Home services Side hustleRepeat customersFlexible hours

How to start a carpet cleaning business in Nova Scotia

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Nova Scotia asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In Canadian dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for Canada: researched US figures converted to Canadian dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are Canada's own.

To startCA$5.3k–24kLean to full setup

Per monthCA$4.8k–12kOnce established

Profit margin75–84%Before paying yourself, after chemicals, fuel and insurance

First customer2–6 weeksFrom today

DifficultyLearn it in weeks; training helps

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you like visible results and a steady routine

Carpet cleaning is a practical business with clear results: you arrive with a hot-water extractor, and an hour or two later the room looks and smells fresh. You can start with a portable machine in your own car or van, then move up to a truck mount as bookings grow.

You'll like it if

You like turning a mess into a clean, fresh room
You're happy with physical work and heavy equipment
You're careful and polite in people's homes
You like customers who book again every year

Think twice if

Carrying heavy machines up stairs is hard for you
Strong smells or pet stains bother you
You'd rather not spend most of the day driving
You want a business with almost no startup cost

02What it costs

From CA$5,299 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startCA$5,299

What	Cost
Extractor or truck mountA heated portable machine, up to a used truck mount in a van	CA$2,850
Upholstery tool, hoses and wandsFor sofas, stairs and long hallways	CA$440
Air moversCarpets dry in hours, not a day	CA$270
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	CA$129
Chemicals, sprayer and rakePre-spray, rinse, spotters and deodorizer to start	CA$480
IICRC trainingCarpet cleaning technician course and exam	CA$510
InsuranceFirst three months: liability, plus commercial auto with a van	CA$260
Website and marketingWebsite, cards and local ads	CA$360
Total	CA$5,299

Once you're running: about CA$300 a month, plus about 12% of what you earn. Insurance, phone, software and certification renewal every month, plus chemicals, fuel and card fees on each job.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per job CA$240 CA$70CA$1,150

Jobs a week 8 122

Monthly costs CA$300 CA$0CA$1,200

Typical in Nova Scotia: CA$140–CA$570 per job, 3–15 jobs a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleCA$1.8k–3k

Evenings and weekends, 2–4 jobs a week

Full-time, on your ownCA$4.8k–8.4k

8–12 jobs a week

With a helperCA$8.4k–12k

A truck mount and a helper

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Check the demand near you
2–3 days Free

See who cleans carpets near you, what they charge per room and what minimum they set.
- Search "carpet cleaning near me"
- Note 5 competitors and their prices
- Look for apartments and rentals
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Nova Scotia has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3
Register your business in Nova Scotia
1 day to 2 weeks CA$129–CA$200

Most owners start as a sole proprietor and register a business name with their province; incorporating costs more and keeps business debts separate.
- Register a business name: CA$129.07
- Incorporate in Nova Scotia: CA$200
4
Get your Business Number (BN)
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Canada Revenue Agency, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Canada Revenue Agency
- Open a business bank account
5
Sort out HST
1–3 days Free

You must register for HST once your sales pass CA$30,000 a year. The rate is 14%.
- Know when to register for GST/HST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
6
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability
- Commercial auto, if you use a work van
- Workers' comp, once you hire
7
Get trained
2 days CA$510–1k

Training isn't required by law, but a carpet cleaning technician course teaches fibers, chemicals and drying, and the certificate builds trust.
- Two-day technician course
- The certification exam
- Practice on your own carpets
8
Buy your equipment
1 week CA$4.1k–21k

A heated portable extractor and an air mover handle most homes. A truck mount cleans faster and hotter once you're busy.
- Heated portable extractor
- Upholstery tool and sprayer
- Chemicals and air mover
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Price by the room with a minimum charge, plus add-ons. See the prices below.
- Per room, with a minimum
- 3-room and whole-home specials
- Add-ons: stairs, pet odor, sofas
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

A site with your prices, before-and-after photos and online booking does the selling for you.
- Website with your prices
- Online booking
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first 10 customers
2–6 weeks Up to CA$360

Friends and neighbors first, then landlords, property managers and reviews.
- Neighborhood groups
- Landlords and property managers
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Most homes need a clean every year or so, sooner with kids or pets. Remind them when it's time.
- Customer list
- Invoices
- Yearly reminders
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in NS

What Nova Scotia asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Register a business name

Registering, plus the required name reservation (Atlantic search). Renew every year, for a fee.

