How to Start a Cleaning Business in Ireland (2026)

Starting a cleaning business in Ireland is one of the most accessible routes into self-employment. The barriers to entry are low, the demand for professional cleaning services is growing year on year, and the Irish market supports everything from one-person domestic cleaning operations to multi-million-euro contract cleaning companies. But accessibility does not mean simplicity — there are legal requirements, regulatory obligations, and commercial realities that you must understand before you invest your time and money.

This guide covers everything you need to know to start a cleaning business in Ireland in 2026, whether you are planning to clean houses, offices, factories, or healthcare facilities. It is based on our experience operating across all 26 counties and working with hundreds of commercial clients.

Step 1: Choose Your Business Structure

The first decision is whether to operate as a sole trader or a limited company. Both are legally valid, but they have different implications for liability, tax, and how clients perceive you.

Sole Trader

A sole trader is the simplest business structure. You operate under your own name (or a business name registered with the CRO for €40), keep your own accounts, and pay income tax through the self-assessment system. There is no separation between you and the business — you are personally liable for all debts, claims, and obligations.

Advantages: No registration fee (unless using a business name), simpler accounting, lower setup costs, no obligation to file public accounts.

Disadvantages: Unlimited personal liability, harder to win commercial contracts (many require you to be a limited company), higher marginal tax rate on profits above €40,000, less credible to larger clients.

Limited Company

A limited company is a separate legal entity. You register with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) for €50, and the company has its own legal identity, bank account, and tax obligations. Your personal liability is limited to the value of your shares (typically €100). The company pays corporation tax at 12.5% on trading profits.

Advantages: Limited liability, 12.5% corporation tax rate, more professional image, easier to win commercial contracts, easier to add partners or investors, easier to sell the business in future.

Disadvantages: Annual CRO filing requirements (B1 annual return), obligation to file accounts, need for a company secretary, slightly more complex administration.

Our recommendation: If you are targeting commercial cleaning contracts, set up as a limited company from day one. Most commercial clients, property management companies, and public sector bodies require their cleaning contractors to be incorporated. The €50 CRO fee and the marginal increase in administration are insignificant compared to the business you would lose by operating as a sole trader.

Step 2: Register with the CRO

To incorporate a limited company in Ireland, you register with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) at cro.ie. The process takes 5 to 10 working days for standard registration, or 24 hours for express registration.

You will need:

• A company name (check availability on the CRO website first)
• A registered office address in Ireland
• At least one director who is an EEA resident (or a non-EEA bond)
• A company secretary (can be a different person or the sole director if you have two directors)
• A constitution (standard form available)
• €50 registration fee

If you choose to operate as a sole trader using a business name (e.g., "Sparkle Cleaning Services" rather than your personal name), you must register the business name with the CRO for €40.

Step 3: Register with Revenue

Every business in Ireland must register with the Revenue Commissioners for tax purposes. You can register online through ROS (Revenue Online Service) at ros.ie.

You will need to register for:

• Corporation Tax (CT1) — if operating as a limited company (12.5% on trading profits)
• Income Tax (Form 11) — if operating as a sole trader
• PAYE/PRSI — as soon as you employ anyone (even one part-time cleaner), you must register as an employer and operate PAYE
• VAT — mandatory once your turnover exceeds €37,500 for services (the 2026 threshold — check the current threshold on Revenue.ie). Cleaning services are subject to VAT at 13.5%. You can register voluntarily below the threshold if most of your clients are VAT-registered businesses, as they can reclaim the VAT

Important: Do not delay Revenue registration. If you start trading and employing people without registering, you face penalties and interest. Register before you begin operations.

Step 4: Get Insurance

Insurance is not technically compulsory for every type of cleaning work in Ireland (unlike in some other countries), but operating without it is commercially suicidal. No serious commercial client will hire an uninsured cleaning company, and one claim for accidental damage could bankrupt an uninsured business.

Public Liability Insurance

Covers claims from third parties (your clients, their staff, visitors) for injury or property damage caused by your cleaning operations. Standard cover is €2 million to €6.5 million. Most commercial clients require at least €2 million; many require €6.5 million. Cost: approximately €800 to €2,000 per year depending on your turnover and the number of staff.

Employers' Liability Insurance

Legally required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 as soon as you employ anyone. Covers claims from employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work. Standard cover is €13 million. Cost: included in combined liability policies, typically adding €500 to €1,500 per year depending on staff numbers.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Optional but recommended for contract cleaning companies. Covers claims arising from professional negligence — for example, if your cleaning method damages an expensive floor or your team fails to follow agreed cleaning protocols, causing a contamination incident in a food factory.

Motor Insurance

If you use a vehicle for business purposes, you need commercial motor insurance (not personal insurance). This covers the van, the equipment inside it, and your liability when driving for work. Cost varies by vehicle, driver history, and cover level.

