Starting a cleaning business is exciting. The possibilities are endless when it comes to growth and expansion. Before you can have a successful house cleaning business, you need to figure out your pricing for your cleaning services.
Determining how to price your house cleaning services can be a challenging task. You may wonder whether you should charge by the hour, by the job, or by square footage. Each option has its pros and cons, so it’s essential to do some research before settling on a pricing structure that works for you.
Throughout this house cleaning pricing guide we’ll show you the types of cleaning services you can provide and how can you can charge for them.
Before understanding the pricing for house cleaning services, it’s essential to consider the types of cleaning services you can provide to your clients. Offering a variety of services can attract more customers and increase your revenue. Here are four types of cleaning services you can provide:
Basic cleaning services typically include dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and wiping down surfaces in all rooms of the house. This type of cleaning is usually done on a regular basis to maintain cleanliness and tidiness.
Deep cleaning services involve a more thorough and detailed cleaning of the entire house. This may include scrubbing bathrooms, cleaning appliances, washing windows, and other tasks that are not typically included in basic cleaning services. A
Move-in/move-out cleaning services are designed for clients who are moving into or out of a home. These services involve deep cleaning all areas of the house to ensure it is move-in ready or leave it clean for the next occupants.
Post-construction cleaning services are essential for clients who have recently completed a renovation or construction project in their home. This type of cleaning involves removing any dust, debris, and construction materials left behind after the construction work is finished. Post-construction cleaning may also include cleaning windows, floors, and other surfaces to make the space ready for occupancy.
Post-event cleaning services are perfect for clients who have hosted a party or event in their home and need help with the cleanup. This type of cleaning involves removing trash, cleaning up spills, and restoring the space to its pre-event condition.
| Cleaning Service | Hourly Rate | Per Room Rate | Flat Rate | Square Footage Rate |
| Basic Cleaning | $30–50/hour per cleaner | $75–200 | $100–150+ | $0.07–0.16/sq ft |
| Deep Cleaning | $40–100/hour per cleaner | $200–400 | $125–175+ | $0.13–0.17/sq ft |
| Move Out Cleaning | $40–100/hour per cleaner | $300–400 | $125–175+ | $0.13–0.20/sq ft |
| Post-Construction Cleaning | $30–50/hour per cleaner | Up to $800 | $125–175+ | $0.10–0.50/sq ft |
| Post-Event Cleaning | $25-90/hour | $135-300+ | $200+ | $0.12–0.80/sq ft |
In addition to the types of cleaning services mentioned above, there are various cleaning tasks that you can offer to your clients. These tasks can be added on to your standard cleaning services or offered as standalone services for an additional fee. Here are some common cleaning tasks you can provide:
| Cleaning Task | Average Price |
| Changing Bedsheets | $10 per bed |
| Wash and Dry Laundry | $5 to $20 per load |
| Interior Window Cleaning | $4 to $7 per window |
| Exterior Window Cleaning | $5 to $8 per window |
| Dusting Blinds | $20 |
| Polish Wood Surfaces | $30+ |
| Cleaning Interior of Cabinets | $25 to $45+ |
| Fridge Cleaning | $12 to $50 |
| Oven Cleaning | $15 to $35 |
| Baseboard Cleaning | $35+ |
| Cabinet Organization | $50 |
House cleaning rates vary from state to state in the US. After looking at different cleaning services prices, we see that the national average of house cleaning rates per hour is $25 to $90. Of course, this is just an average, and some businesses charge more per hour based on location.
This information is helpful because you can see what others who are in the same business as you are making. We have taken a look at the big picture and broken it down to help you figure out how to charge for your house cleaning services.
There are multiple ways of charging clients for house cleaning services. Choosing the right method for you is what is important.
When figuring out how to price cleaning services, there are four methods most commonly used by house cleaning businesses. They include the square footage of the home, a per-room rate, a per-hour rate, or a flat fee.
Square footage is the measurement used for the size of homes and buildings. This method of pricing requires you to decide on a rate per square foot. For example, you may charge $0.10 per square foot. If the home you are cleaning is 2,000 square feet, then you would multiply 10 cents by 2,000. So a 2,000-square-foot home is priced at $200.00.
This method of pricing requires you to price each room individually based on how long it takes to clean that room. A kitchen will take longer to clean than a bathroom. So, if you charge $100.00 for the kitchen and $50.00 for the bathroom, your average comes to $75.00 per room.
As stated earlier, the national average for house cleaning rates per hour ranges from $25 to $50. Your rate should be based on where you live and what similar businesses are charging.
Do not price your services too low to get more clients. Base your rates on what it will cost you to get the job done, and leave enough room for a profit. While there is some room to wiggle with an hourly rate, you should remember that your profit could decrease as you become more experienced and clean houses faster.
Charging a flat fee is when you perform a service for a set price. For instance, you would charge $100 a week to clean a house. Charging a flat fee means you make the same amount of money, no matter how fast you get the job done or how large the house is.
