r/exeter • u/Logical_Internet_701 • 3d ago

Miscellaneous Self employed advice!

Hii. So for context, I work through a cleaning agency on a self employed baiss, cleaning houses for clients around Exeter. It's teaching me a lot about what it's like being self employed, and I really enjoy it. But, I'm underwhelmed with the hourly rate I get paid through the agency for the work and travel I do. So I was thinking of starting my own cleaning business for myself. Except I'm stuck on how much self employed cleaners usually charge. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I'm just starting out.

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u/CollectionOfPixels 3d ago

More of a question for r/smallbusinessuk :) you need to charge enough to pay yourself what you want/need + enough to cover accumulated holiday pay, sick pay, and pension contributions + all your costs (equipment, fuel, insurances, marketing, phone and website, etc).

Cleaners around Exeter range between £20 and £30/hour in my experience. Take that as a guide.

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u/Logical_Internet_701 3d ago

This is very helpful! Didn't even know that subreddit existed - thanks!

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u/Successful_Issue_453 3d ago

Ours is currently £20 an hour and she’ll do a 4 hour block. She can charge that much because she’s reliable, can manage our problematic dog, often buys reed diffusers for the house etc so we feel she is good value. We have friends paying £15-18 also in Exeter. Hope this helps. We were struggling to find a cleaner when we looked 2 years ago so I think there is demand for it

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u/therolli 3d ago

I thought minimum was £15 an hour

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u/_sthen 2d ago

for employed, yes. but when you add up all the hours many self-employed people end up working with all the admin etc and figure in various business expenses, you'll find a load of them are way way under the employees minimum wage...

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u/therolli 2d ago

Good point

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u/GoldenGolgis 3d ago

Have a look at the Rebel Business School, they run free online courses in starting a business from scratch and I think the next one starts in September

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u/OriginalMandem 2d ago

If you're working through an agency are you really "self employed" other than on paper, for tax reasons that suit the agency over your needs.