How to Start a Cleaning Business in Tennessee
Start a cleaning business in Tennessee: $300 LLC fee, sales tax and license rules, local cleaner wages ($16.08/hr median) and a pricing example, with official Tennessee sources.
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Tennessee at a glance for cleaning businesses
| LLC filing fee | $300 |
|---|---|
| Ongoing state report fee | $300 (annual) |
| Sales tax on cleaning services | Check with the state |
| State cleaning license | Not required statewide |
| State minimum wage (2026) | $7.25/hr |
| Median janitor wage in Tennessee | $16.08/hr |
| Median maid / housekeeper wage | $14.83/hr |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Fees and rules: official Tennessee sources linked in each section. Verified October 18, 2026.
Step 1: Form your LLC in Tennessee
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 Tennessee the state filing fee is $300, filed with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services Division. After that, the ongoing state report fee is $300 (annual).
Tennessee charges $50 per member with a $300 minimum, for both formation and the annual report.
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 Tennessee LLC cost breakdown · LLC costs in every state
Step 2: Licenses and registrations
No cleaning- or janitorial-specific statewide occupational license is established by the results. Businesses with taxable receipts over $3,000 must obtain a county business license and, where applicable, a city license: a minimal activity license applies from $3,000 to under $100,000, and a standard license applies at $100,000 or more. (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 Tennessee
General residential and commercial janitorial or building-cleaning services are not specifically identified as taxable and are generally services performed on real property; Tennessee taxes only specifically enumerated services. Cleaning tangible personal property is taxable, and the results do not establish a residential-versus-commercial distinction; check with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. (Tennessee 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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee wages
Price from labor hours. Here is a 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5 nights a week, using the Tennessee median janitor wage:
| Labor hours per visit | 4 (assumes 2,500 sq ft per hour) |
|---|---|
| Wage + 15% payroll costs | $16.08 → $18.49/hr |
| Labor + $5 supplies per visit | $78.96 |
| Direct cost per month (21.7 visits) | $1,713 |
| Price at 25% / 35% / 45% gross margin | $2,284 / $2,635 / $3,115 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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee
The Tennessee minimum wage is $7.25/hr (Tennessee has no state minimum-wage law; employers covered by federal law must pay $7.25 per hour), but the going rate is higher: the median janitor in Tennessee earns $16.08/hr and the median maid or housekeeper $14.83/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 Tennessee?
The state LLC filing fee is $300. 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 Tennessee?
No cleaning- or janitorial-specific statewide occupational license is established by the results. Businesses with taxable receipts over $3,000 must obtain a county business license and, where applicable, a city license: a minimal activity license applies from $3,000 to under $100,000, and a standard license applies at $100,000 or more.
Is cleaning taxable in Tennessee?
The rules are not clear-cut; check with the state revenue department. General residential and commercial janitorial or building-cleaning services are not specifically identified as taxable and are generally services performed on real property; Tennessee taxes only specifically enumerated services. Cleaning tangible personal property is taxable, and the results do not establish a residential-versus-commercial distinction; check with the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
How much do cleaners make in Tennessee?
The median wage is $16.08 an hour for janitors and building cleaners and $14.83 for maids and housekeepers (BLS, May 2025). The state minimum wage is $7.25.