Why Cleaning Business Owners Must Raise Their Prices (and Stop Undervaluing Their Work)
Written with genuine love for our industry and the amazing people in it: if you haven’t raised your prices this year, you’re almost certainly charging too little!
Are Your Prices Holding You Back?
Let’s be honest, running a cleaning business is hard work. If you’re feeling constantly exhausted but barely making ends meet, it’s time for a reality check. Here are some red flags that your prices are too low:
- No Price Increase This Year: If your rates haven’t gone up, your profit is shrinking as costs rise.
- Struggling to Make a Living: If you’re working flat out, but still not earning a sustainable income, your rates aren’t reflecting your true value.
- No Time Off: If you can’t afford to take the 5.6 weeks paid holiday that any employed person is entitled to, your business isn’t supporting you as it should.
- Solo Cleaning Looks More Profitable: If you’d earn more by going back to cleaning solo, it’s a sign your business model needs a pricing overhaul.
- No Budget for Training: If you can’t invest in upskilling your team, you’ll struggle to grow and maintain standards.
- No Budget for Your Own Growth: If there’s nothing left for your own business development, you’re capping your own potential.
The Reality: Costs Are Up, So Your Prices Must Be Too
Wages are rising. Supplies cost more. Overheads keep increasing. Clients can’t expect champagne service on a lemonade budget. If your prices aren’t keeping pace with rising costs, you’re not just risking your profit, you’re risking your wellbeing, your team’s job security, and the future of your business.
Why Raising Prices Is the Professional (and Ethical) Choice
Charging more isn’t about greed, it’s about sustainability. When you price your services properly, you can:
- Invest in better training and resources for your team
- Provide a stable, supportive workplace
- Take time off to recharge (without guilt or financial worry)
- Deliver a consistently high-quality service to your clients
- Grow your business with confidence
Value What You Do And Teach Clients to Value It Too
It’s time to move away from the “cheap and cheerful” mindset. Charge more. Train more. Be proud. Value what you do, and your clients will too.
Or, you can keep struggling and hope that undercharging will somehow work out this year. But let’s be real: you, your team, and your business are worth so much more!
Ready to Review Your Pricing Strategy?
If you’re unsure where to start or want personalised advice on how to raise your prices with confidence, we offer a free 30-minute strategy session for cleaning business owners. Together, we’ll review your current pricing, identify opportunities for growth, and create a plan to help your business thrive, without burning out.
Book your free strategy session today and take the first step toward a more profitable, sustainable cleaning business:
