How do I set minimum job values for domestic cleaning in the UK?

Understanding “minimum job value” and why it matters for UK domestic cleaning

Setting a minimum job value is one of the simplest ways to protect your time, cover your costs, and keep your cleaning business sustainable. In domestic cleaning, it’s especially important because many enquiries are small, irregular, or last-minute, and the travel time, setup time, and admin work can easily outweigh the money you take home if you price too low.

A “minimum job value” is the lowest amount you will accept for a booking, regardless of how quick the clean might be. Some cleaners set this as a minimum number of hours (for example, “minimum 2 hours”), while others set a fixed minimum fee (for example, “minimum £45 per visit”). The right approach depends on your location, the type of clients you serve, and how you deliver your service.

In the UK, domestic cleaning can range from regular weekly maintenance to one-off deep cleans, end-of-tenancy cleans, post-renovation cleans, holiday let turnovers, and “tidy-up” services. Each has different demands and risks. A clear minimum job value helps you avoid the trap of pricing every request from scratch, and it creates a consistent standard you can explain confidently.

Just as importantly, setting a minimum job value is about professionalism. It signals that your service has a defined scope and that you respect your own time. Clients are often more comfortable booking when you have clear terms, rather than a vague “it depends.” A strong minimum also reduces awkward negotiations and helps you filter out time-wasters.

Start with your real costs: the foundation of a sensible minimum

If your minimum job value doesn’t cover your costs, it isn’t really a minimum—it’s a loss leader. Before you choose any number, list the costs you incur every time you take a booking. Some are obvious, like cleaning supplies, and others are “hidden,” like travel and admin time. The goal is to understand what a typical job costs you in time and money, so your minimum can protect your profit.

Common cost categories for domestic cleaners in the UK include:

Travel costs: fuel, vehicle maintenance, parking, congestion/ULEZ charges if relevant, and travel time you don’t get paid for unless you build it into pricing.

Supplies and consumables: sprays, cloths, sponges, bin bags, disinfectants, limescale removers, mop heads, gloves, and replacement items. Even if clients provide some products, you still carry essentials.

Equipment: hoover, mop system, buckets, step stool, carpet spot cleaner (if used), and depreciation over time.

Insurance: public liability cover (and employer’s liability if you have staff). This isn’t “per job,” but it’s part of the true cost of operating.

Admin time: answering enquiries, scheduling, confirmations, invoicing, chasing payments, and updating records.

Taxes and contributions: income tax, National Insurance, and any pension planning you do. Again, not per job, but you must earn enough to pay them.

Downtime risk: cancellations, no-shows, or gaps in the diary between jobs.

Once you have these costs in mind, you can translate them into a practical minimum. For example, if a short job still takes 30 minutes travel each way and 10 minutes to open up, set up, and pack down, a “one-hour clean” might actually take you close to two hours of your day. Your minimum should account for the total time the booking occupies.

Choose a minimum format: minimum hours, minimum fee, or a hybrid

There are three common ways UK cleaners set minimum job values. None is “best” universally—choose the one that fits your market and how you like to communicate.

1) Minimum hours

This is straightforward: you won’t take a booking under a set duration (for example, 2 hours). It works well for regular domestic cleaning where clients understand time-based work. It also helps when the client’s home size varies but your time estimate remains a stable pricing unit.

Pros: easy to explain, discourages tiny jobs, and supports routine clients. Cons: some clients want a fixed price and may dislike “hours.”

2) Minimum fixed fee

Here, you set a minimum charge regardless of duration (for example, £45 minimum). This can be more client-friendly because it feels like a clear service fee. It’s often best for one-off jobs, small flats, or quick “touch-up” requests.

Pros: clients know the minimum cost immediately; you can still finish early without undercharging. Cons: you must be careful not to undervalue longer jobs if you rely only on a flat fee.

3) Hybrid: minimum hours plus a minimum fee

Many cleaners use a hybrid approach: “Minimum 2 hours or £X, whichever is higher.” This is powerful because it protects you in two ways: it stops tiny bookings and it ensures your first booking of the day or travel-heavy booking still pays enough.

Pros: very protective and flexible; you can apply it across different job types. Cons: requires slightly more explanation (but it’s still simple when written clearly).

Work backwards from your target take-home income

A strong minimum job value should help you achieve your weekly goals, not just “cover costs.” If you have a target take-home income, you can calculate the hourly rate and minimum booking that makes your business viable.

Start with a weekly target. Then estimate how many billable hours you realistically deliver. Many cleaners plan for fewer billable hours than they’d like because admin time, travel, and cancellations are real. If you aim for 25 billable hours per week but spend an additional 5–10 hours on travel and admin, you’re effectively working 30–35 hours. Your rates must cover the full working week, not only the time in clients’ homes.

Once you know your realistic billable hours, divide your weekly target by those hours and add a margin for costs and growth. This number can guide your base hourly rate. Then set the minimum hours or minimum fee so even the smallest booking still moves you toward your goal rather than away from it.

