How to Make Money as a Cleaner in Sofia

Where customers in Sofia find cleaners

In Sofia, people who need cleaning help come from several directions. Households in residential neighbourhoods make up a large part of the market - families with children, working couples, older people, and people who simply prefer to spend their time differently. Schools, medical clinics, small offices, and shops also need regular cleaning. Some customers search online when they need someone; others ask friends and colleagues for a recommendation. Word of mouth matters a lot in Sofia, especially in tight-knit neighbourhoods where one satisfied customer can lead to several others.

Online, people search for cleaners on Google, through local Facebook groups, or on platforms like Websta where they can see your services, prices, and book directly. Having a profile where customers can find you, see what you offer, and contact you without going through a middleman gives you a direct link to these people. Websta's marketplace in Sofia lets people nearby post tasks where cleaners can make offers, and it also means customers can find you through search when they type in their neighbourhood or service type.

Setting your first prices

Price-setting is one of the hardest decisions when you start. In Sofia, cleaning rates vary by type of work - an hourly deep clean costs more than a regular tidy, and a one-off apartment clean is priced differently from weekly maintenance. Look at what others in Sofia charge by asking people in the trade, checking local ads, and seeing what profiles on Websta show. Call a few cleaners and ask what they charge for similar work.

Your first price does not have to be the lowest. Set something that feels fair for your work and covers your transport costs and time. You can adjust as you gain customers and experience. Many cleaners in Sofia start somewhere in the middle of the range they see, then refine based on feedback and how busy they become. On Websta, you set the price yourself, and customers see it clearly before they book, so there is no awkwardness about money later.

Your first ten customers

Your first customers usually come in this order: someone you know personally who asks you to clean for them, a few referrals from people who saw your work, a search result from someone looking for a cleaner in their neighbourhood, and gradually a small stream of online inquiries. The first months are not fast. It takes time to build trust and for word of mouth to work. Many people starting out clean for three to five people for the first month, then grow from there.

These early customers often test you - they want to see that you show up on time, do thorough work, and are easy to work with. Your reputation in Sofia builds on these first jobs more than on anything else. Keep them happy, do the work well, and ask if they know anyone else who needs cleaning. A profile on Websta with photos of your work, a clear description of what you offer, and online booking makes it easier for these first customers to find you and book.

Taxes and legal requirements for cleaners in Bulgaria

When you earn money from cleaning in Sofia, you must register as a sole trader with the Bulgarian tax authorities. The exact process and requirements change, so check with the National Revenue Agency (Национална агенция по приходите, or NAP) to confirm the current steps for your situation. As a sole trader in Bulgaria, you file taxes on your income and may need to register for VAT if you reach certain thresholds.

Keep records of what you earn from each customer. If you use a platform like Websta, payments go directly to your own bank account through Stripe, and you have a clear record of income. Separate your business money from personal money by using a business bank account if you can; this makes tax time much simpler. Talk to an accountant in Sofia familiar with small service businesses - the cost of an hour or two of their time now will save you problems later and money at tax time.

• Register as a sole trader with NAP
• Keep income records from every customer
• Use a business bank account if possible
• Check VAT registration rules with NAP
• Consult a local accountant about your specific situation

Common problems in the first months

Many cleaners starting out face the same issues. Customers cancel or reschedule at the last minute, eating into your time and planned income. You arrive at a job to find the space is bigger than described, or the work is harder than expected, and you have not charged enough. Some customers push back on your price without understanding the work involved, or they assume you will do extra tasks without extra pay.

Transport takes longer than planned, and you lose time between jobs. Some people do not pay immediately, and chasing payment takes energy. A few customers will be rude or unreliable. The answer to most of these is to be clear from the start: explain exactly what the job includes and what you charge, get agreement before you start work, and build in time between jobs. On Websta, the booking system and price clarity help prevent misunderstandings.

How a Websta profile helps

A Websta profile gives you a professional page that looks like a website. You list your services and prices, customers see your contact information and can book online, and you have a space to add photos of your work. When someone searches for a cleaner in Sofia on Websta, they find profiles in their neighbourhood or search by service. A profile with clear prices and online booking means customers can find you, understand exactly what you offer and what it costs, and book a time without a long back-and-forth of messages or calls.

Payments come through Stripe directly to your own bank account - you control the money and have a clear record for taxes. You can send your profile link to anyone: friends who might need cleaning, customers from word of mouth, people who call asking if you are available. It is a page to point people to, rather than trying to explain everything yourself each time. For cleaners starting out in Sofia, a profile on Websta is a simple, concrete tool for being findable and looking professional.

Building a client base takes time

The honest truth is that earning good money as a cleaner in Sofia takes several months of consistent work. You do not wake up with ten customers. You start with one or two, you do good work, people recommend you, you post your services where people can find you, and gradually the work builds. Some weeks you will be fully booked; other weeks will be slower. Alongside another job, cleaning can be a real second income; as a full income, it takes time to reach steady earnings.

What matters most is being reliable, doing the work well, being clear about money, and being patient. A Websta profile with services, prices, and online booking is one tool that helps - it makes you findable and professional - but the real work is in the cleaning itself and in building your reputation in Sofia, one customer at a time.