# How to Price Time Off, Sick Days and Super Into a Sole Trader Cleaning Rate Canonical URL: https://tidyly.au/resources/sole-trader-cleaner-time-off-rate Markdown URL: https://tidyly.au/resources/sole-trader-cleaner-time-off-rate/content.md Author: Tidyly Editorial Team Category: Pricing & quoting Published: 2026-08-02T09:00:00+10:00 Updated: 2026-08-02T09:00:00+10:00 Primary keyword: sole trader hourly rate annual leave Language: en-AU Geographic focus: Australia > 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. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can a sole trader pay themselves super? 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. ### Should I tell customers part of the price covers leave? No detailed breakdown is required. Customers need a clear total price and scope. The business owner needs to know what the total price must fund. ### What if I cannot take six weeks away from work? Working weeks are a planning input, not a compulsory holiday target. Use the time you realistically expect to be unavailable, including illness and quiet periods. ## Summary 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. ## Sources - [Choose a pricing strategy](https://business.gov.au/products-and-services/choose-a-pricing-strategy) — Australian Government business.gov.au; checked 2026-08-02. - [Super for sole traders and partnerships](https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/super-for-employers/super-for-sole-traders-and-partnerships) — Australian Taxation Office; checked 2026-08-02. ## Related Tidyly Resources - [Cleaning Business Profit Margins: What's Actually Left After Costs in Australia](https://tidyly.au/resources/cleaning-business-profit-margin-australia) - [Cleaning Business Hourly Rate Calculator for Australian Sole Traders](https://tidyly.au/resources/cleaning-hourly-rate-calculator-australia) - [How Much Does a Self-Employed Cleaner Actually Earn in Australia?](https://tidyly.au/resources/self-employed-cleaner-earnings-australia) - [How Much Cash Buffer Should a Cleaning Business Keep?](https://tidyly.au/resources/cleaning-business-cash-buffer)