How to Get More Cleaning Clients Without Paying Commission
Stop paying 15-20% commission on every cleaning job. Learn how to grow your cleaning business with zero-commission platforms, smart pricing, and review strategies.
How to Get More Cleaning Clients Without Paying Commission
If you are running a cleaning business in Australia, there is a good chance that 15 to 20 per cent of every dollar you earn is going straight to a platform — not to your materials, not to your vehicle costs, not into your pocket, but to a middleman who simply connected you with the customer.
And once you have done the work, built the relationship, and earned the client's trust, you keep paying that commission on every single booking.
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It is a model that treats service providers as interchangeable commodities rather than skilled professionals running real businesses.
The Commission Trap: A cleaner turning over $80,000/year on a 20% commission platform hands over $16,000 annually. Over 5 years, that is $80,000 — enough to buy a fully equipped work vehicle, fund a complete rebrand, or put a deposit on an investment property. That money is gone, and you did all the work.
The commission model made sense in the early days of online marketplaces when platforms were investing heavily in building customer bases and the concept of booking services online was new. But in 2026, Australian consumers are comfortable booking home services digitally. The infrastructure exists. The customer behaviour has been established.
What was once a fair trade — commission in exchange for access to customers — has become an outdated toll gate that benefits the platform far more than the providers who create its value.
This guide shows you exactly how to break free from the commission trap, grow your cleaning client base, and keep every dollar you earn.
Contents
The Commission Problem: Platform by Platform
The True Cost of Commission Over 12 Months
How the Mozome Zero Commission Model Works
Building a Standout Profile That Wins Clients
Profile Optimisation Checklist
Getting More Reviews and Building Social Proof
Pricing Strategy for Maximum Profit
ROI Analysis: Acquisition Channels Compared
Growing Beyond One Platform
Tax Deductions and Business Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
The Commission Problem: Platform by Platform
Understanding the true cost of each platform helps you make informed decisions about where to invest your time and effort. Not all platform fees are created equal — some charge per job, some per lead, and some take a monthly subscription. Here is what you are really paying on each major Australian platform.
Airtasker: 15–20% Commission on Every Job
Airtasker charges 15 to 20 per cent commission on every completed job. On a $200 cleaning job, that is $30 to $40 going to the platform. Over 50 jobs per month, you are paying $1,500 to $2,000 monthly in commission alone.
Airtasker also encourages a bidding model where cleaners compete on price, driving rates down and squeezing margins further. The platform's broad scope — covering everything from cleaning to furniture removal — means you are competing not just with professional cleaners but with anyone willing to do the work cheaply.
Hipages: $15–$50 Per Lead (Whether You Win or Not)
Hipages uses a lead-fee model rather than commission, charging $15 to $50 per customer enquiry. While this sounds more reasonable, the economics are deceptive. With conversion rates typically between 20 and 30 per cent, you are paying for three to five leads for every job you actually win.
If you buy 40 leads per month at an average of $30 each, that is $1,200 per month — and only eight to twelve of those leads become paying clients. Effectively, you are paying $100 to $150 to acquire each customer.
ServiceSeeking and Oneflare
ServiceSeeking charges a monthly subscription of $50 to $200+ depending on your plan tier, plus additional costs for featured listings and enhanced visibility. While the subscription model is more predictable than per-job commission, the platform's smaller user base means fewer leads overall.
Oneflare operates similarly to Hipages with per-lead fees of $10 to $40+. Both platforms add cost without guaranteeing revenue.
Mozome: Genuinely Zero Commission
Mozome charges zero commission — genuinely zero. No lead fees, no booking fees, no monthly subscriptions, no hidden charges. When a customer pays you $200 for a cleaning job, you receive $200. This is the platform's fundamental business model, built on the principle that providers should keep 100% of what they earn.
The True Cost of Commission Over 12 Months
The real impact of platform fees becomes clear when you project them over a full year. Most cleaners do not track their platform costs monthly, let alone annually — but these numbers are stark.
Annual platform cost comparison for a cleaner doing $96,000 in revenue (40 jobs/month at $200 average). Hipages costs assume 20–30% win rate; actual take-home may be lower after accounting for leads that do not convert.
