Am I being unreasonable increasing my cleaning rates to £17.50 an hour?

[Chattychoo]

I am a cleaner , I am half semployed half self employed. I charge £15 an hour(north west) , some I provide cleaning products some they provide.
I last increased my rates 3 years ago but now employ my daughter a few hours a week.
I have a few clients I travel to (20 mile round trip) and due to inflation, fuel and general increased prices thought it was time for a price increase.
i have googled and tried to find what the general prices people charge and I don't want to overcharge anyone.
i have sent a couple of clients that I travel to an email raising to £17.50 an hour but it's not going down well. I haven't heard off one but the other has questioned it . I stated costs have risen and did mention fuel which I probably shouldn't have.
Ive been asked to re consider as it's now coming back down but all my other costs have gone up, insurance , minimum wage even cost of washing my cloths , even my rent so now I don't know how to reply , I feel I'm overcharging and wish I'd never mentioned it!

Not the end of the world, up to them if they want to cancel. Another option would be a travel cost.

In the last three years my wages have risen by roughly that amount per hour, so it seems reasonable to me. If it is the going rate in the area, go for it. If people don't like it, they have the option to stop using your services, but given that they would then have to find someone else they like, they might not bother.

Give yourself a bit of a talking to! You've rather brilliantly found a solution that works for you and your family, you've made such a success of your self employment that you're at capacity with clients and can employ your daughter too. The only place you're going wrong is in not seeing your successes and putting value on yourself.
Look at yourself in the mirror and give that woman a woop woop! Then contact any clients who are pushing back a polite bit firm assertation that these are your new rates as of X date and if they unfortunately can't afford them then to please give notice by Y date.
And get a contact drawn up for clients too because cancellation the day before a job, let alone on the day, should absolutely be paid for. Again, know your worth.

My dad’s cleaner (also Northwest) charges £20ph. I think £17.50 is more than reasonable. You could consider offering £16.50 to existing customers and then £17.50 to newly arriving customers?

It’s a bit unreasonable for your current clients to expect the prices to stay the same especially with how much everything is increasing.

I don’t have a cleaner because I can’t afford one. Every time I’ve considered it I have guesstimated a cost of £20+ph based on the fact that I paid £15ph in 2021. It is not your problem if your clients can’t afford you - they are engaging an optional service and either pay the rates, or do it themselves.

I think you’ve hit on several things:

1. You were at £12ph and sounds like those clients (who were massively underpaying you) then had to stretch to £15. Now they are being asked to stretch to £17.50, they’re probably remembering when they used to pay £12. This is a them problem.

2 Any client who asks you to reconsider your price is quibbling and you need to look to replace them. On no account back down. They will not be able to find anyone cheaper. 3 Your daughter sounds like she would qualify for PIP. Please support her in applying. It could help her access support which could widen her world. 4 You sound like a hard worker who has prioritised other people’s needs. Give yourself a break and force yourself to stick to this increase, and from now on go up £1per year every April.

I would also advertise for new clients at a new rate of £20ph, and only take on clients who are local to you. Round here, anyone with spare hours gets snaffled up, and the good cleaners have waiting lists. Consider advertising on Next Door or your local fb pages. You can then replace those clients who are far away. Ensure that you set terms with your new clients which includes a cancellation fee. When we had cleaners, they still came when we were on holiday.

This is a bit like the other thread about the husband and wife handyman/gardening service. People will willingly pay the rate for a professional who does something that they personally could not do; but when it's something that they could do to an extent for themselves - except they don't have the time, can't be bothered, aren't as competent as they assumed, or maybe are disabled and so would struggle - they see it as no big deal, and thus not worth that much. It's almost like they see YOU cleaning THEIR house as YOUR hobby when THEY can't be arsed to clean THEIR OWN house!!

They do it too when it comes to the cost of a cup of tea at a cafe compared to what it would cost them in their own kitchen at home. It boils down to the fact that they simply don't value your time or labour. I think there's also a common mindset that being self-employed is just people earning a bit of pin money when compared to a 'proper' employed position. As PP have said, many are woefully and blissfully unaware of all the costs that your employer incurs to employ you, which all have to be paid by you yourself when you're SE.

Imagine if they got an office job and their employer started knocking the cost of their desk, computer, stationery, phone etc. off their wages before paying them a penny - not to mention taking a whack for electricity and heating and telling them that they won't be paid for any holiday time or sick leave!

Matey who lives well out your area but still happily chose to engage you rather than somebody much closer is already telling you that he doesn't value your time or associated travel costs; so why would he care about you clearing a fair wage for your work and time?

You charging as much as you want to is fine; clients deciding that they can't/won't pay that price and would rather look elsewhere or do without the service is also fine; trying to shame and guilt somebody into charging you less than they need to charge to secure their own livelihood is disgraceful.

I used to pay £10 an hour all those years ago, I now pay £20 an hour for an amazing cleaner, this is out of London in a previously cheaper place.

Costs are up and good cleaners are in high demand, mine is turning people away, so she can charge £20 an hour from the get-go and still have people she can't do- I wouldn't feel remotely bad about £17.50 an hour.

My cleaner is an ace cleaner, too, she organizes, does bedding, just goes the extra mile, it is not as if I could clean anywhere to her standard, so whilst I agree it's not a skilled job in that anyone can do it, good cleaners have skills that other mortals do not, for which they are entitled to charge.

