i am investigating setting up a cleaning service

[overthemill]

having tried and failed to find a local cleaner I'm seriously thinking about setting up a local service with my sister who has been made redundant. I've been trying to get one since I moved here and the agencies locally (actually not that local) are expensive and I cant find anyone independently recommended by anyone - they all say 'wish i could get one'. BUT from the school gate I reckon there would be people who might want to clean for a few hours a week.

This would be her main income and my extra one (alongside my freelance work)

so, my questions to mumsnetters are:

if you have/would like a cleaner - how much do you pay - is it per hour or per session?
do you like weekly or fortnightly?
do you prefer using an agency or someone direct?

my idea is charge £7 - 9 an hour OR £30 for 3 bed house/£35 for 4 bed house. Extra for ironing @£5 an hour
springcleaning/one off £100
Reasonable?

would you want someone to come and 'assess' your house first/happy to call and book/prefer to visit a website?
oh and what about bringing own cleaning products - good or unimportant to you?

let me know! thanks!!!

Good idea about ebay Starbear - if we could supply the packaging/bubblewrap and go to PO - surely people would love that service. I know there is a company that does it already - but the personal angle/plus cleaning would be a winner?

I am charging £20 p.h for finance stuff (travelling invloved) and am loath to drop to £9/£10 p.h. But the easyness of cleaning etc and it being so local - is appealling.

Using my 'survey' results I plan to:
start with 3 people working with me paying them £7.50 ph

charging a flat rate fee for a 3 bed or 4 bed or 5 bed house. lots of cleaning companies seem to do that rather than hourly rate.

i would pay the cleaners from the fees paid to me and i would fill in (to start off) for sickness etc - so that's why keep it small.

Use my products (green ones) but their equipment eg hoover/mop.

system for cleaning, say, ovens , windows etc on a kind of weekly rota.

Spring clean £x and decluttering £x. this is in a rural area where most people have cars as they need them.

would try it in the two 'poshest' villages nearest to me first and then expand if it works.

what do you think?

Hi every one, I have been reading quite a lot of your comments, and thought i should tell you that i am full time self employed cleaner, with a full Enhanced Disclosure (CRB) check.
If anyone is looking for a cleaner in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, please point them in my direction.
I love cleaning and have a great attention to detail.
I offer weekly, two weekly, monthly cleans, all aspects of house cleaning undertaken, no job is too small.
I also do spring cleans, one off cleans, end of tenancy cleans etc, the list is endless.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.

In this area cleaners charge £10 an hour (Gloucestershire) But there are a lot of agencies operating. I have thought about doing cleaning and dog walking alongside my normal nannying work(for which I am police checked and qualified). Nannies usually have to be employed by families but if you can prove you have several clients then you can register self-employed, soa few cleaning jobs could help!

£7 an hour is below minimum wage

If you wanted to offer more than you how would you pay them?

How would you cover your costs, etc?

Ice maiden73, the minimum wage has increased since the post in 2009.
I have been working partly PAYE and doing some cleaning work as self-employed. I have handed in my notice on my PAYE job and hope to increase my cleaning business. These posts have been useful to explore other's ideas.

I would really like to know how the original poster, Overthemill, is progressing with her business. She seems to have lots of ideas and enthusiasm and confidence for the business.

Any sad ice on how to start up a self-employed cleaning business from anyone would be useful. I have some customers that I clean for at £10/£11 an hour from advertising locally. However, in order to make a living and not do all the cleaning myself, I would need to take on an employee. This seems a massive jump and I'm not sure I have the knowledge to involve myself in the details employment law. Anyone else crossed this bridge?

Thoughts and advice gratefully received.

I pay my cleaner £11 ph. That's the going rate here. Can't imagine getting someone for much less.

Hi elliemaynot, this thread is a few years old, but alot has changed since then, most notably peoples attitudes to cleaners, alot more working people are getting cleaners, I am in London, my basic rate now is £13 ph, but I have some customers that pay up to £25 for last minute bookings. I work about 35 hours per week plus 3-6 hours a week for admin. Be aware of WRC (work related costs) travel costs and travel time, I try and keep bookings within the same area for different days. I have been amazed how much work there is and how much people's attitudes have changed since only a few years ago, some of the old threads on here really took the mick out of cleaners, these days you aren't expected to move heavy furniture, tidy up mess, or have customers quibly if you leave early, I charge per booking not time! Good luck with it

Also elliemaynot, try and get insurance, not a legal requirement but its only £100 per year, and get a DBS check £60, also try and do a business course for self employed.

I really need a cleaner £7 an hour would be perfect. I only need a cleaner on a fortnightly basis for 2 hours. I'm more than happy to supply all my own cleaning products.
I have a very good Hoover I just never have a chance to clean as I work I have twin boys and I'm a single mum xxx

Hi I was just wondering does anyone know someone that wants to clean every two weeks for one hour to do the wet cleaning - bathroom, kitchen and my upstairs toilet it would only take an hour I just can't stand wet cleaning and I don't have the time. I'm so exhausted being a single mum!!!!!
but I don't want to pay an agency fee because they cost so much money I just want a cleaner on a fortnightly basis for 1 hour 😊

Rebecca322, very funny, all I can say is good luck with finding someone for one hour a fortnight at £7, that's not only below min wage, but wouldn't even cover travel costs