Are Budget Cleaning Franchises in the UK Worth the Investment?
Starting a business can be daunting especially if funds are limited. But what if there were proven models you could buy into, supported by well-known brands and structured systems?
That’s exactly what cleaning franchises offer, and many UK entrepreneurs are finding success with them, especially in the affordable category.
So, are cheap cleaning franchises a smart investment? The short answer is yes provided the franchise offers genuine value, support, and scalability. With an ever-growing demand for professional cleaning in both domestic and commercial sectors, the UK market presents a fertile ground for growth.
This guide explores the top 9 low-cost cleaning franchises in the UK, analysing what they offer, how much they cost, and whether they’re worth your money.
Why Choose a Cheap Cleaning Franchise in the UK?
Not everyone can afford to invest £50,000+ in a franchise. That’s why affordable options are growing in popularity, especially in recession-resilient industries like cleaning.
Cleaning services remain essential whether times are good or bad. Homes still need maintenance, offices must meet hygiene standards, and short-term lets need quick turnarounds. This makes the sector one of the most stable and sustainable industries in the UK.
Franchises that offer low-cost entry points can be particularly appealing to first-time entrepreneurs.
With a manageable investment, full training, and a built-in customer base, it becomes significantly easier to get up and running quickly. And because many cleaning services generate repeat business, growth can be steady and predictable.
Another advantage is flexibility. Many cleaning franchises are home-based or mobile, allowing owners to build their businesses around other commitments or scale at their own pace.
What to Consider Before Investing in a Cleaning Franchise?
Before diving into a franchise, especially a low-cost one, it’s essential to evaluate what you’re getting for your money. Not all “cheap” opportunities provide equal value.
Some important considerations include:
- Startup package: What exactly is included? Does it cover marketing, branding, training, and software?
- Training and support: Will you receive proper guidance to run the business effectively, especially in the early stages?
- Target sector: Is the franchise focused on domestic, commercial, or niche cleaning services like carpets or ovens?
- Earning potential: Can you realistically earn a good income from the franchise?
- Territory rights: Are you given exclusive rights to operate in a specific region?
- Track record: Does the franchisor have positive reviews and a history of supporting franchisees successfully?
These elements help determine whether a low-cost franchise will offer genuine value or become a costly mistake.
Top 9 Cheap Cleaning Franchise Opportunities in the UK
The UK cleaning sector is valued at over £5 billion and continues to grow steadily. With increased demand for residential, commercial, and specialist cleaning services, franchising has emerged as a smart way to enter this lucrative market.
These nine franchises have been selected based on their affordability, business support, training, and long-term growth potential. Here’s a detailed breakdown of each franchise:
1. Fantastic Services
Fantastic Services is one of the UK’s leading multi-service franchise networks, offering everything from end-of-tenancy cleans to carpet and oven cleaning. Its technology-driven systems give franchisees a competitive advantage in customer scheduling and workflow management.
Franchisees can choose from two core service categories:
- Deep Cleaning Franchise: Includes end-of-tenancy and move-out cleans.
- Regular Cleaning Franchise: Ideal for domestic recurring services.
Investment Range:
| Package Type | Starting Investment | Key Features |
| Deep Cleaning | From £1,970 | Guaranteed clients, support, resell option, trainer course (Premium) |
| Regular Cleaning | From £2,350 | Similar structure, flexible growth model |
Fantastic Services provides a structured system, an app-based booking platform, high marketing visibility, and the opportunity to pay in instalments with only a 50% upfront deposit. With national advertising and built-in demand, many franchisees reach turnovers of £80,000 to £140,000 annually.
2. Cleanhome
Cleanhome is a home-based management franchise, ideal for those wanting to run a flexible business with strong support. What sets Cleanhome apart is the value of its startup package which includes services and materials many higher-cost franchises charge extra for.
Investment: £9,995
What’s Included:
- GENESYS™ business software (automates admin & customer management)
- Royal Mail leaflet drop worth £2,500
- £1,500 marketing collateral
- Insurance, stationery, Google Ads campaign
- Award-winning training & ongoing support
Projected Earnings:
| Year | Turnover | Costs | Estimated Profit |
| 1 | £29,137 | £7,406 | £21,731 |
| 3 | £81,337 | £14,298 | £67,039 |
Cleanhome is ideal for non-cleaning owner-operators, offering one of the best structured and affordable franchise packages in the UK.