Thank you for all your messages. I've got myself all in a tis over fuel and I don't actually mention it in my email , I had just stated due to rising costs 🙄

Costs are rising though, when you work, you have to make enough to pay yourself fairly. I think cleaning is undervalued or people think 'minimum wage' because it's not skilled, but you can't do an 8 hour shift of cleaning, it's not possible, so essentially you have to do 2 x 3 hours a day and make your total day money from that.

If the client goes elsewhere, that's up to them. You will get someone else quickly.

Round here there are more people wanting cleaners than there are cleaners and good cleaners are very much in demand, due to tenancy cleans, Air B and B and offices as well as domestic homes.

As the other poster says, it's not your hobby to clean for others, if they can't afford it due to CoL, they will have to stop having a cleaner, and let someone else have their slot.

I am happy to help if asked and achievable , with orevious clients I've changed beds, even gone out and done shopping, taken to appointments(past jobs) . I've gone over time before as some like to chat and I don't like to leave unless finished. I draw the line at ironing and oven cleans though , I hate ironing and oven cleans take hours 😂.

Don't beat yourself up about it, you have costs and everything costs more. If people can't afford it they can go elsewhere. Advertise that you have a few slots available on a local Facebook page. More satisfying clearing for people who think you're worth the charge than those who begrudge paying it. Cleaning is hard work, you've got all your clients via word if mouth so you must be good

I'd class cleaning as something thats a minimum wage job,

As a self employed person op has to cover NI contributions, private pension, holiday pay, business insurance, cleaning materials she supplies, time spent doing admin....

Once those are all deducted she is probably barely taking home minimum wage.

Absolutely this! Do not be apologetic, your current rates are barely above minimum wage. Good, reliable cleaners are like gold dust, you have the power here.

It's always the same. People just don't see self employed is self employed.. whether it's something you cant do or can't be bothered to do. Even on trade pages they look down on cleaners. It's very odd.

This client started at £15 3 years ago but I understand what you mean. I used to have 2 rates with and without my cleaning products but I found the ones without didn't always stock up so I ended up using mine anyway. I started at £10 probably 2016 but minimum wage forced it up then I found I was having to ask every 2 years to go over it so 3 years ago went to £15 which for most includes cleaning products. It's now grown more into a business than a few clients around my kids but I also think people don't realise it's a business as I employ my daughter and there's related business costs, I don't employ an accountant I do everything myself , maybe I should as that's time consuming and stressful but I don't want it as my main employment I'd give it up tomorrow if it wasn't for employing my daughter and getting her out of the house(she can't leave it on her own)
I do live in a small area and it's full of cleaning businesses but I know from people asking on Facebook , cleaners tagged that a lot are full. I don't intend on raising prices again for a few years it's just so stressful 😂 and if it wasn't for my daughter I would seriously consider jacking it in .
I'm giving myself today to gather myself before I email tomorrow and as I haven't even mentioned fuel just rising costs I feel I can maybe go into inflation etc .

Your increase is very justifiable. Either they agree to pay or find another cleaner.

I hope you find more clients close to home as the travel time to these people is eating into your earnings.

I'm giving myself today to gather myself before I email tomorrow and as I haven't even mentioned fuel just rising costs I feel I can maybe go into inflation etc .

OP, don't feel you have to justify yourself. Everyone knows costs have gone up. Just say, politely, this is the new rate, take it or leave it.

And I agree you need a cancellation policy. Less than 24 hours notice, full price. Maybe half price for 24-48 hrs notice, or whatever you decide.

I’m in Surrey - and I currently pay my housekeeper £25 / hour. She’s wonderful - I chat to her a lot (she’s with me 12 hours a week) - and she said that she found when she’s put up her hourly rate she lost some clients - but found new ones pretty quickly - and generally the ones that are prepared to pay her more are nicer to work for.

I don’t believe in nickel and diming people that work for me - hard work deserves reasonable compensation - especially for people that are travelling to you and spending time in private areas of your home.

stick to your guns. Maybe send a message saying ‘I have had to make a business decision that reflects increasing costs of many things, including insurance, fuel and the minimum wage - the hourly rate will be 17.50 from 1st June’

that gives them time to find someone else if they really want. you will find plenty of other people who will employ you at the new rate.

don’t let slight emotional pressure make you back down. You are worth more than you are currently being paid.

You have no idea what she earns and what her outgoings are. She’s not being tight at all. She didn’t want to pay the prices and so she didn’t. Whether she can’t afford it because she has a huge mortgage or a gambling addiction or just prefers spending it on foreign holidays and wine doesnt matter.

Perfectly reasonable increase after 3 years. You may lose some clients - but you’ll pick up replacements who are willing to pay what you are worth.

Don’t talk yourself out of a sensible business decision.

Not irrelevant at all!

We're in n Wales. £20 per hour is normal on here. If you lose a client advertise on local FB page. You'll get new clients my cleaner says.

How about telling these valued clients that you understand their concern and given your good relationship , would like to offer them a special rate of 16.00 an hour?

Why are people so dismissive of cleaners? A good one is like gold dust. I pay mine 25€ an hour and she comes once a week for 4 hours. I think I should increase the weekly amount by 10€.
She has been cleaning for me for 15 years now.
I couldn’t have got through some life struggles without her - my partner dying and me having burnout.
We have become good friends over the years.

OP you need a good shake. Don’t explain. Everyone knows that prices are rising and why. Just say it’s 17:50 from this date and you understand if that is not affordable and to let you know by x date if you are still needed. Also from that date you will be implementing a 100% cancellation fee if you are cancelled less than 24 hours before a clean.

This is a job you provide, not a subsidised voluntary service.