Why Does House Cleaning Cost So Much?
This article was originally published in May 2021. Costs were calculated based on actual costs from that time, so these figures will be conservative. Although data is not yet available for the entire year of 2023, inflation rates from April 2021 to April 2023 were a whopping 13%. (Source)
So I had a potential client reach out to me the other day for a consultation for an enormous 3,500 square foot house. It is a move out clean; her property manager has a reputation for being particularly picky; she even disclosed that she is potty training puppies, that they are a large family, and that the home was not in great condition.
“Can you believe the other companies quoted me $650?” She asked me, furious.
I could. That was close to the market rate for the services she was requesting. I told her so, and she sighed, “well back home, I could pay someone $75 to clean my whole house. Why can’t you?”
Great question!
There are actually a lot of hidden costs to hiring even a solopreneur house cleaner— and exponentially more if your cleaning company is an employer who is operating legally in your market.
Being a Legitimate Business
What happens if your cleaner breaks or damages something in your home? If you don’t want to be the one paying for it, you are going to want to work with a business who is operating legally in their market.
First, insurance. General liability covers accidents. Professional liability covers errors and omissions. A crime bond covers theft. Workers’ Compensation covers injuries on your job site. And an Umbrella policy covers everything else.
Administrative fees include the time and expenses that it takes to be compliant with OSHA, the state, and the federal government.
Oh, and if you don’t want to have to go get exact change from the bank every visit, you are probably going to want a cleaning company that offers credit card payments— an additional expense.
Our coverages, taxes, and administrative fees sit at the five figure mark each year.
Costs of Being a Legitimate Business: $ 55 / day
Value Brought to You: $55
Location Expenses
If you want your cleaner to use clean cloths and mops, you’re going to want to hire a company that has a washer and dryer. And since you can’t put a washer and dryer in a storage unit, they are going to need a building to put it in— and electricity, gas, water, and sewer to run them.
While we are at it, you are probably going to want a phone number to call and a website to visit. Oh, and a pleasant person on the other end of the line.
Rent: $42 / day
Utilities: $3
Washer / Dryer: $1,500
Washer / Dryer Maintenance, Supplies: $2 / day
Value Brought to You: $1,547
Vehicle Expenses
You can’t bring your house to us, so vehicles are a must. The last fleet vehicle we purchased was a 2015 used, base model Nissan Sentra. It’s a good car that won’t leak oil in your driveway, and will get us to your house on time without fail.
Purchase price: $7,500
Sales Tax: $750
Registration: $100
Gas Expenses: ~$3 / day
Insurance: ~$9 / day
Maintenance ~$7 / day
Value Brought to You: $8,369
Human Expenses
Of course it takes humans— plus tools and resources— to get the job done.
An excellent company will have background-checked and drug tested staff members. Most clients prefer to have the same cleaner every time: if you want someone to stick around, you have to pay and treat them very well. We start our employees at a living wage because we want to bring only the best personnel into your home. Offering a benefits package also helps to ensure that you have the same team every time.
An excellent company will also have uniformed employees. Over the years, I have heard many homeowners complain about the appearance of their previous cleaners.
Initial Training: $1280 x 2 employees = $2,560
Certification Classes: $335 x 2 employees $670
Uniform: $70 x 2 employees = $140
Supplies / Equipment: $550 x 2 employees = $1100
Background Check: $35 x 2 employees = $70
Drug Test: $70 x 2 employees = $140
Healthcare and Mental Healthcare: $3 / day / employee
Value Brought to You: $4,686
Total value brought to you in a single visit : $14,657
The average house cleaning visit for a bi-weekly client is $175 per visit, only a fraction of the value we bring to your family. Do you want fourteen thousand dollars worth of value brought to your home? Book a Consultation
Amber Starling, Author
Founder and President of
Good Witch Cleaning Services, LLC
IICRC Journeyman Textile Cleaner