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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To charge £10 an hour as a cleaner?

97 replies

shrunkenhead · 05/12/2013 13:06

Just the above, really. Times are hard and have asked my boss if she has a house cleaner and she said she didn't but needs ones so volunteered my services.Am also advertising in my local area. Do you think £10 per hr is about right or too low? I am fully CRB checked and don't smoke so won't be bobbing off for fag breaks every ten mins.

OP posts:
Original poster
shrunkenhead · 05/12/2013 13:36

Specialsubject, I am advertising locally only so I can walk there and back. I am letting potential customers know I'm a non smoker as know how people view smokers and this way they know a) I won't be having breaks b)) I don't reek of smoke and c)) neither will their house!
What do I need to do about insurance, Worra?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 05/12/2013 13:37

BTW fag breaks (not that they matter for you) should be done on own time, like any other drug taking.

So coffee breaks are out? Xmas Grin

specialsubject · 05/12/2013 13:39

yep. :-)

point taken, OP. Good selling point!

Peekingduck · 05/12/2013 13:39

Nope, that's fine. I pay £12.50 for a lady who has her own public liability insurance and brings her own materials and equipment. Just do a very good job for that price and nobody should quibble.

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2013 13:40

I don't know what you'd need to do about insurance

But I know I wouldn't use an uninsured cleaner

Say you broke my very expensive Ming vase that I don't actually have How could I make you replace it?

Even my accidental damage contents insurance has a £150 excess fee.

ArtexMonkey · 05/12/2013 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RinkyDinkyDoo · 05/12/2013 13:42

I'm in south liverpool and I've paid my cleaner £10 an hour for the last 6 years. She uses all her own cleaning products and brings own mop, bucket and Hoover.

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2013 13:44

Sorry to speak about you as though you're not here ArtexMonkey but I have to ask...

Does anyone here think I've 'pissed squarely on the OP's chips' by asking this simple question?

"What about insurance OP?"

Original poster
shrunkenhead · 05/12/2013 13:44

I'm v careful and would promise to stay away from ming vases! No idea how to go about insuring myself!

OP posts:
HavantGuard · 05/12/2013 13:46

Nope Worra. Totally sensible.

Ephiny · 05/12/2013 13:47

I think we pay £12.50 an hour (it's whatever the London living wage is). Do you know what other cleaners in your area generally charge?

ILetHimKeep20Quid · 05/12/2013 13:47

Public liability, it's not that expensive but essential. When you phone hmrc they can advise on what you need to do. Registering benefits you, you will be able to claim back vat on a number of things when you do your annual return.

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2013 13:47

I'd look into it then OP cos I speak from bitter experience when I say it's very easy to break things when you're cleaning them Xmas Grin

LoopyLobster · 05/12/2013 13:49

Totally sensible and non chip pissy question Worra.

ArtexMonkey · 05/12/2013 13:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2013 13:51

Thanks Havant and Loopy

Anyway, I happen to piss glitter and rainbows and that's not a tasty chip topping.

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2013 13:54

Artex You are dishing out advice on how not to sound miserable or contrary on the internet?

Really?

That takes irony to a whole new level Xmas Grin

Original poster
shrunkenhead · 05/12/2013 13:54

Ok, I shall endeavour to look into insurance. From a bit of basic googling research it seems cheap, but as I'm new to this (cleaning for others, that is) I didn't want to charge the max and put people off IYSWIM.

OP posts:
ArtexMonkey · 05/12/2013 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArtexMonkey · 05/12/2013 13:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2013 13:58

I don't think our paths have ever crossed before have they Artex? Confused

Unless perhaps you've NC, I've not noticed you before you popped up on this thread? Glad to know I've had such a positive affect on your MN experience though Lol...

OP there's a poster on her called Kate the cleaning lady (or similar) and she might be able to help?

Topaz25 · 05/12/2013 14:00

I think asking about insurance is sensible, it's something that the OP might not have considered. It's easy to get carried away in the excitement of a business venture and not think about that side of things. I've just started doing stalls at Christmas markets and didn't realise I would need Public Liability Insurance until someone asked, luckily managed to sort it out days before my first stall! I used www.cglloyds.co.uk/ and found them to be really helpful and reasonably priced.

BusWanker · 05/12/2013 14:03

I pay mine a tenner an hour. I actually love her as I can't manage without her and would pay her at least triple that if she asked and I could afford it.

HavantGuard · 05/12/2013 14:04

Seriously Artex, you're the only one coming across as negative.

Insurance is in case you knock a vase over or drop bleach on a fitted carpet which could cost £££ to replace. It's to stop one mistake wiping out your earnings and reputation. It's more useful to the OP than knowing what someone pays their cleaner 300 miles away as rates vary by location.

fishybits · 05/12/2013 14:06

That's what I pay up here in Scotland