Platform
Fee Model
Monthly Cost (40 jobs @ $200 avg)
Annual Cost
Your Take-Home (on $96K revenue)
Airtasker (15%)
Commission per job
$1,200
$14,400
$81,600
Airtasker (20%)
Commission per job
$1,600
$19,200
$76,800
Hipages (40 leads × $30)
Lead fee
$1,200
$14,400
$81,600
Hipages (40 leads × $45)
Lead fee (premium)
$1,800
$21,600
$74,400
ServiceSeeking
Subscription + extras
$200–$400
$2,400–$4,800
$91,200–$93,600
Oneflare (40 leads × $25)
Lead fee
$1,000
$12,000
$84,000
Mozome
Zero commission
$0
$0
$96,000
The difference between using a 20 per cent commission platform and a zero-commission platform on $96,000 annual revenue is $19,200. Over five years, that is $96,000 — nearly an entire year's revenue lost to platform fees.
A cleaner earning $80,000–$100,000 per year on a commission platform loses $12,000–$20,000 annually in fees. Over a 10-year career, that is $120,000–$200,000 — the price of a house deposit in regional Australia. Every dollar you save on platform fees compounds into real wealth over time.
How the Mozome Zero Commission Model Works
Mozome represents a fundamentally different approach to connecting cleaners with customers. Rather than extracting commission from every transaction, Mozome's business model is designed to create value for both sides of the marketplace without taxing the people doing the actual work.
On Mozome, you create a professional profile that showcases your services, pricing, service areas, qualifications, and customer reviews. Customers browse profiles, compare providers, and book directly at the prices you set. There is no bidding war, no race to the bottom, and no commission deducted from your earnings.
A cleaning job quoted at $180 earns you $180, every time.
The platform handles the technology infrastructure — matching customers with providers, facilitating bookings, enabling secure payments, and managing reviews — but does not take a percentage of the value created by your labour.
Why Zero Commission Changes Your Pricing Power
When commission-based platforms take 15 to 20 per cent, providers typically add 15 to 25 per cent to their base rates to compensate. On Mozome, that padding is not necessary, which makes your pricing more attractive to price-conscious customers.
This creates a virtuous cycle: lower prices attract more customers, more customers mean more reviews, more reviews mean higher profile visibility, and higher visibility means even more bookings — all without a single dollar leaving your pocket in commission.
Both you and the customer win when commission is removed from the equation. You earn more per job while the customer pays less.
Scenario
Commission Platform (20%)
Mozome (0%)
Price you charge customer
$200
$175
Platform fee deducted
$40
$0
Your take-home per job
$160
$175
Customer pays
$200
$175
You earn more?
No
Yes — $15 more per job
Customer pays less?
No
Yes — $25 less per job
For a cleaning business owner, the benefits compound over time. The money you save on commission can be reinvested into your business — better equipment, marketing, insurance upgrades, or simply higher take-home pay.
Customers who book through Mozome develop a direct relationship with you as their cleaner, leading to repeat bookings and referrals that continue to generate zero-commission revenue.
Building a Standout Profile That Wins Clients
On a zero-commission platform like Mozome, your profile is your primary tool for attracting clients. Unlike bidding platforms where the lowest price often wins, Mozome customers choose providers based on their profile quality, reviews, credentials, and the trust they inspire.
Investing time in building an outstanding profile pays dividends in the form of more bookings and better-quality clients.
Professional Photo and Bio
Start with a professional profile photo. This does not mean a studio headshot — a clear, friendly, well-lit photo of you in clean work attire is perfect. Profiles with professional photos receive significantly more enquiries than those with low-quality images or no photo at all. If you have a team, include a team photo to convey professionalism and capacity.
Write a compelling bio that goes beyond the basics. Instead of 'I do house cleaning in Sydney,' tell your story: how long you have been cleaning professionally, what makes your service different, your approach to quality, and the types of clients you work best with. Mention any specialisations — eco-friendly cleaning, pet-friendly homes, post-renovation cleaning, or experience with high-end properties.
Service Listings and Credentials
List your services clearly and specifically. Rather than a single 'cleaning' listing, break your services into categories: standard house cleaning, deep cleaning, end-of-lease cleaning, spring cleaning, commercial cleaning, and any add-ons like oven cleaning, window washing, or carpet treatment. This makes it easy for customers to find exactly what they need and demonstrates your range of expertise.
Verify all available credentials on the platform — ABN, public liability insurance, police check, and any relevant certifications. Each verified credential adds a trust badge to your profile that customers notice and value. The more verification you can display, the more bookings you will attract from quality-conscious customers.
Profile Optimisation Checklist
Use this checklist to audit your profile and ensure it is working as hard as possible to win you clients. Each item has a direct impact on your booking conversion rate.
Complete this checklist to maximise your profile's conversion rate. Most items take less than 30 minutes and deliver lasting results.
