DIY Marketing vs. Freelancer vs. Agency: Which Is Right for Your Cleaning Business?
By REESE PARSON
Director of Client Impact, Five Door Media
The Big Question for Cleaning Business Owners
Running a cleaning company already demands your time, managing schedules, hiring staff, and keeping customers happy. On top of that, you have to figure out marketing.
So what’s the best approach?
Do it yourself?
Hire a freelancer?
Or partner with a marketing agency?
Each option has clear pros and cons. The right choice depends on your budget, your goals, and how quickly you want to grow. Let’s break it down.
DIY Marketing for Cleaning Companies
What it means: You handle everything—social media, ads, your website, SEO, and more.
Pros:
Lowest cost (no outside fees)
You know your business better than anyone
Full control of your brand
Cons:
Takes a lot of time, marketing can feel like a second job
Steep learning curve (Facebook Ads, Google Ads, SEO require expertise)
Mistakes with paid ads can cost more than you save
Best for: Very small or new cleaning businesses with little to no marketing budget.
Hiring a Freelancer
What it means: A solo marketer manages specific tasks, like running ads, managing social media, or designing your website.
Pros:
More affordable than an agency
Flexible, you only pay for what you need
Direct communication with one person
Cons:
Limited skill set, no one is an expert at everything
Risk of inconsistency if they juggle multiple clients
If they leave, you lose momentum
Best for: Cleaning businesses with some budget that need focused help in one area.
Hiring a Marketing Agency
What it means: A full team handles multiple aspects of your marketing—ads, SEO, content, design, and strategy.
Pros:
Access to a range of expertise
Established systems and consistency
Saves you time so you can focus on operations and growth
Cons:
Highest cost
Less personal than working directly with a freelancer
Still requires your input and feedback to stay aligned
Best for: Established cleaning businesses ready to scale faster and invest in a comprehensive marketing strategy.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Here’s a simple way to decide:
DIY – Best if you’re just starting out and have no budget.
Freelancer – Best if you need targeted help in one area without overspending.
Agency – Best if you’re ready to grow quickly and want a team to manage everything.
There’s no single “right” choice. The key is to choose the option that fits your current stage of business, and recognize when it’s time to level up.
Final Thoughts
Marketing your cleaning business isn’t one-size-fits-all. What matters most is consistency. Whether you’re running ads yourself, working with a freelancer, or partnering with an agency, the business that shows up online is the business that wins the customer.
