How to Price Time Off, Sick Days and Super Into a Sole Trader Cleaning Rate
Build holidays, sick days, quiet weeks and a personal super provision into a sole-trader cleaning rate instead of funding them from nothing.
Key takeaways
- Use realistic working weeks rather than a perfect year.
- Build personal time off into the rate before it is needed.
- A sole trader may choose to make personal super contributions, but the amount and tax treatment need individual advice.
- Physical work needs more contingency than a plan that assumes no illness or injury.
Employees receive paid leave and employer super. Sole traders do not receive those things automatically from a customer. If the cleaning rate only funds the weeks spent physically working, every holiday, illness and quiet period becomes unpaid. A sustainable rate is built around the weeks the owner can realistically invoice, not all 52.
Stop dividing the annual target by 52
Suppose a cleaner wants the business to produce A$70,000 before personal tax.
Dividing by 52 suggests A$1,346 a week.
If the cleaner realistically invoices for 46 weeks, the weekly target becomes A$1,522 before business expenses.
Nothing about the annual goal changed. The rate needed during working weeks did.
Choose realistic working weeks
Remove time for:
- holidays
- public holidays the business does not work
- illness and recovery
- family commitments
- training and business setup
- quieter seasonal periods
- days lost to vehicle or equipment problems
Do not remove every possible bad day twice. The goal is a reasonable plan, not the most pessimistic forecast available.
Add a personal super provision deliberately
A sole trader is not their own employee and does not automatically receive employer super from customer payments.
Some owners choose to build a percentage or fixed annual amount into the income target and contribute personally. The appropriate amount, deductibility, contribution caps and personal tax effect depend on individual circumstances. Use current ATO guidance or professional advice before relying on a tax outcome.
The commercial principle is still straightforward: long-term saving needs a place in the price if the owner wants the business to fund it.
Worked example
A cleaner wants:
- A$65,000 owner income before tax
- A$7,800 as a personal long-term savings or super provision
- A$12,000 for annual business costs
- A$4,000 contingency
Total annual requirement is A$88,800.
At 46 working weeks and 28 billable hours per week, annual billable hours are 1,288.
A$88,800 ÷ 1,288 = A$68.94 per billable hour before GST
If the long-term provision was left out, the required rate would appear lower. The future cost would not disappear. It would simply remain unfunded.
Sick days are not only an income problem
A physical business can face a double hit:
- revenue stops when the owner cannot clean
- customers still need rescheduling or a replacement cleaner
A contingency buffer can cover some lost income and operating costs. Appropriate insurance may address other risks. This article does not recommend a specific insurance product.
Use recurring work for stability, not complacency
Recurring clients make income more predictable, but they do not create paid leave by themselves.
A strong recurring base helps the owner see future capacity and set aside money gradually. It does not make an underpriced rate sustainable.
The bottom line
Use realistic working weeks rather than a perfect year. Build personal time off into the rate before it is needed. A sole trader may choose to make personal super contributions, but the amount and tax treatment need individual advice. Physical work needs more contingency than a plan that assumes no illness or injury.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about this topic.
A sole trader may be able to make personal super contributions. Eligibility, caps and tax treatment depend on current rules and personal circumstances. Check ATO guidance or speak with a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
We prioritise official, primary, and current sources. Links were last checked on the dates shown.
- Choose a pricing strategy — Australian Government business.gov.au. Checked 2 August 2026.
- Super for sole traders and partnerships — Australian Taxation Office. Checked 2 August 2026.
About the author
Tidyly Editorial Team
The Tidyly Editorial Team creates practical guidance for Australian cleaning businesses using product experience, first-party examples, and current primary sources.
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