Most cleaning businesses handle agreements and payment as two separate things — email a contract, wait for it to come back signed, then set up billing manually. That two-step process is where clients fall through the cracks, where "I never agreed to that" disputes happen, and where recurring revenue leaks out quietly.
The cleaner approach: combine the agreement and the payment setup into a single step. Customer reviews your terms, checks a box confirming they agree, and enters their payment details — all at once. Your system stores the timestamp of their agreement alongside the billing record. One flow, complete paper trail.
This guide covers what a cleaning service agreement needs to include, how to structure recurring billing around it, and how to set it up so the whole thing runs without manual follow-up.
See how ServiceHub handles cleaning service agreements and recurring billing →
What Is a Cleaning Service Agreement?
A cleaning service agreement is a written contract between your cleaning business and a client that defines:
- What services you'll perform and how often
- What you charge and when you bill
- What happens if they cancel, reschedule, or miss an appointment
- What's not included in the service
- How disputes are handled
It's the document that protects you when a client says "I didn't know that wasn't included" or disputes a charge with their bank. Without it, you're relying on memory and goodwill. With it, you have a timestamped record of what both parties agreed to.
For recurring cleaning clients — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly service — a service agreement is especially important because the relationship is ongoing. A one-time clean can run on a simple invoice. A recurring relationship needs defined terms.
What to Include in a Cleaning Service Agreement
1. Service Details
Be specific. Vague agreements create disputes.
- Service address
- Service type (standard clean, deep clean, move-out, etc.)
- Frequency (weekly / bi-weekly / monthly)
- Approximate duration per visit
- Day and time window (e.g., "Tuesdays between 9am–12pm")
- Number of cleaners assigned
2. Scope of Work
List what's included in every visit — room by room if residential, area by area if commercial. Then list what's explicitly not included.
Included in standard recurring clean:
- Kitchen: counters, appliances exterior, sink, stovetop, microwave exterior, floor
- Bathrooms: toilet, sink, shower/tub, mirror, floor
- Bedrooms: dust surfaces, vacuum, make beds (linens provided by client)
- Living areas: dust, vacuum/mop, spot-clean glass
- Trash: empty all bins, replace liners
Not included:
- Inside oven or refrigerator (available as add-on)
- Laundry or dishes
- Windows (interior or exterior)
- Garage, basement, or attic
- Pet waste cleanup
- Items requiring moving furniture heavier than [X lbs]
3. Pricing and Billing
State the price clearly. No hidden fees.
- Per-visit rate: $[___]
- Billing frequency: [per visit / monthly / auto-billed on the [X] of each month]
- Payment method: card on file, charged automatically
- First clean rate (if different — deep cleans often cost more): $[___]
- Add-on pricing: inside oven +$[X], inside fridge +$[X], laundry fold +$[X]
4. Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy
This is the section that prevents your most common revenue loss.
Recommended terms:
Client must provide at least [24 / 48] hours notice to reschedule or cancel a scheduled visit. Cancellations with less than [24] hours notice will be charged a late cancellation fee of $[X] or [50%] of the scheduled visit rate. If our team arrives at the property and cannot access it (no answer, locked out), a lockout fee of $[X] applies.
5. Agreement Term
For recurring clients, define the commitment:
- Month-to-month: client can cancel with [X] days notice
- 3-month or 6-month commitment: early cancellation fee applies
- Auto-renewal: agreement renews automatically unless cancelled in writing
Month-to-month is easier to sell. A 3-month minimum reduces your churn and is reasonable to ask for in exchange for a locked-in rate.
Want this running automatically?
ServiceHub automates follow-ups, reminders, and booking confirmations so nothing falls through the cracks.
6. What Happens If Something Goes Wrong
- Damage claims must be reported within [48] hours of the service visit
- Service Provider carries $[X]M general liability insurance
- Re-clean requests (if client is unsatisfied) must be made within [24] hours
7. Agreement and Payment Authorization
This is the line that ties everything together:
"By checking the box below and submitting payment details, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of this service agreement. I authorize [Company Name] to charge my payment method on file according to the billing schedule above."
