> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.zulma.ca/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Pro FAQ

> Quick answers for Zulma Pros: how you get jobs, when and how you are paid, the insurance you need, what to bring, your contractor status and taxes, working more than one service, cancellations, and the referral bonus.

The short answers to the questions Pros ask most. For the full detail behind any of these, follow the links into the rest of the For Cleaners guide, or start with the [overview](/cleaners/overview).

## Getting jobs

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How do I get jobs?">
    Two ways, and you can use both. Go **online** for instant nearby jobs, or declare your **weekly availability** (with blackout and exception days) so scheduled jobs match to you ahead of time.

    When a job matches you, you get a single offer with the customer's details and any photos or notes they uploaded. You have about **60 seconds to accept** (**75 seconds** if the customer specifically requested you). If you pass, the offer cascades to the next Pro. For a scheduled job, it becomes startable on your active list only within **60 minutes** of the start time.

    Full walkthrough: [getting your first job](/cleaners/getting-your-first-job).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does a job look like once I accept?">
    The lifecycle is **accepted → en route → arrived → in progress → completed**. You review the customer's brief and photos before you accept, work the job, and mark it complete in the app. Background location runs while you are en route so the customer can see you coming, and it stops once you arrive. See [on the job](/cleaners/on-the-job).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I turn down a job?">
    Yes. You choose which jobs to accept or decline, with no quota and no penalty for passing. If you pass on an offer, it simply moves to the next Pro.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Pay and payouts

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How much do I keep?">
    You keep **70% of the base, add-ons, and surcharges**, and **100% of tips**. Recurring discounts come out of Zulma's share, not yours, so a recurring customer is worth the same per visit as a one-off. See [how pay works](/cleaners/how-pay-works) for the full breakdown.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How am I paid?">
    Through a **Stripe Express connected account**. Stripe handles your banking and gives you a dashboard to manage payouts and download your tax forms. Your job earnings and your referral bonuses both land in the same place. More in [taxes and payouts](/cleaners/taxes-and-payouts).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I see the payout before I commit?">
    Yes. The full payout is shown on the offer before you accept. There are no surprise deductions.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Insurance, taxes, and status

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do I need my own insurance?">
    Yes. You carry your own commercial general liability insurance of at least **\$2,000,000 (CAD)**. You do not need it to get approved, but you provide it before you accept your first paid job, and you keep it current. Short-term-rental turnover work requires the same \$2M CGL, not a higher bar. See [your \$2M insurance](/cleaners/insurance-requirements).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What's the identity and background check?">
    During onboarding you verify your government ID through **Stripe Identity** (you will not need to re-photograph it later for payouts), and you pass a **third-party background check** before you can take jobs. Details in [identity and checks](/cleaners/identity-and-checks).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need WHMIS training?">
    If you take cleaning or car-detailing work, yes. You provide WHMIS 2015 certification before your first chemical-handling job. It is a short online course with free options, and the Pro app shows providers. Lawn-only work does not require it. See [WHMIS 2015 training](/cleaners/whmis).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Am I an employee or a contractor?">
    You are an **independent contractor**, not an employee. You control how, when, and whether you work, you may decline jobs, you may work for others, and you are responsible for your own taxes, equipment, vehicle, and supplies.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do taxes work?">
    You report your own income and handle your own taxes. **Stripe issues your tax forms** through the Express dashboard, and the platform tracks T4A-reportable amounts. See [taxes and payouts](/cleaners/taxes-and-payouts).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## On the job

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What do I bring?">
    You bring your own equipment and supplies. Typical kit includes a vacuum, a mop and microfibre cloths, and all-purpose and glass cleaner. You provide everything you need to do the work.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I do lawn and car detailing too, not just cleaning?">
    Yes. You can qualify for **more than one service type at onboarding**: residential cleaning, commercial, lawn, and car detailing. Dispatch matches jobs to whatever you are approved for, so you can mix the work that suits you. Get approved once, then accept the jobs that fit.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if I have to cancel?">
    If you must cancel, you pick from a set of reasons and, for some (such as unsafe conditions), attach a photo as evidence. **No-fault reasons backed by evidence are handled without penalty.** See [cancellations](/cleaners/cancellations).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Earning more

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How does the referral bonus work?">
    Refer another Pro to Zulma and you **both** earn as they get established. The bonus pays out in four steps tied to Zulma's commission on the referred Pro's jobs:

    | Milestone (referred Pro's Zulma commission) | Bonus per side |
    | ------------------------------------------- | -------------- |
    | About \$100                                 | **\$25**       |
    | About \$300                                 | **\$50**       |
    | About \$600                                 | **\$75**       |
    | About \$1,000                               | **\$50**       |

    That is **up to \$200 per side**, capped at **12 referrals per year**, paid to your connected payout account. It is service-agnostic, so it works the same whether the Pro you refer does cleaning, lawn, or detailing. Full details in [bonuses and incentives](/cleaners/bonuses).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are recurring customers worth less to me?">
    No. Recurring discounts come out of Zulma's share, not yours. You are paid on the full pre-discount amount every visit, so a recurring customer is worth the same per visit as a one-off, plus the steady repeat work.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<Note>
  Still have a question? Email [support@zulma.ca](mailto:support@zulma.ca) and we will help.
</Note>

## Keep reading

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Overview" href="/cleaners/overview" icon="badge-check">
    What it means to work as a Zulma Pro, and why Pros choose the platform.
  </Card>

  <Card title="How pay works" href="/cleaners/how-pay-works" icon="wallet">
    Keep 70% of the job plus 100% of tips, paid to your own connected account.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>