Invoice template · For cleaners
Invoice template for cleaners.
A cleaning invoice should list the property type and size (sq ft or number of bedrooms), the type of clean performed (standard, deep, move-out), the hours on site or flat job price, any extras (oven, fridge, inside windows), the products and equipment provided, plus the date and the customer's payment method. Inbill's POS Receipt template gives this a clean, on-the-spot format that fits both residential and recurring commercial work.
Recommended template
POS Receipt — why it fits
A compact, on-the-spot receipt format — most residential cleaning is paid in person at the end of the visit, often by card or bank transfer, and the customer wants something to take or save immediately. The POS Receipt template fits a phone screen and prints to an 80mm thermal printer if you carry one.
Open this template in InbillWhy invoicing matters for cleaners
Cleaning is the residential trade where the invoice often doubles as a receipt — the customer is standing in front of you when the visit ends and wants something concrete to confirm the price they agreed to on the phone. That's why a full-page Word document with formal headers feels mismatched for residential cleaners; the customer just wants the date, what was cleaned, the price, and a way to pay. Commercial cleaners face the opposite problem: monthly invoices for office or retail clients need a clean, structured format that an accounts-payable team can process without questions. The most common mistakes cleaners make are not specifying the type of clean ("standard" vs "deep" vs "move-out" carry very different price points), bundling extras into the base price (so the customer thinks all extras are included next time), and not providing any kind of invoice at all for cash work (which costs you the next referral and any tax-deductible record the customer needed). Inbill's POS Receipt template was built exactly for this — compact enough for a phone screen, prints to an 80mm thermal printer if you carry one, and emails as a hosted link the customer can save or forward.
What goes on the invoice
Typical line items for cleaners.
| Line item | Unit | Typical 2026 USD |
|---|---|---|
| Standard residential clean (per visit) | flat | $80–$250 |
| Deep / spring clean (per visit) | flat | $200–$700 |
| Move-in / move-out clean | flat | $250–$900 |
| Hourly residential rate (small jobs) | per hour | $30–$80 |
| Commercial / office cleaning (per sq ft, per visit) | per sq ft | $0.07–$0.25 |
| Inside oven | add-on | $30–$95 |
| Inside refrigerator | add-on | $25–$75 |
| Inside windows (per window) | each | $8–$25 |
On rates
How much should cleaners charge?
Cleaning rates in 2026 vary more by city and by the cleaner's positioning than by anything technical. Independent residential cleaners in mid-cost US markets charge $30–$60/hour or a flat $80–$200 per standard 2-bedroom visit; the same cleaner in a high-cost city (NYC, SF, London) charges $50–$80/hour or $150–$350 flat. Deep cleans and move-out cleans run 2–4x a standard visit because they include inside oven, inside cabinets, baseboards, and full-detail bathroom work. The biggest pricing trap for residential cleaners is starting a recurring relationship at a too-low "trial" price — the customer anchors there and resists the raise. Quote your real recurring rate from the first visit, give a small first-time discount if you must, but don't undersell. For commercial work, price per square foot per visit ($0.07–$0.25 typical for offices); the per-sqft format is what facilities managers expect to see on the proposal and the invoice.
How to send the invoice
Sending your first invoice as a cleaner.
- 01
Pick the POS Receipt template
Open Inbill, choose POS Receipt. The compact format suits the on-the-spot receipt residential customers expect, and prints to an 80mm thermal printer if you carry one for cash jobs.
- 02
Specify the property and the type of clean
Write "2-bed, 1-bath apartment — Standard clean" or "3-bed, 2-bath house — Deep clean (includes inside oven, inside fridge)." This sets expectations for the next visit and prevents the "I thought that was included" conversation.
- 03
List add-ons separately
Inside oven, inside fridge, interior windows, balcony — list each as its own line. This protects the base price and shows the customer the value of any extras you provided.
- 04
Set "Due on receipt" for residential, Net 14–30 for commercial
Residential customers usually pay at the visit. For commercial accounts (offices, short-term rentals), use Net 14 for small businesses and Net 30 for property-management contracts. Inbill's recurring-invoice feature handles weekly or monthly contracts on autopilot.
- 05
Send the hosted public link by text or email at the end of the visit
Customers value the immediacy. Inbill's /i/<token> link works without an account — the customer can pay by card directly, or save the receipt for tax records. Saves you from being the one who has to "remember to send the invoice later."
Frequently asked
Cleaner invoice questions, answered.
Should a cleaner charge per hour or per visit?
Per visit (flat rate) for routine residential work — the customer wants to know what they're paying without watching the clock, and you want to be rewarded for working efficiently. Per hour for one-off small jobs, deep cleans of unknown scope, and any visit where you can't estimate confidently. For commercial cleaning, price per square foot per visit ($0.07–$0.25) — that's the unit facilities managers compare against. Mixing models on the same customer (flat for routine, hourly for occasional extras) is fine and well understood.
How much should a self-employed house cleaner charge in 2026?
In US mid-cost markets, independent residential cleaners charge $30–$60/hour or $80–$200 per standard 2-bed visit. In high-cost cities (NYC, SF, London, Sydney), $50–$80/hour or $150–$350 per visit is normal. Deep cleans and move-out cleans run 2–4x the standard rate because they include inside cabinets, oven interiors, baseboards, and full-detail bathroom work. Always quote based on the property type AND the type of clean — pricing on hours alone makes recurring contracts harder to manage and deep cleans look unjustified.
Do cleaners need to charge sales tax on cleaning services?
It depends on jurisdiction. In many US states, residential cleaning is NOT taxable but commercial cleaning IS — including some that tax "janitorial services" but exempt "house cleaning" and split the rules narrowly. In the EU and UK, VAT applies above the registration threshold. Always register with your state revenue department and check the specific guidance for cleaning services. Inbill lets you add a tax line per invoice; apply it on commercial invoices in jurisdictions that require it, leave it off for residential where it's exempt.
How should cleaners handle deposits or cancellation fees?
For one-off deep cleans and move-out cleans, take a 30–50% deposit at booking — these jobs hold a calendar slot you can't easily refill if the customer cancels last-minute. For recurring residential, a deposit usually isn't needed but a written cancellation policy is ("less than 24 hours notice = 50% of the visit price") protects you against schedule abuse. Put the policy in your booking confirmation, not just on the invoice. Inbill's partial-payment tracker handles deposits cleanly — record the deposit when received, the running balance updates.
Should cleaners send a separate invoice for each visit or a monthly summary?
A separate receipt-style invoice per visit for residential work — customers want immediate confirmation, and most pay at the door. A consolidated monthly invoice for commercial accounts and recurring residential customers who prefer one bill — this is what facilities-management teams expect. Inbill supports both: send a hosted public link at each residential visit, OR set up a monthly recurring invoice that auto-issues on the same day each month for commercial accounts.
Adjacent work
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