3. Ovenclean
As the UK’s original oven-cleaning franchise, Ovenclean operates in a highly specialised and recession-proof niche. This mobile franchise involves travelling to clients’ homes and professionally cleaning ovens, hobs, extractor fans, and even barbecues using non-caustic, eco-friendly products.
The cost to get started is £10,000+VAT, with total investment options available up to £14,995+VAT, depending on the package selected. This includes training, marketing support, a starter kit, and access to Ovenclean’s brand power.
A key benefit of Ovenclean is its extremely low overheads. With no staff required and minimal equipment maintenance, franchisees retain a high percentage of revenue.
The flexibility of working hours and territory exclusivity make this opportunity ideal for those seeking independence with significant earnings potential some earning over £1,000 per week.
Ovenclean is also the only oven-cleaning franchise in the UK advertised on TV, providing franchisees with a competitive marketing edge. With access to over £45,000 worth of leads annually and ongoing support, this franchise offers both lifestyle freedom and profit.
4. Bright & Beautiful
Part of the global Neighbourly franchise network, Bright & Beautiful offers a premium, ethical domestic cleaning service. The franchise caters to an eco-conscious audience, using non-toxic cleaning products and operating with an emphasis on trust, professionalism, and presentation.
For a minimum investment of £9,995 + VAT, franchisees receive extensive support, including training, marketing collateral, HR guidance, and operational systems. The brand also offers 100% funding options, subject to eligibility.
What makes Bright & Beautiful appealing is the opportunity to build a business that reflects modern values from sustainability to empowering women in business. It is particularly popular among entrepreneurs seeking to make a positive impact while still generating strong, recurring revenue.
Its client-first culture and professional image set it apart in the domestic cleaning industry, helping franchisees command higher service rates than standard providers.
5. Zero Dry Time
Zero Dry Time offers one of the most diverse cleaning franchises available, combining multiple income streams under one business model. Franchisees are trained and equipped to clean carpets, upholstery, hard floors, and even perform leather restoration and recolouring.
This unique setup makes the Zero Dry Time franchise particularly appealing to those looking for a more specialised offering with cross-selling potential. The franchise includes access to environmentally safe, fast-drying products, extensive training, and full business infrastructure.
Starting at £9,995, the package comes with everything needed to launch the business, including equipment, branding, uniform, marketing materials, and even a dedicated microsite. The brand also provides extensive admin support, such as a telephone answering service and integrated scheduling systems.
With the ability to earn significant revenue from multiple cleaning streams, Zero Dry Time offers great scope for growth and the chance to develop a multi-service cleaning empire within a protected territory.
6. Time For You
For those looking to manage a business from home without doing any of the actual cleaning, Time For You is a proven option. This franchise model focuses on building and managing a team of self-employed cleaners, enabling the franchisee to operate more like a coordinator or consultant.
Entry starts at just £7,000, and the franchise has an impressive track record. With over 220 active franchisees, Time For You has helped many entrepreneurs earn between £65,000 and £425,000 per year.
One of its most attractive features is the 100% money-back guarantee within 18 months, offering reassurance to new franchisees. The company also provides full training, operational support, and marketing tools, allowing new franchisees to get off the ground quickly.
The business model is simple, scalable, and ideal for those who prefer to manage processes rather than perform hands-on services. It’s also a great fit for people who value work-life balance, as the business can be run entirely from a home office.
7. Poppies Cleaning Service
Poppies is a household name in the UK, recognised for quality and consistency in domestic cleaning. It’s a full British Franchise Association (BFA) member and has a legacy of over 40 years.
Investment: From £9,000
Franchisee Journey:
- Discovery & Research
- Application & Business Planning
- Team Meeting (with MD Chris Wootton)
- Training & Business Setup via Poppies Academy
- Launch with ongoing coaching and support
Key Selling Points:
- Founder awarded MBE for services to domestic care
- Structured support system with tailored mentoring
- National recognition and trust
Perfect for individuals who value reputation, structure, and long-term business development.
8. Daily Poppins
Daily Poppins is one of the largest UK-owned domestic cleaning franchises, with around 60 territories already franchised. It’s known for its technology-led operations, which allow franchisees to manage everything from a single iPad.
