The fastest ways to get cleaning clients are Google Business Profile, referral programs, and local Facebook groups. Most new cleaning businesses can book their first 5 to 10 clients within 30 days using free or low-cost methods. This guide covers 10 proven strategies to fill your schedule.
Why Is Finding Cleaning Clients So Hard?
Every cleaning business owner asks the same question: where do I find clients? It does not matter if you just started or have been running your business for years. A steady flow of new clients keeps your business alive.
The good news is that more people want cleaning services every year. The hard part is knowing where to look, how to stand out, and how to turn questions into paying customers. This guide shows you the best ways to get cleaning clients fast.
The cleaning businesses that grow the fastest use 3 to 5 marketing methods at the same time. Counting on just one way to find clients is risky. Use several ways to find clients from the start.
How Does Google Business Profile Help You Get Clients?
Your Google Business Profile is the most important free marketing tool for a local cleaning business. When someone searches "cleaning service near me" or "house cleaner in [your city]," these listings show up at the top of search results. They include reviews, photos, and your contact information.
How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile
- Complete every field — Business name, address, phone, hours, website, service area, and all service categories
- Choose the right categories — Primary: "House Cleaning Service" or "Commercial Cleaning Service." Add secondary categories like "Carpet Cleaning Service" if applicable
- Add photos regularly — Before/after cleaning photos, team photos, branded vehicle, and equipment. Profiles with 100+ photos get 520% more calls than average
- Write a detailed description — Include your services, service area, and what makes you different. Use natural keywords like "residential cleaning" and "deep cleaning"
- Post weekly updates — Share tips, promotions, or before/after photos. Google rewards active profiles with better visibility
Getting Google Reviews
Reviews are the #1 ranking factor for local search. Here's how to consistently generate them:
- Ask after every job — Send a text or email within 2 hours of completing a clean with a direct link to your Google review page
- Make it easy — Create a short link (search "Google review link generator") and save it as a text template
- Respond to every review — Thank positive reviewers by name. For negative reviews, respond professionally and offer to resolve the issue
- Never offer incentives for reviews — This violates Google's policies and can get your profile suspended
Send this after each job: "Hi [Name], thank you for choosing [Business Name]! If you were happy with the clean, we'd really appreciate a quick Google review. It helps other homeowners find us: [review link]. Thank you!"
How Do Referral Programs Help Get Cleaning Clients?
Referrals are the best way to get new clients for a cleaning business. People who are sent to you by a friend are 3 to 5 times more likely to hire you. They also stay longer and spend more. A good referral program turns your happy clients into your best helpers for finding new business.
Building a Referral Program
- Offer a meaningful incentive — $25-$50 credit toward their next cleaning for every referral who books. The reward should be large enough to motivate action
- Reward the new client too — Offer the referred client $25 off their first clean. This two-sided incentive doubles the motivation
- Make referrals easy — Give clients referral cards (physical or digital) they can share. Include a unique code or link to track referrals
- Ask at the right time — The best time to ask for referrals is right after delivering excellent service, when the client is happiest
- Follow up quarterly — Send a friendly reminder about your referral program to existing clients every 3 months
A $50 referral reward = 48 times your money back
How Can Social Media Help You Get Cleaning Clients?
Social media does not bring in as many leads as Google, but it helps build trust. It keeps you on people's minds and brings in more referrals. Focus on the apps and sites where your ideal clients spend their time.
- Create a business page — Post before/after photos, cleaning tips, and client testimonials
- Join local groups — Neighborhood groups, buy/sell/trade groups, and local business groups. Offer helpful advice (not spam) and mention your services when relevant
- Run targeted ads — Facebook ads let you target homeowners in specific zip codes. Start with $5-10/day and test different audiences and ad creatives
- Use Facebook Marketplace — List your cleaning services with clear descriptions and pricing
- Post satisfying before/after photos — These perform exceptionally well on Instagram. Use hashtags like #cleaningmotivation #beforeandafter #cleaningbusiness
- Create Reels — Short cleaning transformation videos get massive reach. Even simple phone videos of you cleaning a dirty surface perform well
- Use Stories — Show your daily work, behind-the-scenes moments, and client thank-you messages
Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a neighborhood social network that works really well for local service businesses. Create a business page, ask clients to recommend you, and reply to cleaning-related posts in your area. Nextdoor tips mean a lot because they come from real neighbors.
What Lead Generation Platforms Work for Cleaning Businesses?
Paid lead websites connect you straight to homeowners who are looking for cleaning services right now. They cost money for each lead, but these people are ready to hire.
Thumbtack
- How it works — Homeowners submit cleaning requests, and you pay per lead ($10-$40 depending on service and location)
- Tips for success — Respond within 5 minutes (fast responders win 50% more jobs), include a personalized message, and keep your profile updated with reviews and photos
- Track what you spend — Keep track of how much each lead and each booking costs you. If you pay $25 per lead and one in four becomes a client, each new client costs you $100. That is worth it if that client will pay you more than $1,000 over time
Yelp
- Claim your free profile — Even without paying for ads, a well-optimized Yelp profile with good reviews generates leads
- Respond to every review — Especially negative ones. Future clients read your responses
- Consider Yelp Ads — They can be pricey, but they work in busy markets. Start small and track what you get back for your money
Angi (Angie's List)
Angi connects homeowners with service workers. Create a profile, get reviews, and look into their ad options if Angi is popular in your area.
