Three RoutesCompare · Ontario figures · updated 2 November 2026
Residential cleaning business vs Personal support worker
Same columns, no opinion about which is better for you. On typical Ontario figures, Residential cleaning business is ahead by year 10 ($582k against $441k), because it starts earning earlier. The gap is before tax, rent and loan interest, which hit both routes. Residential cleaning business gets to a real paycheque first (about 2 months). Residential cleaning business costs $4,600 less to get into.
| Measure | Residential cleaning business | Personal support worker |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Start something | Straight to work |
| Credential | Registered sole proprietorship | PSW certificate |
| Years to finish | No formal credential | 1 |
| First real paycheque | About 2 months | About 8 months |
| Cost (tuition and fees) | $0 | $4,600 |
| Typical debt if you borrow | $0 | $0 |
| Earnings, first years | $35,000 | $38,000 |
| Earnings by year 5 | $65,000 | $47,000 |
| Net by year 10 (typical) | $582k | $441k |
| Demand in Ontario | High | High |
| Time in a classroom | 0% | 50% |
Earnings by year, roughly
Before tax. Years in school show as "school". Medians rise from the starting figure to the year-5 figure, then stay flat.
Residential cleaning business
A day looks like: Two or three homes a day, quoting, scheduling, invoicing at night. Once you have a crew, mostly driving between jobs and handling customers.
What stops people: Getting the first ten regular clients. After that it's referrals.
Downside: You are the business: no clients, no income. Growth means hiring and managing people, which is a different job than cleaning.
Personal support worker
A day looks like: Personal care for seniors and patients in long-term care, hospitals or homes.
What stops people: None. Ontario has subsidised most PSW tuition because the shortage is severe.
Downside: Physically and emotionally demanding, and wages plateau early. Many use it as a step into nursing.
Quick answers
Which pays more, residential cleaning business or personal support worker?
By year five, Residential cleaning business is about $65,000 and Personal support worker about $47,000 (Ontario medians, before tax). By year ten, counting what each cost, Residential cleaning business nets roughly $582k and Personal support worker roughly $441k.
Which is faster to a real paycheque?
Residential cleaning business: about 2 months. Personal support worker: about 8 months.
What does each cost?
Residential cleaning business: $0 in tuition and fees, typical debt $0. Personal support worker: $4,600, typical debt $0.
What is the downside of each?
Residential cleaning business: You are the business: no clients, no income. Growth means hiring and managing people, which is a different job than cleaning. Personal support worker: Physically and emotionally demanding, and wages plateau early. Many use it as a step into nursing.
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Figures are Ontario medians and typical costs from Job Bank, Statistics Canada, Skilled Trades Ontario and institution fee pages; the data page lists every source and date. Switch province on either pathway page for BC, Alberta or Quebec figures.