Notable Features:
- Access to bespoke cloud-based software
- Comprehensive training and mentoring system
- Advanced business support (HR, finance, legal)
- Over 200 territories still available in the UK & Ireland
Daily Poppins supports long-term scalability and offers a balance between independence and operational structure, ideal for ambitious owners looking to grow a cleaning team.
9. Dublcheck Cleaning
Specialising in commercial cleaning, Dublcheck is ideal for entrepreneurs seeking long-term contracts with businesses, offices, and industrial clients. This franchise is different in that it offers guaranteed turnover based on the level of investment chosen, providing peace of mind from the outset.
The investment starts from £8,000, and franchisees can scale their operations based on performance. Dublcheck’s support covers training, contract tendering, invoicing, and administration, allowing franchisees to focus on customer service and growth.
For those who want to step into the B2B cleaning space with strong backing and less risk, Dublcheck is a smart choice.
UK’s Best Cheap Cleaning Franchises
| Franchise Name | Investment Start | Sector | Key Benefits |
| Fantastic Services | £1,970 | Domestic/Commercial | Scalable tech model, app booking, low start-up cost |
| Cleanhome | £9,995 | Domestic | High-value package, GENESYS™ software |
| Ovenclean | £10,000+VAT | Specialist | Flexible hours, TV marketing, high lead value |
| Bright & Beautiful | £9,995+VAT | Domestic | Eco-friendly, premium brand, 100% funding options |
| Zero Dry Time | £9,995 | Specialist | Multi-service model, leather/floor/carpet options |
| Time For You | £7,000 | Domestic | No cleaning required, home-based, high income |
| Poppies | £9,000 | Domestic | Established brand, personalised training |
| Daily Poppins | Varies | Domestic | Tech-driven, iPad-based system, huge UK potential |
| Dublcheck | £8,000 | Commercial | Guaranteed turnover, B2B focus |
Is a Low-Cost Cleaning Franchise Profitable?
Absolutely. Many cleaning franchises, despite low entry points, offer strong profit margins and recurring revenue. Domestic services often involve weekly or fortnightly cleans, providing consistent income, while commercial contracts can generate large lump sums monthly.
With low overheads, minimal staff requirements, and little to no inventory, cleaning businesses are among the most efficient for return on investment especially when backed by a trusted franchise.
Post-pandemic hygiene awareness has only intensified demand, making now an ideal time to invest in the cleaning sector.
Conclusion: Which Cleaning Franchise Should You Choose?
The best franchise depends on your goals. For a hands-on, specialist business with high margins, Ovenclean or Zero Dry Time may be ideal.
If you’re more of a manager than a cleaner, Cleanhome and Time For You offer home-based, low-touch operations. For eco-conscious entrepreneurs, Bright & Beautiful offers a clean conscience and clean profits.
Whatever your preference, the UK market has something for everyone proving that cheap doesn’t mean low value, especially when it comes to cleaning franchises.
FAQs About Cheap Cleaning Franchise Opportunities in the UK
What’s the cheapest company to franchise?
Fantastic Services offers one of the lowest-cost entry points, starting from just £1,970, depending on the package.
Do cleaning franchises make money?
Yes, most cleaning franchises generate steady income through repeat business, especially in domestic and commercial sectors.
What type of cleaning is the most profitable?
Specialist cleaning services, like oven cleaning and hard floor restoration, often offer higher profit margins with fewer clients.
Are cleaning franchises a good investment?
Yes, they are relatively low-risk, recession-resilient, and offer scalable business models with strong support systems.
Which franchise is best in low budget?
Cleanhome and Time For You offer excellent value under £10,000 with comprehensive training and low overheads.
What is the cheapest business to open?
A home-based cleaning management franchise, like Time For You, is among the most affordable and scalable businesses to start in the UK.
Can I start a cleaning franchise with no experience?
Yes, most franchises provide comprehensive training and support, so no prior experience is required.
How long does it take to become profitable with a cleaning franchise?
Many franchisees reach profitability within the first 6–12 months, especially those offering recurring services.
Do I need a team to run a cleaning franchise?
Not always. Some models are owner-operated, while others allow you to manage a team of cleaners without doing the cleaning yourself.
Are cleaning franchises suitable for part-time work?
Yes, several franchises, like Cleanhome and Ovenclean, can be started part-time and scaled over time.
What ongoing fees should I expect?
Franchisees usually pay monthly royalties or service fees, which vary by brand and are often a percentage of turnover.
