Busy but broke

Ever feel like you’re working a 70-hour week, your diary is full, and yet the numbers still don’t add up?

In this episode of Confessions of a Cleaning Business Owner, Louise Trehearn and Diane Greenwood unpack the “busy but broke” trap that so many cleaning business owners fall into—especially micro-businesses where the owner is still out cleaning while trying to run everything else.

What we cover

• Why a full schedule can hide serious profitability problems

• The real cost of “unpaid hours”: admin, payroll, kits, laundry, recruitment, marketing, and accounts

• The pricing myth: why charging £20/hour with a team can leave you earning pennies

• Hidden costs that quietly destroy margins (NI, pensions, holiday pay, software fees, breakages, travel, phone bills)

• Why turnover near the VAT threshold doesn’t automatically mean you’re doing well

• The staffing reality: how a 10% absence rate can keep you permanently covering cleans

• How to stabilise your business before you try to grow it

• Practical fixes: build slack into capacity, tighten cancellation policies, set boundaries, and systemise enquiries

• Why “more tools” and paid marketing can make things worse if your foundations aren’t solid

Key takeaway

You’re not alone—and the fixes are often simpler than you think. If you’re busy but skint, it’s time to stop, stabilise, and rebuild your business so it pays you properly.

Want support?

If you need help getting your numbers, systems, and boundaries working for you, consider joining DCBN for resources, training, and member support.