5 Signs It Is Time to Raise Your Cleaning Prices

The Price Raise You Keep Putting Off

You have not raised your prices in two years. Maybe three. Costs went up, but your rates stayed the same. You tell yourself clients will leave if you charge more.

Meanwhile, you are working harder for less money every month.

Here is the truth: most cleaning business owners wait too long to raise prices. They leave thousands on the table because they are afraid of a conversation that rarely goes badly.

Sign 1: You Are Turning Down Work

This is the clearest signal. If you are saying no to new clients because your schedule is full, your prices are too low.

Think about it: every job you turn down is a job someone would have paid for. If you raised prices 15% and lost 10% of inquiries, you would make more money working less.

Full schedule + turning down work = raise prices immediately.

Sign 2: Nobody Pushes Back on Your Quotes

When was the last time a prospect said your price was too high?

If the answer is never or rarely, you are undercharging. A healthy closing rate for cleaning businesses is 60-75%. If you are closing 90%+ of quotes, you are leaving money on the table.

Some pushback is good. It means you are testing the upper limit of what the market will pay.

Sign 3: Your Costs Went Up But Your Prices Did Not

Quick math:

• Gas prices up 20% since you last raised rates?

• Supplies cost more?

• You gave your cleaners a raise?

• Insurance premiums increased?

If your costs went up 15% and your prices stayed flat, you took a 15% pay cut. You just did not notice because it happened slowly.

At minimum, your prices should increase with inflation every year. That is 3-5% annually just to stay even.

Sign 4: You Dread Certain Clients

That client with the huge house who pays the same as everyone else. The one with three dogs and white carpet. The picky one who takes twice as long.

If you dread seeing certain names on your schedule, you are not charging them enough for what they require. Either raise their price or let them go.

Life is too short to lose money on clients you do not like.

Sign 5: Your Profit Margins Are Shrinking

Revenue going up but profit staying flat? That is a pricing problem.

Healthy cleaning businesses run 25-35% profit margins. If you are below 20%, something is wrong — and underpricing is usually the culprit.

Track your profit per job. Software like Allison shows this automatically. When you can see that certain jobs are barely breaking even, you know exactly where to raise prices.

How to Actually Raise Your Prices

For new clients: Just do it. Update your quotes today. No announcement needed.

For existing clients: Give 30 days notice. Keep it simple:

Hi [Name], Starting [date], our rate for your cleaning will be [new price]. This is our first increase in [X months/years] and reflects increased costs for supplies, insurance, and wages. We appreciate your continued trust in us.

That is it. No apologies. No long explanations. Most clients will not even respond — they will just pay the new rate.

How much to raise: 10-15% is standard for a catch-up increase. 5% annually after that to keep pace with costs.

What About Clients Who Leave?

Some will. Plan for 5-10% client loss after a price increase.

But here is what actually happens: If you raise prices 15% and lose 5% of clients, you are making more money with less work. The math works in your favor.

And the clients you lose? Usually the price-sensitive ones who were never going to pay what you are worth anyway. The ones who stay are your real clients.

FAQ

How often should I raise cleaning prices?
At minimum, annually. Every 6 months if you are consistently fully booked. The best time is January or right after your slow season.

Should I grandfather existing clients at old rates?
No. This creates resentment, accounting headaches, and leaves money on the table. Everyone gets the new rates with appropriate notice.

What if my prices are way below market?
Do not raise 50% at once. Increase 15-20% now, then another 15% in 6 months. Gradual jumps cause less client loss than one huge increase.

How do I know what my market will pay?
Shop your competitors. Get quotes from 3-5 other cleaning services in your area. You might be surprised how low you have been pricing.