How to Start a Cleaning Business in South Carolina
Start a cleaning business in South Carolina: $110 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($14.99/hr median) and a pricing example, with official South Carolina sources.
This guide contains partner links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. How we make money
South Carolina at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $110 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | None |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Partly |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $7.25/hr |
| Median janitor wage in South Carolina | $14.99/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $14.55/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official South Carolina sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in South Carolina
An LLC keeps business debts and lawsuits separate from your personal assets, which matters in a job where you work inside other people's homes and buildings. In South Carolina the state filing fee is $110, filed with the South Carolina Secretary of State. After that, the ongoing state report fee is None.
An LLC taxed as a corporation must file the CL-1 and pay a $25 minimum license fee; corporations also owe a $25 minimum license fee annually. This is not a general fee for every LLC. An LLC not taxed as a corporation has a stated annual fee of $0.
You can file yourself on the state website, or have ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent file it and track your report deadlines. Then get your free EIN at IRS.gov.
Compare: full South Carolina LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
No statewide general business or cleaning-service license is identified. Local city, town, or county business licenses may be required where the business is located or operates, and entity registration with the Secretary of State is separate. (source)
Also check your city and county. Many require a general business license or tax registration even when the state does not.
Step 3: Sales tax on cleaning in South Carolina
General janitorial services performed at a customer's home or business are not subject to South Carolina sales tax; the provider instead pays tax on tangible personal property used. Cleaning or dyeing rugs at the cleaner's own business establishment is taxable. (South Carolina source)
If your services are taxable, register for a sales tax permit before your first invoice and build the tax into your quotes, so it isn't coming out of your margin. Bookkeeping software like QuickBooks can track tax collected per invoice.
Step 4: Insurance and bonding
Commercial clients will ask for a certificate of insurance before you start. Cleaning businesses nationally pay a median of $59/month for general liability and about $9/month for a janitorial bond (Insureon). Once you hire in South Carolina, check the state's workers' compensation rules. You can get a quote and download your own certificate from NEXT Insurance, or compare several insurers at once through Insureon.
Step 5: Price your work with South Carolina wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the South Carolina median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $14.99 → $17.24/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $73.96 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $1,605 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,140 / $2,469 / $2,918 per month |
Walk the building before you quote: restrooms, kitchens and hard floors take longer than open carpet. See the full pricing walkthrough.
Step 6: Get your first clients in South Carolina
Residential: set up a Google Business Profile, ask every client for a review, and lead with recurring weekly or biweekly pricing. Let clients book online with BookingKoala. Google Local Services Ads and Facebook ads can bring calls in the first month, as long as you answer leads within minutes.
Commercial: build a list of offices, medical practices and churches in your area, then use cold email, calls and drop-ins to book free walkthroughs. Send a written proposal within 48 hours; Jobber turns a walkthrough into a quote the client approves online. If you'd rather have walkthroughs booked for you, Redbird Leads runs cold email for commercial cleaning companies.*
*LocalBizDesk and Redbird Leads share an owner.
Step 7: Hiring in South Carolina
The South Carolina minimum wage is $7.25/hr (South Carolina has no state minimum wage law; employers covered by the FLSA must pay the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in South Carolina earns $14.99/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $14.55/hr. If you set schedules and supply equipment, your cleaners are likely employees, not contractors (IRS rules). Gusto handles payroll tax filings and new-hire paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business in South Carolina?
The state LLC filing fee is $110. Add supplies and equipment (about $1,000 to $3,000 for residential, more for commercial) and insurance, which runs a median of $59 a month for general liability.
Do you need a license to clean houses or offices in South Carolina?
No statewide general business or cleaning-service license is identified. Local city, town, or county business licenses may be required where the business is located or operates, and entity registration with the Secretary of State is separate.
Is cleaning taxable in South Carolina?
Some cleaning services are taxable. General janitorial services performed at a customer's home or business are not subject to South Carolina sales tax; the provider instead pays tax on tangible personal property used. Cleaning or dyeing rugs at the cleaner's own business establishment is taxable.
How much do cleaners make in South Carolina?
The median wage is $14.99 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $14.55 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $7.25.