If you want to book a cleaner with Helpling, many questions quickly arise about the costs: How much is the price per hour? Are there additional fees? When is billing done? And what about tips or bills for taxes? In this article, you will find clear answers to all common questions about the pricing structure and payment process at Helpling.
The Costs of Booking a Cleaning
Before making their first booking, many people ask themselves exactly how much cleaning via Helpling costs. Because transparency in pricing is important to us, in this section, we will show you what costs you may incur, what the final price depends on, and what you need to consider when paying.
How Much Does Cleaning via Helpling Cost?
The costs for cleaning via Helpling consist of several components and are deliberately designed to be transparent so that you know what to expect right from the start.
- Price per hour of the cleaner: All cleaners on Helpling act independently and set their price per hour individually. Prices usually range between €16.90 and €20.40 per hour. The exact amount depends on the individual you select or who accepts your booking request.
- Pricing when booking: During the booking process, you determine the price range in which you want to search. For example, if you display service providers between €18.20 and €20.40, any cleaner within this range can accept your request. The actual price charged depends on the price per hour of the cleaner who first confirms the appointment.
- Service fee: In addition to the price per hour, there is a service fee of up to €2.90 or €2.99 for every cleaning booked. This is calculated per appointment and covers the use of the platform and customer service.
- Other possible costs: Additional costs may arise for special requests or additional services, such as window cleaning or a particularly complex deep cleaning. These depend on the scope of the desired service and are shown transparently in the booking process.
Do Prices Differ Depending on the City?
Yes, prices may vary depending on the city and region. Factors such as cost of living, regional demand, or even typical travel routes influence pricing.
Prices per hour 2025 by city:
- Berlin: €22.00
- Frankfurt: €21.63
- Munich: €26.86
- Dresden: €19.40
- Hamburg: €20.57
- Leipzig: €20.20
- Cologne: €22.33
- Stuttgart: €26.32
- Hanover: €19.17
- Bremen: €18.48
- Bonn: €22.13
- Dusseldorf: €21.92
- Food: €21.62
- Potsdam: €22.17
- Karlsruhe: €20.20
- Mannheim: €21.94
- Dortmund: €21.30
- Bochum: €21.49
- Duisburg: €21.29
- Heidelberg: €19.59
Since Helpling is a platform for freelance service providers, the cleaners set their own price per hour. This means: The prices are not set centrally, but can vary from city to city (and even within a city). In big cities with high demand and higher costs of living, prices are usually slightly higher than in smaller cities or rural regions.
This flexibility enables cleaners to offer fair and market-oriented prices, and for you as a customer to find the right offer within your desired price range.
Do I Have to Pay Extra for Travel or Materials?
You don’t have to plan for separate travel costs. Your cleaner’s journey is already included in the agreed price per hour. This means: There are no additional travel costs, regardless of whether your cleaner lives around the corner or has to travel a few kilometers to get to you.
What About the Cleaning Supplies?
You should provide all the cleaning supplies. As a rule, the cleaners do not bring their own cleaning products or cleaning utensils to the appointment. This is mainly because many customers prefer their usual cleaning products and therefore want to make them available themselves.
We therefore recommend that you provide all the cleaning products you need for the appointment. These usually include:
Cleaning Products:
- Toilet cleaner
- All-purpose cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Fat-dissolving agent (e.g., commercially available dishwashing liquid)
Cleaning Equipment:
- Mop & bucket
- Broom
- Vacuum cleaner
Cloths and sponges:
- Microfiber cloths (at least 4 pieces)
- Scratch-free sponges
- Feather dusters or dusters of your choice
If you are not sure exactly which products or tools are needed, it makes sense to contact your cleaner in advance using the messaging function in your customer profile. This way, you can clarify together what suits you best, and the cleaning appointment goes smoothly.
Can I Tip My Cleaner?
Yes, this is possible and is highly valued by many cleaners.
Tipping at Helpling is, of course, voluntary, but it is a nice way to express your satisfaction with the work you have done. A tip shows recognition and appreciation, whether after the first successful use or as a small thank you for continuous good performance.
Here’s how to tip:
- Directly on site in cash: Many people present the tip in person at the end of the appointment.
- By bank transfer or in cash at your next appointment.
- Alternatively, you can also leave a small additional amount in cash with a short note.
Please note: There is currently no digital tip function integrated via the helpling platform. So if you would like to tip, do so directly, personally, and easily.
