
Cleaning is one of the most accessible businesses in Europe because demand is constant and the equipment list is short. With €500 you can buy professional supplies, a uniform, basic insurance and enough marketing to fill your first week.
Startup kit and costs
- Cleaning products and cloths: €60–€120
- Vacuum or steam cleaner (entry level): €100–€200
- Uniform, gloves, shoe covers: €40
- Insurance and registration: €50–€150
- Flyers, local ads, business cards: €50
Choose a niche
General domestic cleaning competes on price. Better niches: end-of-tenancy cleaning, Airbnb turnover, office cleaning before opening hours, and post-renovation cleaning. Each has a clear buyer and a repeat cycle.
Pricing
Price per job, not per hour, once you know how long a standard job takes. A three-hour apartment clean priced at €90 is clearer than “€25 per hour” and protects you when you get faster. Add a fixed fee for deep cleans and a surcharge for windows, ovens or heavy soil.
Getting the first ten clients
- Tell every neighbour, friend and local shop what you do, with a price.
- Post before-and-after photos in local groups.
- Leave a simple card after each job with a referral offer.
- Ask each happy client for one introduction, not a review.
Reliability beats brilliance. Arrive on time, send a photo when finished and invoice the same day. In this sector, a clean reputation spreads faster than any advertisement.