Cleaning homes, offices, or buildings is a job that’s always needed in Germany. Starting a janitorial service as a freelancer lets you work for yourself and earn money with simple tools. It’s a great choice for self-employed people and expats who want steady work. This guide shows you how to begin easily.

Steps to start your janitorial service

1. Tell the tax office you’re starting

In Germany, janitors are seen as self-employed (Freiberufler) by the Tax Office (Finanzamt) and you don’t need to register with the Trade Office (Gewerbeamt). Just:

• Fill out a form called “Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung” from the Finanzamt.

• Send it to get your tax number (takes 4-8 weeks).

• No fee is needed for this step.

✅ Tip: Register as self-employed for free with Norman’s fully digital registration form to start your janitorial business in Germany the right way.

2. Buy cleaning tools

You don’t need much to get started. Begin with the basics:

• Mops and buckets

• Cleaning sprays and cloths

• A broom or vacuum cleaner

Plan to spend around €100–200. If you’re covering multiple locations, a car might also come in handy for transporting your tools.

✅ Tip: All of these can be deducted later as business expenses.

3. Get insured

Business liability insurance is a must — it protects you if a client or third party claims damages caused during your work.

If you hire employees, you’ll also need accident insurance to cover workplace injuries and meet legal requirements.

✅ Tip: Business insurance costs are fully tax-deductible, so make sure to include them when filing your expenses.

4. Set your prices

Decide how much you want to charge for your services. In Germany, most janitors charge between €25–40 per hour.

Don’t forget to factor in your expenses — such as cleaning supplies, transportation, and insurance — to make sure your rates cover your costs.

You can also offer flat-rate packages, like €200–800 per month for regular, recurring cleaning services.

✅ Tip: Test different pricing models to see what works best — hourly rates are flexible, but flat rates can bring stable monthly income.

5. Find your first clients

Start spreading the word that your cleaning services are available:

• Tell friends, family, and neighbors

• Place flyers in local mailboxes or community boards

• List your business on platforms like Google My Business, eBay Kleinanzeigen, or Etsy

As your first clients are satisfied, word of mouth will become one of your most powerful marketing tools.

✅ Tip: Ask happy customers for online reviews — it builds trust and helps new clients find you faster.

What tasks does a self-employed janitor take on?

As a freelance janitor, you can do many jobs depending on what clients need. Here’s a list of possible tasks:

• Cleaning inside: Wipe floors, dust furniture, clean windows, and vacuum carpets in homes or offices.

• Outside cleaning: Sweep paths, clean parking areas, or wash building fronts.

• Trash handling: Take out trash bins, sort recycling, and keep bin areas tidy.

• Small fixes: Replace light bulbs, fix loose handles, or clean drains (no big repairs like plumbing).

• Special cleaning: Polish floors, clean after events, or wash rugs for extra pay.

Pick tasks you’re good at to start, then add more as you grow.

German laws you should know

Germany has rules for self-employed janitors:

• Insurance: You must have health insurance (€220-950/month, based on income). Liability insurance (€5-10/month) is optional but good to cover damages, like if you break a client’s vase.

• Work limits: Stick to cleaning and small fixes. Big repairs like plumbing or electrical work need special training.

• And of course, taxes 🙃

Taxes you need to pay as a janitor

As a self-employed janitor, you handle your own taxes. Here’s what you need to know:

• Income tax: If you earn more than €12,084 in 2025, you pay 14% to 45%, depending on your income. For example, if you make €20,000, you might pay €2,000-3,000 total. You pay this annually. The Tax Office might ask for a prepayment based on last year’s earnings.

• VAT (Mehrwertsteuer): You charge 19% VAT on most cleaning jobs (or 7% for some, like cleaning bookshelves for a library). If you earn less than €25,000 in your first year, you can use the small business rule (Kleinunternehmerregelung) and skip VAT. After that, the limit is €100,000 per year. You file VAT monthly or quarterly if you owe more than €1,000 yearly, due 10 days after the period ends (e.g., April 10 for March).

• EÜR (Einnahmen-Überschuss-Rechnung): Every year, you must send an EÜR (profit & loss statement) form to the Tax Office by July 31. It’s a list of your income and costs (like tools or gas) to show your profit.

• Trade tax (Gewerbesteuer): Janitors as Freiberufler don’t pay this, unlike some businesses. This saves you money.

Keep track of all income and costs to lower your taxes. Save money each month to avoid surprises or use tools like Norman to put on autopilot tax filing and accounting process

🇩🇪 Your free guide to self-employment in Germany

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