When does a cleaning business need to register for VAT?
Register if taxable turnover over the last 12 months goes over £90,000, or you expect it to in the next 30 days alone. The 12 months is rolling, not the tax year.
You have 30 days from the end of the month you went over to register. Turnover means takings, not profit: a business with staff can pass £90,000 while the owner's profit is far lower.
The price effect
Householders usually can't reclaim VAT, so your price effectively rises. VAT-registered business clients usually can, so there's little real change for them.
The full detail, worked examples and templates are in The Clean Start. Or work out your rate with the free price calculator.
Sources: GOV.UK: Register for VAT. Checked October 2026.
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