CLEANERS · PAYMENT LINKS
Deposit and Balance Payments for Cleaners
A clear UK guide for cleaners on using deposits and balance payments to protect your time, reduce cancellations and keep cashflow steady.
It is stressful when a big booking falls through at the last minute or a client disappears without paying the full amount. You block out hours for a deep clean, turn other work away, then end up out of pocket because someone changed their mind or delayed payment. Over time this can make your cleaning business feel unstable and unfair.
Using deposits and clear balance payments gives you structure. Instead of hoping clients will do the right thing, you set simple terms in advance. A deposit protects your time and reduces cancellations. A clear balance payment process makes it easier to get paid in full without awkward chasing.
This guide explains how UK cleaners can combine deposits and balance payments in a professional way that clients understand. You will see realistic deposit ranges, when to take full payment, how to handle balances on the day and how to link everything together with payment links and gentle reminders.
Part of the Cleaners Payment Links Guide Series
For the full picture of how deposits, balances, reminders and links fit together, start with the main pillar guide: Payment Links for Cleaners: Complete UK Guide .
How Deposits and Balance Payments Work for Cleaners
A good deposit and balance system is simple. Clients know what they are paying, when they need to pay it and what happens if they do not. You know your time is protected and your diary is more reliable.
What is a deposit?
A deposit is an upfront payment that secures a booking. It shows the client is serious and gives you some protection if they cancel late. For cleaners, deposits are especially useful for:
- One off deep cleans and spring cleans.
- End of tenancy cleans and moving related work.
- First visits with new clients where you do not know them yet.
If you want a deep dive on how to ask for this upfront payment, you can read the dedicated guide on how to request a deposit as a cleaner once you have finished this one.
What is a balance payment?
The balance is the remaining amount owed after the deposit. For example, if a deep clean is £150 and the client pays a £50 deposit, the balance is £100. The balance is usually due:
- On the day of the clean, often straight after you finish.
- By the end of the day at the latest for domestic work.
- Within a short fixed window for end of tenancy or higher value jobs.
Balance payments work best when they are tied to a payment link and a clear reminder pattern, which you can learn more about in the guide on automatic payment reminders for cleaners .
Typical UK Deposit and Balance Patterns
Every cleaner sets their own rules, but many UK domestic cleaners follow realistic ranges like these:
| Job type | Typical deposit | Balance timing |
|---|---|---|
| Standard weekly or fortnightly clean | Often no deposit for long term regulars, or a small fixed amount for first visit. | On the day of the clean or by end of the same day. |
| One off deep clean | Commonly £30 - £60 depending on property size and total price. | Remaining balance on the day, usually right after the job. |
| End of tenancy clean | Often £50 - £100, or a higher percentage if it is an all day job. | Balance on the day, with some cleaners asking for full payment before keys are handed back. |
| Commercial or high value work | Often 30 - 50 percent, especially for large properties or specialist work. | Balance on the day, or within a short agreed window (for example 3 - 7 days). |
The aim is not to squeeze every penny out of clients. It is to protect your time, reduce cancellations and make sure you are paid fairly for work you complete.
Real Examples of Deposits and Balances for Cleaners
To make this practical, here are realistic situations UK cleaners face and how a deposit and balance system can protect you without damaging relationships.
New client booking a four hour deep clean
A new client messages about a one off deep clean before family visit. The job will take around four hours and you need to block a morning in your diary. In the past you may have trusted people and hoped they would not cancel.
With a deposit and balance system you confirm the price, then explain that you take a deposit to secure the slot. You send a payment link for the deposit, then another link for the remaining balance to be paid on the day.
Where sideways guides fit:
If you want help with the exact wording here, the guide on how to request a deposit professionally gives message examples. If cancellations have been a big problem, it is worth pairing deposits with the advice in how cleaners can reduce cancellations so your whole booking system becomes more stable.
Regular client with occasional extra jobs
You have a fortnightly client who is usually reliable. Every few months they ask for extras such as oven cleaning or inside cupboards. The price jumps for that visit and you want to be sure it is worth the extra time.
Instead of treating it like a normal visit, you can treat the extras like a mini project. You keep the usual balance process for the standard clean, then take a small deposit for the additional work and collect the balance at the end using a separate payment link.
This keeps your relationship friendly while quietly protecting your time and income. If payment sometimes drifts, combining deposits with automatic payment reminders means you do not have to keep sending manual messages.
End of tenancy clean for a tenant who is nervous about deposit deductions
A tenant needs an end of tenancy clean and is worried about their landlord keeping their deposit. They want a high quality job but are also stressed about money timing.
You can offer a clear structure: a fixed price for the clean, a deposit upfront to secure the date and a balance payment link that must be paid on the day. If they know exactly what will happen and when, it feels less risky for them and more secure for you.
If they pay the deposit late or drag their feet on the balance, your reminder system quietly follows up while you stay calm and professional.
A Simple 5 Step System for Deposits and Balance Payments
Instead of deciding everything from scratch for each client, it helps to use one clear system. You can adjust it slightly for unusual jobs, but the basic framework stays the same.
Choose when you require a deposit
Decide which jobs always need a deposit. Many cleaners choose all deep cleans, end of tenancy work and first visits with new clients. Regular weekly clients may not need one once trust is built, unless they have a history of cancellations. Write this policy down, even if it is just in your notes app, so you can explain it clearly.
Set realistic deposit ranges
Pick a simple range you feel comfortable with, such as £30 - £60 for typical deep cleans and £50 - £100 for end of tenancy jobs. You can adjust up or down slightly for very small or very large properties, but having a normal range makes pricing decisions quicker and more consistent.
