Thinking about working as a house cleaner in Australia?
There are two main ways to get started: either become an independent contractor or join a cleaning company.
As a contractor, you get to run things your way. You can choose your hours and set your rates, but you have to find your own clients. Income can also fluctuate, and cleaning supplies are out of pocket.
On the other hand, permanent employees enjoy job security. You can rely on a steady paycheck, and everything you need to clean homes is provided by your employer.
So, which path should you choose?
In this blog, we’ll explain the differences between contractors and employee cleaners, so you can figure out which is best for your lifestyle and future!
Why Become a Permanent Employee | Cons of Being a Contractor | Why We Hire Permanent Employees | Working With Maid2Match
Contractor vs. Employee Cleaner: Which Is Better?
If you want to work as a cleaner in Australia, you can either become an independent contractor or an employee cleaner.
Independent contractors are self-employed. In this setup, you’re a sole trader or a small business with an Australian Business Number (ABN). That means you sort your own public liability insurance, handle marketing to gain clients, and manage your taxes.
Employee cleaners are hired directly by a company. You’re on a payroll and get cleaning jobs from your employer.
Just keep in mind that employment types vary. Permanent roles offer real stability and consistent pay. On the other hand, casual positions often involve fluctuating hours and income, similar in ways to contracting.
That said, here’s a quick rundown of the main differences between a contractor and a permanent employee:
| CONTRACTOR CLEANER | PERMANENT EMPLOYEE CLEANER |
| Self-employed with own ABN | Employed by a cleaning company |
| Low job security; work depends on client demand | High job security with guaranteed working hours and a steady client roster |
| Variable income; high financial risk | Stable and consistent income |
| No paid leave; handles own super contributions | Receives paid annual leave and paid sick leave, with super contributions |
| Pays for operating costs (insurance, cleaning supplies, transport, etc.) | No extra costs; employer covers insurance, supplies, and transport costs |
| No training; relies on prior work experience | Employer offers training and career growth opportunities |
| Plenty of administrative work (ABN registration, taxes, client scheduling, marketing, sales, etc.) | Minimal administrative work; employer handles taxes, client concerns, and invoicing |
| Limited legal protection; risk of sham contracting | Strong legal protection under the Fair Work Act; formal employment contract safeguards rights |
| Must manage own contracts, insurance, and checks | The company covers insurance and background checks (e.g. police checks, NDIS Worker Screening) |
Why Become a Permanent Employee Cleaner
If you’re looking for job security, becoming a permanent employee cleaner is the way to go.
Permanent cleaners get guaranteed hours, paid leave, and many other benefits. On the other hand, contractors (along with casually employed workers) have to deal with unpredictable earnings and limited entitlements.
When you’re hired at Maid2Match, you’ll be a part-time, permanent employee, so you’ll have a solid foundation to grow your career!
Better job security and stability
Permanent employee cleaners have real job security, unlike many contractors.
For example, as a Field Staff at Maid2Match, you’ll get a steady stream of cleaning jobs. Your minimum work hours each week are guaranteed, so your pay is consistent and predictable.
That also means you won’t have to worry about finding clients!
Additionally, your employment is protected by the Fair Work Act and Cleaning Services Award. Once you’re past probation, you can’t be dismissed without a valid reason.
You’re also entitled to proper notice of termination and redundancy pay if your role has been made genuinely redundant.
With these safeguards, you’ll feel more stable in your job and can plan your life confidently.
Fair pay and complete benefits
As an employee, your pay as a cleaner is set by Fair Work. This ensures that your wages are fair and transparent, especially if you’re with an established cleaning company like Maid2Match.
But that’s just the start! Permanent employment also comes with leave entitlements that support well-being.
Paid annual leave is one of the biggest perks, so you can take a holiday without stressing over lost income. Paid sick leave and carer’s leave are also provided, which can be used when you’re unwell or when someone at home needs extra care.
Contractors usually miss out on all this. If they need time off, they have to absorb the financial hit.
There are long-term benefits for employed cleaners, too.
In some states and territories (like ACT, NSW, QLD, and VIC), cleaners are eligible for Portable Long Service Leave. This program tracks cleaners’ employment across different registered companies, so they still accrue leave even if they change employers.
Once you reach the required years (usually 7—10), you can take an extended, fully paid holiday. In NSW and QLD, for example, 10 years of service gives cleaners 8.67 weeks of paid leave. However, the exact entitlement can vary by location.
On top of these, your employer handles your superannuation contributions, helping build your retirement fund over time.