How Does Local Search Help You Get Cleaning Clients?
A simple website set up to show up in local searches helps you rank higher on Google. It gives people a place to learn about your services and book online.
- Target local keywords — "house cleaning [your city]," "maid service [your city]," "deep cleaning [your city]"
- Create location pages — If you serve multiple cities or neighborhoods, create a dedicated page for each with unique content
- Add testimonials — Feature your best Google reviews on your website
- Make it easy to take action — Every page should have a "Get a Free Quote" button or phone number
- Make it work on phones — Over 60% of cleaning service searches happen on phones. Your site must load fast and look good on small screens
How Do Google Ads Work for Cleaning Businesses?
Google Ads puts your business at the very top of search results for words like "cleaning service near me." It is the fastest way to get leads, but you pay each time someone clicks your ad.
- Start with Local Service Ads — These show up above regular Google Ads with a "Google Guaranteed" badge. You only pay when someone contacts you, not when they click. This saves money
- Set a daily budget — Start with $15 to $30 per day and change it based on what works
- Use the right search words — "house cleaning service near me," "maid service [city]," "deep cleaning service" — people searching these words are ready to hire
- Track your results — Set up tracking for calls and form fills so you know which ads bring in real bookings
Google Local Service Ads usually cost $15 to $50 per lead for cleaning services. If you turn 20 to 30 percent of those leads into clients, each new client costs you $50 to $170. Since the average repeat client is worth $3,000 to $6,000 or more over time, you get a lot more back than you spend.
What Offline Marketing Works for Cleaning Businesses?
Do not overlook offline methods. They work really well for reaching older homeowners and building trust in local areas.
Flyers and Door Hangers
- Target upscale neighborhoods — Focus on areas where homeowners are most likely to hire a cleaning service
- Include a special offer — "$50 off your first deep clean" or "Free room of carpet cleaning with first booking"
- Professional design matters — A poorly designed flyer hurts credibility. Use Canva to create professional-looking materials
- Distribute consistently — Drop 200-500 flyers per week in target areas. Consistency is key — one round won't be enough
Partnerships
- Real estate agents — They need move-in/out cleaning for clients. Offer a referral fee or discounted rate for their clients
- Property managers — Manage turnover cleaning for rental properties. One property manager relationship can generate dozens of jobs
- Interior designers — They want homes clean before and after staging. Build relationships with local designers
- Other home service providers — Handymen, plumbers, and painters can refer you, and you can refer them
Community Involvement
- Sponsor local events — Youth sports teams, school fundraisers, and community festivals put your name in front of local homeowners
- Donate cleaning services — Offer a free cleaning as a raffle prize at charity events. The winner often becomes a paying client
- Join the local Chamber of Commerce — Network with other business owners who may need commercial cleaning or can refer residential clients
How Do You Land Commercial Cleaning Clients?
Office cleaning contracts bring in big, steady repeat income. Here is how to get them:
- Build a commercial portfolio — Start by offering discounted rates to one or two local businesses to get testimonials and case studies
- Direct outreach — Call or email property managers, office managers, and small business owners. Introduce your services and offer a free walkthrough and estimate
- Bid on contracts — Check government bid sites, school district Requests for Proposals, and cleaning bid websites for contract openings
- Go to business events — Business networking groups, Chamber of Commerce meetings, and industry events are great places to find commercial leads
- Get certifications — ISSA CIMS or Green Seal certification can help you win against other bidders
For detailed bidding strategies, read our How to Bid on Commercial Cleaning Contracts guide.
How Do You Convert Leads Into Paying Clients?
Finding leads is only half the job. Turning them into paying clients takes a fast, professional follow-up process.
- Respond within 5 minutes — Speed is everything. The first business to respond wins the job 78% of the time
- Use professional quotes — Send clear, itemized quotes that show the client exactly what's included. Use our Quote Generator for professional proposals
- Follow up — If a lead doesn't respond to your quote within 24 hours, follow up with a friendly text or call
- Make booking easy — The fewer steps between asking and booking, the more people will hire you. Online booking forms work better than "call to schedule"
- Use email templates — Professional, consistent communication builds trust. Check out our Email Templates for ready-made responses
How Do You Turn One-Time Clients Into Repeat Customers?
Getting a new client costs 5 to 7 times more than keeping one you already have. Here is how to make each client worth more over time:
- Make a great first impression — The first clean sets what people expect. Do your very best on quality, talking with clients, and looking professional
- Offer discounts for regular service — Weekly clients get 10 to 15 percent off compared to one-time prices. This gives people a reason to sign up for repeat cleanings
- Send thank-you messages — A quick "Thank you, we loved cleaning your home!" text after the first job goes a long way
- Ask for feedback — Ask "Is there anything we can do better?" This shows you care and catches problems before they turn into complaints
- Follow up with one-time clients — If someone books a one-time deep clean, follow up 2-3 weeks later to offer recurring service
For a complete guide on keeping clients, read our How to Retain Cleaning Clients guide.
Build a Client Acquisition Machine
Finding cleaning clients is not about one magic trick. It is about building a system that brings in leads from many places at the same time. Start with the methods that give you the most for your money: Google Business Profile, referrals, and local Facebook groups. Then add paid methods as you make more money.
The cleaning businesses that grow fastest treat marketing as a daily habit, not a one-time thing. Spend time every week on your marketing. Track what works and do more of it. For a bigger marketing plan, read our Marketing Your Cleaning Business guide.