One checkbox. One payment form. Both captured together with a timestamp.
Cleaning Service Agreement Template (Copy/Paste)
<div style='background:#f8fafc; padding:20px; border-radius:8px; border:1px solid #e2e8f0; font-family:monospace; white-space:pre-wrap;'>Service Provider: [Company Name] | [Address] | [Phone] | [Email] Client: [Client Name] | [Service Address] | [Phone] | [Email] Agreement date: [Date] --- 1. SERVICES Service Provider will perform [standard recurring cleaning / deep cleaning / other] at the address above. Frequency: [Weekly / Bi-weekly / Monthly] Day/time window: [e.g., Tuesdays, 9am–12pm] Estimated duration: [X] hours Team size: [X] cleaners Included in every visit: [list your standard scope] Not included: Inside oven, inside refrigerator, laundry, dishes, windows, garage, basement, pet waste, or items requiring moving furniture over [X lbs]. Add-ons available on request. --- 2. PRICING AND BILLING Per-visit rate: $[___] First clean (deep clean): $[___] (one-time) Billing: Automatically charged to card on file [per visit / on the [X] of each month] --- 3. CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING Client must provide [24 / 48] hours notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations (under [24] hours) will be charged $[X] or [50%] of the visit rate. Lockout fee: $[X] if team cannot access property on arrival. Either party may cancel this agreement with [X] days written notice. [Optional: Cancellation within the first [90] days incurs a fee of $[X].] --- 4. SERVICE GUARANTEE If Client is unsatisfied with any visit, Client must notify Service Provider within [24] hours. Service Provider will return to re-clean the specific areas at no charge. Requests made after [24] hours are not eligible for a re-clean. --- 5. DAMAGE AND LIABILITY Damage claims must be reported in writing within [48] hours of the service visit. Service Provider carries $[X]M general liability insurance. Certificates available on request. --- 6. PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION By agreeing below and submitting payment details, Client authorizes [Company Name] to charge the payment method on file according to the billing schedule in Section 2. This authorization remains in effect until Client cancels in accordance with Section 3. [ ] I have read and agree to the terms of this Cleaning Service Agreement.</div>
The One-Step Agreement + Payment Flow
The traditional approach — email a PDF contract, wait for a signature, manually set up billing — has three failure points: the contract never comes back, billing gets set up wrong, or the record of what was agreed to gets lost.
The better flow combines all three into one step:
- You send the client a quote or invoice for their recurring plan
- The invoice email includes a link to your service agreement terms
- Client reviews the terms, checks the agreement box, and enters their card
- System records: which terms they agreed to, the exact timestamp, and the Stripe payment record — all tied together
No chasing signatures. No manual billing setup. No "I never agreed to that" with no paper trail to respond with.
ServiceHub handles this in one flow — attach your service agreement to your subscription plan, client agrees at the point of payment, and the agreement timestamp is stored alongside their billing record automatically.
Set up recurring cleaning plans with built-in agreement capture →
How to Convert One-Time Clients to a Recurring Agreement
The best time to introduce a service agreement is when converting a one-time client to recurring — usually right after their first clean when satisfaction is highest.
The script (text or email, sent same day as first clean):
"Really glad you were happy with today's clean. A lot of our clients move to a recurring schedule after the first visit — it keeps your home consistently maintained and locks in today's rate. If you want to set up [bi-weekly / monthly] service, I can send over the details and you can get it running in about 2 minutes. Want me to send that over?"
When they say yes, send the quote with the service agreement attached. They review terms, check the box, enter their card. Done — they're a recurring client with a signed agreement and billing set up, and you didn't have to chase anything.
For the full recurring client conversion playbook, see cleaning client retention (2026).
?Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a cleaning service agreement for every client?▼
What's the difference between a cleaning service agreement and a proposal?▼
Can I use a checkbox instead of a physical signature?▼
What should my cancellation policy be?▼
How do I handle a client who disputes a charge?▼
What if I need to update my terms?▼
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Keep Reading
For the full recurring revenue strategy beyond the agreement — pricing tiers, plan structures, and retention workflows — see cleaning subscription plans (2026).