A different way of working

The biggest pricing mistake

Many new cleaners do something completely understandable.

They ask another cleaner,
"How much do you charge?"
Then they charge something similar.

The problem?

You don't know their business.

They might:

own their home
rent a studio flat
work two days a week
work six days a week
have another income
be undercharging
have twenty years of experience

Their price isn't your price.

You're not pricing a clean.

You're pricing a business.

Every quote needs to support everything that happens before, during and after the clean.

Cleaning is only part of what your clients are paying for.

The hidden costs nobody sees

When clients see a two-hour clean, they often think they're paying for two hours.

As a business owner, you know it's much more than that.

Your pricing has to help cover things like:

✓ Travel between clients
✓ Fuel or transport
✓ Cleaning products and equipment
✓ Insurance
✓ Website and marketing
✓ Business software
✓ Phone and internet
✓ Banking or payment fees
✓ Replacement equipment
✓ Training and learning

These are all part of running a professional business.

Then there are the things we often forget...

The invisible costs.

The ones that don't arrive as a monthly invoice.

Think about...

🌿 Holidays.
If you take two weeks off, your income usually takes two weeks off too.

🌿 Sick days.
If you're unable to work, there's often nobody else to earn for you.

🌿 Cancellations.
Last-minute changes happen.

Some weeks are simply quieter than others.

🌿 Administration.
Replying to enquiries.
Writing quotes.
Updating your diary.
Ordering supplies.
Cleaning your equipment.

None of these are usually paid separately.

🌿 Pension and future savings.
One day you'll want to slow down.
The business you build today should help support the life you want tomorrow.

🌿 Taxes and local business obligations.
Depending on where you live, you'll likely need to set money aside throughout the year. Understanding your local tax rules is an important part of running a sustainable business.

These hours may not appear in your calendar.
But they're still part of your work.

Busy doesn't always mean profitable

It's possible to have a full diary and still feel like you're constantly chasing money.
That's often a pricing problem, not a work ethic problem.

Working harder shouldn't be the only way to earn more.
Sometimes the answer is building prices that properly reflect the business you're running.

Thrive, don't just survive

Imagine two cleaners.

Both clean five homes a week.
One charges just enough to get by.
The other has built prices that allow for holidays, equipment, slower weeks and future savings.
Both work hard.
One constantly worries about money.
The other has room to breathe.

That's the difference between surviving and thriving.

Questions worth asking yourself

Instead of asking,
"What's everyone else charging?"
Try asking:

✓ What income would allow me to live comfortably?
✓ How many days do I actually want to work?
✓ How much unpaid admin do I do each week?
✓ What happens if I need a week off?
✓ Am I building a business I'll still enjoy in five years?

Those answers are often far more valuable than someone else's hourly rate.

Pricing with confidence

Clients aren't simply paying for your time.

They're paying for:

Your reliability.
Your experience.
Your organisation.
Your attention to detail.
The trust you've built.
The peace of mind you provide.

Never underestimate the value of that.

A gentle reminder

Your prices don't have to be perfect.
They'll grow as your experience grows.
Many successful cleaners review their pricing every year.

That's not being greedy.

That's running a healthy business.

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The Coffee Test ☕

Before you lower your prices to win a client, ask yourself one question:

If I cleaned this home every week for the next three years, would this price still feel fair?
If the answer is no, it's probably not the right price.

A cleaning business should give you more than work.

It should give you breathing room, time to rest, the ability to take a holiday without panic, contribute to your future, and every now and then, buy yourself a good coffee and a pastry without feeling guilty.

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Continue your journey
Next guide → Building a Brand People Remember

or discover:
🌿 Looking After Yourself While Running Your Business