Home services Side hustleNo experienceRepeat customers

How to start a house cleaning business in Canterbury

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

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In New Zealand dollars 12-minute read

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

To startNZ$840–3.8kLean to full setup

Per monthNZ$6.9k–14kOnce established

Profit margin80–88%Before paying yourself, after supplies, fuel and insurance

First customer1–3 weeksFrom today

DifficultyStart with skills you have

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

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

House cleaning is one of the simplest service businesses to start: you need good supplies, a way to get to jobs and customers who trust you in their homes. Most of the money comes from regulars who book you every week or two.

You'll like it if

You enjoy making a space look its best
You're careful and notice details
You like a routine with regular customers
You're trustworthy and on time

Think twice if

Bending, kneeling and lifting are hard for you
You'd rather not work in other people's homes
Cleaning products bother your skin or breathing
You want work that changes every day

02What it costs

From NZ$840 to start

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

Total to startNZ$840

What	Cost
Vacuum, mops and caddyA commercial upright to a HEPA backpack, a microfiber mop, a step stool	NZ$320
Cleaning products and clothsDisinfectant, glass and floor cleaner, microfiber, gloves	NZ$100
Insurance and bondFirst three months of liability, plus an optional yearly bond	NZ$210
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	NZ$0
Website and marketingWebsite, booking and business cards	NZ$210
UniformMatching shirts look professional at the door	NZ$0
Total	NZ$840

Once you're running: about NZ$210 a month, plus about 10% of what you earn. Insurance, bond, phone and booking software every month, plus supplies, fuel and card fees on each clean.

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 clean NZ$240 NZ$80NZ$680

Cleans a week 10 120

Monthly costs NZ$210 NZ$0NZ$840

Typical in Canterbury: NZ$160–NZ$340 per clean, 4–14 cleans a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleNZ$2.1k–4.1k

3–5 cleans a week

Full-time, on your ownNZ$6.9k–10k

10–12 cleans a week

With a helperNZ$11k–14k

18–20 cleans a week with one or two helpers

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

Find out who cleans homes near you, what they charge and what they include.
- Search "house cleaning near me"
- Note 5 competitors and their prices
- Ask friends what they pay now
2
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a friendly name that says what you do and where. Make sure no one in Canterbury 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 Canterbury
1 day to 2 weeks NZ$0–NZ$148

Most owners start as a sole trader; registering a company with the Companies Office keeps business debts separate.
- Start as a sole trader: free
- Register a company: NZ$148.05
4
Get your IRD number
1–5 days Free

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

You must register for GST once your sales pass NZ$60,000 a year. The rate is 15%.
- Know when to register for GST
- 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
- A janitorial bond (optional)
- Workers' comp, once you hire
7
Buy your supplies
2–3 days NZ$420–1.8k

Start with a good vacuum and microfiber: they do most of the work. Upgrade to a backpack vacuum and steam cleaner as you grow.
- Commercial vacuum
- Microfiber cloths and mop
- Products, caddy and step stool
8
Write your cleaning checklist
1 day Free

List what a standard, deep and move-out clean include, room by room. A clear checklist builds trust and keeps every clean the same.
- Room-by-room checklist
- What's not included
- How long each clean takes
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Price by the home's size, with a discount for regulars. See the prices below.
- Standard, deep and move-out
- Discounts for weekly or every two weeks
- Add-ons: oven, fridge, laundry
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

A site with your prices, your checklist and online booking lets customers book you any time.
- 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
1–3 weeks Up to NZ$210

Friends and neighbors first, then local groups and reviews. Turn first-time cleans into regular visits.
- Neighborhood groups
- Ask for referrals
- Ask every customer for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Keep track as you grow
Ongoing Included

Know who's due when, who prefers what, and who still owes you.
- Customer list and notes
- Recurring bookings
- Invoices
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in CAN

What Canterbury asks for

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

Start as a sole trader

There's nothing to register: you tell Inland Revenue you're working for yourself.

Inland RevenueFree

Register a company

Reserving the company name and incorporating, including GST. A company also files a yearly annual return, for a fee.

Companies OfficeNZ$148.05once

IRD number

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

Inland RevenueFree

06Equipment

What to buy first

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

Commercial vacuumUpright to start, a HEPA backpack later

NZ$210–NZ$730Must have

Microfiber clothsColor-coded: kitchens, bathrooms, glass

NZ$12–NZ$35Must have

Microfiber mopFlat mop with wet and dry pads

NZ$30–NZ$200Must have

Cleaning productsDisinfectant, glass and floor cleaner, spray bottles

NZ$35–NZ$190Must have

Caddy and bucketCarry everything in one trip

NZ$15–NZ$25Must have

Step stoolFor high shelves and fans

NZ$60–NZ$170Must have

Gloves and shoe coversA box of each

NZ$10–NZ$30Must have

Steam cleanerGrout, tile and stubborn spots

NZ$110–NZ$230Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

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

Every two weeks

NZ$230 per visit · 2.5–3.5 hours

Kitchen and bathrooms
Dust, vacuum and mop
Beds made, trash out

Deep clean

NZ$410 per visit · 4–6 hours

Everything in a regular clean
Baseboards and door frames
Window sills and grout

Move-out clean

NZ$480 per visit · 5–7 hours

Everything in a deep clean
Inside cabinets and drawers
Inside fridge, freezer and oven

Standard clean prices in CanterburyTypical: NZ$160–NZ$340

Average NZ$240

NZ$0NZ$110NZ$230NZ$340NZ$450

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

People search "house cleaning near me". A free profile with reviews puts you on the map.

Free

Neighborhood groups

Nextdoor and local Facebook groups: people trust the cleaner their neighbors use.

Free

Referral thank-yous

Give regulars something off their next clean for each friend who books.

Low cost

Real estate agents and landlords

Move-out and move-in cleans come from agents and property managers. Introduce yourself.

Partnership

Reviews

Ask every customer. Trust is what people buy when they let you into their home.

With PressUp Reviews

Regular visits

A small discount for weekly or every-two-weeks cleans turns one-off customers into steady income.

Repeat income

What a cleaning business website needs, and how PressUp builds it

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

Buy your supplies
Write your checklist
Time a clean of your own home

Week 3

Go live

Website with booking
Google Business Profile
Set your prices

Week 4

First customers

Aim for 10 cleans
Ask for reviews
Offer regular visits

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to clean houses in Canterbury?

Usually there's no special license for house cleaning. You'll register your business, and check whether your city wants a general business license and whether Canterbury charges sales tax on cleaning.

Do I need to be bonded?

No, a bond is optional. It's inexpensive and can reassure customers about theft claims, while liability insurance covers damage you cause.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Many cleaners start with a few homes on evenings or weekends, then go full-time once they have enough regulars.

How long does a clean take?

A regular clean of a three-bedroom home takes one person about three hours. A first clean or a deep clean takes longer, so price it higher.

Should I bring my own supplies?

Most cleaners do: it's faster and you know what works. If a customer prefers their own products, that's fine too.

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