Create a standard deposit message and link
Write one core message that explains the deposit, when it is due and what it covers. Add a payment link to keep everything in one place. If you need help with wording for this, the guide on requesting deposits professionally has ready made examples you can adapt.
Decide how and when balances are paid
For most domestic work, a clear rule such as balance due on the day works well. You might allow payment up to the end of the day for regulars. For higher value or time sensitive jobs, you may prefer the balance before keys are returned or before you leave the property. Whatever you choose, keep it simple and apply it consistently.
Connect balances to payment links and reminders
Use a payment link for the balance so clients can pay quickly without searching for bank details. Tie that link into your reminder system, so if the balance is overdue the client receives a gentle nudge automatically. The dedicated guide on automatic payment reminders walks through how to set this up in more detail.
Once this system is in place, you do not have to improvise every time someone books. You follow the same simple pattern, which makes your business feel calmer and more professional for both you and your clients.
Deposit and Balance Message Templates for Cleaners
You do not need long, complicated messages. Short, factual wording that mentions the date, the job and the amount is enough. You can adapt these templates for text, WhatsApp or email.
Template 1 - Deposit for a one off deep clean
Template 2 - Balance payment on the day
Template 3 - Deposit reminder for a future booking
Template 4 - Overdue balance after a job
You can reuse these templates for most clients. For very late payments or repeat issues, you might combine them with a firmer approach that is explained in more depth in the guide on reducing cancellations and no shows .
Setting Fair Deposit and Balance Policies
Clients are much more likely to accept your terms when they feel fair and clearly explained. A simple written policy stops you from changing rules on the spot, which also protects you if someone complains later.
For example, you might say that all one off jobs over a certain amount require a deposit, and that balances are always due on the day. Complex rules are harder to enforce and explain.
Many cleaners keep deposits if a client cancels within 24 - 48 hours of the job. Others allow the deposit to move once to a new date. Whatever you choose, make it clear upfront. The cancellations guide in this silo gives more ideas if you are not sure where to start.
If your terms say balance is due on the day, your reminders should support this. A gentle message on the evening of the clean, followed by a second reminder a couple of days later, keeps everything consistent. You do not need to be aggressive to be firm.
If you notice patterns, such as certain types of work always causing payment issues, update your policy. You might increase deposits for those jobs or move to full payment in advance. Your system should grow with your experience.
Tools like Simply Link make it easier to stick to these rules in daily life. You can create separate payment links for deposits and balances, and let automatic reminders follow your policy without you having to think about it every time.
The Big Wins of Using Deposits and Balance Payments Properly
When deposits and balance payments become a normal part of your process, your cleaning business feels more stable. It is not just about getting money earlier. It is about respect for your time and clearer boundaries with clients.
- Fewer risky bookings
Clients who are not serious usually drop away when asked for a deposit. The ones who stay are more committed and respectful of your time.
- More predictable income
With deposits upfront and balances due on clear dates, your cashflow becomes steadier. You can plan bills and growth with more confidence.
- Less emotional strain
You do not have to keep deciding whether to chase, let things slide or make exceptions. The system and reminders do the heavy lifting so you can focus on cleaning.
- Stronger professional image
When clients see clear terms, simple messages and smooth payment links, they experience you as a well organised professional rather than someone who is just trying their luck.
- Easier growth
Once your deposit and balance system is running smoothly, adding more clients or taking on bigger jobs feels less risky. You know your process can handle it.
A tool like Simply Link helps you turn this system into something you can actually use week after week. You create the deposit and balance links once, connect them to automatic reminders, and let the structure protect your time in the background.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much deposit should I charge as a cleaner?
Most UK cleaners keep it simple and use a small range. For many deep cleans this might be around £30 to £60, and for end of tenancy jobs around £50 to £100, depending on the size of the property and total price. The amount should feel fair for the client while still protecting your time.
Do I always need a deposit for regular weekly clients?
Not necessarily. Many cleaners do not take deposits for long term weekly or fortnightly clients once trust is built. However, you might still use deposits for first visits, for extra one off jobs or for clients who have a history of last minute cancellations.
When should the balance be paid after a clean?
A common pattern is to ask for the balance on the day of the clean, often by the end of the same day. For higher value work or time sensitive jobs, some cleaners prefer the balance before they leave the property or before keys are handed back.
What if a client refuses to pay a deposit?
That is useful information. If someone will not pay a fair deposit after you explain your policy, they may not be reliable when it comes to the balance either. You can choose to make an exception, but it is also reasonable to turn down the job if it feels too risky.
Should I refund deposits if clients cancel?
It depends on your policy and how close to the booking they cancel. Some cleaners keep deposits for late cancellations but allow them to be moved once if there is enough notice. Whatever you decide, make sure you explain it clearly when the client first books, not only when there is a problem.
Can I handle deposits and balances with cash instead of payment links?
You can, but it is harder to track and it offers less protection if clients delay payment. Using payment links gives you a written record and makes it easier to connect balances with automatic reminders so you spend less time chasing.
Related Guides
Continue learning with these related guides:
Payment Links for Cleaners — Complete UK Guide
The complete UK guide to payment links for cleaners. Learn how to take deposits securely, reduce cancellations, and get paid faster.
Read guideHow Cleaners Can Request a Deposit Professionally
A professional UK guide for cleaners on requesting deposits using payment links.
Read guideHow Cleaners Get Paid — UK Methods Explained
A breakdown of the common ways UK cleaners accept payments for domestic and commercial work.
Read guideUse Deposits and Balance Links to Protect Your Time
Deposits and balance payments give structure to your cleaning business. With Simply Link you can create separate payment links for deposits and balances in seconds, tie them to automatic reminders and keep every booking clear and professional. Try it for yourself and see how much calmer your payment process can feel.
Start Free TodayNo card required · Cancel anytime