
3. Set your hourly target (yearly income you need + yearly costs) ÷ billable hours a year. That’s the minimum your average hour must earn.
4. Turn it into fixed prices Time a few standard jobs and price by property size, such as a 2-bedroom standard clean or a 3-bedroom end-of-lease clean, plus extras like ovens or inside windows.

9. What it costs to start a cleaning business

Your costs depend on the type of cleaning and the equipment you buy. The fixed government fees are small: an ABN is free and a business name is $47 for a year. Your biggest early costs are usually equipment and supplies, insurance and your vehicle. For getting customers in the door:

• Online booking: InstantBookingPro is from $59 a month plus a one-off $149 setup (introductory offer), all AUD including GST, set up for you.
• A website (optional at the start): our New Business Website is a one-off $249 including GST, with 12 months of basic hosting. See what a small business website costs in Australia.

Our website and booking package for new service businesses shows the combined cost.

10. How to get your first 10 cleaning clients

1. Set up a Google Business Profile Working from home? Google’s guidelines say service-area businesses should hide their home address and set a service area instead (Google Business Profile guidelines).
2. Make booking easy Add a booking link to your profile, your social bios and your text messages, so people can book you while you’re working. Here’s how to add a Book now button to Instagram and Google.
3. Tell your own network Friends, family, neighbours and local community groups. Your first clients usually come from people who already trust you.
4. Introduce yourself to property managers End-of-lease cleans need reliable, insured cleaners, and agents deal with move-outs every week.
5. Ask for genuine reviews and referrals Ask every happy client for an honest Google review and a referral. Never write fake reviews or pay for positive ones: it’s against the law (ACCC: online reviews) and Google removes them.
6. Turn one-offs into regulars After a good first clean, offer a weekly or fortnightly slot. Regular clients are the backbone of a steady cleaning round.

See how booking works for cleaning businesses, and what missed calls can cost you once the phone starts ringing.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources checked on 19 October 2026. Fees and thresholds change; confirm current details on the linked government pages.