March 2026 · 6 min read

FREE CLEANING INVOICE TEMPLATE AUSTRALIA — FOR CLEANERS & SOLE TRADERS

Running a cleaning business — whether it's residential house cleaning, commercial office cleaning, or end-of-lease cleans — means you need to send proper invoices. Not a text saying "hey that's $180 for today." A real invoice with your ABN, clear pricing, and ATO-compliant details.

Here's exactly what your cleaning invoice needs, how to handle different pricing models, and an example you can use right away.

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON A CLEANING INVOICE

• Your business name, ABN, and contact details
• Client's name and property address
• Invoice number and date
• Service description — be specific: "General house clean — 3 bed, 2 bath" or "End-of-lease clean — full property"
• Pricing method — hourly rate with hours worked, or flat rate per clean
• Cleaning supplies — if you charge separately for products or equipment
• Additional services — oven clean, window washing, carpet steam clean
• GST amount (if registered)
• Payment terms and bank details

HOURLY VS PER-JOB PRICING

The way you price your cleaning services affects how you structure your invoice.

Hourly rate — common for regular domestic cleaning. Rates typically range from $35-$55/hr for sole traders. Show the hours worked and your rate on the invoice. This is transparent but can lead to disputes if a client thinks you took too long.

Per-job / flat rate — better for end-of-lease cleans, one-off deep cleans, or commercial contracts. You quote a fixed price regardless of how long it takes. This rewards efficiency and eliminates time disputes.

EXAMPLE CLEANING INVOICE

ATO REQUIREMENTS FOR CLEANERS

Whether you're a sole trader cleaner or running a cleaning company, the ATO requirements are the same:

• You must have an ABN to operate as a business. Without it on your invoices, clients must withhold 47% of your payment
• Register for GST once your annual turnover hits $75,000 — this is common for cleaners doing 5+ days a week
• Issue tax invoices that show GST separately if you're GST-registered
• Keep records for 5 years — every invoice you send, every supply receipt, every km you drive between jobs
• Declare all income — including cash payments. The ATO actively audits the cleaning industry for cash economy activity

COMMON MISTAKES ON CLEANING INVOICES

1. NOT DESCRIBING THE SERVICE CLEARLY

"Cleaning — $150" tells the client nothing. Describe what was included: "General house clean — kitchen, bathrooms x2, vacuuming, mopping all floors, dusting." This prevents disputes about what was or wasn't done.

2. FORGETTING TO CHARGE FOR SUPPLIES

If you're providing your own cleaning products and equipment, that's a cost. Either build it into your rate or list it as a separate line item. Speciality products (oven degreaser, grout cleaner, window solution) should always be itemised when charged separately.

3. NO INVOICE NUMBERS

Sequential invoice numbers (SC-0001, SC-0002, etc.) are an ATO requirement. They also make your life easier when a client calls about a specific invoice or when you're doing your BAS.

4. INVOICING INCONSISTENTLY

For regular clients, set a schedule: invoice on the same day each week or month. Inconsistent invoicing leads to forgotten payments and messy records. Pick a day — Friday afternoon is common — and make it a habit.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A clean invoice (no pun intended) gets you paid faster and keeps the ATO happy. Whether you're doing weekly house cleans or one-off end-of-lease jobs, take two minutes to set up a proper template with your ABN, business details, and bank info.

Or skip the manual work entirely. TheBrickBook generates compliant invoices automatically from your job data — log the clean, tap send, get paid. No spreadsheets, no templates, no formatting headaches.