Question 1

Do you need a licence to open a cleaning business in the UK?

Accepted Answer

No. There is no licence, registration or qualification requirement to open a cleaning business in the UK. Obligations still apply: employers' liability insurance once anyone is employed, COSHH duties for cleaning chemicals, right to work checks for every recruit, DBS checks for work in schools and care settings, and waste carrier registration where waste is removed from a client's premises.

Question 2

Does TUPE apply when you win a cleaning contract?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. Acas describes a service provision change, where a client moves a contract from one provider to another, using office cleaning as its example. Where an organised group of employees is assigned to the contract and the activities continue essentially unchanged, those employees transfer to the incoming contractor on their existing terms. It applies equally when a contract is lost. Whether it applies to a particular tender should be established before bidding, not after.

Question 3

How much does a cleaning franchise cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Molly Maid publishes an initial investment of £23,975 plus £12,000 of working capital on its own UK franchise site. No official UK average exists across the sector. Figures found for international brands are frequently American: Molly Maid's US disclosure document puts the total investment there at roughly US$144,000 to US$204,000, which reflects a different market and has no application in the UK.

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