How to Hire Your First Cleaning Employee (Without Destroying Your Business)

The Solo Cleaners Breaking Point

You started your cleaning business alone. Early mornings, late nights, every client interaction — all you. It worked when you had 10-15 regular clients. But now you are turning down work, exhausted by Friday, and your phone will not stop buzzing.

Sound familiar? That is the signal it is time to hire.

But hiring wrong costs more than staying solo. A bad hire means redoing work, losing clients, and spending months recovering. Here is how to hire your first cleaning employee without destroying what you have built.

Know When You Are Actually Ready

Hiring too early kills cleaning businesses. So does hiring too late.

You are ready when:

• You are turning down 3+ jobs per week consistently

• You have 4+ weeks of steady bookings ahead

• You can afford to pay someone for 20+ hours/week minimum

• You have documented processes (not just in your head)

You are not ready when:

• You are hoping an employee will bring in new business

• You cannot cover payroll if one big client cancels

• You have not cleaned a house yourself in months

Employees do not create demand. They help you serve demand you already have.

The Real Cost of Your First Employee

That $16/hour cleaner does not cost $16/hour. Here is what you will actually pay:

Base wage: $16/hour

Payroll taxes (employer portion): ~7.65% = $1.22/hour

Workers comp insurance: ~$2-4/hour for cleaning

Supplies and equipment: ~$1/hour

Training time (first month): You will lose 30-40% productivity

Real cost: $20-22/hour minimum

If your average job pays $150 and takes 3 hours, you need to net at least $85 after paying your employee to make it worthwhile. Run these numbers before you post that job ad.

Where to Find Cleaners Who Actually Show Up

Forget Indeed and ZipRecruiter for your first hire. The best entry-level cleaners come from:

Referrals from current clients: Know anyone looking for part-time work? Your clients know your standards.

Local Facebook groups: Neighborhood groups, mom groups, local job boards.

Nextdoor: Neighbors hiring neighbors. People who live nearby are more likely to stay.

Cleaning company refugees: People who worked for big companies but want better pay and treatment. They are trained but undervalued.

The Interview That Actually Predicts Performance

Skip the tell me about yourself questions. Here is what to ask:

Walk me through how you would clean a bathroom from start to finish.
You want specifics. Someone who mentions working top to bottom, checking grout, and finishing with mirrors is thinking like a cleaner.

Tell me about a time you had to redo work.
Everyone has had to redo something. You want someone who owns it.

What would you do if you broke something at a clients home?
The right answer involves telling you immediately.

Whats your transportation situation?
Unreliable transportation is the #1 reason cleaners no-show.

The First Two Weeks

Week 1: They shadow you. Every house, every task. They watch, take notes, ask questions.

Week 2: You shadow them. They do the work while you watch and correct.

After two weeks, they should be able to clean your standard recurring clients alone. Yes, this is slow. Yes, it is worth it.

Pay Structure That Keeps Good People

Starting wage: $16-18/hour for no experience, $18-22 for experienced cleaners.

90-day raise: $1-2/hour bump if they are performing. Tell them this upfront.

Per-job bonuses: $10-20 for deep cleans or difficult clients.

Mileage: IRS rate if they use their own car.

A cleaner making $20/hour with predictable hours will stay. A cleaner making $15/hour with constantly shifting schedules will leave for Amazon.

Track Everything From Day One

Once you have employees, you need to know which jobs make money and which do not. Software like Allison tracks labor costs per job automatically.

FAQ

Should I hire my first employee as W-2 or 1099?
W-2, almost always. Misclassifying workers as 1099 can result in serious IRS penalties.

How many hours should I start my first employee with?
20-25 hours/week minimum.

What if my first hire does not work out?
Cut quickly. If someone is not working after 30 days, they will not work after 90.

Do I need workers comp insurance?
Yes. In most states it is legally required once you have even one employee.