The end of the year is busy for cleaning businesses: pre-Christmas deep cleans, office parties, customers going away and staff wanting time off. It is also the best moment to tidy up the year and set up the next one. This checklist helps you finish strongly and start January organised.
Money
- Chase overdue invoices: clear as much as possible before the holidays, when payments slow down.
- Invoice everything: make sure every completed job has been invoiced.
- Review the year: revenue, profit, outstanding invoices and your best and worst services.
- Talk to your accountant: about year-end and tax planning.
Automatic invoicing and overdue reminders make this far easier. See our guide to SMS invoice reminders.
The Christmas schedule
- Plan holiday cover: approve staff time off early and reassign jobs.
- Handle customer pauses: add away dates for customers who are away so visits restart automatically in January.
- Tell customers your opening hours: over Christmas and New Year.
- Fit in the extras: pre-Christmas deep cleans and after-party cleans, without overloading the team.
Prices
- Review your prices: do they still cover wages, travel, products and overheads?
- Plan any increase: decide the amount and date, and give customers fair notice. The price increase tool updates recurring jobs and emails each customer.
Renewals and compliance
- Check insurance renewal dates.
- Update risk assessments and COSHH records.
- Check equipment tests and vehicle MOTs.
- Review commercial contracts coming up for renewal.
Your team
- Say thank you: a card, a small bonus or a team get-together.
- Check holiday balances: and carry-over rules.
- Hold short reviews: what went well, what could be better.
- Plan training: for the new year.
Your customers
- Thank them: a festive message to regular customers.
- Ask for reviews: happy customers are often generous at this time of year.
- Offer January deep cleans: a popular way to start the year.
Your systems
- Tidy your customer list and remove those who have left.
- Update access details and preferences.
- Review checklists and automated message wording.
- If you are still on paper or spreadsheets, plan a January switch.
Our guide to a new year set-up checklist continues from here.
Your marketing
- Look back: which lead sources brought in the most customers this year?
- Share highlights: a few of your best before and after photos from the year.
- Plan January promotions: deep cleans and new regular customers after the holidays.
The first week of January
- Restart paused customers: visits with away dates restart automatically; check the schedule anyway.
- Apply any price increase: on the date you announced.
- Welcome new customers: January often brings a wave of new enquiries.
- Brief the team: targets, changes and priorities for the year.
Check your cash for January
January can be slow for payments, with customers catching up after Christmas. Make sure you have enough in the bank to cover wages and bills through the month.
Plan your own break
Decide when the office will be closed and who will handle emergencies, and let customers know.
A note on pre-Christmas demand
December often brings a surge of one-off requests: pre-Christmas deep cleans, end of tenancy before new year moves and cleans after office parties. Price them properly, book them early and protect your regular customers’ visits. It is better to turn away a few one-offs than to let down customers who are with you all year.
Your equipment and stock
- Check equipment: vacuums, mops and machines that need servicing or replacing.
- Count stock: top up products and consumables before suppliers close for the holidays.
- Check vans: servicing, MOTs and winter checks.
Yourself
Owners often work hardest of all in December. Plan some proper time off over the holidays, with clear arrangements for emergencies and someone else covering the phone where possible. A rested owner makes better decisions in January.
Planning next year
- Set two or three targets: customers, revenue, time to get paid.
- Decide on any new services or areas.
- Plan hiring for busy periods.
Common mistakes
- Leaving invoices unchased over the holidays.
- Cancelling regular visits instead of pausing them.
- Approving too much staff holiday in the busiest weeks.
- Forgetting insurance renewals.
Finish the year organised
Automatic invoicing and chasing, absence management, Reassign Staff, customer away dates, the price increase tool, renewal reminders, review requests and the financial dashboard are included on every ProCleanerUK plan. Start your 28-day free trial, or book a free demo and get set up before January. For growth planning, read a 12-month growth plan.
FAQs
What should a cleaning business do at year end?
Chase invoices, plan Christmas cover, review prices, check renewals and thank staff and customers.
How do I handle customers away over Christmas?
Add away dates so visits are skipped and restart automatically.
Is year end a good time to review prices?
Yes. Plan any increase and give customers fair notice.
Should I ask for reviews at Christmas?
Yes. Happy customers are often generous at this time of year.
When should I switch software?
January is a good time, as many businesses are quieter.