Profile Element
Status
Impact on Bookings
Time to Complete
Professional profile photo (clear, well-lit, work attire)
☐
High — profiles with photos get 3–5× more enquiries
10 minutes
Team photo (if applicable)
☐
Medium — conveys capacity and professionalism
10 minutes
Compelling bio (150+ words, your story, specialisations)
☐
High — builds trust and connection
30 minutes
Individual service listings (not just 'cleaning')
☐
High — makes you findable for specific searches
20 minutes
Clear pricing for each service type
☐
High — removes friction from booking decision
15 minutes
Service areas listed (suburbs or radius)
☐
Medium — ensures relevant customer matches
10 minutes
ABN verified
☐
High — trust badge visible to customers
5 minutes
Public liability insurance verified
☐
High — essential for customer confidence
5 minutes
Police check verified
☐
High — critical for in-home services
5 minutes
Photos of your work (before/after)
☐
High — visual proof of quality
20 minutes
At least 5 customer reviews
☐
Critical — minimum for consistent bookings
Ongoing
Response to all reviews (positive and negative)
☐
Medium — shows professionalism
5 minutes each
Availability/working hours clearly stated
☐
Medium — sets customer expectations
5 minutes
Recurring booking discounts offered
☐
Medium — encourages long-term clients
5 minutes
Quick Win: Complete all 14 items on this checklist and your profile will outperform 80% of competitors. Most cleaners leave money on the table by skipping the basics — a verified ABN, a quality photo, and 5+ reviews are the foundation of a profile that books consistently.
Getting More Reviews and Building Social Proof
In the home services industry, reviews are currency. A cleaner with fifty five-star reviews will win bookings over a cheaper competitor with no reviews almost every time. Customers are inviting someone into their home — they want reassurance from others who have done the same.
Building a strong review portfolio should be a deliberate, ongoing strategy, not something left to chance.
How to Ask for Reviews (Without Being Awkward)
The simplest and most effective way to get reviews is to ask. After every completed job, send a brief, polite message thanking the customer and asking if they would be willing to leave a review on your Mozome profile. Many satisfied customers intend to leave reviews but simply forget.
A gentle reminder within 24 hours of the clean, while the experience is fresh, dramatically increases the response rate. Keep the request simple and provide a direct link to your review page.
Deliver Review-Worthy Service
This sounds obvious, but it means paying attention to the details that customers notice and remember: leaving a thoughtful touch like folding towels neatly or arranging cushions, cleaning areas that were not specifically requested but clearly needed attention, and always leaving the home looking better than the customer expected.
These small extras cost you minutes but generate the enthusiastic reviews that attract new clients.
Respond to Every Review
Thank customers who leave positive reviews with a genuine, personalised response. For negative reviews, respond professionally and constructively: acknowledge the concern, explain what you will do differently, and offer to make it right.
Prospective clients pay close attention to how you handle criticism. A thoughtful response to a negative review can actually build more trust than a string of generic five-star reviews.
Share your reviews on social media. Screenshots of glowing reviews make excellent content for your Facebook and Instagram pages, demonstrating social proof to potential clients who discover you outside of the platform.
Pricing Strategy for Maximum Profit
When you are not paying 15 to 20 per cent commission, you have pricing flexibility that commission-burdened competitors do not. Use this advantage strategically rather than simply undercutting the market. The goal is to price at a level that is competitive for customers while delivering healthy margins for your business.
Understanding Market Rates
Start by understanding the market rates in your specific service area. Standard house cleaning in Australian capital cities ranges from $30 to $45 per hour in 2026, while deep cleaning commands $45 to $60 per hour.
On a zero-commission platform, you can price at or slightly below the market average while actually earning more per hour than competitors on commission platforms who need to charge above-average rates to compensate for platform fees.
For example, if the market average for standard cleaning is $40 per hour, a cleaner on a 20 per cent commission platform needs to charge $50 per hour to net the same $40 after fees. On Mozome, you can charge $40 and keep every dollar — making you more price-competitive while earning the same or more.
Tiered Pricing and Recurring Discounts
Consider offering tiered pricing to capture different market segments. A basic clean at $35 per hour, a standard clean at $42 per hour, and a premium clean at $55 per hour gives customers choice and positions your top tier as a value proposition rather than just an hourly rate. Each tier should have clearly defined inclusions so customers understand what they are getting.
Offer discounts for recurring bookings — a 10 per cent discount for weekly clients and 5 per cent for fortnightly clients locks in reliable, predictable income while rewarding loyal customers. The lifetime value of a recurring client who books weekly for a year at $120 per session is over $6,000 — worth securing with a modest discount.
