03/19/2026
PSA for anyone looking for work in STR cleaning around here. And yes, I will be posting across groups bc it’s already getting wild out here 👇
If you’re getting work through another cleaning business, you should not expect full cleaning rates. The person giving you cleaning found the client, built the business relationship, handles the liability, covers all of the overhead including laundry, amenities, inspection, etc.
You’re stepping into an already built system. That’s not a bad thing, it’s actually one of the easiest ways to get started… but it’s not the same as running your own business.
Another thing… there is no license for cleaning. I repeat THERE IS NO LICENSE FOR CLEANING. Whether or not you’re registered as a business has no relevance to your ability to clean. It also doesn’t absorb liability when you’re working under another cleaning business. When you’re working under another cleaning business you are not working as an equal business partner, as far as the owner of the property is concerned.
I keep seeing people ask “what would you charge for this house?” and then turn around expecting those same numbers when working under someone else. That’s not how it works.
If a company charges $600 for a 6-bedroom, that number includes a LOT more than just cleaning.
Also, this area is not lacking cleaners. It’s lacking good cleaners.
STR cleaning is not residential cleaning and it’s definitely nothing like residential cleaning or cleaning your own house. It takes speed, consistency, attention to detail, LOTS of physical work, the ability to follow a system… And yes… showing up with a roll of paper towels, a bucket of random chemicals and an old upright vacuum is a major red flag 🚩
The flip side of this:
A lot of us who own cleaning businesses actually WANT help. If you need advice on a setup, please ask me and I’d be happy to share what we use.
Most of us are willing to train you, provide supplies, share checklists, give you a real shot…. Some of us are looking for experienced cleaning. Either way we are taking a risk bringing someone new into our properties, especially during busy season when there’s no room for failed inspections. This isn’t something you wake up and decide to do overnight.
Could you guys imagine the success we could have if we were able to w**d out one and done cleaners, set everyone up for success, teach one another our techniques, openly discuss pay so that we could all just work together? The amount of stress this time of year would be so much less and our businesses would grow much faster.
With ALL of that said, I also believe that all of us business owners have to unite in asking owners to establish/enforce checkout rules. AIRBNB has these people in a chokehold with the 5star system. To the point where the lax in holding guests responsible is taking us out. How many of you have already started to encounter unrealistic turns? I say every year that this is worse than last year, and that applies already. I’m working on my own cleaning materials to leave in units and I’ll be talking with the owners I work with to get permission to leave in each unit, however, it starts with the bookings and the vetting of guests. That’s a whole different conversation but, I just wanted to let it be known that if you’re running into issues already you’re not alone!