Where to get insurance: Specialist brokers who understand the cleaning sector include Arachas, Campion Insurance, and O'Leary Insurance. Get quotes from at least three brokers. Mention your ICCA membership (see below) as some insurers offer discounts to ICCA members.

Step 5: Understand the ERO (Employment Regulation Order)

The cleaning industry in Ireland is covered by an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) that sets minimum pay and conditions for workers in the contract cleaning sector. This is administered by the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for the Contract Cleaning Industry and enforced by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

As of 2026, the ERO minimum rate for contract cleaning workers is €14.80 per hour. This is higher than the national minimum wage (€13.50/hour in 2026) and applies regardless of whether you are paying more than the national minimum. The ERO also covers:

• Sunday premium — time and a quarter for hours worked on Sundays
• Overtime — time and a quarter after 39 hours in a week
• Sick pay — as per the Sick Leave Act 2022 (currently 5 days per year, rising to 7 in 2026 and 10 in 2027)
• Annual leave — statutory minimum of 4 weeks (20 days) per year
• Public holidays — 11 public holidays per year with paid leave or premium pay

The ERO applies if your business performs contract cleaning — that is, cleaning someone else's premises under a contract for services. It does not apply to in-house cleaning staff employed directly by the premises owner. If you are starting a contract cleaning business, you must comply with the ERO from day one. Non-compliance can result in WRC enforcement action and back-pay orders.

Step 6: Health and Safety Obligations

Every employer in Ireland must comply with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. For a cleaning business, the key requirements are:

• Safety Statement — a written document identifying hazards in your workplace, assessing the risks, and setting out how you will manage them. Every business with 3 or more employees must have a safety statement. The HSA provides free templates for small businesses
• Risk Assessments — documented assessments for every type of cleaning work you undertake. These should cover chemical handling (COSHH), manual handling, slips and falls, working at height, lone working, and any site-specific hazards
• COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) — every cleaning chemical you use must have a documented COSHH assessment covering the hazards, safe handling procedures, PPE requirements, and first aid measures. Safety data sheets (SDS) must be available to all staff
• Manual Handling Training — cleaning involves repetitive lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. Staff must receive manual handling training
• Safe Pass — required for staff working on construction sites or in industrial environments where Safe Pass is a site requirement. The Safe Pass card is valid for 4 years and costs approximately €140 for the one-day training course
• PPE — you must provide appropriate personal protective equipment to your staff at no cost to them. For cleaning work, this typically includes gloves, safety boots, hi-vis vests, and eye protection for chemical handling

Step 7: Garda Vetting

Garda vetting is the process of checking whether a person has a criminal record that would be relevant to their proposed work. It is processed through the National Vetting Bureau and is free of charge.

When is Garda vetting required? It is legally required under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012–2016 when your staff will work in settings involving children or vulnerable adults. This includes schools, creches, hospitals, nursing homes, disability services, and similar facilities.

When is it recommended even if not legally required? Most commercial cleaning clients now request Garda vetting as a standard condition of their cleaning contract. Office clients, retail clients, and property management companies want reassurance that the people entering their premises with keys and alarm codes have been vetted. Our advice: Garda vet all staff regardless of whether the specific contract requires it. It costs nothing, takes 2–4 weeks, and removes a barrier to winning contracts.

To apply for Garda vetting, you must register your organisation with the National Vetting Bureau through a registered body (such as the ICCA or a relevant intermediary).

Step 8: Equipment and Supplies

The equipment you need depends on the type of cleaning you plan to offer. Here is a practical breakdown by sector:

Domestic and Small Commercial Cleaning

• Commercial vacuum cleaner (Henry, Numatic, or similar) — €200–€400
• Mop and bucket system with colour-coded mops — €50–€100
• Microfibre cloths (colour-coded: blue for general, red for sanitary, green for food areas, yellow for clinical) — €30–€60
• Cleaning chemicals (general-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, toilet cleaner, disinfectant) — €100–€200 initial stock
• Spray bottles, dustpan and brush, floor signs — €30–€50
• PPE (gloves, aprons) — €30–€50
• Total: approximately €500–€900

Commercial Contract Cleaning

• Everything above, plus:
• Walk-behind scrubber-dryer for hard floors — €1,500–€3,000
• Rotary floor machine — €800–€1,500
• Backpack vacuum for offices — €300–€500
• Window cleaning kit (squeegees, extension poles, bucket) — €200–€400
• Chemical dispensing system — €200–€400
• Van for equipment transport — €5,000–€15,000 (used)
• Branded uniforms — €200–€500
• Total: approximately €9,000–€22,000

Industrial Cleaning

• Everything above, plus:
• Ride-on scrubber-dryer — €8,000–€25,000 (or lease from €400/month)
• Hot water pressure washer — €3,000–€8,000
• Industrial sweeper — €3,000–€10,000
• HEPA vacuum systems — €1,000–€3,000
• Confined space entry equipment (if offering this service) — €2,000–€5,000
• Total: approximately €25,000–€75,000

Tip: You do not need to buy everything at once. Start with the equipment for your target sector, win contracts, and reinvest profits into additional equipment as demand grows. Many equipment suppliers offer lease or hire-purchase arrangements that spread the cost.

