A hood cleaning business cleans commercial kitchen exhaust systems: the hood, the filters, the duct and the fan on the roof. The work happens after closing. Each kitchen's cooking sets how often it must be cleaned, so a full book of restaurants is a full calendar. Many start solo with one truck and a pressure washer and add a helper quickly.
- Local fire codes set how often each kitchen must be cleaned, by the type of cooking.
- Many fire marshals expect cleaning by trained and certified people. Ask yours.
- Plan for wastewater: grease water cannot go down a storm drain.
- Sell the year, not the visit.
1. Decide what you will offer
| Work | Who asks | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hood, duct and fan cleaning | Restaurants | The core service |
| Filter exchange | Restaurants | Between cleanings |
| Exhaust fan service | Restaurants | Belts, hinges, grease containment |
| Access panel installs | Restaurants | Needed to clean long ducts |
| Schools, hospitals, cafeterias | Facility managers | Bigger systems |
Fire extinguisher and suppression companies visit the same kitchens. Trade referrals with them.
2. Check the license and permits
Most places need only a business license, but many fire marshals require certification for kitchen exhaust cleaners and a service label on the hood after each cleaning. Ask your local fire marshal what they expect before your first job.
3. Know the cleaning schedule
Local fire codes set the minimum. Portland, Oregon's fire code is a clear example: systems with solid fuel or wok cooking every month; high-volume, fast food, 24-hour or char broiling every 3 months; normal volumes of cooking or baking every 6 months. It also says cleaning frequency depends on the grease found at inspection. Check your own fire marshal's rules.
4. Register the business and set up taxes
The SBA lists the launch steps in this order: pick a location, choose a structure, choose a name, register, get federal and state tax ID numbers, apply for licenses and permits, open a business bank account, and get insurance. For a hood cleaning business working out of a truck, the location is usually your home address and the area you will serve.
- Structure. A sole proprietorship is the simplest. An LLC keeps the business separate on paper. Ask an accountant which fits your state and your plans.
- Tax ID. The IRS gives out an employer identification number (EIN) online, and says you never have to pay a fee for one. Websites that charge for an EIN are not the IRS.
- Self-employment tax. The IRS lists the self-employment tax rate as 15.3%: 12.4% for Social Security and 2.9% for Medicare. Income tax comes on top, so set money aside from every job.
- Bank account. Open it before the first payment lands, so every dollar in and out is easy to find at tax time.
5. Pick a name customers can say and find
Your name goes on the truck, the invoices, the Google profile and the yard signs, so pick it once. The free hood cleaning name generator gives 36 ideas for your town and style, each with a domain idea, and lists the checks to run before you commit: your state's business name search, a federal trademark search and the domain itself.
6. Get insured before the first job
The SBA describes general liability insurance as cover for financial loss from bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses and defending lawsuits. It says businesses with employees are required to carry workers' compensation, unemployment and disability insurance, and some states ask for more.
Hood cleaning claims include fires blamed on missed grease, water damage, and roof damage. Ask your agent about general liability, commercial auto, and workers' compensation once you hire. Many restaurants and landlords will ask for a certificate of insurance.
7. Gear up and add up your startup costs
No total here on purpose. What you spend depends on what you already own, new or used, and how much work you plan to take on. Price your own list with a local supplier, then put the numbers in the startup cost table of the free business plan generator, which adds them up for you.
- Hot water pressure washer
- Degreasers, scrapers and brushes
- Plastic, tarps and a containment system
- Ladders, fall protection for roof fans
- A way to capture and dispose of grease water
A hot water pressure washer and a truck or trailer to carry it are the main costs. Wastewater handling depends on your local rules.
8. Set your prices
Price each kitchen from a walkthrough: hood length, duct run, access, fan and grease level. Our guide to pricing hood cleaning has a worked example, and the free maintenance plan pricing calculator prices the year.
9. Find your first customers
- Restaurants near you. Commercial outreach writes to them on Front Office.
- Fire suppression companies. They see dirty hoods every week.
- Property managers of food courts. Many kitchens, one contact.
- Your site. Koira builds it so owners can book a walkthrough.
10. Get paid and keep the customer
Sell each kitchen a plan for the year. On Front Office, Koira's maintenance plans bill it and book the visits, and Today puts the night's kitchens in driving order.
11. Grow past one truck
A second crew lets you take a second side of town on the same night. Read how hood cleaners run on Koira.
Sources
- SBA: Launch your business (the launch steps), checked October 8, 2026
- SBA: Get business insurance, checked October 8, 2026
- IRS: Get an employer identification number, checked October 8, 2026
- IRS: Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes), checked October 8, 2026
- Portland Fire and Rescue: FIR 8.08, commercial kitchen exhaust systems, checked October 9, 2026
Last checked October 8, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.