You know the pleas for help which create such tension here?

[notadmblnd]

12. low pay working for someone is the reason I decided I could do it myself

The woman I was working for paid me 8 dollars an hour. She kept us on a time table. For example she would expect that 2 people could clean a 2400 sq ft home in 1 1/2 hours. Her average price for a home that size was approximately 100.00. That means that she paid 2 people 24 dollars and pocketed 76 for herself per home. She had us cleaning 3-4 homes a day. So I was making 50 a day busting my ass while she pocketed 300.00 for sleeping late and going to yoga.

Most of my clients are affluent but I do take into consideration who and what their financial situation is when taking on and pricing a new job. I have 3 or 4 seniors that I clean for and I give them a break. One lady is 89, still lives on her own, just can't clean her home the way she likes to have it cleaned. She's perfectly happy to pay the 60 dollars bi- weekly to be able to maintain her independence.

Most other clients are from two income families who are just to busy to do their own housework. I have one client who is a VERY successful real-estate agent with a huge home, and I probably have her under priced. However, she tosses me a lot of business. When she lists a home, she often has us go in and clean it before scheduling a showing. In fact, I now clean 3 of her friends homes. These ladies are just tickled to death to see us on cleaning day. They often apologize because their homes are dirty and they haven't had the chance to pick up. This always gets a laugh out of me, because that's what I'm there to do.

But as I said, developing a good working relationship with them is the key to success. I've done no advertising or soliciting thus far.