Opting for a flat fee pricing model eliminates the problems associated with charging an hourly rate. The client is paying you not for your time, but for the problem you are solving. It also eliminates any disagreements or price matching between you and the client.
Choosing a method to charge for cleaning services is not decided upon in one afternoon. There are many factors to consider when setting your house cleaning prices.
Where you live is an important detail to consider. The cost of living will affect how high or low your rates are. In areas such as San Francisco, CA, or New York City, the cost of living will be higher. You will find a lower cost of living in more rural areas of the country.
The location also drives demand. Certain areas of the country have a higher percentage of people who are looking for house cleaning services. You should price your services according to demand in your area.
If you are someone new to the cleaning industry, then you should not charge more than experienced house cleaners do. You will not have the references to back up your experience. Once you become more experienced, you will have the ability to charge a premium rate. Check out this article for ways to sell yourself as you gain more experience.
Frequency alters prices because of the amount of time required to clean a house. Homes cleaned more often require less time. The first cleaning may take longer, with less time needed for each subsequent visit.
A larger home means that cleaning will take longer. If you charge a flat rate, consider increasing it for a large home.
Some house cleaning services require a walk-through before setting a rate. A walk-through will allow you to see what the state of a home is. For homes that will need more than a standard cleaning, the rate should be higher.
The type of cleaning you will perform could raise or lower your rate. House cleaning services will offer packages with different cleaning services.
Here are some examples of cleaning service packages:
Clients may want extra services such as window cleaning, changing bed linens, or laundry completed from time to time. You should include any extras in the price.
When you are pricing your services, it is important not to undersell yourself. Paying the bills is not enough. You need to think about earning a profit and growing your business.
Here is an example to give you a better idea of how to calculate your house cleaning rate.
If the size of the house is 1,000 square feet, and it takes 1.5 hours to clean it, how much should I charge to clean a house?
Start with an estimated hourly rate. If you decide to charge $30.00 an hour, multiply the time it takes to clean the house by your rate.
30.00 x 1.5= $45.00
Next, you need to add FICA and taxes required by your state. We will use 18% for our example.
45.00 x .18= $8.10
$45.00 + $8.10 = $53.10
Your hourly rate has now become $53.10. At this point, you will need to add the cost of supplies. For our example, let’s say supplies will be an estimated 6% of your business costs.
$53.10 x .06= $3.19
$53.10 + $3.19 = $56.29
It is important to add your overhead costs. Overhead costs are anything that is an employee-related cost but not part of the job itself. These constitute travel expenses, marketing, and website maintenance. Let’s say these expenses correspond to 50% of your hourly rate.
$56.29 x.50= $28.15
$56.29 + $28.15= $84.44
Lastly, add in your markup. Markup is the amount of profit you are looking to make. Say you want to make a 20% profit, then your numbers will look like this. Of course, you can alter your markup depending on the client and job requirements.
$84.44 x .20= $16.89
$84.44 + $16.89= $101.33
You can round this final number up, and you’re at $102 per hour. To sum it up, if you charge $102 per hour, then you can expect to earn a profit of $16.89 per hour.
How much should I charge to clean a 2,000 sq ft house? Using the same formula above, it is approximately $202.63.
As with any business, some things can alter your prices. Let’s take a look at a few factors that could affect prices in the cleaning industry.
First of all, cleaning supplies can increase your costs. For clients that prefer an eco-friendly environment in their home, you may need to purchase different supplies. Using products that are labeled organic or eco-friendly can be costly.
Secondly, as mentioned before, extras such as doing dishes or changing bedding can alter cleaning service prices.
Thirdly, if a client has their own supplies for your use, your rate will need to be adjusted.
The key is to ask questions and complete a walk-through of the home. You will get a better idea of the kind of cleaning services the client is looking for and how long it would take to clean their home.
Managing a cleaning company involves tasks such as house cleaning, paperwork, permit filing, and restocking supplies, which can be time-consuming. In addition to fulfilling client needs and managing inventory, it is important to monitor the budget, supervise employee schedules, handle client invoices, maintain account records, and prepare for taxes and other business expenses.
TEAM Lite is a software designed for small cleaning businesses to streamline and manage operations efficiently, making it a useful tool for new companies looking to handle various aspects of their business effectively.
Time-saving features: TEAM Lite offers features such as employee scheduling, client invoicing, and budget tracking in a single platform, saving time for users to concentrate on providing quality service.
Improved organization: TEAM Lite provides a secure platform for managing business data, which includes client information, employee schedules, and finances. This helps increase efficiency and reduce the risk of oversight.
Figuring out what to charge for a service is a common question among entrepreneurs. Cleaning rates can be hard to decide on because of the different factors we discussed above. Taking the frequency, location, and demand into consideration is just the beginning.
House-cleaning business entrepreneurs also need to consider their experience and what size homes they are looking to clean. Don’t under or oversell yourself!
We applaud your bravery in venturing out and starting your own business. You should now have a better idea of how to charge a fair rate for your services and create a profitable business. What do you think you should charge for your next house cleaning job?
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