Running a cleaning business means managing jobs, clients, and schedules daily. Have you ever wondered how to hire a cleaning accountant to take care of your books so you can focus on your services and growth? Getting an accountant on your team can make a world of difference.
In this post, we walk you through how to hire a cleaning accountant the right way. We’ll cover:
Why an accountant is critical for a growing cleaning business
What to look for when hiring a cleaning accountant
Steps to hire and onboard your cleaning accountant
Mistakes to avoid when hiring (or doing accounting yourself)
How to make the most of the relationship
Take control of your finances and streamline operations with this simple cleaning business budget sheet!
Running a cleaning company means you probably have a lot going on — employees, supplies, equipment maintenance, seasonal ups and downs, and more. Managing all of that while also trying to keep your bookkeeping straight is hard.
Here’s why hiring a cleaning accountant can help:
Avoid cash-flow disasters. Around 82% of businesses that fail do so because of poor cash flow management—not lack of clients.
You may not enjoy accounting or have much experience with it. According to one survey, 60% of business owners say they aren’t confident about their accounting knowledge.
Manual bookkeeping leads to mistakes. For many businesses, data-entry errors and delayed updates cause discrepancies and confusion.
Free up your time to grow the business. Letting a professional handle books and taxes frees you to focus on clients, jobs, and expansion.
Think of a cleaning accountant as more than just a bookkeeper — they’re your financial partner. When you know exactly where money’s coming and going, you make smarter choices about hiring, pricing, and growing.
What to Look for When You Learn How to Hire a Cleaning Accountant
Finding the right accountant isn’t hard — but there are a few key qualities you’ll want to check.
Quality / Trait
Why It Matters for a Cleaning Business
Experience with service companies
They’ll understand expenses such as labor, supplies, equipment depreciation, and seasonal income variation.
Good communication (plain English, no jargon)
You may not be an accounting expert — you need clarity so you can make decisions.
Reliable and responsive
Delays or missed reports can mean missed opportunities or cash-flow surprises.
Knowledge of tax rules for service businesses
Cleaning and related services often have expenses (equipment, supplies, travel) — a good accountant finds all deductions.
Affordable/good value for cost
Accounting services vary widely in cost; many businesses pay hourly or monthly based on the volume of work.
Familiarity with bookkeeping software, or willingness to learn
Digital bookkeeping, like QuickBooks, reduces errors and helps with real-time tracking and reporting.
Steps: How to Hire a Cleaning Accountant
Here’s a simple, step-by-step process to make hiring an accountant easy and effective.
1. Define your needs
List out all accounting tasks: payroll, tracking expenses (supplies, fuel, equipment repair), invoicing, tax filings, and cash flow reports.
Estimate workload (number of jobs per month, invoices, expenses, payroll) — that helps you decide whether to hire part-time, full-time, or outsource.
Decide if you just need bookkeeping or also financial advice (pricing, growth planning, budgeting).
2. Search for candidates
Ask fellow cleaning owners for referrals
Look for accountants familiar with service-based businesses
Consider outsourced or freelance accountants if you don’t have enough volume for a full-time employee..
3. Interview & evaluate
Ask questions like:
Have you worked with cleaning or service companies before?
How do you handle seasonality (busy/slow months)?
What software do you use? Do you support cloud-based bookkeeping?
How often will you provide reports, and what will they include?
How much will it cost — hourly, monthly, per task?
Trust, clarity, and experience matter more than fancy degrees. Once you choose the right candidate make sure you run a background check and follow applicable laws.
4. Onboard and organize
Once you hire someone:
Go through the usual onboarding that every other new worker receives (paperwork, employee manuals, etc.).
After onboarding, give them access to your bank accounts, invoices, and payroll system.
Provide a list of standard expenses (supplies, fuel, maintenance) and how to classify them.
Create a schedule for regular check-ins (weekly or monthly) to review cash flow, profit/loss, and upcoming expenses.
Ask for reports that show key metrics: revenue vs. expenses, cash flow forecast, outstanding invoices, supply costs, equipment maintenance — this helps you make smart business decisions.
Mistakes to Avoid When You Try to Hire or Manage a Cleaning Accountant
Even with a skilled accountant, mistakes happen. Here’s what to watch out for (and avoid):
Waiting until tax season to organize books. Doing accounting only once a year causes chaos and errors. Regular bookkeeping is far safer. Many businesses dread tax time — in one survey, 90% identified tax season as their worst time for bookkeeping stress.
Mixing personal and business finances. This creates a mess at tax time, makes it hard to know true profit, and risks losing deductions.
Underestimating cash flow volatility. In cleaning businesses, income can swing wildly based on season or the number of contracts. Without regular accounting oversight, you might think you’re doing fine — until bills come due.
Choosing an accountant purely by price. A cheaper accountant with no service-industry experience may cause more problems than they solve.
What a Great Cleaning Accountant Can Do for You
A top-notch accountant is more than someone who “does the books.” They can become a strategic partner for your business — helping you grow and make smarter choices.
Here’s what you’ll get:
Clear financial clarity. Know exactly how much you made, how much you spent, and where your money goes. This helps you see which jobs or clients are most profitable.
Cash flow forecasting. Avoid surprises — you’ll know in advance when you may run short and can plan accordingly.
Tax savings and compliance. They’ll find deductions (equipment, supplies, travel) and make sure you file correctly on time.
Better business decisions. Is it time to hire more crews? Buy new equipment? Raise prices? A good accountant helps you make informed decisions.
Peace of mind. You don’t have to stress over late invoices, missed expenses, or tax deadlines — you can focus on serving clients and growing.
According to one accounting-industry source, delegating financial tasks can free up to 20% of work hours and improve overall efficiency by up to 30%.
Hire a Cleaning Accountant to Maximize Productivity
If you run a cleaning service and you’ve been juggling appointments, crews, and supplies while trying to keep your books balanced — it’s time to hire a cleaning accountant. The right accountant can turn your financial challenges into clarity, free you up to grow, and help you avoid the cash-flow traps that doom so many businesses.
Here are a few things to remember going forward:
Hiring a cleaning accountant helps prevent cash-flow problems, mistakes, and missed deductions.
Look for someone with experience in service businesses, clear communication, and reliable bookkeeping skills.
Onboard them properly: give access to banking and invoicing, define expense categories, and agree on regular financial reporting.
Avoid common mistakes — don’t wait until tax season; don’t mix personal and business finances; don’t hire solely on price.
A good accountant is more than a bookkeeper — they’re a strategic partner who can help your business grow.
Ready to streamline your cleaning business and maximize profits?
Book a Demoof Service Autopilot to see how automation, scheduling, and job costing can transform your cleaning business into a profit machine.