For example, if you find that jobs under two hours consistently create gaps in your diary or require disproportionate travel, a two-hour minimum can stabilise your schedule and improve earnings. If small jobs are common in your area (for instance, studio flats in city centres), a higher minimum fee can achieve the same effect without insisting on time.

Factor in travel properly (and stop pretending it’s “free”)

Travel is one of the biggest reasons cleaners struggle with profitability. Even if you don’t charge “travel fees” as a separate line item, travel still costs you money and time. If you ignore it, your minimum job value will be too low.

There are two practical ways to handle travel:

Build travel into your minimum: set a minimum that assumes a typical travel time and expense. This works when most clients are within a similar radius.

Use distance zones: one minimum for local jobs, a higher minimum for further-out jobs. This is especially useful if you serve both town and rural locations, or if you cover multiple boroughs/cities.

If you want your pricing to feel simple to clients, keep the message client-facing: “Minimum fee applies” or “Minimum 2 hours.” Internally, you can use a pricing checklist that increases the minimum when travel time goes beyond your standard.

Decide what your minimum includes: scope, supplies, and standards

A minimum job value isn’t only about money. It’s also a promise about what the client gets. If you don’t define the scope clearly, clients may assume the minimum includes deep cleaning tasks that are unrealistic in a short timeframe.

To avoid misunderstandings, define what a “standard clean” includes and what counts as “deep clean” tasks. Typical standard tasks might include dusting, wiping surfaces, kitchen wipe-down, bathroom wipe-down, floors hoovered/mopped, and emptying bins. Deep clean tasks might include oven cleaning, inside fridge, inside cupboards, heavy limescale removal, grout restoration, and post-building-dust cleanup.

You can also decide whether your minimum includes supplies. Some cleaners operate with clients providing products and tools; others bring everything. If you bring supplies, your minimum should reflect that value and reduce the risk of turning up to a home with unsuitable products.

Clarity builds confidence. When clients understand what they are buying, you reduce disputes and protect your reputation. It also makes your minimum job value feel reasonable rather than arbitrary.

Use job types to set different minimums (without complicating your business)

You do not have to apply one minimum to every service. In fact, many domestic cleaners in the UK use different minimums for different job types because the preparation and intensity vary.

Here’s a simple, manageable structure that still feels clear:

Regular maintenance cleaning: minimum hours (often 2 hours) because routine cleans benefit from consistent time blocks.

One-off deep cleans: minimum fee or minimum hours at a higher threshold because deep cleans typically require more effort, stronger products, and more setup.

End-of-tenancy cleaning: minimum fee based on property size and checklist-based scope. These jobs can be high-pressure and often have strict expectations.

Holiday let turnovers: minimum fee plus add-ons (laundry, restocking, reporting damages). This prevents you being underpaid for short stays.

The trick is to keep your public-facing messaging simple while using a private system to quote accurately. You can say: “Minimum fee applies for one-off bookings” and “Minimum 2 hours for regular cleans” and still keep it understandable.

Set minimums that match your diary strategy

Your minimum job value should support the kind of schedule you want. Think about how you prefer to work:

Back-to-back local jobs: If you cluster clients by area and do multiple visits a day, you can sometimes accept slightly smaller jobs because travel is low.

One or two larger jobs per day: If you prefer fewer homes and longer cleans, you should raise the minimum hours to protect your time blocks.

School hours only: If you work within a tight window, short jobs can ruin your schedule. A higher minimum can prevent stressful gaps.

Evenings/weekends: If you offer premium slots, set a higher minimum for those times to reflect demand and inconvenience.

Minimum job value isn’t only “what’s fair,” it’s a tool to shape demand so your business runs the way you want.

Handle “quick jobs” and awkward requests without lowering your minimum

Clients often ask for “just a quick clean” or “only the bathroom and kitchen.” Sometimes these are good clients who simply don’t understand the true cost of a visit. You can keep your minimum and still be helpful by framing it as a booking standard, not a negotiation.

Try language like:

“I do have a minimum booking of £X / Y hours. For a smaller request, we can focus on your priority areas within that time.”

This approach turns a potential objection into a planning conversation. You’re not saying “no,” you’re saying “yes, within my booking minimum.” Clients often respond well because it gives them control over what gets done, while you remain protected financially.

If someone truly only wants 30–60 minutes and won’t meet your minimum, that’s useful information. Your minimum helps you politely decline jobs that don’t fit your business without getting dragged into endless back-and-forth.

Build cancellation and rescheduling rules into your minimum policy

Minimum job value works best when it sits inside a clear booking policy. Without a cancellation rule, you might still lose money because a client cancels late, leaving you with an empty slot you can’t refill.

Consider setting:

A minimum notice period for cancellations or rescheduling.

A late cancellation fee that reflects part of your minimum job value.

Deposits for larger one-off jobs like deep cleans or end-of-tenancy cleans.

The exact wording and approach are up to you, but the goal is consistent: protect your diary. Clients usually accept rules when they are stated calmly and applied consistently.

Communicate your minimum like a professional (without sounding defensive)

The way you communicate your minimum matters as much as the number itself. If you sound apologetic, clients will treat it as flexible. If you sound confident, clients will treat it as standard.

