Updated October 21, 2026
Where paying customers come from
In Belgium paying cleaning work comes from several predictable places. Neighbours and private households are often the easiest initial market because you can ask in your local building, on residential Facebook groups or by leaving a flyer in the letterboxes of nearby streets. Workplaces and small offices hire cleaners either through a regular schedule or occasional deep cleans. Schools, crèches and local non-profit organisations sometimes contract individual cleaners or subcontractors.
Online search is important: many people look for a cleaner on search engines or marketplaces. Word of mouth is still powerful in Belgian communities - a satisfied neighbour or colleague can lead to repeat work and referrals. Local bulletin boards, community centres and local Facebook groups remain practical places to advertise specific services and availability.
- Neighbours and households
- Small offices and workplaces
- Schools and community organisations
- Online search and marketplaces
- Word of mouth and local noticeboards
Setting a first price and talking about money
Set a first price by calculating your real cost per hour: include the time spent travelling, the time on the job, cleaning supplies, machine wear, and an estimate for taxes and social contributions. Decide whether to charge hourly or per task. Hourly rates make small jobs easy to price; flat fees work well for one-off deep cleans or end-of-lease work.
When you talk about money with a customer, be clear about what is included. Explain whether supplies are included or will be charged extra, how long the job will take, and your cancellation or deposit policy. For new customers you can request a small upfront payment or ask to be paid immediately after the job. If you use online booking, the customer can pay a card amount that is processed and paid out to your own bank account through Stripe on platforms like Websta.
- Calculate time, travel and material costs
- Choose hourly or flat pricing per task
- Be transparent about supplies and cancellations
- Consider an upfront payment for new customers
What the first ten customers usually look like
Your first ten customers are likely to be a mix of friends, neighbours, acquaintances from work, and a few people who found you online. Many new cleaners find the earliest bookings come from people who already know them or from local groups where trust is higher. Expect repeat small jobs at first - short weekly or biweekly visits rather than large contracts.
Those customers will test punctuality, communication and cleaning quality. Treat the first jobs as both income and advertising: ask satisfied customers if you can be recommended, and ask permission to use a before-and-after photo or a short reference for your profile.
- Mostly local and known contacts at first
- Short, repeat jobs common early on
- Early customers are testers of reliability
- Ask for referrals and permission to show photos
Administrative steps to sort out in Belgium
As an independent cleaner you should check registration and tax obligations before you start taking regular paid work. In Belgium businesses are registered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (BCE / KBO) via a guichet d'entreprises / ondernemingsloket. You should also contact a social insurance fund to register as self-employed and learn how social contributions will be collected.
For VAT and income tax questions contact the Federal Public Service Finance - Service Public Fédéral Finances (FPS Finance). If you are unsure about whether you need to register for VAT or how to issue invoices, ask FPS Finance or your enterprise counter for guidance. For specific administrative steps, ask your guichet d'entreprises: what registration form you must fill, whether you need provisional social contributions, and what invoicing records to keep. If you need help with bookkeeping, a local accountant or enterprise counter can explain obligations and simplified options.
- Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises via a guichet d'entreprises
- Contact a social insurance fund about self-employed contributions
- Check VAT and tax rules with FPS Finance
- Ask your enterprise counter about invoicing and record keeping
Common early problems and how to avoid them
Several issues recur in the first months: underpricing, poor time estimates, no written agreement about cancellations, and unpaid last-minute jobs. Underpricing often happens because start-up cleaners forget to add travel, supplies and social costs. Time-estimate errors lead to rushed jobs or unhappy clients.
Avoid these by setting clearer boundaries: write a short service description, give an estimated duration and a clear price, confirm bookings in writing, and ask for payment terms. Keep basic spare equipment and a checklist for each job to cut mistakes. Consider simple liability insurance if you handle delicate items or expensive premises - ask an insurance broker which policy fits small cleaning activities.
- Underpricing and omitted costs
- Poor time estimates and scheduling conflicts
- Unclear payment and cancellation terms
- Equipment failures or supply shortages
How a Websta profile fits into this
A Websta profile creates a single page you can send to potential customers and helps you be found online. On that page you can list services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. Card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe; the provider sets the prices.
Use the profile link on flyers, in messages to neighbours, and in social posts. For the Websta marketplace: category data includes category 'cleaners', country 'Belgium', countryCode 'BE', matrixPath '/marketplace/cleaning'. A public profile acts as a consistent professional reference while you build local word of mouth.
- Single page to send to customers with services and booking
- Payments processed by Stripe and paid out to your bank account
- Use the profile to support local marketing and referrals
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to register before I do one-off cleaning jobs?
- For a few occasional, informal jobs you can check local rules, but if you plan to take regular paid work you should register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises via a guichet d'entreprises and contact a social insurance fund. Ask FPS Finance about VAT and invoicing requirements.
- How should I ask for payment on first jobs?
- Be clear from the first message: state the price, what it covers, and when you expect payment. For new customers you can ask for upfront payment or immediate card payment via an online booking link. Using a platform with card processing means payments can be paid out to your bank account through Stripe.
- What is the easiest way to find the first customers?
- Start locally: ask neighbours, post in local community groups, hand out simple flyers, and mention your availability at work. Complement this with an online presence so people who search can find a page with your services and contact details.
- Should I carry liability insurance?
- Liability insurance is not strictly the same for every situation. If you work in clients' homes or handle valuable items, ask an insurance broker about a small business liability policy to cover accidental damage.
- How do I keep track of bookings and invoices?
- Use a simple calendar and keep copies of invoices and payment receipts. If you need help, ask a bookkeeper or your guichet d'entreprises what records to keep and how long to keep them for tax and social security purposes.
About the numbers
Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.