What’s the average office cleaner salary in the UK?
Despite the steep increase in remote working, there are still offices all around the UK. And where there are offices, there’s a need for office cleaners! So, it’s clear your skills are in demand – but what’s the typical office cleaner salary?
Whether you’re looking to get into office cleaning, you’re a long-serving professional looking to go self-employed, or you’re an office cleaning business owner keen to hire, this guide is for you. Carry on reading to learn how much office cleaners earn in the UK.
How much do office cleaners earn?
In the UK, office cleaner salaries can range from £9,271.68 per year for an apprentice, to around £62,084.78 per year for a limited company owner.
However, exactly how much you can expect to earn will vary hugely depending on your level of experience, any specialisms, and how many jobs you complete a year. Your location will also play a part. For instance, an office cleaner salary near Derby will typically be lower than one in London.
| Level | Per hour | Per day | Per year | Estimated business costs* | Approximate take home pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice | £5.28 | £42.24 | £9,271.68 | £0.00 | £9,138.76 |
| Newly qualified | £7.49 | £59.92 | £13,152.44 | £0.00 | £12,437.34 |
| Employed | £10.42 | £83.36 | £21,673.60 | £0.00 | £28,321.79 |
| Sole trader | £30.00 | £240.00 | £44,251.20 | -£5,531.40 | £28,321.79* |
| Business owner (Ltd company) | £42.09 | £336.72 | £62,084.78 | -£10,864.78 | £40,696.26* |
| *includes estimated business expenses such as vehicle, fuel, tools and insurance. You should always consult an accountant. | |||||
What’s the typical office cleaner hourly rate?
As an office cleaner, you’ll often get paid per hour. So, what’s the average office cleaner hourly rate? Here’s the lowdown:
- Office cleaner’s apprentice: £5.28 per hour
- Newly qualified office cleaner: £7.49 per hour
- Employed office cleaner: £10.42 per hour
Hourly rates for employees are relatively low when compared to how much you could earn per hour as a self-employed office cleaner. Whether you choose to operate as a sole trader or a limited company, by starting out on your own, you could make a lot more.
How much is a self-employed office cleaner salary?
As a self-employed office cleaner, you’ll be able to choose your own rates and you’ll be in control of how many jobs you win. You also won’t have a cleaning company taking a cut of the jobs you undertake. For that reason, starting out as a self-employed office cleaner can be a great way to boost your earnings.
Sole trader office cleaner salary
As a sole trader, you can expect to earn around £44,251.20 per year (£28,321.79* take home). That said, exactly how much you’ll make will depend on where you’re based, how much you charge, and how many jobs you win each year.
As a self-employed office cleaner operating as a sole trader, you’ll have fewer expenses and less admin than someone who decides to run a limited company. However, you won’t have the same financial protection if something goes wrong. An accountant will be able to help you decide which is better for you.
Office cleaning business profit
If you decide to set up your own office cleaning limited company, you’ll have the potential to earn even more. Office cleaning business owners typically make around £62,084.78 per year.
That said, you’ll have to factor in your business expenses (things like a van, fuel, cleaning products and more). So, your take home will typically be more like £40,696.26* per year.
As the owner of an office cleaning business, you might also decide to hire employees to help you expand, which comes with more admin and expenses. An accountant will be able to help you meet the requirements that come with hiring employees.
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How to boost your office cleaning business revenue
If you run an office cleaning business, you’ll want to increase your revenue and ultimately, your profit! If you’re just starting out, it might seem like a way off now. But it’s a vital part of growing your business and it will come around quicker than you think.
Here are some ways of increasing your revenue and boosting your office cleaning business profits.
Check out our guide on how to grow your trade business:
How to grow your trade business in 2023 – Free guide included
Think about your pricing
It goes without saying that you’ll need to charge enough to cover your expenses (things like your vehicle, fuel and cleaning products) and more. But you could also consider the most profitable way of charging your customers.
For instance, most office cleaners charge per hour, but some companies decide to make their office cleaning prices per square foot.
Whatever you decide, you’ll need to make sure your prices are competitive enough to compete with other office cleaning companies, while also maximising your earning potential. Our office cleaning cost guide will give more insight into the typical office cleaning fees charged.
Reduce your outgoings
Boosting your office cleaning business profit isn’t just about increasing your revenue. It can also be about reducing your outgoings. After all, the less you spend, the more of your revenue you’ll get to keep in your own pocket!
If possible, it’s best to avoid taking on debt. Loan repayments and credit card fees can quickly eat into your earnings.
However, the easiest way to reduce your outgoings is by getting good deals on things like cleaning products, vans and workwear. Checkatrade members can save by getting exclusive offers with all our partner brands.
Checkatrade members have saved on average £470 per year on business essentials*
Evaluate your service area
The further you travel to a job, the more you’ll spend on things like fuel. So, it pays to reduce your service area and take on jobs that are closer to home.
Having said that, if you find you do need to travel further afield, consider how you can make it worth your while. For instance, you could reserve longer travel times for high-value jobs. Or you could charge a travel fee for jobs that are further away.
Define your USP
Defining your USP will help your office cleaning business to stand out from the crowd.
Your USP could be about the kind of cleaning services you offer – perhaps you want to specialise in one-off deep cleans rather than regular office cleaning, for instance.
However, it can also be about your ethos or customer service. Make sure to collect reviews from happy clients to help attract other clients to your business.
Invest in marketing
If you’re going to grow your business, you’ll need to attract new clients. That’s where marketing comes in.
We’d recommend investing in both print and digital marketing, in order to make sure you’re boosting your visibility as much as possible. A few office cleaning marketing ideas include:
- Print posters, flyers and business cards
- Get van vinyls
- Build a website
- Get found on search engines with an SEO strategy
- Post on social media profiles
Join Checkatrade
The best way to boost your office cleaning business revenue is by joining Checkatrade. 8 out of 10 people would choose a trade endorsed by Checkatrade compared to one that isn't endorsed**
Read Elaine’s story to learn how joining Checkatrade helped her start and grow her cleaning business:
FAQs
How much are cleaners paid per hour in UK?
Houry rates for cleaners in the UK vary depending on your level of experience. A newly qualified office cleaner can expect to earn around £7.49 per hour, whereas a more experienced employee will earn an average of £10.42 per hour.
What is a good wage for a cleaner?
Self-employed cleaners can expect to earn the most. As an office cleaner who operates as a sole trader, you could expect to earn around £44,251.20 per year (£28,321.79* take home). Meanwhile, office cleaner limited company owners earn an average of £62,084.78 per year (£40,696.26* take home).
What is the minimum wage for a cleaner?
Office cleaner apprentices tend to earn the least. The average office cleaner salary for an apprentice is around £9,271.68 per year.
*Year runs from April 21’ to March 22’. Spend based on 12,505 members. Discounts differ depending on the partner. Products range from low value items to high value items. Total amount spent on Selco is estimated at £42,380,838 by 7,298 members and based on average savings per member from 2020/21. 10% discount. Some exclusions will apply on products
** Claims are sourced from a survey conducted by Deep Blue Thinking on a nationally representative UK sample in November 2021.
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