Updated October 21, 2026
Where paying customers come from
New cleaning clients most often appear from local and repeat sources rather than strangers. Start close to home and then expand outward.
Typical sources include neighbours and people in your building, friends and family who recommend you, colleagues at work, local small businesses such as shops or cafes, landlords and estate agents needing move-out cleaning, people posting tasks on online marketplaces, and occasional institutional contacts such as schools or offices that hire ad hoc help.
Online search and social networks matter more as you scale, because people often look for a cleaner by service and town. Word of mouth remains powerful - one steady client who recommends you can bring several more.
- Neighbours, family and colleagues
- Small local businesses and landlords
- Online task posts and search results
- Word of mouth and repeat customers
How to set a first price and talk about money
Start by estimating your direct costs - transport, cleaning supplies, travel time - and the time a job takes. Decide whether you will charge by the hour or by task. For regular cleaning, many clients prefer a fixed weekly or monthly price; for one-off deep cleans, a per-job quote is common.
Be transparent when you talk money. Put basic prices or price ranges on your written offer or profile so clients see them before contacting you. When asked, explain what is included and what would cost extra - for example, oven cleaning, window cleaning or heavy stain removal.
Accept different payment methods if you can. Websta supports card payments that are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe; you can also accept cash or bank transfers. If a client asks for a deposit or advance, explain the reason and issue a receipt.
- Calculate costs and time before deciding prices
- Offer clear written quotes that list what is included
- Accept card, bank transfer or cash where practical
- Use deposits for large or new clients
What the first ten customers usually look like
Your first ten customers are often a small, varied group rather than a uniform client base. Expect a mix of short one-off jobs and a few repeat domestic clients.
Typical early clients include neighbours who want a regular clean, a tenant timing a move-out clean, an employer or colleague asking for weekend help, a small shop owner wanting occasional cleaning, and people who posted a task on a local marketplace. A handful of recommendations from friends or clients often account for several of the first ten.
These early jobs are where you build face-to-face references. Keep notes on how long tasks take, what supplies worked, and which clients are likely to return.
- Several regular domestic clients
- One-off move-out or deep cleaning jobs
- Local small businesses and marketplace leads
- Referrals from existing clients or acquaintances
What to sort out when taking money as an independent person
In Czechia you normally need to sort formal registration and reporting before you start working regularly. Check with the Trade Licensing Office - ask whether you need a trade licence (živnostenské oprávnění) for cleaning work and which trade category applies.
You must register income with the tax office - contact your local Finanční úřad and ask how to declare earnings from self-employment and how to issue invoices or receipts. For social and health insurance, contact the Czech Social Security Administration (ČSSZ) and your health insurer to learn when to register and what payments may apply.
If you are unsure about insurance or liability for accidental damage, ask an insurance company about public liability coverage for cleaners. If you plan to employ someone, ask the relevant authorities about payroll and employment rules.
- Ask the Trade Licensing Office if you need a trade licence and which category
- Ask the tax office how to declare self-employment income and issue receipts
- Contact ČSSZ and your health insurer about registration and contributions
- Ask an insurer about liability coverage for damage or accidents
What tends to go wrong in the first months
Several practical problems repeat among new cleaners. Underpricing to win a job is common and leaves little margin for supplies or travel. Not agreeing scope in writing leads to scope creep - clients asking for work you did not plan for.
Time management is another issue: balancing cleaning jobs with another job or family can lead to late arrivals or cancellations. Not tracking income and expenses makes taxes and social insurance harder later. Finally, poor communication about cancellations, supplies or extra charges damages trust.
Mitigate these by writing simple agreements or messages confirming date, time, price and what is included; by keeping a basic spreadsheet of jobs and income; and by setting clear cancellation and rescheduling rules.
- Underpricing and no margin for costs
- Unclear scope and extra tasks asked on site
- Scheduling conflicts with other work or family
- Poor record-keeping complicating taxes
How a Websta profile fits into finding and booking work
A Websta profile gives you a single page you can send to clients and share online. The profile looks like a simple website with services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. It also appears in the marketplace where people nearby search for providers by service and place. The Websta marketplace category for this work is "cleaners" for Czechia and the path is /marketplace/cleaning.
Card payments from customers are paid out to the provider's own bank account through Stripe; you set your own prices. A profile helps reduce back-and-forth by displaying what you offer and letting clients book directly. If a profile was created from public registers in another country, those pages typically carry a notice that the person can claim or remove the page - for example this was done from the public business register in Estonia.
Use the profile as a professional reference, keep photos and service descriptions honest, and update availability so clients can trust your online calendar.
- Single page to share with clients - services, prices, photos
- Online booking and card payouts via Stripe to your bank
- Appears in Websta marketplace at /marketplace/cleaning
- Keep profile accurate and up to date
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a trade licence to work as a cleaner in Czechia?
- You should check with the Trade Licensing Office about whether a trade licence (živnostenské oprávnění) is required for the type of cleaning you plan to do. Ask which trade category applies and what documents are needed.
- How should I accept payments from clients?
- Accept methods your clients prefer - cash, bank transfer or card. Websta supports card payments that are paid out to your bank account through Stripe; otherwise clarify payment terms in writing before the job.
- What records do I need to keep for taxes?
- Ask your local Finanční úřad how to declare self-employment income and what receipts or invoices you must issue. Keep a simple record of jobs, income and expenses to make filing easier.
- How can I avoid disagreements about what the price covers?
- Confirm scope, time, price and any extras in writing before the job. Use checklists or short written quotes and state your cancellation and rescheduling rules.
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.