What a cleaning business invoice looks like
A realistic example with the lines this trade actually bills. Figures are illustrative.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular domestic clean (3 hours) | 4 | £60.00 | £240.00 |
| Oven deep clean — one-off | 1 | £75.00 | £75.00 |
| Interior windows | 1 | £25.00 | £25.00 |
| Materials & consumables | 1 | £12.00 | £12.00 |
| Subtotal | £352.00 | ||
| VAT @ 20% | £70.40 | ||
| Total | £422.40 | ||
What to put on a cleaning business invoice
- The period covered — "4 visits, 1–28 March" beats a bare total
- Rate per visit or per hour, so recurring clients can check it themselves
- Extras like ovens, windows or carpets as separate lines
- Whether materials are included in the rate or charged on top
- Key-holding or alarm-response charges if you hold access
- Cancellation terms for missed visits — the most disputed item in cleaning
Tax, by country
The rules depend on where the work was done. This is general guidance, not tax advice.
United Kingdom
If you are VAT registered, show your VAT number and the VAT rate (usually 20%). Under the CIS scheme, construction work for a contractor may need a deduction shown separately.
United States
Sales tax on labour varies by state — many states tax materials but not labour. Show your EIN if you have one, and keep the tax line separate from the subtotal.
Canada
Show GST/HST (or QST in Quebec) as its own line with your GST/HST number. The rate depends on the province where the work was done, not where you are based.
Australia
If you are registered for GST, the document must say "Tax Invoice", show your ABN, and state the GST amount (10%). Without an ABN the customer may have to withhold 47%.
Get paid before you leave the job
A template you fill in by hand still has to be emailed, chased and banked. With Receivo you build the same invoice on your phone and show the customer a QR code — they scan it, pay by card, and the money goes to your account before you have packed up.
Start freeFree plan: 3 invoices a month and 3 clients. No card required.
Questions cleaning businesss ask
How should I invoice a regular cleaning client?
Invoice monthly in arrears with each visit shown as a line, or set up a recurring invoice that issues automatically. Both give the client something they can check against their own diary.
Should I charge for cleaning materials?
Either include them in your rate or bill them separately — but say which on the invoice. Ambiguity here is the most common cause of a shortened payment.
What if a client cancels at short notice?
Put the cancellation window and fee on the invoice as a terms line. Charging it is far easier when it was written down before it happened.