Fixed-Rate Specialty Packages
Price specialty services as fixed-rate packages rather than hourly. End-of-lease cleaning at $350 for a two-bedroom apartment, oven cleaning at $80, and window cleaning at $8 per window are easier for customers to budget for and often more profitable for you than hourly billing because your efficiency improves with experience.
ROI Analysis: Client Acquisition Channels Compared
Smart cleaning business owners do not rely on a single channel. But not all channels deliver equal return on investment. This analysis compares the real cost, effort, and results of every major acquisition channel available to Australian cleaners in 2026.
ROI comparison based on a cleaner offering weekly recurring cleans at $120/visit. Client lifetime value assumes 20 weeks of recurring bookings (conservative). Google Business Profile and Mozome deliver the highest ROI due to zero ongoing cost.
Channel
Monthly Cost
Avg. Leads/Month
Conversion Rate
Cost Per Client Won
Client Lifetime Value
12-Month ROI
Airtasker (15–20% commission)
$1,200–$2,000
40–60
Direct booking
$30–$40/job lost
$2,400 (weekly recurring)
Negative after fees
Hipages (lead fees)
$900–$1,800
30–60
15–25%
$100–$200
$2,400
Marginal
Google Business Profile (free)
$0
5–15
30–50%
$0
$2,400
Excellent (infinite)
Facebook community groups
$0 (time only)
3–8
40–60%
$0
$2,400
Excellent (infinite)
Instagram before/after content
$0–$100 (boosted)
2–5
20–30%
$0–$50
$2,400
Very good
Customer referrals
$0–$24 (10% discount)
2–6
60–80%
$0–$24
$2,400
Excellent
Mozome (zero commission)
$0
10–30
25–40%
$0
$2,400
Excellent (infinite)
Google Ads (local)
$300–$800
10–25
10–20%
$30–$80
$2,400
Good if optimised
Letterbox drops
$100–$300
1–5
1–3%
$50–$300
$2,400
Poor for most areas
The data makes the strategy clear: zero-cost channels like Google Business Profile, Mozome, referrals, and community engagement should form the foundation of your acquisition strategy. Paid channels like Google Ads can supplement growth, but commission and lead-fee platforms should be treated as temporary tools, not permanent business infrastructure.
Best Practice: Build your client base on 3–4 zero-cost channels (Mozome, Google Business Profile, referrals, Facebook groups) before spending a dollar on paid advertising. Most cleaners who do this find they never need to pay for leads again.
Growing Beyond One Platform: Multi-Channel Strategy
While a zero-commission platform like Mozome should be the foundation of your client acquisition strategy, the most successful cleaning businesses do not rely on any single channel. Diversifying your lead sources creates resilience and accelerates growth.
Google Business Profile (Free and Essential)
Set up a Google Business Profile — it is free and essential for local search visibility. When someone searches 'cleaner near me' or 'house cleaner [your suburb],' Google shows local business profiles prominently in the search results.
Optimise your profile with accurate service areas, business hours, photos of your work, and a clear description of your services. Encourage customers to leave Google reviews, as these directly affect your ranking in local search results. A profile with 20+ reviews and a 4.5+ star rating can generate significant organic leads at zero cost.
Social Media: Facebook Groups and Instagram
Social media — particularly Facebook and Instagram — is another powerful free channel for cleaning businesses. Join local community Facebook groups for your target suburbs and participate genuinely (do not just spam ads). When cleaning recommendations are requested (which happens frequently in these groups), your name will come up naturally if you are an active, helpful member.
Instagram is ideal for before-and-after photos of your cleaning work, which serve as visual proof of quality and attract followers who become clients. Short-form video content showing transformations performs particularly well — a 15-second Reel of a kitchen deep clean can reach thousands of potential customers in your local area.
Customer Referrals: The Highest-Quality Leads
Ask existing customers for referrals. A satisfied customer who refers a friend is giving you the highest-quality lead possible — it converts at a much higher rate than any platform lead and costs you nothing.
Consider offering a referral incentive like a 10 per cent discount on the next clean for both the referrer and the new client. This creates a positive cycle where happy customers actively help grow your business.
Combine these channels with your Mozome presence and you will build a robust, diversified client acquisition system that does not depend on any single source — and crucially, does not cost you commission on a single job.
Tax Deductions and Business Resources for Cleaning Businesses
Many cleaning business owners miss out on legitimate tax deductions that could save them thousands each year. Understanding what you can claim is as important as reducing platform fees — both directly increase your take-home income.