Step 9: Price Your Services

Pricing is the single most important commercial decision you will make. Price too low and you cannot cover costs. Price too high and you cannot win contracts. Here are the current market rates for cleaning services in Ireland:

Costing formula: Your hourly charge rate must cover staff wages (including PRSI at 11.05%), holiday pay (8.33% of wages), sick pay provision, equipment depreciation, chemical and consumable costs, vehicle costs, insurance, overheads (accounting, phone, uniforms), and your profit margin. As a rule of thumb, your charge rate should be at least 1.8 to 2.2 times the staff cost. If you pay a cleaner €14.80/hour (ERO minimum), your charge rate should be at least €27–€33/hour to cover all costs and make a sustainable profit.

Step 10: Find Your First Clients

Winning your first clients is the hardest part of starting any business. Here are the most effective channels for cleaning businesses in Ireland:

Google Business Profile

Set up a free Google Business Profile listing for your cleaning company. This puts you on Google Maps and in local search results when people search for "cleaning company near me" or "office cleaning [your town]". Add photos, services, opening hours, and encourage early clients to leave reviews. This is the single most cost-effective marketing action for a local cleaning business.

Direct Outreach

Walk into local businesses, introduce yourself, and leave a professional brochure or business card. Target offices, medical practices, dental surgeries, retail shops, restaurants, and pubs. Follow up by email or phone within a week. Most small businesses hire their cleaner based on a local recommendation or a direct approach — they do not run procurement processes.

Property Management Companies

Property management companies manage apartment blocks, office buildings, and retail centres. They outsource cleaning and are always looking for reliable contractors. Contact the property management companies operating in your area, introduce your services, and ask to be added to their supplier list. IPFMA (Irish Property and Facility Management Association) members are a good starting point.

eTenders (Public Sector)

The Irish government publishes all public procurement opportunities on eTenders.gov.ie. Schools, hospitals, government offices, and public buildings all require cleaning services. Register on eTenders and set up alerts for cleaning-related tenders. Public sector contracts are awarded based on a combination of quality and price, and they provide steady, long-term revenue.

Networking and Referrals

Join your local chamber of commerce, attend business networking events, and tell everyone you know that you have started a cleaning business. Word-of-mouth referrals are the most powerful source of new business in the cleaning industry. Once you deliver excellent service to one client, they will recommend you to others.

Step 11: Join the ICCA

The Irish Contract Cleaning Association (ICCA) is the representative body for the contract cleaning industry in Ireland. Membership is not compulsory, but it provides significant benefits:

• Credibility and professionalism — ICCA membership signals that you operate to industry standards
• Networking with other cleaning companies and suppliers
• Access to industry information, benchmarking, and best practice guidance
• Representation on the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) that sets ERO rates
• Insurance discounts through affiliated brokers
• Garda vetting access through the ICCA as a registered organisation

Membership fees are based on company turnover. For a startup with low turnover, the fee is modest and the benefits outweigh the cost significantly.

Step 12: Scale Your Business

Once you have won your first contracts and established a track record, the path to growth involves:

• Hire carefully — your staff are your business. A bad cleaner damages your reputation far faster than a good one builds it. Hire for reliability and attitude, train for skill
• Invest in equipment — as revenue grows, invest in better and more specialised equipment. A ride-on scrubber-dryer opens up warehouse and factory contracts that you cannot serve with a mop
• Specialise — the highest margins in cleaning are in specialist sectors: healthcare, industrial, pharmaceutical, and food processing. Generalist cleaning is a race to the bottom on price; specialist cleaning commands premium rates
• Build systems — create documented procedures, quality checklists, and training programmes. This allows you to maintain consistent quality as you add staff and clients
• Win contracts, not jobs — one 3-year office cleaning contract is worth more than 100 one-off deep cleans. Focus on recurring revenue from contract clients

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Pricing too low — covering wages is not enough. You must cover wages PLUS employer PRSI, holiday pay, sick pay, insurance, equipment, chemicals, vehicle costs, and profit. If your margins are under 15%, one bad month or one insurance claim will sink you
• No written contracts — always have a written service agreement with every client specifying the scope, frequency, price, payment terms, notice period, and liability limitations
• Ignoring the ERO — the WRC actively enforces ERO compliance. Paying below €14.80/hour for contract cleaning workers will result in enforcement action and back-pay orders
• No insurance — one accidental damage claim or one employee injury without insurance can bankrupt your business
• Growing too fast — winning a contract you cannot staff or equip properly is worse than not winning it. Grow at a pace that allows you to maintain quality
• Not registering for VAT when required — once you pass €37,500 turnover, you must register. Continuing to trade without VAT registration is a Revenue offence