How to Start a Cleaning Business in Virginia
Start a cleaning business in Virginia: $100 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($16.91/hr median) and a pricing example, with official Virginia sources.
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Virginia at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $100 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $50 (annual) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Generally no |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $12.77/hr |
| Median janitor wage in Virginia | $16.91/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $16.26/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official Virginia sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in Virginia
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 Virginia the state filing fee is $100, filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). After that, the ongoing state report fee is $50 (annual).
Virginia LLCs have a $100 formation fee and a $50 annual registration fee. No separate mandatory statewide publication requirement or franchise-tax minimum appears in the provided results.
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 Virginia LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
The provided results indicate no Virginia statewide general business or cleaning-specific license for ordinary residential or commercial cleaning, but the licensing conclusion is less certain; check with the Virginia state revenue department. Local business licenses may be required, and contractor licensing can apply to regulated construction, removal, repair, or improvement work rather than ordinary cleaning. (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 Virginia
General residential and commercial cleaning and janitorial services are generally not subject to Virginia retail sales and use tax because service charges are generally exempt. Tax can apply when the service is provided with a sale of tangible personal property, depending on the transaction’s true object. (Virginia source)
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 Virginia, 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 Virginia wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the Virginia median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $16.91 → $19.45/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $82.80 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $1,797 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,396 / $2,765 / $3,267 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 Virginia
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 Virginia
The Virginia minimum wage is $12.77/hr (Effective January 1 through December 31, 2026, for employees covered by the Virginia Minimum Wage Act; the applicable rate is the greater of $12.77 or the federal minimum wage), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in Virginia earns $16.91/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $16.26/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 Virginia?
The state LLC filing fee is $100. 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 Virginia?
The provided results indicate no Virginia statewide general business or cleaning-specific license for ordinary residential or commercial cleaning, but the licensing conclusion is less certain; check with the Virginia state revenue department. Local business licenses may be required, and contractor licensing can apply to regulated construction, removal, repair, or improvement work rather than ordinary cleaning.
Is cleaning taxable in Virginia?
Generally no. General residential and commercial cleaning and janitorial services are generally not subject to Virginia retail sales and use tax because service charges are generally exempt. Tax can apply when the service is provided with a sale of tangible personal property, depending on the transaction’s true object.
How much do cleaners make in Virginia?
The median wage is $16.91 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $16.26 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $12.77.