According to the ATO, common deductions for cleaning businesses include vehicle expenses (logbook or cents-per-kilometre method), cleaning products and equipment, uniforms and protective clothing, insurance premiums (public liability, income protection), phone and internet costs, advertising and marketing expenses, and home office costs if you run your business from home.
Keep detailed records of all expenses throughout the year. The ATO's myDeductions tool in the ATO app makes record-keeping simple — photograph receipts as you go and categorise expenses in real time. At tax time, your accountant will thank you.
Tax Tip: Platform commissions and lead fees you pay are tax-deductible business expenses. But zero-commission platforms save you the money upfront — which is always better than claiming a deduction for money already spent. A $15,000 commission paid on Airtasker gives you a ~$4,500 tax deduction (at 30% tax rate), but using Mozome at zero commission saves you the full $15,000. The maths is clear.
The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) offers free resources for small business operators, including dispute resolution, educational guides, and access to mentoring programmes. If you are dealing with unfair platform practices or contract disputes, the Ombudsman can assist.
The Digital Marketing Institute publishes research showing that service businesses with a strong online presence — professional profiles, active review management, and multi-channel visibility — grow 2.5 to 3 times faster than those relying solely on a single platform. Investing in your digital presence across free channels is one of the highest-return activities for any cleaning business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Mozome is a zero-commission home services platform available across major Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Unlike Airtasker (15 to 20 per cent commission) or lead-fee platforms like Hipages ($15 to $50 per lead), Mozome charges service providers zero commission, zero lead fees, and zero monthly subscription costs. When a customer pays you $200 for a cleaning job, you keep the full $200. This model can save a busy cleaner $10,000 to $20,000 per year compared to commission-based platforms.
Airtasker charges cleaners (and all service providers) a commission of 15 to 20 per cent on every completed job. This is deducted before the cleaner receives payment. On a $150 cleaning job, Airtasker takes $22.50 to $30 in commission. For a cleaner doing 40 to 50 jobs per month at an average of $150, that is $900 to $1,500 in monthly commission — or $10,800 to $18,000 per year. Customers also pay a separate booking fee on top of the agreed price.
Start by creating a professional profile on Mozome with clear service descriptions, competitive pricing, verified credentials (ABN, insurance, police check), and a quality profile photo. Set your initial prices slightly below market average to attract first bookings, then raise them gradually as you accumulate positive reviews. Simultaneously, set up a Google Business Profile, join local community Facebook groups, and ask friends and family to spread the word. Offering a first-clean discount (such as 15 per cent off the first booking) can help convert hesitant first-time customers. Focus on delivering exceptional service to your first ten clients — their reviews will be the foundation of your business growth.
Most customers feel comfortable booking a cleaner with at least five to ten verified reviews and an average rating of 4.5 stars or above. Bookings increase significantly once you reach 15 to 20 reviews, as this volume signals consistent quality rather than a small sample. Focus on getting reviews from every early client — the faster you build your review count, the faster your booking rate accelerates. On Mozome, reviews are verified against actual bookings, which adds credibility that generic testimonials cannot match.
You do not need to quit one platform to join another — there are no exclusivity requirements. The smart strategy is to create your Mozome profile immediately and start directing new and existing clients to book through it. For repeat clients who currently book through Airtasker, explain that booking through Mozome saves them the booking fee while allowing you to offer a slightly better rate (since you are not paying commission). Most clients are happy to switch when they understand it benefits both parties. Over time, you will naturally shift the majority of your bookings to the zero-commission platform, keeping thousands more per year.
Yes, platform commissions and lead fees are legitimate tax-deductible business expenses under the ATO's guidelines for advertising and marketing costs. However, a tax deduction only returns a fraction of the money spent — at a 30 per cent marginal tax rate, a $15,000 annual commission expense only saves you $4,500 in tax. Switching to a zero-commission platform saves you the full $15,000. The deduction is a consolation prize, not a strategy. Always prioritise reducing costs over claiming deductions on costs you could have avoided.
At minimum, you need public liability insurance, which covers you if you accidentally damage a client's property or someone is injured as a result of your work. Most policies cost $300 to $800 per year for sole traders. You should also consider personal accident and illness insurance (since cleaners do not receive sick leave or workers' compensation as sole traders) and professional indemnity insurance if you provide specialised services. Having verified insurance on your Mozome profile significantly increases your booking rate, as customers look for this when choosing a cleaner.