WITH EMPLOYEES
3,858
U.S. CENSUS CBP 2023
GUIDES · TEXAS · CLEANING SERVICES
Start a cleaning business in Texas
UPDATED JUL 2026 · DATA RETRIEVED JUL 2026
THE SHORT ANSWER
To start a cleaning business in Texas you'll file a Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State ($300), get a free EIN from the IRS, and take out a free sales tax permit from the Comptroller, because Texas taxes most cleaning services. Total startup filings: ~$300 and 5–10 business days. No statewide cleaning license is required.
Source: Texas SOS · Texas Comptroller · IRS — verified Jul 2026
RETRIEVED JUL 27 2026
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU · CBP + NES
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU · CBP + NES
CLEANING SERVICES — TEXAS ESTABLISHMENTS · NAICS 56172 · 2023
TX
STATE OF TEXAS
CLEANING SERVICES
CLEANING SERVICES
SOLO OPERATORS
SOLO
128,126
NONEMPLOYER 2023 · 97.1% OF TOTAL
STATE FILING FEE
$300
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION · FORM 205
PROCESSING TIME
PROCESSING
5–10
BUSINESS DAYS
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, CBP 2023 + NONEMPLOYER STATISTICS 2023 — RETRIEVED JUL 2026 CENSUS.GOV/CBP /METHODOLOGY/
MARKET SIGNAL
574,866 new business applications in Texas (last 12 mo) ▲ 17% YoY
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics — retrieved Jul 2026 Embed this chart
Cleaning is a strong fit for the Texas market: the state’s formation activity has been climbing for two straight years, and cleaning sits inside the administrative and support sector, one of the highest-volume application categories nationwide. Low equipment costs and no state license requirement keep the barrier low, and most new owners spend more on supplies than on filings. The obligation owners miss is tax: most cleaning work is taxable in Texas, so the free sales tax permit and the tax line on each invoice belong in the setup from the first job.
File your Texas LLC in 7 steps
1
STEP 1 OF 7
Choose and search your business name
Pick a name that includes "LLC" or "L.L.C." and isn't already taken. Check existing Texas entities free through the Comptroller's taxable entity search: enter your candidate in the "Entity Name" field and review what is already registered. The Secretary of State makes the final availability call at filing (its own SOSDirect search charges a $1.00 statutory fee per search), so a close match here is your signal to pick something more distinct.
mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us — Taxable Entity Search
Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax Account Status Search, entity name lookup (UI as of Jul 2026)
2
STEP 2 OF 7
Appoint a registered agent
Texas requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state who is available during business hours. You can serve as your own agent, which puts your address on the public record. A commercial agent lists theirs instead and files the consent form for you.
3
STEP 3 OF 7
File the Certificate of Formation (Form 205)
Texas e-filing runs through SOSDirect, and the whole filing side sits behind a login: from the landing page you enter the site, create a session, choose "Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form 205)," enter your business name exactly as you researched it, and pay the $300 state fee by card. Most filings are approved in 5–10 business days.
sos.state.tx.us — SOSDirect landing
Texas SOSDirect — landing; filing continues behind a login, searches carry a $1.00 statutory fee (UI as of Jul 2026)
4
STEP 4 OF 7
Get a free EIN from the IRS
Once the LLC is approved, apply for an Employer Identification Number on the IRS website. It is free, takes about ten minutes online, and you need it to open a bank account, hire, and file taxes. Ignore any site that charges for an EIN.
irs.gov — EIN Assistant
IRS — "Get an employer identification number," EIN Assistant entry (UI as of Jul 2026)
5
STEP 5 OF 7
Create an operating agreement
Texas doesn't require an operating agreement, but banks and partners often ask for one, and it settles ownership questions before they become disputes. A single-member LLC can use a short standard agreement; multi-member LLCs should spell out splits and exits.
6
STEP 6 OF 7
Check licenses and local permits
Texas has no general statewide business license. Check your city and county for local permits before you take your first job. For cleaning work specifically: no Texas state license is needed for residential or commercial cleaning, but most cleaning work is taxable here, so a free Comptroller sales tax permit and tax collection on invoices are part of setup. Some cities ask for a general business permit, and many commercial contracts require a janitorial bond and proof of liability insurance.
7
STEP 7 OF 7
Set up franchise tax and a business bank account
Texas LLCs file an annual franchise tax report; most small businesses owe $0 under the no-tax-due threshold but must still file. Open a separate business bank account with your approved certificate and EIN to keep liability protection intact.
File it yourself, or have it done
Same state fee either way. The difference is your time, and whose address goes on the public record.
DIY
WITH NORTHWEST
State fee
$300
$300
Service fee
$0
$39
Your time
~4 hrs
~10 min
Registered agent (1 yr)
you, publicly listed
included, private
Start your Texas LLC →
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Common questions
Do I charge sales tax on cleaning work in Texas?
In most cases yes. The Comptroller's guidance lists cleaning homes, offices, and other buildings among taxable services, so you collect state and local sales tax on the invoice and remit it to the Comptroller on your assigned filing schedule. The permit is free and issued online. The narrow exemption covers a self-employed person working as a household's own employee, not a business selling cleaning to the public.
Do I need a license to clean houses in Texas?
No statewide cleaning license is required in Texas. You still register your business entity, get a free EIN, and check city or county rules. Some municipalities ask for a general business permit, and commercial contracts may require a janitorial bond.
Does a Texas cleaning LLC pay franchise tax every year?
Most small cleaning LLCs owe $0. Texas sets a no-tax-due threshold that a typical new cleaning business falls under, so the franchise tax report shows nothing due. The report itself is still filed every year with the Comptroller; submitting it on time is what keeps the LLC in good standing.
Can I be my own registered agent in Texas?
Yes. Any Texas resident over 18 with a physical street address in the state can serve, including yourself. The trade-off is privacy: the agent's name and address go on the public record, and you must be available at that address during business hours to receive legal documents.
What does the $300 Texas filing fee cover?
The $300 is the state's one-time fee for filing the Certificate of Formation (Form 205), which creates the LLC itself. It does not include a registered agent service, an EIN (free from the IRS), or the annual franchise tax report you file to stay in good standing.
Source: BusinessFormation.us analysis of U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2023 (establishment counts, NAICS 56172), and Business Formation Statistics (monthly applications); retrieved Jul 2026. businessformation.us/start/cleaning-business/texas/