AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
A cleaning services business in Nigeria can start small, with mops, buckets, microfibre cloths, a wet and dry vacuum and safe chemicals, and add a floor scrubber and pressure washer for post-construction and office work. Jobs are priced per square metre, per hour, per room or as a monthly contract built from staff cost, consumables and a margin. The steady money is in office and estate contracts with clear written scopes.
Three markets, three ways of working
Home cleaning
One-off deep cleans, move-in and move-out cleans, and weekly visits. Jobs are small, customers are price-sensitive and trust is everything, because your staff work inside people's homes. Repeat clients and referrals decide whether this works.
Office and commercial cleaning
Daily or weekly cleaning of offices, banks' branches, clinics, schools and shops. Contracts run for months, payment is by invoice and buyers want reliability: the same staff, on time, with a supervisor they can call. Some clients deduct withholding tax from your invoices; see withholding tax on invoices.
Post-construction cleaning
Removing cement splashes, paint, dust and debris before a new or renovated building is handed over. It pays more per square metre than routine cleaning because it is heavy work, needs scrapers, scrubbers and sometimes acid-based cleaners, and runs to a deadline set by the developer.
Equipment, from starter to full kit
Figures are an example, not quotes; check two suppliers before buying.
| Stage | What to buy | Example cost (₦) |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Mops, buckets with wringers, brooms, microfibre cloths, squeegees, scrapers, gloves, starter chemicals | 120,000 |
| Starter | Wet and dry vacuum | 120,000 |
| Starter | Step ladder and extension pole | 50,000 |
| Growth | Floor scrubber or polisher | 400,000 |
| Growth | Pressure washer for exteriors and tiles | 200,000 |
| Growth | Uniforms, ID cards, signage | 60,000 |
| Starter | CAC business name (May 2025 schedule) | 20,000 |
The starter rows total ₦310,000, enough for home cleans and small offices. The growth rows add ₦660,000, for ₦970,000 in all. Hire a scrubber for your first post-construction jobs before buying one. Transport is the hidden cost: staff and equipment must reach the site, and fuel is a large part of that. The NBS national average petrol price was about ₦1,596 a litre as at May 2026; check today's pump price before pricing distant jobs.
How to price cleaning jobs
- Per square metre: best for post-construction and large floors. Measure, or take the floor area from the drawings.
- Per hour per cleaner: suits homes and small offices where the work is hard to measure.
- Per room or flat package: easy for home customers to understand (for example, a two-bedroom deep clean).
- Monthly contract: staff cost plus consumables plus supervision plus margin.
Worked example: a post-construction clean
Example only. A 150 square metre flat at ₦600 per square metre is ₦90,000. Four cleaners at ₦8,000 a day cost ₦32,000; chemicals ₦10,000; transport ₦8,000. Total cost ₦50,000, leaving ₦40,000.
Worked example: a monthly office contract
Example only. A 400 square metre office cleaned daily by two cleaners. Wages 2 × ₦90,000 = ₦180,000; consumables ₦40,000; supervision ₦20,000. Total cost ₦240,000. A 25% margin adds ₦60,000, so the monthly fee is ₦300,000. Review it every year, and include a clause that lets you adjust if the minimum wage or consumable prices change.
Contracts that protect you
Write a one-page scope for every contract client and get it signed:
- Areas covered and excluded (for example, no external glass above the ground floor)
- Frequency and hours of work
- Who supplies consumables such as toilet rolls and soap
- Replacement when a cleaner is absent
- Damage and breakage: how it is reported and your liability limit
- Payment terms, invoice date and late payment
- Notice period for ending the contract
For one-off jobs, take a deposit before the day; see taking deposits and part-payments.
Staff, chemicals and safety
Your cleaners are your product. Clients notice the same faces arriving on time far more than they notice which brand of mop you use. Pay on a fixed date, give each cleaner a written job list for each site, and appoint one supervisor who visits sites and is the client's first call. Keep a simple attendance sheet for each contract; if a client disputes an invoice, it is your evidence.
Chemicals are where accidents happen. Never mix bleach with acid-based or ammonia-based cleaners, store products in labelled original containers, and train staff to read the label before use. Post-construction work brings dust, sharp debris and work at height, so provide gloves, masks, closed shoes and a ladder in good condition. Test any strong cleaner on a hidden patch of tile, marble or wood first: damage to a new floor can wipe out the profit on the whole job.
Agree with each client who is responsible for a cleaner's own belongings and for client property left out, and keep valuables-related rules in writing.
Getting clients
- Start with homes you can reach easily and ask every satisfied customer for a referral.
- Approach estate managers, facility managers and property developers with a short profile and before-and-after photos.
- Bid for post-construction work by visiting active building sites near handover.
- Keep staff vetted: ID, guarantor and address, because clients will ask.
Where Pryme fits
Contracts run on invoices and wages. A Pryme Business Account includes invoicing for monthly fees and payroll to pay cleaners on time.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a cleaning business in Nigeria?
Our labelled starter example is about ₦310,000 for basic tools, a vacuum, ladder and CAC registration, rising to about ₦970,000 with a floor scrubber, pressure washer and uniforms.
How much do cleaning companies charge per square metre in Nigeria?
Rates vary by city and job type; post-construction cleaning costs more than routine cleaning. Our example uses ₦600 per square metre, but ask around and price from your own costs.
How do I get cleaning contracts in Nigeria?
Approach estate and facility managers, property developers near handover and offices, with a short profile, photos of past jobs and a clear written scope and price.
What equipment do I need for post construction cleaning?
Scrapers, a floor scrubber, a wet and dry vacuum, a pressure washer, suitable chemicals for cement and paint, ladders and protective gear. Hire heavy machines at first.
Sources
- CAC New Schedule of Fees (Official Gazette No. 92, 29 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Legit.ng: NBS reports petrol price at N1,596/litre (PMS Price Watch, May 2026), 24 Jun 2026 · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.