A bid is a labor model
Most commercial cleaning prices begin with labor. Square footage is useful, but two buildings of the same size can require very different effort. Restroom counts, floor types, density, security procedures, and service frequency all change the hours required.
Estimate the work by area, convert it to labor hours, and only then build the selling price.
Collect the right walkthrough inputs
Do not price from square footage alone.
- Cleanable square footage and facility type
- Service days per week and allowed work window
- Flooring mix and periodic floor-care requirements
- Restrooms, fixtures, kitchens, and high-touch areas
- Waste volume, access, security, and travel between zones
- Who provides consumables, chemicals, and equipment
Calculate monthly labor cost
Estimate hours per visit and multiply by visits per month. A common planning factor for a weekly service is 4.33 weeks per month. Multiply monthly hours by the fully burdened hourly labor cost—not just the cleaner's wage.
Burden can include payroll taxes, workers' compensation, paid time off, supervision, and other employee-related costs. Use your actual numbers whenever possible.
Add non-labor costs and profit
Add supplies, equipment, travel, insurance allocation, administration, and a contingency appropriate to the job. Then apply your desired profit margin. Margin and markup are not the same: dividing cost by one minus the target margin produces a margin-based selling price.
For example, a $4,000 monthly cost at a 20% target margin yields a $5,000 selling price: $4,000 ÷ 0.80.
Pressure-test before submitting
Check what happens if production is slower than expected, wage rates rise, or the client requests an extra service day. Clearly separate optional work so the base contract remains comparable.
Use the free bid calculator to model the price, then create a proposal that records the scope and assumptions behind it.