Cleaning company in Norway – your obligations as a business owner

Dreaming of starting your own business in Norway and thinking about a cleaning company? Or maybe you already run one and want to make sure you’re meeting all legal requirements?

You’re in the right place! This article is a practical guide—from business registration and required approvals to the day-to-day (more often monthly and yearly) obligations you’ll have as an employer.

You’ll learn what the Renholdsregisteret is, how HMS (health, environment and safety) rules work, what the industry wage rates are, and which reports you need to submit to Skatteetaten and NAV. Clear, practical, and based on how things actually work in Norway.

Let’s get started.

Business structure in Norway

Before you register your business, it’s worth deciding which structure you’ll operate under. The most common options are:

sole proprietorship (ENK – enkeltpersonforetak), and
limited company (AS – aksjeselskap).

ENK is simpler to set up and run, but the owner is personally liable with their private assets. AS requires minimum share capital (30,000 NOK) and limits liability—company debts are generally not your personal responsibility.

For small cleaning businesses, ENK is often enough (lower costs and simpler accounting support), while larger operations often prefer AS for stronger legal protection. In practice, the “best” choice depends on your situation—both structures can work well.

Business registration and approvals

Registration in Brønnøysundregistrene

Register your business via Altinn—ENK in the Central Coordinating Register (Enhetsregisteret), and AS in both Enhetsregisteret and the Register of Business Enterprises (Foretaksregisteret).

We are an authorised accounting firm in Norway and can help you register your business. Welcome:

Approval and Renholdsregisteret

Anyone providing cleaning services must be approved by the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet). You need to apply for entry into the Renholdsregisteret before you start operating. Without approval, you cannot legally offer cleaning services. We explain this in detail later in the article.

HMS card (HMS-kort)

After registration, everyone who performs cleaning work must have a mandatory safety ID card (HMS-kort). This applies to all cleaning companies, including sole proprietors who work alone. The card costs 132.90 NOK (plus VAT) and is valid for 2 years. More details below.

Now, let’s get specific.

Company approval – Renholdsregisteret

If you want to run a legal cleaning company in Norway, you must be approved by Arbeidstilsynet. This requirement applies to both ENK and AS—even if you’re the only person in the business. Without this approval, you cannot provide cleaning services commercially, either to businesses or private clients.

What is Renholdsregisteret?

Renholdsregisteret is Norway’s official register of approved cleaning companies. Only companies listed in this register can legally provide cleaning services. Clients—both private and business—can check your company on Arbeidstilsynet’s website before hiring you. Because the register is public, it also boosts your credibility.

How do you get approved?

To be listed in Renholdsregisteret, you submit an application via Altinn. You’ll need to provide documentation showing you meet Norwegian labour law requirements, including:

employment contracts for all employees (in Norwegian),
proof that the company and employees are registered with NAV,
proof of an agreement with an approved occupational health service (BHT – godkjent bedriftshelsetjeneste),
wage information confirming compliance with minimum wage requirements,
proof of occupational injury insurance (yrkesskadeforsikring),
a commitment to comply with obligations under the Working Environment Act (Arbeidsmiljøloven).

What happens after approval?

Once your company is listed in Renholdsregisteret, you receive confirmation and a registration number. You must keep your information updated and confirm annually that you still meet the requirements (an egenerklæring). Every three years, you must also submit documentation for re-verification—otherwise you risk being removed from the register.

Watch out for penalties

Providing cleaning services without approval can result in fines or an order to stop operations. In some cases (e.g., public tenders), clients are required to use only registered companies—so without the approval you may lose many potential contracts.

In short: Entry into Renholdsregisteret is an absolute requirement for any cleaning company in Norway, and it’s worth securing from day one—both legally and reputationally.

HMS-kort – mandatory ID card in the cleaning industry

Anyone working in a cleaning company—including the owner of a sole proprietorship—must have a valid HMS-kort. It is a personal ID card proving the person is legally employed and working for an approved company. The HMS-kort requirement is part of workplace safety rules (including Arbeidsmiljøloven § 4-1).

Who needs an HMS-kort?

All employees performing cleaning work, regardless of hours (excluding non-cleaning office staff),
Business owners who personally carry out cleaning work,
Workers from foreign companies who physically perform cleaning work in Norway.

What does the HMS-kort include?

The card includes:

the worker’s full name,
the company’s organisation number,
personal number or D-number,
photo,
confirmation that the company operates in “Renhold” (cleaning).

The card should be carried during work. In inspections, Arbeidstilsynet (and in practice sometimes clients) can request to see it.

How to order an HMS-kort

You order the HMS-kort online at: www.hmskort.no.
To apply, the company must be approved in Renholdsregisteret and registered as an employer. The person must have a Norwegian personal number or D-number.

Cost and validity

Cost: approx. 132.90 NOK + VAT (as of 27.06.2025)
Valid for 2 years, then it must be renewed.

What if you don’t have an HMS-kort?

Missing HMS-kort can lead to:

administrative penalties/fines for the employer,
work being stopped during an inspection,
in the worst case, loss of approval in Renholdsregisteret.

In practice, this is one of the first documents checked during inspections—so it’s best to handle it early.

Bottom line: HMS-kort is mandatory for everyone performing physical cleaning work in Norway. It also increases client trust.

Hiring employees and BHT

Contracts and wages

Every employee must have a written employment contract in Norwegian. You must follow the requirements in the allmenngjøringsforskrift—the extended collective agreement rules for the cleaning industry.

From 15 June 2025, the minimum hourly wages are:

236.54 NOK gross/hour for adult workers
185.55 NOK gross/hour for workers under 18
Night work (between 21:00 and 06:00) requires an additional allowance (min. 29 NOK/hour).
Overtime (overtid) must be paid with an additional minimum 40% on top of the hourly rate.