Employer-covered costs
As a permanent employee cleaner, you don’t have to think about out-of-pocket costs, unlike contractors.
At Maid2Match, our Field Staff are given everything they need on the job. That includes uniforms, a transport stipend, and cleaning supplies and equipment.
We even shoulder key expenses for applicants, like Police Checks and NDIS Worker Screenings.
Companies usually handle insurance, too. So if something is accidentally damaged at a client’s home (which can be common in cleaning!), employers can take care of that.
Then, there’s Workers’ Compensation, which covers medical and rehabilitation if you get injured or ill due to work. This lets you get back on your feet without extra expenses.
More professional support and development
If you want to get a cleaning job but you don’t have any experience, that’s totally fine! You can start as a beginner.
It’s actually easier to learn the job if you’re an employee, as you’ll have a Trainer or Manager to guide you. On the other hand, contractors usually have to figure things out on their own.
For example, new hires at Maid2Match go through a training program to develop their cleaning skills. We also provide the training needed to become an NDIS cleaner, so our staff can confidently support NDIS participants.
Another way we guide our Field Staff is through regular 1-on-1s with their Team Leader. This usually takes place at a cafe or somewhere close to where they work.
In these catch-ups, we encourage our cleaners to ask questions or talk about any challenges they’re facing, so we can properly support them.
Permanent employment also comes with opportunities to grow. As you gain experience, you can be promoted to Trainer or Leader, and earn more along the way.
Minimal or no administrative work
Many contractors move to employed roles to avoid the mountain of admin work. And it’s true — being an employee cleaner takes a lot off your plate.
Joining a company allows you to focus on making homes sparkle without getting buried in paperwork.
You won’t have to apply for an ABN, calculate taxes, juggle client schedules, or send invoices to clients. No need to chase late payments or track cash flow, either!
Some companies, like Maid2Match, even have dedicated customer support teams. They look after clients who have concerns about a service, so you’re not dealing with tricky situations alone.
The Downsides of Being a Contractor Cleaner
Working as a contractor can be the right fit if you want total control over your schedule and rates. It can also suit experienced housekeepers looking to build a cleaning business.
That said, there are important things to consider before contracting.
For example, the income can be unstable and a lot of admin duties can take up your time. You’re also more exposed to subcontracting risks, including sham arrangements.
Staying on top of administrative work
Since you’re essentially running a small business, there are plenty of responsibilities to handle by yourself. These include:
- Registering for and maintaining an ABN
- Arranging your own public liability insurance
- Calculating, filing, and paying your taxes
- Handling marketing, sales, and customer service
- Tracking cash flow and keeping financial records
- Managing and organising client bookings and schedules
And those are just the big tasks!
The smaller things (like replying to clients’ messages, following up on overdue payments, or taking care of customer complaints) can pile up quickly, too.
If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you might be ready for this kind of workload. But for many people, especially those new to cleaning, the business side can become more stressful than expected.
More out-of-pocket expenses
As a cleaning contractor, every cost comes out of your own pocket.
That includes insurance, transport, marketing, ads, cleaning supplies, and equipment. And that’s not even the complete list! To earn a profit, your rates have to cover those expenses.
Then, there are the surprise costs, which can be overwhelming if you’re new to contractor work.
For example, equipment can suddenly break, and supplies might run out more quickly than you expect. You have to absorb these costs upfront, sometimes even if a client has not paid yet.
Lack of steady income
The main advantage that you have as a contractor is the freedom to set your cleaning rates. Picking up more jobs also means you’ll earn more.
However, your income can fluctuate a lot. Some weeks might be fully booked, but some can be slower (like around public holidays), which makes cash flow hard to predict. Late payments or last-minute cancellations can happen, too.
All these can throw off your schedule and target earnings.
Moreover, your income stops if you get sick or need some time off. Planning for emergencies is part of your duties, but that can be tough when work isn’t steady in the first place.
Keep in mind that the financial impact lands on you alone, since there’s no employer to give you paid leave or help you find clients.
Subcontracting risks
Some independent cleaners subcontract for agencies, as it’s usually an easier way to get jobs.
(Note that there’s a difference between a cleaning agency and a cleaning company! Agencies act as a middleman for clients and subcontractors, while cleaning companies hire employees.)
In a subcontractor model, you’ll get bookings from the cleaning agency you’re working with.
They’re responsible for finding clients, which makes things a lot easier. Once a job is assigned to you, all you need to do is show up at the client’s home and clean!
However, subcontracting fees can affect your income.
The agency usually takes a cut from your pay or applies a flat fee per service, and these rates might not always be fair.
