Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are you insured?
A: Yes, we are fully insured with Liability, Unemployment, and Workers’ Compensation.
Q: What are your COVID-19 policies?
A: Please let us know in advance if you would like us to wear masks and/or take a rapid covid test before entering your space. We provide free rapid tests and KN95 masks for our crew.
Q: How much do you charge?
A: For residential cleanings we bill on a sliding scale (pick what you pay) between $50-$90/hr. One-off cleanings are billed at a minimum of $60/hr. For commercial cleanings we will look at the space and provide an itemized quote.
Q: What is a sliding scale and how do I know where I fall on the scale?
A: We offer sliding scale pricing to make our services accessible to a wider range of clientele. We trust your ability to assess where you fall on the sliding scale based on your disposable income and ability to pay.
If you pay on the higher end of the scale, you are directly supporting our mission to improve our small business, raise wages, increase benefits, and pay higher annual bonuses to employees. $65-75 an hour is the average, but please choose a rate that feels comfortable for you and your means.
Q: Am I expected to tip? How much?
A: Tipping is always appreciated, especially for deep cleanings and one-off jobs. If you are a regular client it is not necessary to tip every time, but it is appreciated if you are able to, and particularly over the winter holidays. Tips for regular maintenance cleanings typically range from $10-$20, one-off and deep cleanings from $20-$50, and annual holiday tips from $50-$250.
Q: I’m a new client, how do I pay?
A: We send out invoices at the end of every month that include a list of our payment options and instructions.
Q: Can I have my house cleaned every three weeks?
A: Unfortunately, no. We offer recurring cleanings every 1, 2, or 4 weeks. If we added 3 week rotations to the mix we would create double bookings.
Q: Can my monthly cleaning be on the same week each month (i.e. the first week of the month)?
A: Again, no. Monthly cleanings must recur every 4 weeks because scheduling the same week each month would create double bookings with our biweekly clients.
Q: What is your cancellation policy?
A: Please keep in mind that our cleaners are always paid for their scheduled hours, even if a job doesn’t happen. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice incur a fee of $30 per scheduled hour of cleaning. This covers your cleaner’s wages and a portion of the company overhead. Same-day cancellations and lockouts are charged in full. If you need to cancel last-minute due to a Covid exposure or other communicable disease concerns, Collective Cleaners will split the cost of the cancellation fee with you.
Q: Are you a fully Worker-Owned Cooperative?
A: We are not legally a Cooperative, nor are we fully worker-owned. We have two owners, Lia & Seth, who work full time as cleaners and administrators. Lia and Seth have salaries & benefits on the same pay-scale as all employees. We have no silent partners, investors, or anyone profiting off the company who isn’t also working in the field. All profit gets either reinvested into the company or distributed as annual bonuses and wage increases.
Q: How much do you pay your employees, and do you offer benefits?
A: Our hourly wages start at $23/hr with a $1/hr annual raise, up to $32/hr. For benefits we receive 401(k) plans (after 1 year of employment) with automatic 3% company contributions, PTO, paid sick time, paid travel time, and annual bonuses.
Q: Where does the rest of the money go after you pay wages for the cleanings?
A: It goes to taxes, employee benefits, insurance (worker’s comp, unemployment, liability), administrative wages, training, professional fees (bookkeeping, tax prep, etc), supplies & equipment maintenance (including top-of-the-line Miele & Pro-Team vacuums), website/marketing, maintaining our company van, and office rent. There is a lot of overhead to running a small business. Any profit at the end of the year goes directly back into the company.