Cleaning companies must also pay for travel time between assignments (travel time counts as working time) and provide work clothing and footwear (proper workwear, so it can be treated as a business expense).

Health and safety – HMS obligations in cleaning

Norway places strong emphasis on workplace safety and decent working conditions. In cleaning—where employees handle chemicals, perform repetitive physical tasks, and often move between locations—HMS (Health, Environment and Safety) obligations are especially important.

Agreement with an approved occupational health service (BHT)

Every cleaning company must have an agreement with an approved occupational health service (godkjent bedriftshelsetjeneste, BHT). This is an external provider that helps assess workplace risks, monitor working conditions and support preventive measures. BHT is a requirement for entry into Renholdsregisteret and a legal obligation for high-risk industries, including cleaning.

Safety representative and AMU

Verneombud (safety representative) must be elected in companies with employees (in businesses with fewer than 5 employees, it may be possible to agree on an alternative arrangement). The role is to focus on safety, report risks and cooperate with management.
Working Environment Committee (AMU – Arbeidsmiljøutvalg) is mandatory in companies with at least 50 employees, and in cleaning it may also be required from as few as 5 employees if the parties decide so. AMU is a forum where employer and employees discuss health, safety and work environment measures.

Risk assessment and documentation

As a business owner, you must perform a systematic risk assessment (risikovurdering) covering all areas of your activity, including for example:

exposure to chemicals (detergents, descalers, disinfectants),
musculoskeletal strain (repetitive work, carrying equipment),
working conditions in dark, cold or humid spaces,
travel between clients and working late at night,
risks linked to working alone (especially outside business hours).

The results must be documented in writing and updated regularly. Based on this, you establish preventive measures and mandatory training. BHT providers typically have templates and systems you can use.

Training and protective equipment

Every employee must receive training in health and safety—both general and specific to the tasks and locations. Training can be organised internally or through BHT. Typical topics include:

correct use of chemicals (including safety data sheets – Sikkerhetsdatablad),
use of cleaning equipment and transporting materials,
ergonomics and safe working posture,
procedures in case of accidents and exposure to hazardous substances.

The employer must also provide appropriate workwear and personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, goggles where necessary) and ensure replacement/cleaning when needed.

Inspections and responsibility

Arbeidstilsynet can inspect your company at any time. They may check HMS documentation, risk assessments, BHT agreements and proof of training. Missing documentation or non-compliance can lead to fines, orders to correct issues, or in the worst case, removal from Renholdsregisteret.

Now, let’s cover other employer obligations:

Mandatory occupational pension (OTP)

If you employ staff, you must set up a mandatory occupational pension plan (OTP). In practice, this means paying at least 2% of the employees’ salaries into individual pension accounts (applies to salary up to 12 G—one G is 130,160 NOK as of 1 May 2025).

This must usually be established within 6 months of starting to employ people.

Monthly a-melding reporting

As an employer, you submit a-melding each month to Skatteetaten/NAV—or your accountant can do it for you.

This report includes salary payments, tax withholdings and social contributions. The data goes into NAV’s employee register (Aa-registeret). Failure to submit on time can result in financial penalties.

Occupational injury insurance

Employers must have insurance covering employees in case of work injury or occupational disease—usually yrkesskadeforsikring. Proof of this insurance is required when applying for approval as a cleaning company.

Annual report to Arbeidstilsynet

Each year after you receive approval, you must confirm to Arbeidstilsynet that you still meet the requirements (via a form in Altinn).

Every three years (or if requested), you must submit documentation such as BHT agreements, AMU meeting minutes, wage documentation, proof of occupational injury insurance, etc., to confirm ongoing compliance.

Taxes and reporting

VAT (MVA)

If your company’s turnover exceeds 50,000 NOK over a rolling 12-month period (note: always the previous 12 months, not the calendar year), you must register for VAT and add 25% VAT to invoices.

After that, you submit VAT returns (MVA-melding) every two months. Even if there were no VAT sales or purchases in a period, you must submit a “zero return” to avoid penalties.

Accounting

Keep financial documentation—invoice records, receipts and reconciliations—for at least 5 years. Under Norwegian accounting rules, every business must track income and expenses. Many use accounting software (for example Efirma.no) to make reporting easier.

Often the simplest solution is using an accounting firm such as Efirma Regnskap AS. When choosing an accountant, it’s important that they are authorised in Norway. It’s also worth considering how long they’ve been in the market and whether they inspire trust.

Tax return and settlement

At year-end, you file the annual tax return (skattemelding). ENK pays personal income tax (advance tax payments), while AS pays corporate income tax—and as the owner you may also pay personal tax on salary/dividends.

In practice, you pay tax in advance and settle after receiving the official tax assessment. It’s worth consulting an accountant to ensure you claim the correct deductions (equipment, cleaning supplies, fuel, etc.). If an authorised accountant handles your books, you don’t need to worry about the details.

Other obligations

Comply with labour law requirements, including statutory vacation rules and holiday pay (feriepenger), as well as any parental leave rules where relevant. Also be prepared for possible inspections—Skatteetaten and Arbeidstilsynet can both request documentation, so keeping things organised is key.

Summary

Starting and running a cleaning company in Norway involves several formal requirements. The most important is approval from Arbeidstilsynet and registration in the relevant registers. After that, you must stay compliant—keep proper accounts, report employees (a-melding), follow minimum wage rules and maintain strong HMS routines. This ensures your company operates legally and helps you avoid penalties for non-compliance with Norwegian regulations.

Do you have questions about registering or running a cleaning company in Norway? Contact us at:
+47 21 38 38 21. We’re available Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM–9:00 PM, and we’ll be happy to help!

Article author: Marcin – marcin@efirma.no