The three common setups
| Setup | Who employs the cleaner | What it usually means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Company with employees | The cleaning company | The company handles pay, training, scheduling and insurance. You pay one business. |
| App, marketplace or referral agency | Usually nobody: cleaners work as independent contractors | The platform connects you. The cleaner runs their own small business, and quality and coverage vary. |
| Hiring someone directly | Possibly you | Depending on the arrangement and how much you pay, you may take on employer duties like payroll taxes. |
Why California is different
California has some of the strictest rules in the country on who counts as an employee versus an independent contractor. That's why many cleaning apps and agencies structure themselves carefully as platforms or referral services, and why the details of who controls the work matter.
For you as a customer, the practical question isn't the legal test. It's this: if something goes wrong, who's responsible, and who's coming back next week?
What changes for you
- Insurance. With a company that employs its cleaners, the company is typically the one carrying insurance. With contractors, coverage depends on each person. Ask.
- Consistency. A company that schedules its own employees can keep the same team in your home. A platform can't always guarantee who shows up.
- Training and standards. Employers can train cleaners to one standard. Independent contractors work their own way.
- Backup. If an employee is sick, a company can send a teammate. An independent cleaner may simply have to cancel.
- Your paperwork. If you hire someone directly as a household employee, you may have tax and payroll responsibilities. That's a question for a tax professional.
The tradeoff: price
Employing cleaners costs more than connecting customers to contractors. Wages, payroll taxes, insurance and paid training all go into the price. That's part of why the cheapest options in our Orange County cost guide tend to be direct hires, apps and agencies, while companies with employees cost more.
Why Back to Clean uses employees
Our whole promise is the same small team in your home every visit. That only works if we hire, train and schedule the people doing the work, so our cleaners are Back to Clean employees, not independent contractors.
- Background checked and covered by our insurance.
- The same small team every visit, assigned to your neighborhood.
- Real backup. If someone can't make it, we tell you ahead and send a teammate who knows your home, or move your visit within 48 hours.
- One flat monthly price that lands below many established local companies in our November 2026 price check (see the comparison).
See what an employee-run cleaning membership costs for your home.
See my priceCommon questions
How do I know if my cleaner is an employee or a contractor?
Ask the company directly: who pays the cleaner, who sets their schedule, and whose insurance covers them. A clear answer is a good sign.
Am I an employer if I hire a house cleaner directly?
Possibly. It depends on the arrangement and how much you pay. This isn't legal or tax advice, so check with a tax professional.
Are Back to Clean cleaners employees?
Yes. Our cleaners are Back to Clean employees, background checked and covered by our insurance.
