01/01/2026
!!!!
Let’s clear something up with real numbers, not opinions.
As a professional cleaner, my actual business costs include:
• Taxes
• Insurance and bonding
• Accountant and bookkeeping
• Website, software, and advertising
• Gas, vehicle wear and maintenance
• Equipment, tools, and supplies
• Scheduling, communication, and admin time
All in, my total business overhead runs 30-40%.
Now let’s talk about the idea that "$20/hr is fair."
$20/hour
Minus 30-40% overhead
= $12- $14/hour
That’s before unpaid admin time, drive time, cancellations, or the physical toll this work takes on the body.
At that rate, I’m not running a business.
I’m not earning a living.
I’m effectively paying the client to clean their home.
That’s why legitimate professional cleaning does not price at $20/hour.
Industry reality:
• Professional services typically start $50/hour and up
• Maintenance cleanings often run $150-$500
• Deep cleans regularly exceed $600
• Large homes, heavy buildup, or specialty work can reach into the thousands
That pricing isn’t greed. It’s sustainability.
There will always be someone cheaper.
There will always be someone uninsured.
There will always be someone undercharging.
That doesn’t make it the same service.
Professional businesses price to stay insured, accountable, consistent, and in business.
The right clients understand that.
✨ And let’s be honest for a moment…
Would you scrub a stranger’s toilet, in their home, carrying the liability, for that price?
🐝✨