How Much Should You Charge for Your First Cleaning Job?

Pricing your first cleaning job is intimidating — charge too much and you might lose the client before you start. Charge too little, and you’re working for less than it’s worth.

Most new cleaners start by asking the same question: is $20 an hour good, or should I be charging $50? The honest answer is — it depends, but here’s how to figure out your number instead of guessing.

Never given a quote before? Time yourself first.

Grab a stopwatch and clean your own home start to finish. Note your square footage and how many bedrooms and bathrooms you cleaned, and do it a few times so your timing evens out. That gives you a real number — minutes per square foot — instead of a guess.

When you go bid your first job, compare that home’s square footage to your own. A 2,000 sq ft home will take longer than a 1,200 sq ft one — price accordingly. And keep in mind, a cluttered home always takes longer than a tidy one, no matter the square footage.

Then ask yourself the harder question: what’s your hour worth? There’s no universal right answer, but there is a wrong one — don’t undercharge. In most cases, it’s better to lose the bid than win it at a price that doesn’t respect your time.

The right price isn’t about matching what competitors charge — they could be underpriced too. It’s about knowing your own numbers well enough to give a confident quote.

If you need more detail regarding pricing your service, make sure you check out our Starter Course, which covers this and a lot more.