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Pay rate for a housekeeper?

 
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Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/7/2009 12:45:10 AM   
SaraChristine

 

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Joined: 2/20/2008
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I have someone interested in hiring me as a housekeeper. I would be working 3 days a week ( about 3-4 hours a day) doing laundry, dusting, dishes, make dinner (the whole shibang basically). He asked my rate, but I have no idea what to offer.
Of course it's negotiable, but I don't want to ask for too little and get jipped, or too much and have him pass.

Any suggestions?
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/7/2009 12:55:42 AM   
Mollymouser


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From: california, land of the happy cows
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At a bare minimum, you will want to make minimum wage for the hours you are working. Assuming your hours will be set and stable, you may want to come up with either an hourly or weekly rate that you are comfortable with, keeping in mind that you want to make this worth your while, and worth your client's while. You should also consider what the "going rate" is for housekeepers in your geographic area.

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MARRIED TO A MILITARY PILOT ~ PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS!
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/7/2009 3:52:22 PM   
Liv4Him06


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Yep, I definitely agree with Harvie. Call some house cleaning companies and see what they're charging. Some charge by the hour and some by the sq foot.

The going rate around here is anywhere from $15.00 - $25.00 an hour -- and that's just people placing ads in the local paper seeking employment - not companies. I'm sure their rate could be higher.

< Message edited by Liv4Him06 -- 11/7/2009 3:58:47 PM >


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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/7/2009 3:55:55 PM   
Memaw.


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Whatever rate you decide upon, make sure you have your duties in writing. Otherwise you may end up with more housework than you bargained for.

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If you don't believe King Jesus and his saints will be riding white horses when he returns to the earth, then you can just walk and I will ride.
John G. Hall
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/7/2009 6:18:20 PM   
coolfamily6


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I agree with calling a service in your area and asking what they pay people with no or little experience. Keep good records for your taxes especially if they are paying you cash and not planning to give you a W2 at the end of the year.

I would make a spreadsheet in excel if possible logging the number of hours/days etc. If you are buying anything for the job (cleaning supplies, vacuum, etc.) keep receipts also.

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If your bible is a mess; your life won't be.
~Encouragement a mom gave to our children at our First Grader's Bible Ceremony!
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/7/2009 6:19:32 PM   
Miss Giggles


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From: MI
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A housekeeper is not a minimum wage job. Don't sell yourself short.

I think the 15-20 rate is good and probably what they charge here.
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/7/2009 8:52:08 PM   
metoo

 

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Will you be considered an "independent contractor" or an "employee" of the person who you will work for?

If you are an independent contractor you will have to pay self-employment taxes on all your earnings. This is 15.3% of your earnings. You will also need pay quarterly estimated tax payments. You will need to provide your own insurance in case you break something or cause some type of damage.

If you are en employee, make sure the employer will be withholding and paying the proper taxes. You also want to make sure they have worker's compensation insurance for you. This way if you are injured on the job this will be available to assist you.
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/8/2009 4:12:38 PM   
clydewolf

 

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It is good that this prospective e;mployment has been offered to you.

As to the wage, checking your local newspaper for folks that do this type of work may give you a clue as to the wage.

Another source of information would be your state's labor department. Many states have a list of job descriptions by county and show the going wage rate by county. Note this is not jobs the state is looking to fill, but the information is available to employers and intrested citizens.

Other advice that has been offered is good too. Do not worry too much about paying self employment taxes until after you file your first tax return with a schedule C. But do make sure your tax credits plus withholding will be equal to or greater than the tax on your 2008 form 1040, line 61. This would keep you from paying a penalty for under withholding.

The IRS has 3 safe harbors so us tax payers may avoid making estimated payments. Meeting any one of the safe harbors will do that and avoid paying a penalty for under withholding. The 3 safe harbors are:
- You will owe more than $1,000 after subtracting withholding plus tax credits from your tax.
- Your withholding plus tax credits will be at least 90% of the tax on your return.
- Your withholding plus your tax credits are at least 100% of the tax on your previous year's tax return.

If you meet any one of these requirements, you do not need to make estimated payments. Any penalty you may owe will be calculated on the safe harbor that causes the minimum penalty.

Then next year you can begin making Estimated Quarterly Payments that would include the self employment tax as previously stated at 15.3% plus your estimated income tax.

Instead of estimated payments if you or your spouse have withholding from other employment, you can increase that withholding to cover the additional tax created by this job. Typically you can estimate federal and state income tax plus self employment tax at 35% of your gross earnings.
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/11/2009 9:19:02 AM   
3cappuccinosmom


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My parents have a long-time housekeeper. She comes twice a week, total of 6 hours per week. She gets paid $100/week.
We are in a low cost of living area, so she makes pretty good money (and has other clients the rest of the week).

The thing is, she is *worth* it. She *really* does an excellent job. Don't sell yourself short, but whatever you ask, make sure you are giving your clients their money's worth.

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The Ballad of Bad Biruk
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/11/2009 10:46:19 AM   
Sideways


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Housekeepers around here often charge less per hour if they come more frequently (because the house is not as messy I suppose). After the birth of my daughter I was blessed with bi-monthly housecleaning, and after the initial cleaning they charged $80 per cleaning. It was two teenage girls (homeschooled girls starting their own business), and for the two of them it took maybe 2-3 hours? So, per person it was around $15-$20 per hour.

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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/11/2009 12:37:12 PM   
doinkdom


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From: The higher lowcountry
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Just remember you'll be doing more than cleaning...most housekeepers who come in bi-monthly do not do laundry or make dinner.

You want to make enough to cover your expenses plus a profit.

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Rest assured, dear friends, that where your pleasure is, there your heart is.
- Charles Spurgeon
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RE: Pay rate for a housekeeper? - 11/11/2009 10:51:08 PM   
SaraChristine

 

Posts: 97
Joined: 2/20/2008
Status: offline
Thank you everyone! This has all been very helpful and lots of good advice! I emailed him to clarify a few more details, and what I would need to supply, but I haven't heard back.
I'm praying he hasn't found someone else!
Post #: 12
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