Learn how to set competitive, profitable cleaning rates in British Columbia. Covers hourly vs flat-rate pricing, expense tracking, profit margins, and how to raise your rates.
Pricing is one of the hardest parts of running a cleaning business. Charge too little and you burn out working long hours for slim margins. Charge too much and you lose jobs to competitors. This guide helps you find the right price for your market, your skills, and your business goals.
Know Your Real Costs First
Before setting a rate, you need to know what it actually costs you to clean a home. Most new cleaners dramatically underestimate their expenses:
| Cleaning supplies | $50 – $100 |
| Vehicle fuel | $150 – $300 |
| Vehicle insurance (business use) | $100 – $200 |
| Business insurance (CGL) | $35 – $100 |
| WorkSafeBC premiums | $20 – $60 |
| Business licence | $10 – $25 |
| Phone and marketing | $50 – $100 |
| Equipment replacement fund | $25 – $50 |
| CPP contributions (self-employed) | Varies (~11.9% of net income) |
| Total estimated monthly overhead | $440 – $935 |
If you clean 4 homes per day, 5 days per week, your overhead costs you roughly $5–$12 per home. You must add this to your labour cost to determine your true minimum rate.
Hourly vs Flat Rate Pricing
| Factor | Hourly | Flat Rate |
| Client predictability | Low — total varies | High — same price each time |
| Efficiency reward | No — faster = less pay | Yes — faster = higher hourly rate |
| Quoting ease | Easy — just state rate | Requires estimating time per home |
| Client trust | Some suspicion about speed | Clear value proposition |
| Best for | First-time or unusual cleans | Recurring clients, standard homes |
Most successful cleaners use hourly for the first visit (to assess the home) and then switch to flat-rate pricing for recurring bookings. This approach gives you accurate data for setting the flat rate.
Setting Your Rate: Step by Step
- 1Calculate your monthly overhead (use the table above as a starting point)
- 2Decide your target hourly income AFTER expenses (e.g. $30–$45/hour take-home)
- 3Add overhead per hour: divide monthly overhead by monthly billable hours
- 4Add a profit margin (10–20%) for business growth and unexpected costs
- 5Compare to market rates in your area — adjust if you are far above or below
- 6Set your flat rate by estimating hours per home type and multiplying
Example calculation
Target take-home: $35/hour. Monthly overhead: $600. You work 120 billable hours/month. Overhead per hour: $5. Total cost rate: $40/hour. Add 15% profit margin: $46/hour. A 3-bedroom home that takes 3 hours = $138 flat rate (round to $140).
Market Rates in Metro Vancouver (2026)
| Standard clean (2-bed) | $110 – $160 |
| Standard clean (3-bed) | $140 – $220 |
| Deep clean (2-bed) | $180 – $280 |
| Deep clean (3-bed) | $250 – $380 |
| Move-out (1-bed) | $180 – $280 |
| Move-out (3-bed) | $320 – $500 |
| Airbnb turnover (1-bed) | $80 – $130 |
How to Raise Your Rates
- 1Build a strong review profile first — clients pay more for proven quality
- 2Give 2–4 weeks written notice before any rate increase
- 3Apply increases to new clients first, then existing clients
- 4Keep increases to 5–10% at a time — small, regular increases are better than rare large ones
- 5Frame it positively: "To continue providing the quality you expect, my rates will be adjusted to..."
- 6Do not apologise — rate increases are normal in every service business
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Get started — it's freeFrequently asked questions
How much should I charge for house cleaning in Vancouver?
Most independent cleaners in Vancouver charge $35–$50 per hour or $120–$220 flat rate for a standard 3-bedroom home. Your rate should cover all expenses (supplies, travel, insurance) and leave a healthy profit margin. New cleaners often start at $30–$35/hour and raise rates as they build reviews.
Should I charge hourly or flat rate for cleaning?
Flat-rate pricing is generally better for both you and the client. It gives clients predictability and rewards you for working efficiently. Hourly pricing works better for first-time cleans where you cannot estimate the time accurately.
How do I raise my cleaning rates without losing clients?
Give clients 2–4 weeks notice, explain the reason briefly (increased costs, experience, demand), and apply the increase to new bookings first. Most clients accept a 5–10% increase without issue. Clients who leave over a small increase are often not your best clients.
What expenses should I factor into my cleaning rate?
Factor in: cleaning supplies ($50–$100/month), vehicle costs (gas, insurance, maintenance), business insurance ($400–$1,200/year), WorkSafeBC premiums, business licence fees, CPP and income tax, equipment replacement, and unbillable time (travel, quoting, admin).