How to start an oven cleaning business in the UK

Step 1: Decide if the work suits you

Oven cleaning is physical, hands-on work in other people's kitchens. You will be kneeling, lifting oven doors and racks, carrying a tank of hot solution and talking to customers all day. The upside is that it is simple to explain, everyone with an oven is a potential customer, and you can start on your own with one van.

Before you spend anything, ask yourself three honest questions:

• Am I happy doing the physical work myself, at least at the start?
• Can I talk to customers and sell a repeat visit?
• Do I have, or can I fund, a van and the start-up kit?

Step 2: Get proper hands-on training

You can watch videos online, but ovens differ a lot. Doors come apart in different ways, fan covers and side racks vary by make, and getting a door back together wrongly can damage the appliance. That is why training on real jobs matters more than a certificate.

Look for training that:

• Puts you in real customers' homes, not just a workshop.
• Covers door glass removal, fan covers, racks, hobs and extractors.
• Shows you how to price, book and follow up jobs, not just clean.
• Lets you come back if you are not ready yet.

Our oven cleaning training is one week on the road in South East London, led by our head trainer Lee. You shadow on day one, then you are hands-on from day two to day five, and you can have free extra days if you are not ready.

Step 3: Buy the right equipment

The heated dip tank

The tank is the heart of a professional oven clean. Racks, trays, fan covers and other removable parts soak in heated solution while you work on the inside of the oven. A good tank saves hours each week and gives results customers notice.

Hand tools and consumables

You will also need scrapers and blades, brushes, cloths and pads, protective gloves and eye protection, dust sheets and floor protection, and a supply of cleaning products. Buy professional-grade products and keep the safety data sheets for each one.

A van

Most oven cleaners work from a small van so the tank can be carried safely and parts cleaned at the kerbside. Check the van can take the tank's weight and that it is secured properly.

If you want this sorted for you, our training plus tank package includes the tank, and the full on-the-job business setup includes tank installation and all the tools and equipment.

Step 4: Sort out the legal basics

• Register your business. Decide whether to be a sole trader or a limited company, then register. GOV.UK explains how to set up as a sole trader.
• Get insurance. Public liability insurance is essential when you work in people's homes. If you employ anyone, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement.
• Health and safety. The HSE's guidance for cleaning businesses covers your duties, including assessing risks. Oven products are chemicals, so follow COSHH: know what you use, how to store it and what protection you need.
• Waste. Dispose of used solution and grease properly, never down a drain that is not meant for it.
• Gas. Do not disconnect gas appliances. That is work for a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Step 5: Set your prices and services

Price per appliance, not per hour. Customers want to know what a single oven, a double oven, a range cooker, a hob or an extractor will cost before you arrive. Check what other local oven cleaners charge, decide where you want to sit, and publish clear prices. Bundling an oven with a hob and extractor is an easy way to raise the value of each visit.

Step 6: Build a brand and win your first customers

This is where most new oven cleaning businesses struggle. Cleaning ovens well is the easy part; filling the diary is harder. The basics are:

• A clear business name and logo, and a simple website with your prices and a booking or enquiry form.
• A Google Business Profile, so you show on Google Maps in your area.
• Before-and-after photos of real jobs.
• Asking every happy customer for a review.
• Local Facebook groups, leaflets and letting agents for end-of-tenancy work.
• Reminding past customers when their next clean is due.

We are part of a working group: Eagle Eye Oven Cleaning runs 12 vans, Local Oven Cleaning runs 2, and our in-house marketing company, Eagle Eye Ads, brings in work for the group. With the full setup you get a logo, a website, 3 months of free SEO and a Facebook ad campaign set up for you, plus ongoing marketing support.

Step 7: Choose how much help you want

You can do everything yourself, join a franchise, or take a middle route. We offer three options, with no long-term contract on any of them:

• Training only, £1,500.
• Training plus tank, £3,000.
• Full on-the-job business setup, £5,500, covering training, the tank and its installation, tools and equipment, logo, website, office and business set-up, SEO, Facebook campaign set-up and ongoing support.

The tank on its own is £2,000. See the pricing page for details, or read oven cleaning franchise vs going independent to compare routes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a qualification to start an oven cleaning business?

There is no legal qualification needed to clean ovens in the UK. What matters is proper hands-on training, insurance and following health and safety rules such as COSHH for the products you use.

What equipment do I need to start oven cleaning?

A heated dip tank, a van to carry it, scrapers, brushes, pads, gloves and eye protection, dust sheets and professional cleaning products with their safety data sheets.

Can I start an oven cleaning business on my own?

Yes. Many oven cleaners start as sole traders with one van. You register with HMRC, get public liability insurance, buy your kit and start marketing locally.

Where does your training take place?

Training is delivered on the road in South East London, on real jobs. People travel in from across the UK and Ireland.

Is there a long-term contract?

No. None of our options has a long-term contract or lock-in.

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