Registry of Joint Stock CompaniesCA$129.07once

Incorporate in Nova Scotia

Plus a name reservation for a named company. The company renews every year, for a fee.

Registry of Joint Stock CompaniesCA$200once

Business Number (BN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Canada Revenue AgencyFree

Dirty-water disposal

Empty dirty extraction water into a toilet or sink drain that goes to the sewer, never a storm drain, gutter or street.

Your city or local councilFree

Home-business rules

If you keep a van and machines at home, check what your area's zoning allows.

Your city or countyVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Portable extractorHeated, 120–500 PSI, with wand and hose

CA$2,100–CA$4,200Must have

Upholstery toolFor sofas, chairs and mattresses

CA$160–CA$200Must have

Pre-spray sprayerPump-up, for spreading pre-spray

CA$45–CA$95Must have

Grooming rakeLifts the pile and works in pre-spray

CA$35–CA$90Must have

Air moverSpeeds drying

CA$130–CA$300Must have

Pre-spray, rinse and spottersA starter set of cleaning chemicals

CA$160–CA$490Must have

Extra hose setFor upstairs rooms and long hallways

CA$230–CA$280Later

Heated spotterSmall machine for stains and stairs

CA$1,150Later

Truck mountUsed, already installed in a van

CA$11,800–CA$52,200Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

3 rooms and a hall

CA$210 per visit · 1.5–2 hours

Pre-spray and hot-water extraction
Spot treatment
Furniture moved and replaced

Whole home

CA$360 per visit · 3–4 hours

5–6 rooms and halls
Spot treatment
Fast drying with air movers

Sofa and loveseat

CA$240 per visit · 1–1.5 hours

Fabric tested first
Deep clean of cushions and arms
Deodorizer

Carpet cleaning prices per visit in Nova ScotiaTypical: CA$140–CA$650

Average CA$240

CA$0CA$220CA$430CA$650CA$860

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Google Business Profile

Most customers search "carpet cleaning near me". A free profile with photos and reviews puts you on the map.

Free

Before and after photos

Half-cleaned carpet makes a great photo. Post every job.

Free

Landlords and property managers

Every move-out needs a carpet clean. Become the cleaner they call.

Partnership

Room specials

A 3-room special is easy to say yes to, and many customers add rooms on the day.

Low cost

Reviews

Ask every customer. Trust matters when you're inside someone's home.

With PressUp Reviews

Yearly reminders

Most homes need cleaning every year or so, and homes with pets sooner. Remind them.

Repeat income

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get equipped

Take a technician course
Buy an extractor and air mover
Practice at home

Week 3

Go live

Website with booking
Google Business Profile
Set your prices

Week 4

First customers

Aim for 10 jobs
Meet 3 landlords
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to clean carpets in Nova Scotia?

Usually there's no special license for carpet cleaning. You'll register your business, and dispose of dirty water in a sewer drain, never a storm drain.

Do I need certification?

It's not required by law, but a carpet cleaning technician certificate teaches you to avoid damage and helps customers trust you.

Portable or truck mount?

Start portable: it costs far less and fits in a car or small van. A truck mount cleans faster and hotter, and makes sense once you're busy every day.

How long does a job take?

About 20 to 30 minutes a room, plus setup and travel. A three-room job takes one person about two hours.

How often do customers book?

Most homes need it every 12 to 18 months, and homes with kids or pets more often. Many carpet warranties ask for a yearly professional clean.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources