Free Scheduling Software for Cleaning Businesses: What You Get and What You Don’t
When you’re just starting out, every monthly fee matters. The good news is that you can run a small cleaning business on free scheduling software for quite a while. The catch is knowing what free plans leave out, so you aren’t caught short when you get busy.
Full disclosure: we make ZipScheduler, one of the options below. We have tried to be fair to every tool here and to say who each one suits. Features and prices change, so check each product’s website for current details.
Free options worth a look
ZipScheduler (free plan)
Clients book online after entering their ZIP code or postcode, so only people in your area can book, and only on the days you clean there. The free plan has no limit on bookings and includes up to three service areas, three services and your own booking questions, for one person. See what’s on each plan.
Square Appointments
Square offers a free plan for individuals, useful if you already take card payments with Square.
Setmore
A popular free appointment calendar with a simple booking page.
Calendly
Calendly’s free plan is great for booking calls, such as quote consultations, though it doesn’t know where a cleaning job is.
Google Calendar and a form
Plenty of cleaners start with a shared Google Calendar and a simple form. It costs nothing, but every booking still needs you to check the area, the time and the travel by hand.
What free plans usually leave out
- Taking payments and deposits. Often a paid feature, and the one that does most to stop no-shows.
- More than one person. Free plans are usually for one user.
- Automatic follow-ups and review requests. The emails that bring clients back and win you reviews.
- Room to grow. Limits on services, areas or emails that you hit as you get busier.
When to start paying
A simple rule: pay when the software would earn back its cost. If one prevented no-show a month covers the subscription, deposits alone justify it. If you’re adding a second cleaner, you’ll need more than one user anyway.
ZipScheduler Pro is $24 a month and adds deposits through your own Stripe account, balance invoices after the clean, follow-up and review emails, a client CRM, more service areas and up to ten team members. Start on the free plan and upgrade only when it pays for itself. Create your free booking page.