How to Start a Carpet Cleaning Business (and Build a 5-Star Reputation From Day One)

Thinking about starting a carpet cleaning business? You’re in the right place.

Carpet cleaning is a high-demand, recession-resistant service that homeowners and property managers need year-round. And with low startup costs, flexible scheduling, and room for serious growth, it’s one of the best service-based businesses to launch—especially if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and do the work.

But while learning how to lift stains and deodorize carpets is important, there’s one thing that truly sets successful businesses apart: a great reputation.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to start your carpet cleaning business—and how to build trust from day one so your calendar fills up fast.

Step 1: Learn the Trade (and Choose Your Niche)

Before anything else, you’ll want to get familiar with the industry. That might mean working for an established carpet cleaner to gain hands-on experience, getting certified by the IICRC (Institute of

Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification), or taking courses in steam cleaning, stain removal, or upholstery care.

As you gain skills, think about your niche:

• Residential carpet cleaning

• Commercial properties

• Move-in/move-out cleans

• Pet stain and odor removal

• Eco-friendly or chemical-free cleaning

Focusing on a niche can help you stand out—especially in competitive areas.

Step 2: Invest in Equipment and Supplies

The beauty of starting a carpet cleaning business is you don’t need a huge warehouse or storefront. But you do need the right tools.

Start with the basics:

• A high-quality portable carpet extractor or truck-mounted system

• Cleaning chemicals and spot removers

• Air movers or fans for drying

• Protective gear (gloves, shoe covers, etc.)

• A reliable vehicle to transport everything

Pro tip: You don’t need the most expensive equipment right away. Start with what fits your budget and scale up as your revenue grows.

Step 3: Handle the Legal Stuff

Before booking your first job, make sure your business is legally set up. 

You’ll want to:

• Register your business name and structure (LLC/Limited Liability Company, sole prop, etc.)

• Get any necessary licenses or permits for your area

• Purchase business insurance (general liability is a must)

• Open a business bank account

• Set up a simple invoicing and accounting system

This might not be the most exciting step—but it protects your business and builds credibility with customers.

Step 4: Create a Strong Online Presence

Your future customers are online—and that’s where your business needs to be too.

Start with the essentials:

• A professional website that shows your services, pricing, and reviews

• A Google Business Profile so you show up in local searches

• Facebook and Instagram pages to showcase before-and-after photos

• Online booking or contact forms to make it easy to hire you

Don’t overthink it. Clean branding, clear messaging, and customer proof go a long way.

Step 5: Start Getting Reviews Right Away

Here’s a secret: reviews are your best marketing tool—especially when you’re just starting out.

People want to know they can trust you in their homes. Great reviews give them confidence and help you stand out from bigger, more established companies.

Use NiceJob to:

• Send review requests automatically after each job

• Follow up if the customer doesn’t respond

• Get reviews on the platforms that matter to your business (like Google or Facebook)

• Effortlessly turn 5-star reviews into social media posts and website content

• Build your reputation without having to ask in person

Starting strong with reviews means building momentum that fuels growth—so don’t wait until you’re established to start collecting them. Begin on day one.

When potential customers see glowing feedback from real people in your area, you’ll book more jobs—guaranteed.

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Step 6: Market Like a Pro (Even on a Small Budget)

In the early days, word of mouth and local visibility are everything.

Here’s how to get the word out:

• Ask friends and family to spread the word and leave a review

• Post before-and-after photos of every job

• Share your reviews on social media

• Drop flyers or business cards in neighborhoods you serve

• Offer a referral discount to happy customers

• List your business on directories like Google Business Profile, Angi, and Thumbtack

And remember: every satisfied customer is a potential repeat client and a source of referrals.

One of the easiest ways to keep your social media channels active and your reputation visible is to share your best reviews regularly. NiceJob’s Social Sharing feature automatically turns your top reviews into polished, branded social posts, so you don’t have to spend time creating content or writing captions. This keeps your feeds fresh and attracts new customers organically.

Finally, make sure you’re listed on essential online directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, and Angi. Keeping these profiles updated and responding to reviews helps boost your local search rankings and builds trust with potential clients.

By combining community engagement with smart social sharing, you can build a strong local presence—even on a small budget.

Step 7: Systematize and Scale Your Carpet Cleaning Business

After a few months of steady bookings and hands-on experience, it’s time to think long-term and build systems that help you grow efficiently:

• Use software to manage jobs, schedules, and customer communication—so nothing slips through the cracks.

• Implement a review boosting system like NiceJob’s automated review campaigns to consistently collect fresh, positive feedback without extra effort. This builds trust, improves your Google rankings, and keeps your pipeline full.

• Hire additional technicians or assistants as demand grows to maintain quality and responsiveness.

• Expand your services by offering upsells such as area rug cleaning, upholstery cleaning, or stain protection treatments.

• Leverage your growing library of reviews and testimonials to build credibility, especially with commercial clients or larger contracts.

• Continuously ask yourself: “What would make my customer experience even better?” Let these insights guide improvements and innovations.

By systematizing your operations and reputation management, you set your business up to scale smoothly and sustainably—turning satisfied customers into loyal clients and powerful advocates.

Final Thoughts: Build Trust First—Then Grow

Starting a carpet cleaning business isn’t just about clean floors—it’s about building trust, one job at a time.

The more you focus on delivering great service and getting reviews that reflect it, the faster your reputation (and your business) will grow.

NiceJob helps new business owners go from zero to booked solid by turning happy customers into your biggest advocates. From automated review requests to branded social posts, we take care of your reputation—so you can focus on doing great work.

Ready to start your carpet cleaning business with a 5-star reputation?

Try NiceJob free and build trust from day one.

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