Can I just have cleaners sign a contractor agreement?

No. And this is the one that ends cleaning businesses.

Classification is decided on conduct

The agreement matters, but it isn’t what decides whether someone is an independent contractor. An agency looks at how the work actually happens:

• Who set the schedule?
• Who supplied the equipment?
• Could the person refuse work?

A contract won’t cover the way you work

A contract that says “independent contractor” will not protect you while you’re texting someone their schedule every Sunday.

If you work with independent professionals, the way you work with them has to match what the agreement says.

What that looks like day to day

In the referral model I run, it shows up in a few everyday habits:

• Jobs are offered, not assigned. A cleaning professional can accept or reject a job, with no penalty for saying no.
• They control their own schedule. That isn’t a perk I hand out. It’s built into being independent. You can’t tell them to work set days.
• They bring their own supplies, equipment and transportation, and use their own expertise on how the cleaning gets done.

The employee model is a different setup. You get more control, but it comes with more red tape: mileage, workers’ comp and payroll taxes. Pick one on purpose, then run it the way it’s meant to run.

Common questions

What else belongs in the contract?

Mine includes a non-solicitation addendum, which covers cleaners taking customers for themselves. Honestly, it’s hard to stop completely, because cleaners know customers’ names and addresses. The bigger protection is good pay, steady jobs and treating people well. Then the reason to cut you out is small.

Do I need a background check too?

I run one, and I check references: three professional and three personal. That’s separate from classification, but it’s part of working with people you haven’t met in person.

Who should I talk to before I set this up?

I call it my business trinity: a CPA, a bookkeeper and a lawyer. Classification and tax rules differ by state, especially once you expand. Having those three in your corner early saves you from expensive guesses later.

This is general education, not legal advice. Rules differ by state, so check with a professional about your own setup.