Also, you still bring your own cleaning supplies and travel between jobs.
You’ll need to factor in these costs or negotiate with the agency before you agree to the prices in the contract.
The entire setup might not be stable, either. Work isn’t guaranteed, and contracts can end sooner than expected, so the agency can suddenly stop giving you jobs.
Sham contracting
Another important thing that contractors must look out for is sham contracting.
Some cleaning companies use sham contracts to avoid paying entitlements like annual leave or super. So, instead of hiring you as an employee, they label you a “contractor” on paper, even if your actual work looks just like a regular job.
Unfortunately, this happens quite a lot in cleaning. Many companies are under pressure to offer cheap cleaning prices to stay competitive, so they cut costs, often at the expense of worker rights.
Sham arrangements can be tricky to spot, so be careful!
Everything might seem to check out at first. You may even be given an official-looking contract that includes your ABN. But once the work starts, you’ll notice that you don’t have the freedom that’s supposed to come with contracting.
The company might also ask you to:
- Work fixed hours
- Complete company-provided training
- Follow strict company rules and processes
- Report to a manager who directs your daily tasks
- Stop you from working with other cleaning companies
- Wear the company’s uniform and use their cleaning supplies
Ultimately, you’re likely in a sham contracting arrangement if you lose control over how or when you clean homes.
The worst part is that you don’t receive the protections and benefits that employees get, even when you’re already working like one. That means no paid leave and no super. And if something goes wrong at a job, they won’t step in to bear the cost or loss for you.
If you’re incorrectly classified as a contractor, the company can face penalties under the Fair Work Act and Australian Taxation Office rules.
Why Maid2Match Hires Permanent Employees
Many cleaners face inconsistent hours, unpredictable pay, and unfair work conditions.
That’s why Maid2Match is committed to building a better workplace, one where cleaning is a good job.
Our goal is to give our Field Staff job security and support them in building a rewarding career in cleaning.
Legal protection, fair pay, and comprehensive benefits
When you join Maid2Match, you become part of a legitimate cleaning company (not an agency!) that fully complies with industry regulations.
You’ll be hired as a part-time, permanent employee with consistent pay and guaranteed minimum hours weekly. Other benefits include paid leave entitlements and super.
There’s also an official employment contract, which means your rights as a worker are clear and safeguarded under the law.
Inclusive hiring and equal opportunity
Maid2Match believes that everyone deserves a fair chance to build a stable career. So whether you’re an experienced cleaner or a beginner, you can send us your application.
And if you’re worried about a resume gap, don’t be! We fully support those who want to return to the workforce after a career break.
People from diverse backgrounds are also welcome, and we ensure that everyone in the team feels respected.
What truly matters to us is the right attitude and openness to learning. If that sounds like you, we encourage you to write your cleaning resume now.
Providing training and mentorship
As a permanent Field Staff team member at Maid2Match, you have the kind of support and guidance that only comes from true teamwork.
When you start here, you’ll get proper training, not vague instructions that change daily.
For all new hires, we focus on hands-on learning. You’ll join your Trainer on actual jobs so you can see firsthand how they clean homes
We also have cleaning checklists for every room and every type of service (like NDIS cleaning or bond cleaning), so you always know how to approach your tasks.
If you have any questions, you can raise them during catch-ups with your Team Leader. Everything’s set up to help you do your best work!
Creating a career path in domestic cleaning
At Maid2Match, we challenge the idea that cleaning is just a side gig or something you do until a “better” job comes along. Here, it’s a long-term career where you can grow.
Over time, many of our Field Staff become experts not only in cleaning but also in building relationships with clients. At that point, they’re ready for broader roles within the team.
That’s why we built our Pathways Program. It’s a unique career development initiative in Australia that encourages our high-performing employees to develop skills beyond house cleaning!
Through the program, we’ll give you the training you need to advance into a new role. For example, you can become a Trainer who mentors beginners or a Team Leader who manages Field Staff.
Promotions come with pay increases, so your earning matches your new duties and responsibilities.
These growth opportunities are among the reasons many Maid2Match Field Staff stay with us for years!
Find Permanent Cleaning Jobs at Maid2Match
Hiring permanent employees means we get to build a supportive workplace for our Field Staff.
With us, you get legal protection, fair pay, and a range of benefits. You’re not working a dead-end job, as we’ll help you build a long-term career in cleaning.
If you’re seeking permanent and stable work, we’d love to see your resume. Scroll through Maid2Match’s Careers page to find part-time, permanent cleaning jobs across Australia!
