u/BagAdministrative330

When I started I let cleaners bring whatever supplies they had at home. Every house got a different result. One cleaner used a great glass cleaner, another used paper towels and window cleaner on everything, and I had no idea which version of my service a client was judging me on.

Now every cleaner gets the exact same kit on day one. Microfiber cloths, an all purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, a vacuum, a mop, a bucket, gloves, and trash bags. I buy it all in bulk so it costs me less than the random stuff they were buying themselves.

Two things changed. First, every home gets cleaned with the same products, so the quality is consistent no matter who shows up. Second, the mid job store runs stopped. Nobody texts me at 2 pm saying they are out of bathroom cleaner.

If your cleans feel uneven from one cleaner to the next, standardize the kit before you blame the people.

When I started I quoted hourly because it felt safe. If a job took longer I got paid more. The problem was clients hated the uncertainty and good cleaners hated being watched by the clock. Nobody wins when everyone is staring at hours instead of quality.

I switched to flat quotes based on the home and the scope. I walk through the place or get photos and videos first, then name one price for the whole job. Clients book faster because they know the number up front. Cleaners work at a natural pace because nobody is punishing them for being thorough.

The trick is pricing the scope, not the square footage. A 2,000 square foot home with two kids and a dog is a different job than the same size home with one quiet couple. Ask about pets, clutter, and how long since the last deep clean before you name a price. My margins went up and my quote close rate went up. Flat pricing was the reason.

I learned this the hard way. When I started I paid cleaners on my own schedule, sometimes a full week after the job was done. The good ones quietly drifted off to companies that paid faster. Cleaners are running their own businesses and they remember exactly which owner made them wait.

Now every job gets reviewed the same day it finishes. If the client signs off, the cleaner gets paid within 24 hours. No waiting for Friday, no batching two weeks of jobs into one payout.

Turnover dropped fast. My best cleaners take the jobs I send first because they know the money lands quickly. It costs me nothing extra. Same pay, just faster timing.

If you are losing good cleaners and cannot figure out why, look at your pay timing before you blame your pay rates.

Curious what everyone’s running their business on. I got frustrated with Jobber pricing and spent 6 months building my own tool (390 businesses use it now), but wanted to hear what’s working or not working for others first.

Full disclosure I’m the founder. Got tired of paying $300/mo for software that didn’t feel built for operators like us. Spent 6 months building a CRM with the same core features as Jobber/BookingKoala, plus a few extras. 390 businesses using it now, mostly organic growth.. Happy to answer questions if you’re evaluating options.

I run a cleaning company and got tired of paying $300/mo for Jobber. Spent the last 6 months building my own version scheduling, invoicing, client management automations. — at a fraction of the cost. 390 businesses using it now, no paid ads, just organic growth.Would love feedback from other founders on pricing, positioning, or anything that stands out as off. jointidywise

How much is everyone paying for cleaning business software?

I run a cleaning company and got tired of Jobber/BookingKoala pricing, so I ended up building my own CRM with the same features (and a few extras) for way less. Not trying to sell anything here … just curious if others feel the same way about SaaS pricing in this space, or if $300/mo is just the cost of doing business now.

After a few bad experiences, here's what I've learned to check before hiring

  ▎ a cleaning service in the Fort Lauderdale/Broward area:

  ▎ 🚩 No insurance or won't show proof — if something breaks, you're stuck.

  ▎ 🚩 Cash-only / no real business presence — no website, no reviews.

  ▎ 🚩 Vague pricing — good companies give a flat quote upfront.

  ▎ 🚩 No background checks on cleaners.

  ▎ 🚩 Can't commit to a consistent cleaner or time.