Updated October 21, 2026
Where customers in Split actually look for cleaners
Customers in Split find cleaners through several channels. Word of mouth - a friend's recommendation - remains reliable, especially for regular work. Online search is growing: people type "cleaner Split" or "apartment cleaning" into Google or social platforms. A professional profile on Websta and other platforms puts you where people search for services by location and job type.
Offices, shops, restaurants and small businesses need regular cleaning. Property management companies that handle rental apartments need cleaning services between tenants or for maintenance. Individuals - homeowners, renters, people with vacation apartments - hire cleaners for one-off jobs or weekly visits. Schools, medical clinics and government offices sometimes post cleaning jobs, though these often require formal bids.
Direct approaches work: leaving a business card or flyer at a gym, language school, hostel or tourism office lets people find you. Word of mouth from satisfied customers tends to bring the most reliable repeat work over time.
Setting your first price in Split
Pricing depends on the type of work. Hourly cleaning of apartments or offices, deep cleaning after moving, spring cleaning, post-construction cleaning and specialized work (windows, carpets, grout) all sit at different rates. Start by researching what other cleaners in Split charge. Check other profiles on Websta, ask other cleaners informally, and look at local classified ads and Facebook groups where people post and offer services.
A realistic starting point for apartment cleaning in Split is to research the local market carefully before you quote. Consider your costs: transport between jobs, cleaning supplies, equipment wear. A new cleaner often charges less than an experienced one, but not so little that you work for almost nothing. Set a price you can live with, and adjust it up once you have regular customers and reviews.
Be clear about what the price includes: Do you provide cleaning supplies or does the customer? Do you move furniture or just clean around it? Are stairs, windows or balconies included? Customers will ask, and your answer affects the price. Write these details on your profile so customers know what to expect.
Taking money and staying legal as an independent person
In Croatia, if you work as an independent person (samozaposlen), you need to register with the Tax Authority (Porezna uprava) and join the Health Insurance Institute (Hrvatskog zavoda za zdravstveno osiguranje, HZZO). The rules and costs change, so check the current requirements with the Tax Authority in Split or online at their website. Many independent cleaners in Croatia work this way.
On Websta, customers pay by card and the money goes directly to your bank account via Stripe, a standard payment system. You set your own prices and handle the payment details. You keep track of income and expenses (cleaning supplies, transport, tools) and report them to the tax authority as required. Keep records of your work: dates, customers, amounts paid.
If you work with a cleaning company instead of independently, they handle registration and tax matters, but you earn less per job. Some cleaners start independent and switch later, or do both. Speak with an accountant or the Tax Authority office in Split to understand the current obligations and costs for your situation.
What your first ten customers usually look like
Your first customers often come through personal networks: friends of friends, colleagues, neighbors. They may not be the easiest jobs - sometimes they expect discounts because they know you, or they have unclear expectations. Be professional anyway: agree on the job clearly, show up on time, do good work. These early customers often become repeat clients or refer others.
The first customers sometimes test you with small, one-off jobs: a one-time apartment clean, a move-out cleaning, a spring tidy-up. They want to see if you're reliable before they commit to regular weekly cleaning. That's normal. A few reliable customers doing repeat work is more valuable than many one-time jobs.
Early on, you'll likely do more work to build a reputation and get reviews. As your profile on Websta gets customer feedback and as word spreads, you can be more selective about jobs and raise prices. This takes time - weeks or months, not days.
What tends to go wrong in the first months
Underpricing is common: cleaners starting out charge too little because they want the work, then realize they're earning very little per hour. Set a price based on market research and stick to it. Raise it once you have regular work.
Unclear agreements lead to conflict: a customer thinks you'll clean the kitchen in detail, but you thought a quick wipe-down was included. Always confirm in writing - on Websta's booking form, via message or email - exactly what the job covers, the time, the price and when you'll arrive.
Inconsistent availability frustrates customers. If you're balancing a main job and cleaning on the side, make clear which days and times you work. If you commit to Tuesday afternoon, be there. Canceling or showing up late damages your reputation when you're starting out.
Lack of a clear presence online means customers can't find you easily. A profile on Websta or another platform with your services, prices and online booking makes you discoverable and looks professional. People search for cleaners and find you instead of a competitor.
How a Websta profile fits into your cleaning business
Websta is a marketplace and service platform where customers in Split search for cleaners by location and type of job. You create a profile, list your services with prices and a description of what you do, upload photos of your work, and customers can book or contact you through the site. The profile works as a simple website and a way to be found online.
Customers pay by card through Websta, using Stripe. The money goes directly to your bank account - you're not holding cash, and Websta doesn't take a cut from your earnings. You set all the prices yourself. Websta simply connects you with people looking for a cleaner in Split and handles the payment processing.
A Websta profile is one tool. You can also get customers through word of mouth, Google search, Facebook, local ads and direct outreach. A professional profile on Websta handles online discovery and gives customers a way to book you without needing your personal phone number or email in a public place. You can send the link to anyone - it's a page that looks like a small business website.
The realistic picture: earning takes work and time
Making money as a cleaner in Split is possible, but earning a reliable income takes effort. You need to find customers, do the work well, build a reputation, and grow gradually. In the first weeks or months, you may have few jobs and low total earnings. This is normal.
Success depends on being reliable, doing good work, keeping customers satisfied and staying visible - through a profile, word of mouth, or both. Prices, demand and competition in Split vary by neighborhood and season. Summer may bring more vacation apartment work; winter may be slower.
If you start as a side income while working another job, you build gradually and take on more cleaning work only as it becomes steady. If cleaning is your main income, you need to invest time in getting established before you can live from it. Both paths work, but neither is instant.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to register as self-employed to work as a cleaner in Split?
- In Croatia, if you work independently and earn money from cleaning, you generally need to register with the Tax Authority (Porezna uprava) and the health insurance system. The exact rules and costs change, so check the current requirements with the Tax Authority office in Split. Some people work through a cleaning company instead, which handles registration but takes a share of earnings.
- What should I charge per hour for cleaning in Split?
- Research other cleaners' rates in Split through Websta, local ads and word of mouth to understand the market. Pricing depends on the type of work (hourly cleaning, deep cleaning, specialized services), your experience and local demand. Start with a rate based on your research and costs, and adjust upward as you gain customers and reputation. Don't undercharge just to get work - it's hard to raise prices later.
- How do I find my first cleaning customers in Split?
- Start with people you know and word of mouth. Tell friends, family and colleagues you're offering cleaning services. Create a profile on Websta or another online platform so people can find you through search. Leave business cards at local businesses. Post in community groups on Facebook. Early customers often come through personal networks; as you build reviews and reputation, online discovery brings more.
- How does payment work through Websta?
- Customers pay by card when they book. Websta processes the payment through Stripe, and the money goes directly to your bank account. You set your own prices, and Websta doesn't take a commission. You're responsible for tracking income and reporting it to the tax authority as required by Croatian law.
- How long does it take to earn real money as a cleaner in Split?
- It depends on how much work you find and how you find it. You need to build a customer base, establish a reputation and get repeat bookings. This typically takes weeks or months, not days. Starting as a side income while working another job lets you build gradually. As your main income, it takes longer to become financially stable. Growth is not guaranteed and depends on your effort, pricing, quality and how you market yourself.
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.