“How do I price a cleaning job?” This is a common question for new solo cleaners and the answer depends on a few factors. No two homes are the same and although they may be the same size or even smaller, the price really depends on the customer and the state of their home. We have cleaned huge homes that are tidy for less than small homes that are messy because of their state.

Here is an example for a solo cleaner who is cleaning a 4,000 sq. ft. home. The price would not change if you have a helper or two, but the amount of time spent in the home would be cut in half with 2 cleaners. Ideally, it’s 1 man hour times the amount of cleaners, so if you have a 4,000 square home with 2 cleaners, plan on cleaning 2 1/2 hours. With 4 cleaners, cleaning the home would take 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Now that we have identified how many cleaners we would have and the time it would take to clean the home, the cost per cleaning would depend on whether:

A. you are supplying equipment and cleaning supplies
B. they have pets
C. the childrens’ rooms and play areas MUST be picked up. Explain to them that due to you cleaning alone (if that is the case), you need every minute you are there for cleaning!
D. you clean the baseboards in the whole house every time (although it is highly recommended that you rotate a level each time you come, rather than cleaning each floor’s baseboards every visit)
E. you plan on a long 6-hour day of cleaning each time.

The cost will depend on all the above. If the client’s 4,000 sq. ft. home is tidy and there are no pets, it would typically cost $370.00 per cleaning. If there are pets, it would be recommended to charge $430.00 per cleaning.

Additionally, keeping in mind that you are bidding per job, your hourly wage would be $61.00 per hour with no pets and picked up every time, or $71 with pets. I also recommend that you add in your contract that you don’t wash dishes. 

Added costs should always be implemented because these tasks make a cleaning take more time! Examples of these add-on tasks would be if rooms aren’t picked up, it is an additional $10.00 per room, or an additional $12 per bed if you are changing linens. Don’t bend on this; know your worth!

I have always bid per job and not per hour because whether you get done in 4 hours or 6, you still get paid the same. When you bid per hour, it’s your time they are paying you for, not your service.

Every home is different and the time it will take once you get to know the clients’ home will improve while the tasks you are doing will stay the same. I advise you to use the per-job payment model I have used for almost 3 decades. It has proven to be the most profitable model that allows my company the ability to provide quality services to my clients while paying a livable wage to my employees.

Now go take a bite out of grime!

Sincerely,

Robin Crockett

CEO & Founder, Heaven Scent Home Cleaning & Virtual Bid App