Before platforms existed, the only way to get a regular cleaner was an agency or franchise — companies like the big national cleaning brands that employ or subcontract cleaners and send whoever is on the rota. That model still works for some households, but it has trade-offs most people only discover after signing up. Here's how it compares with FleckUP's choose-your-own-professional approach.
Who actually turns up at your door
With an agency, you hire the company, not the person. The cleaner who comes is whoever the rota assigns, and staff turnover in the industry is high — many customers report a different face every few months, each needing to be walked through the flat again.
On FleckUP you choose a specific, named professional, see their verified profile, and rebook the same person each time. The relationship is with the person, not the logo.
Contracts and flexibility
Agencies often prefer regular weekly slots with notice periods and minimum commitments, and their hourly rates carry the overhead of offices, coordinators and franchise fees. Cancelling a single visit can mean losing the slot or still being charged.
FleckUP bookings are per service with no contract: book weekly, fortnightly or just once, reschedule around your life, and change professional any time without an awkward phone call.
Where your money goes
Agency rates include the company's margin, which is how the model works — but it means the person doing the work sees only part of what you pay. FleckUP professionals are independent and set their own prices, so more of what you spend reaches the person actually in your home.
That tends to attract career professionals who take pride in their reputation — the kind of cleaner, groomer or therapist who builds a loyal client base rather than working a rota.
What agencies still do well
To be fair: a good agency can replace a sick cleaner at short notice, and some people prefer dealing with one company for everything. If that's what you value most, an agency remains a sensible choice.
If you'd rather know exactly who is coming, what they'll charge, and be able to keep the same trusted person for years — with every professional identity-verified through Didit — that's the gap FleckUP exists to fill.
Common questions
- Is FleckUP an agency?
- No. FleckUP is a marketplace of independent, identity-verified professionals. You choose the person; they set their own prices and schedule.
- What happens if my professional is ill or away?
- You can book another verified professional in minutes — you're not tied to one person or one company's rota.
- Do I need to commit to a weekly slot?
- No. Book one-off or recurring visits as it suits you, with no contract or minimum term.