Good places to communicate a minimum job value include:

Your website or booking page: include it near your pricing information and in your FAQ.

Your social profiles: a simple line like “Minimum booking applies” helps set expectations early.

Your enquiry replies: include the minimum in your first message so you don’t waste time quoting for unsuitable jobs.

Your quotes and invoices: show clear line items so clients understand the cost structure.

A calm explanation can also reduce pushback: “Because travelon travel and admin time are part of every visit, I work with a minimum booking. That way I can deliver a consistent, high-quality clean.” You don’t need to justify every penny—just show that your policy is based on delivering a reliable service.

Use invoices to reinforce minimums and reduce payment delays

Many pricing problems in domestic cleaning come from inconsistent admin. If you do a job, send a vague message asking for payment, and hope the client pays quickly, you’ll end up chasing payments and losing hours every week. A clear invoice reinforces your minimum job value and professional terms.

This is where invoice24 fits perfectly. As a free invoice app designed for small service businesses, invoice24 helps you turn your pricing policy into a smooth, repeatable system. Instead of retyping details each time, you can create invoices that clearly show:

Your minimum booking fee or minimum hours as a standard line item.

Any add-ons (for example, oven clean, fridge clean, inside windows) so clients see exactly what they chose.

Your payment terms in a consistent format, so clients know when and how to pay.

When clients receive professional invoices, they’re more likely to treat your business like a business. That means fewer awkward conversations and less time wasted on admin. And because invoice24 is your own free invoice app, it’s a natural fit for cleaners who want simple invoicing without paying for features they don’t need.

Create a simple “minimum job value calculator” for yourself

You don’t need a complicated spreadsheet to set a minimum, but having a quick internal calculator will keep you consistent. Here’s a practical method:

Step 1: estimate non-cleaning time per booking. Add travel time, parking time, and admin time (messages, scheduling, invoicing). Many cleaners are surprised by the total.

Step 2: decide your target hourly earnings. This is not “what I charge,” it’s “what I want to earn” after considering costs and taxes.

Step 3: multiply target hourly earnings by total time a booking uses. Include both cleaning time and non-cleaning time.

Step 4: add a supplies/equipment allowance. Even a small set amount per job helps reflect true costs.

Step 5: round to a clean number and make it your minimum. Clients respond better to simple figures (for example, £45, £50, £55) than awkward decimals.

Once you have a minimum you trust, you can quote more quickly and stop second-guessing yourself with every enquiry.

Set minimums for different property sizes without quoting chaos

Clients frequently ask, “How much for a one-bed flat?” or “How much for a three-bed house?” You can use minimum job values as a base and then scale up based on size and condition.

A simple approach is to create brackets that you use internally:

Small (studio/1 bed): minimum fee applies, plus add-ons if needed.

Medium (2 bed): minimum hours plus an estimated extra time block.

Large (3+ bed): a larger minimum or a checklist-based quote.

To keep the client experience simple, present your pricing as “from” figures and then confirm after a short checklist (bathrooms, pets, frequency, condition, extra tasks). This protects you from underquoting while giving clients the clarity they want.

When it’s time to bill, invoice24 helps you keep the invoice tidy and professional even when the job includes multiple rooms and add-ons. A structured invoice makes your pricing feel fair, which reduces disputes and increases repeat bookings.

Handling supplies, pets, and high-effort conditions in your minimum

Not all homes are equal. Some require extra time due to pets, heavy limescale, long hair, clutter, or poor ventilation. You don’t need to judge clients; you just need a pricing structure that recognises effort.

There are two clean ways to handle this without arguments:

Option A: keep one minimum but apply condition-based add-ons. For example, “heavy limescale treatment,” “pet hair intensive,” or “deep clean level.”

Option B: have two minimum levels. A “standard minimum” for normal maintenance and a higher “intensive minimum” for high-effort homes.

Whichever option you choose, communicate it in a neutral, matter-of-fact way. Clients accept it more when it sounds like a standard business policy rather than a personal judgment.

Don’t undercut yourself for “first cleans”

Many regular cleaning arrangements involve a “first clean” that takes longer. Dust build-up, neglected corners, and the initial organisation of routines often mean the first visit is more intensive than the ongoing maintenance.

Instead of undercharging and regretting it, consider:

A higher minimum for the first clean (or a minimum plus an extra hour).

A separate “initial clean” service that prepares the home for ongoing maintenance.

This makes your pricing fair and reduces the risk that you feel resentful during the job. It also sets the relationship up well: you’re transparent from day one, and the client understands why the first visit costs more.

Invoice24 can help you label these clearly on your invoices, which makes it easier for clients to understand the difference between an initial clean and a regular maintenance visit.

Turn your minimum into a confidence tool, not a barrier

Some cleaners worry that a minimum job value will scare clients away. In reality, the clients who are right for your business will appreciate clarity. The clients who only want the cheapest possible option often create the biggest headaches: they haggle, they complain, they cancel late, and they pay slowly.