Can I Deduct the Cleaning Costs from My Taxes?
Yes, in many cases you can claim the expenses for your cleaner as tax deductible.
According to Section 35a of the Income Tax Act (EStG), household-related services, such as those provided via Helpling, are deductible services. This means that if you declare the costs as part of your annual tax return, you can get up to 20% of the expenses reimbursed, up to a maximum set amount.
Important to know:
- The prerequisite is that the payment is not made in cash, but can be made by direct debit or credit card, so it can be traced via your account.
- You can find your invoices in your Helpling account at any time and use them directly for tax purposes.
- However, the decision on a refund is always made by the tax office – Helpling cannot guarantee this.
Does my Invoice Include VAT?
Yes, all invoices include the VAT amount shown.
Payment Methods & Billing
So that you can always keep track of everything, we have put together all the important information about payment, invoices, and payment methods for you here.
How Do I Pay at Helpling?
At Helpling, we rely on secure and convenient online payments without any cash.
Important: Please never pay your cleaner in cash or through external payment services. All payments are made securely and automatically using the payment method stored with Helpling.
If you are no longer sure which payment method you are currently using, simply take a look at your account settings under “Payment method.”
Which Payment Providers does Helpling Use?
The following payment methods are currently available to you:
- Credit card: Visa, Mastercard, and American Express
- Mobile Payment: Apple Pay and Google Pay
- SEPA direct debit: Convenient direct debit via your account
When Will the Amount be Debited?
Billing will only take place after the cleaning date has been completed. As soon as your cleaner has finished the appointment and confirmed it in her profile, an invoice will automatically be created, and the payment will be triggered.
This usually happens shortly after the appointment, so that the burden occurs promptly. You don’t have to worry about anything else. Everything runs automatically using the payment method you have provided.
What Do I Do if I Am Billed Incorrectly?
If you have been charged an amount that does not seem correct, for example, because the price does not match the booked service or additional hours have been billed, you can easily request a (partial) refund.
- To do this, go to the icon with the two shaking hands in the top right of your Helpling account and select “Report problem” on the next page.
- You then state the reason for your complaint and can add further details so that the case can be examined in a comprehensible manner.
- Your report will automatically be forwarded to the cleaner concerned so that she can comment on it and clarify the matter. If a correction is necessary, the refund will also be arranged directly.
Alternatively, you can also take a look at the Helpling help portal, where you will find many answers to frequently asked questions about billing and payments.
How Many Vouchers Can I Redeem per Booking?
One voucher can be redeemed per booking. Please pay attention to the redemption conditions that will be displayed to you before completion.
Are there Also Gift Vouchers?
Yes. You can purchase and give away digital vouchers via our website.
Where Can I Redeem My Voucher?
Simply enter the voucher code in the booking process before you are redirected to payment.
My Payment Failed – What to Do?
If you have received an email indicating a failed payment, this usually means that your stored payment details are no longer current or valid.
Don’t worry, this can be fixed quickly:
- Log in to your Helpling account and navigate to your account settings.
- There you will find the “Payment Method” area.
- Click “Edit” to deposit a valid credit card, SEPA account, or other available payment method.
Once you have entered a working payment method, the outstanding amount will automatically be debited again.
Invoices & Payment Overview
Would you like to keep track of your past payments or download an invoice for your documents? In this section, we will show you where you can find all the payment information related to your Helpling bookings.
Where Can I Find My Invoices?
All your invoices are available to you digitally at any time.
- Simply log in to your Helpling account and navigate to the “Invoices” area in your profile.
- Do you use the Helpling app? Then tap “More” in the bottom navigation bar and select the menu item “Invoices.”
There, you can easily download every invoice in PDF format. Perfect for filing or filing with taxes.
Can I Download a Complete Overview of My Payments?
Yes. In this area, you will also find the option to download an annual overview of your payments. To do this, select the function “Download annual financial statement overview,” determine the desired year, and start the download.
Please note: This overview summarizes your payments for a calendar year and is used for your personal documentation. Unfortunately, a complete collective invoice for all services is not available for legal reasons.
How Do I Change My Payment Details?
If your payment details have changed or you would like to use a different payment method, the adjustment is very easy:
- Log in to your Helpling account and access your account settings.
- There you will find the “Payment method” area.
- Click “Edit” to enter a new payment method or update your existing information.
How to ensure that future payments are processed smoothly.
