Question 1

How should cleaning services bill clients?

Accepted Answer

Per-visit flat fee is the dominant model: $80-$200 for a standard residential clean, $150-$500 for deep cleans, $200-$1,000+ for move-out/in. Commercial janitorial work is usually monthly retainer ($200-$3,000+/mo depending on square footage and frequency). Hourly billing ($30-$60/hr) is common for solo cleaners but harder to scale because clients can't budget against it.

Question 2

Should I charge a deposit for first-time customers?

Accepted Answer

For deep cleans, move-out cleans, and any first-time engagement over $300, yes — 25-50% deposit at booking. For recurring weekly/biweekly cleaning, no deposit; the recurring relationship is the commitment. State the deposit explicitly on the booking invoice and the balance on the post-clean invoice. Issueable supports both.

Question 3

How do I bill for recurring cleaning customers?

Accepted Answer

Two patterns: (1) Per-visit invoicing after each clean — slow A/R but flexible. (2) Monthly retainer billed in advance for the upcoming month's visits — predictable cash flow but requires you to refund or credit if visits are skipped. Most established services charge monthly; new businesses start per-visit and migrate clients to monthly as trust builds.

Question 4

What should be on the invoice for move-out cleans?

Accepted Answer

Property address, room-by-room scope (if itemized), any extras (inside oven, inside fridge, baseboards, blinds, garage), the standard cleaning checklist, and a 24-48 hour callback guarantee. Move-out cleans often involve a security deposit dispute later — the invoice + signed completion checklist becomes the evidence the work was done. Note any pre-existing damage or stains in the notes.

Question 5

Should I charge sales tax on cleaning services?

Accepted Answer

Most states don't tax cleaning services. Texas, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, Hawaii, and a handful of others do. Some states tax commercial janitorial but exempt residential. Check your state's rules — the most common error is charging when you shouldn't, which makes invoices look unprofessional. Issueable's two-tax-line support handles split treatment if you operate in a state that taxes only specific service types.

Question 6

How do I handle add-ons and extras?

Accepted Answer

List as separate line items: "Inside oven cleaning: +$45", "Inside refrigerator: +$35", "Garage sweep & wipe-down: +$60." Don't bundle into the base price; customers want to see what they're paying for and which extras they can skip. Track which extras a customer prefers across visits and pre-fill them on the next invoice — it's a small touch that drives loyalty.

Question 7

What happens when a customer cancels last-minute?

Accepted Answer

State your cancellation policy on every invoice and in the booking confirmation. Common: "Cancellations within 24 hours billed at 50% of scheduled rate; same-day cancellations billed at 100%." Without a policy, last-minute cancels are pure loss — your team is staffed and the slot can't be refilled. Issueable's terms section is the right place; reference it on every invoice so the policy is in front of the customer at billing time.

Question 8

Should I provide a checklist with the invoice?

Accepted Answer

Yes — for residential and especially move-out cleans. List your standard scope (kitchens, bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming, mopping) plus any extras paid for, signed by the customer at completion. Becomes evidence the work was done if there's a later complaint. Issueable's notes section can carry the checklist; for legal-grade documentation, pair with a separate signed sign-off sheet.

Cleaning Service Invoice Template

Built for Cleaning Businesses

Per-Visit and Recurring

Add-Ons Itemized

Cancellation Policy Built In

From Solo to Commercial

Solo House Cleaners

Cleaning Teams

Commercial Janitorial

Move-Out & Specialty

Cleaning Invoice FAQ