Contractor vs Employee: What Queensland Cleaners Need to Know

The employee-versus-contractor question comes up constantly for Queensland cleaners, and the answer matters more than most people realise. The structure you operate under affects your tax, your superannuation, your insurance obligations, and your ability to work across multiple platforms simultaneously.

What an employee arrangement looks like

If you are employed by a cleaning company, the employer deducts PAYG tax, pays your super at the legislated rate (currently 11.5%), and handles workers compensation. You have set hours, defined rates, and no control over which jobs you take. Income is predictable but capped. You cannot generally work for another cleaning company at the same time.

What an ABN contractor arrangement looks like

As an ABN contractor, you invoice for services rendered. No PAYG is withheld -- you pay your own tax quarterly via BAS if registered for GST (mandatory above $75,000 annual turnover), or annually below that threshold. Super is your own responsibility. You can work across multiple platforms and clients simultaneously. Income is variable but has no ceiling.

• Obtain an ABN free at abr.gov.au -- takes under 10 minutes
• Register for GST if you expect to earn above $75,000/year from cleaning
• Set aside 30--33% of gross income for tax and super
• Take out public liability insurance -- minimum $5M, typically $400--$600/year
• Keep a national police check current (within 3 years)

Which earns more in Queensland?

For most active Queensland cleaners, the ABN contractor path earns significantly more. The combination of flat-fee platform access, urgency premium jobs, and the ability to work across multiple clients simultaneously means a motivated contractor can earn $80,000--$130,000 per year. Employed cleaners in Queensland rarely exceed $55,000--$65,000. The tax obligations are higher, but the net position is almost always better.