Starting a Freelance Cleaning Business in Switzerland

If you're an EU/EFTA citizen with a B permit considering freelance cleaning work, understanding Swiss regulations before you start could save you from penalties, back taxes, and legal trouble for both you and your clients.

The Challenge: Why "Just Issuing Invoices" Isn't Enough

Swiss social insurance authorities (AHV/AVS) treat domestic cleaning as employment by default, not self-employment. This means each household you clean for is considered your employer unless you can prove otherwise.

Why this matters:

• Without official AHV recognition as self-employed, you're working illegally
• Clients can be held liable for unpaid social insurance contributions
• Both parties risk fines and prosecution for undeclared work (Schwarzarbeit)
• Back taxes and penalties can add up to thousands of francs

According to quitt.ch, most cleaning staff who tell clients "I'll handle my own social security" are working illegally unless they have official confirmation from their cantonal compensation office (SVA).

The good news? You can achieve legitimate self-employed status—if you meet specific criteria.

If you answered yes to most questions: Self-employment may work for you. Continue reading for the detailed requirements.

If you answered no to several: Consider the alternatives in Section 7. Platform work or legal multi-household employment might better suit your situation.

1. Multiple Independent Clients

Requirement: Work for several different households, not just one family.

• Minimum: At least 3 active clients
• Recommended: 5+ regular clients to demonstrate economic independence
• Why: Working for only one household makes you look like their employee

Example: Clean for the Schmidt family Mondays, the Garcia household Wednesdays, and the Chen family Fridays—plus occasional one-time deep cleans for others.

2. Professional Business Identity

Requirement: Operate under your own business name and market yourself publicly.

What this looks like:

• Register a trade name: "Maria's Professional Cleaning Services"
• Create business cards with your company name
• Build a simple website or social media presence
• Issue professional invoices on your business letterhead
• List yourself in local directories

Not acceptable: Just saying "I'm Maria, I can clean for you" without any business infrastructure.

3. Control Over Work and Schedule

Requirement: You decide how and when work gets done—clients don't supervise you like employees.

You should:

• Set your own working hours in consultation with clients
• Choose which jobs to accept or decline
• Determine your own cleaning methods and order of tasks
• Have the freedom to hire help or subcontract if needed

Red flag: If a client tells you "You must arrive at 9 AM sharp, use these specific products, and follow this exact checklist," that's supervision—which suggests employment.

4. Your Own Equipment and Supplies

Requirement: Provide all tools and materials yourself, like a professional cleaning company.

You need:

• Your own vacuum cleaner (CHF 200-400)
• Mops, buckets, brushes (CHF 50-100)
• Full stock of cleaning products (CHF 100-200 initially)
• Microfiber cloths, gloves, protective gear (CHF 50-100)
• Transportation to job sites

Why this matters: If clients provide everything and you just "show up," you look like their household helper—not an independent business.

5. Bear Financial Risk

Requirement: Run a real business that could profit or lose money.

This means:

• Setting your own prices (not accepting whatever clients offer)
• Invoicing clients and handling non-payment risk
• Covering all expenses (supplies, equipment, insurance, taxes)
• Pricing to cover costs + profit margin (see Section 5)

Calculate your rates to include:

• Your labor (CHF 25-30/hour net)
• Equipment and supplies (5% of job cost)
• Social insurance contributions (10% of income)
• Transportation and overhead (5%)
• Profit margin (10-15%)

6. True Independence (Not Disguised Employment)

Requirement: The overall relationship must genuinely be business-to-business, not employer-employee.

AHV asks:

• Do you advertise your services publicly?
• Can you work for competitors without restriction?
• Do you issue proper invoices with payment terms?
• Are you integrated into the client's household like staff?

The key test: If it walks like employment and quacks like employment, AHV will call it employment—regardless of what you label it.

Required Documentation Checklist

Submit evidence of genuine self-employment:

• ✅ Contracts or agreements with at least 3 clients
• ✅ Sample invoices on your business letterhead
• ✅ Business cards and marketing materials
• ✅ Equipment purchase receipts (proof you own your tools)
• ✅ Professional liability insurance certificate (recommended)
• ✅ Business bank statements showing income from multiple sources

If Your Application is Denied

You have options:

• Request clarification on what's missing
• Provide additional evidence and reapply
• Appeal the decision if you believe it's incorrect
• Consider alternatives (see Section 7)

Detailed Equipment Breakdown

Initial Equipment Investment: CHF 400-800

Insurance (Annual): CHF 500-1,200

Note: Self-employed individuals are NOT required to have accident or unemployment insurance, but professional liability protects you if you accidentally damage a client's property.

