Free template
Cleaning service agreement template
Use this free service agreement instead of a contract. It sets clear scope and price, covers the cleaning-specific terms (access and keys, pets, supplies, breakage, lockout fees, a satisfaction re-clean), keeps a card on file, and lets either side cancel with notice. Fill it in, then print or email it in under a minute.
You don't want a contract. You want a card on file.
Most cleaning clients are wary of signing a contract, and the instinct is right. A minimum-term contract tries to force someone to keep paying, which is exactly what makes them hesitate. Step back and ask what you actually need from the paperwork.
Three things: clear scope, so there's no argument later about whether the inside of the fridge was included; a clear price and schedule; and a payment method that works without you chasing anyone. A cleaning business also needs a few things a lawn agreement doesn't: how you get in, what happens if something breaks, who supplies the products, and what a late cancellation costs.
A one-page service agreement plus a card on file covers all of it. Scope, access, pets and supplies are written down. Price and frequency are written down. The card is charged automatically after each clean, so you never send an invoice. And because there's no lock-in, the client says yes faster. The document below is the argument.
Legal note: This is a general template, not legal advice. Laws vary by state, and this document may not cover your situation. Have a lawyer review it before you rely on it. This disclaimer also prints on the finished document.
The cleaning-specific clauses, and why they're there
- Access, keys and alarm
- How the cleaner gets in (a key, a lockbox code, or someone home), plus alarm instructions. Written down, a locked door is never a wasted trip, and the client sees that keys are kept secure.
- Pets
- Names the pets and who secures them. It keeps the cleaner safe and the visit on schedule.
- Supplies and equipment
- Says whose products and gear are used. Most cleaners bring their own; if a client wants a specific product, this is where that's agreed.
- Breakage and damage
- Reasonable care, a 48-hour window to report damage, and an exclusion for normal wear and pre-existing damage. It protects both sides and heads off disputes.
- Cancellation and lockout fees
- A fee for a late cancellation or a no-access visit, because the time was reserved and the drive was made. It makes the standing schedule worth keeping.
- Satisfaction re-clean
- Report a missed area within the window and the cleaner returns to redo it at no charge. It’s offered in place of a refund, which is fairer and cheaper for you.
Not sure what to put for the price? Build your rate card first, and read how to price house cleaning. Both turn into a per-visit price you can drop straight into this agreement.
Common questions
Do I need a contract for cleaning clients?
Usually not. What you actually need is clear scope, a clear price and schedule, and a payment method that works without chasing. A service agreement with a card on file delivers all three, and it closes better than a contract because the customer is not locked into a term.
What should a house cleaning agreement include?
The clean and the areas included, what is excluded, the price and frequency, how payment is handled, and the cleaning-specific terms most agreements miss: how you get in, alarm instructions, pets, whose supplies, breakage and damage, a late-cancel or lockout fee, and a satisfaction re-clean window. This template covers all of them.
How do I handle keys, alarm codes and access?
State how the cleaner gets in (a key on file, a lockbox code, or someone home) and note any alarm instructions, in writing, so a locked door is never a wasted trip. The agreement also says any keys or codes are kept secure and used only for the service, which is what a client wants to see before handing one over.
What if something gets broken or a spot gets missed?
The agreement asks the client to report damage within 48 hours so it can be repaired or reimbursed fairly, and it excludes normal wear and pre-existing damage. For a missed spot, it includes a satisfaction re-clean: report it within the stated window and the cleaner returns to redo that area at no charge, in place of a refund.
Is this cleaning service agreement legally binding?
A signed agreement can be binding, but this is a general template, not legal advice, and laws vary by state. Have a lawyer review it before you rely on it for anything important.
How do I handle recurring payments without chasing invoices?
Keep a card on file and charge it automatically after each completed clean. The agreement states this plainly so there are no surprises. Tools like Sorvius let a customer save a card when they book, so recurring cleans are paid without invoicing.
Skip the paperwork entirely
Sorvius puts your prices online, keeps a card on file, and books cancel-anytime recurring cleans, so the agreement fills itself in and payment runs automatically.
Start free with Sorvius →