what should I be charging

[zsbcghy]

Hi
I am a cleaner for warehouses and offices. I am only paid minimum wage because I work for a company, but I am now finding opportunities where I could set up my own business and work for myself.
I am so stupid at estimating how much I should be charging companies!
Does anyone know the right amount I should be charging? Is £20 an hour too high/low? for cleaning a business?
what is the right amount in this day and age to be charging?

It's likely to vary depending on the area. As a starting point, could you see what other local businesses are advertising their rates to be? Or do you know how much the businesses you currently clean at pay your employer?
£20ph seems low to me when each job will only be a couple of hours, meaning unpaid travel time/costs between jobs needs to be factored in more. You need to be earning enough to cover all the hours you'll be out of the house, pay for annual leave and sick days, as well as any cleaning products and equipment plus insurance payments, i.e. you may need to charge twice (or more!) what you need your 'take home' to be to ensure everything is covered.

Bear in mind if you are expected to pay for consumables or not.
For a nice easy small office (accountants or something) that you can walk to, and is flexible on when you do their 2 hours a week or whatever, you might feel happy with £20 or less as a base line.

If the office is busier, out of town, lots of washrooms, and you would have to be there in really unsocial hours then you ought to be charging more for the hassle factor

Add together what the agency pays you and the amount the agency gets to see the total companies are paying for your services at present. Maybe charge £1 less to be competitive?