Market Rates in Switzerland (2026)

Current rates you can charge clients:

• Standard hourly cleaning: CHF 30-45/hour
• Deep cleaning/move-out: CHF 40-60/hour
• Specialized services (eco-friendly, multilingual): CHF 45-55/hour

Average employee wage for comparison: CHF 27.50-30.70/hour gross (what employed cleaners earn)

Calculating Your Rate

Example calculation for CHF 35/hour:

Desired net income:                CHF 25.00/hour
+ AHV contributions (10%):         CHF  2.50
+ Supplies & materials (5%):       CHF  1.25
+ Transportation/overhead (5%):    CHF  1.25
+ Equipment depreciation (3%):     CHF  0.75
+ Profit margin (10%):             CHF  2.50
────────────────────────────────────────────
= Your rate:                       CHF 33.25/hour

Round to:                          CHF 35/hour

This is competitive (within the CHF 30-45 market range) while covering all your costs.

VAT: Do You Need to Register?

Good news: Most solo cleaners won't need VAT registration.

• Threshold: CHF 100,000 annual turnover
• For perspective: At CHF 35/hour, you'd need to work 2,857 billable hours/year (55+ hours/week year-round)
• Realistic solo capacity: 20-30 hours/week = CHF 36,400-54,600/year

Conclusion: Unless you're building a team, VAT probably won't apply to you, which simplifies your accounting.

Which Makes Financial Sense?

Example: CHF 30,000 annual income

Employee net advantage: Security, benefits, predictability

Self-employed net advantage: Control, flexibility, potentially higher rates (if you can charge CHF 40+/hour)

The right choice depends on your priorities: security vs. autonomy.

Option 1: Work Through Platforms/Agencies

How it works: Companies like Batmaid, Helpling, or Homeservice24 hire you as a contractor or employee and provide clients.

Pros:

• They handle all AHV/legal compliance
• Steady stream of clients without marketing
• Insurance often included
• No startup costs

Cons:

• Platform takes CHF 5-10/hour commission
• Less control over schedule
• Lower hourly rates (CHF 25-30 typically)
• Still need proper permit

Best for: Starting out, testing the market, or preferring simplicity over maximum earnings.

Option 2: Legal Multi-Household Employment

How it works: Get properly employed by 3-5 households using services like quitt.ch or Batsoft to manage payroll.

What happens:

• Each household registers as your employer
• Payroll service handles all AHV/BVG contributions
• You're a legal employee of multiple clients
• Flexible schedule across households

Pros:

• Fully legal and compliant
• Social security coverage (AHV, accident, pension)
• Admin handled by service (CHF 20-30/month per client)
• Clients save ~CHF 1,500/year vs. agency prices

Cons:

• Each client must agree to proper employment
• Slightly lower rates than pure self-employment
• Less autonomy than true business ownership

Best for: Cleaners who want flexibility with 3-5 committed families but don't want full business overhead.

Option 3: Specialize in Commercial/Office Cleaning

How it works: Focus on businesses, offices, and commercial spaces instead of private homes.

Why this helps:

• Different legal classification (not "domestic work")
• May be easier to achieve self-employed status
• Higher rates possible (CHF 40-60/hour)
• More professional business relationships

Requirements:

• Still need multiple clients
• Commercial liability insurance
• Possibly higher equipment standards
• May need specialized training/certifications

Best for: Cleaners willing to work evenings/weekends when offices are empty and wanting to avoid domestic worker classification.

Option 4: Hybrid Approach

Combine strategies:

• Work part-time through a platform (guaranteed base income)
• Take direct clients on the side (if platform allows)
• Gradually build toward full self-employment

Best for: Risk-averse entrepreneurs who want to test before fully committing.

Your 30-Second Pitch

"I'm a professional cleaner providing reliable, eco-friendly cleaning services in your area. I'm fully insured and registered with AHV as self-employed. I speak languages and use my own equipment and supplies. My rates start at CHF 35/hour, and I'm currently accepting new clients for days available. Would you like to schedule a first cleaning?"

The Bottom Line: It's Possible—But Prepare Properly

Starting a freelance cleaning business in Switzerland is achievable for EU/EFTA citizens, but it requires more than just buying a mop and printing business cards. Swiss authorities take social insurance compliance seriously, and "disguised employment" in the cleaning sector is heavily scrutinized.

Success requires:

• Meeting all 6 AHV self-employment criteria
• Investing CHF 1,500-2,500 in equipment and setup
• Securing 3-5 independent clients before registration
• Professional business systems (invoicing, insurance, marketing)
• Patience through the 4-8 week approval process

If that feels overwhelming, legal alternatives like multi-household employment through quitt.ch or platform work through Batmaid offer compliance without the business complexity—often the smarter choice for your first year.

Whatever path you choose, don't work without proper registration. The penalties aren't worth the risk, and legitimate options exist for every situation.