When Cleaners Solicit Your Clients (And How to Handle It)
- Diem Martin
- Aug 13, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 14
One of the biggest concerns for referral agency owners is:
“What if a cleaner tries to take my client?”
It’s a valid concern.
And while it does happen, it’s not something that should stop you from building this business.
In fact, with the right structure, you can handle it and continue to grow.
Who This Is For
This is for you if:
You’re worried about cleaners taking clients
You’ve already experienced this and aren’t sure how to handle it
You want to protect your business without over-controlling cleaners
The Reality
Yes, cleaners may occasionally try to solicit clients.
But this usually comes down to:
Misalignment
Lack of understanding of the model
Or poor vetting upfront
The goal isn’t to eliminate risk completely.
It’s to build a business where:
Good cleaners want to stay
Clients see the value in your service
And situations like this are handled quickly and professionally
3 Real Scenarios (And How I Handled Them)
Here are three situations I’ve personally dealt with:
1. Cleaner Offers the Same Service at a Lower Price
A cleaner approached the client directly and offered to do the same work for less.
2. Cleaner Leaves a Flyer at the Client’s Home
A more passive approach, but still a form of solicitation.
3. Cleaner Solicits and Faces Consequences
In this case, the cleaner violated the agreement, resulting in a fine and termination.
Watch the Breakdown
In this video, I walk through each situation, how I handled it, and what happened after:
How to Reduce the Risk
You don’t control cleaners like employees.
But you do control the system.
1. Set Clear Expectations Early
Make sure cleaners understand:
Your role as an agency
Their role as an independent professional
What is and isn’t acceptable
This starts during recruiting.
2. Build a Strong Value Proposition for Cleaners
Cleaners are less likely to leave when they feel supported.
Your agency provides:
Marketing
Clients
Scheduling
Payment handling
When they see the value, they stay.
3. Build a Strong Value Proposition for Clients
Clients don’t just stay because of the cleaner.
They stay because of:
The overall experience
The support you provide
The ability to rematch if needed
4. Have Clear Agreements in Place
Make sure your terms are:
Clear
Agreed upon
Referenced when needed
This protects your business when issues arise.
The Bigger Picture
Cleaner solicitation is not the norm.
And when your business is built correctly:
It becomes less frequent
Easier to handle
Less impactful overall
The focus should always be on building a strong system, not reacting out of fear.
Want to Learn How This Model Works?
If you want a clear breakdown of how to start and structure a cleaning referral agency:
Ready to Build This Step-by-Step?
If you want the systems, templates, and structure to protect and grow your business:
Want Personalized Help With This?
If you want help tightening your systems, agreements, or cleaner structure:
Want to See How Others Are Doing This?
I share real scenarios and how they’re handled inside the community:
FAQ
Can I completely prevent cleaners from soliciting clients?
No, but you can reduce the likelihood significantly with the right systems.
Should I confront the cleaner?
Address it professionally and refer back to your agreement.
Does this happen often?
Not when your recruiting, messaging, and structure are strong.
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