Why Most Cleaners Are Underpaid
Let me say this clearly:
You’re not underpaid because you’re bad at cleaning.
You’re underpaid because no one ever taught you how to run the business.
Most solo house cleaners were trained to clean...not to price, not to set boundaries, and definitely not to make owner-level decisions. So they end up doing everything “right” and still struggling.
If that’s you, this isn’t a motivation problem.
It’s a business problem.
Free Resource for Cleaners
If you already know you’re undercharging but aren’t sure what to charge instead, grab my Flat Rate Pricing Cheat Sheet.
It walks you through pricing your cleanings in a way that actually pays you — without guessing or hourly math.
Being Busy Is Not the Same as Being Profitable
One of the biggest lies in the cleaning industry is that being booked solid means you’re doing well.
It doesn’t.
I see cleaners every week who are:
Fully booked
Physically exhausted
Still stressed about money
A full schedule with low rates is a trap.
More clients don’t fix underpricing... they make it worse.
If your income only works when you’re maxed out, your business is built on burnout.
The Real Reasons Cleaners Stay Underpaid
This isn’t about laziness or lack of effort.
It’s about missing fundamentals.
1. Pricing Based on Fear
Most cleaners price based on what they think clients will accept — not what actually pays them.
They’re afraid of:
Losing “good” clients
Getting pushback
Being seen as expensive
So they stay cheap and stressed.
2. Saying Yes to Everyone
Early on, saying yes makes sense.
Long-term, it destroys your business.
When you don’t have client standards, you end up with:
Low-paying jobs
High-maintenance clients
A schedule you can’t control
Good clients aren’t just nice people.
They’re clients who pay rates that support your life.
3. Copying Other Underpaid Cleaners
A lot of pricing advice comes from other cleaners who are also struggling.
Just because something is common doesn’t mean it works.
If you’re copying someone who’s busy and broke, you’ll end up in the same place.
4. Confusing Hard Work with Strategy
Cleaning is hard work. Running a business is strategic work.
Most cleaners are doing 100% of the labor and 0% of the decision-making — and wondering why nothing changes.
Hope is not a strategy.
Hard work alone doesn’t fix broken math.
Why Free Tips Aren’t Fixing This
You can Google pricing formulas.
You can watch free videos.
You can download checklists.
And still stay stuck.
Why?
Because random tips don’t tell you:
What to fix first
What actually matters in your situation
Whether a decision is helping or hurting you
Information without guidance just creates more guessing.
What Actually Changes the Money
Here’s what does work — at a high level:
Clear pricing standards (not vibes)
Rules for which clients you keep and which you don’t
Boundaries around your time and energy
Owner-level thinking instead of survival mode
This isn’t about cleaning better.
It’s about deciding better.
When you start making decisions like an owner, the income follows.
Where Support Comes In
You don’t need another free tip.
You need help applying this to your real business.
That’s exactly why I created Profitable Cleaner Society...a coaching membership for solo cleaners who want to work less, charge more, and stop guessing.
Inside, we work on:
Pricing decisions
Client standards
Real-life scenarios
What to change now vs later
No fluff. No hype. Just practical coaching from someone who actually cleaned houses and made it work.
The membership is currently open at founding-member pricing: $14.97/month.
Active members keep this rate as the Society grows.
👉 If you want support implementing this instead of figuring it out alone, you can check out the membership here .
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to clean harder.
You need to run the business smarter.
And that’s something you can learn.
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How to start a cleaning business from scratch
For over 30 years, Trisha built and ran her own successful cleaning business, handpicking her schedule and consistently earning $5,000+ a month—all while working part-time as a solo cleaner. Now, she’s here to help you do the same! Whether you’re just starting solo or already have a small team, Trisha’s vast experience can help you grow your business and boost profits without adding more hours. She'll teach you how to avoid common mistakes new cleaning business owners make and run your business profitably from day one. With over three decades of experience, learning from Trisha is the fastest, most reliable way to launch or scale your thriving cleaning business!
