Cleaning jobs are no longer considered a frivolous job. It is now taken as a service that is available both online and offline, especially for the commercial sectors. With the use of technology, some companies offer you experienced and trained cleaners in the comfort of your home. You may call for a cleaner for your home or office by simply surfing the internet. As simple as that!
If you are also planning to start a cleaning service company or you want to provide services as an individual cleaner in office buildings, pricing is a tough task to do. You cannot just charge any amount randomly. There should be a logical costing criterion based on which you charge your clients for the cleaning services you offer.
This guide will be of great help to you in preparing a cost sheet for the cleaning services you offer.
How To Price An Office Cleaning Job
It is often observed that the majority of office cleaners decide their service charges based on the rates charged by their fellow cleaners in an area or locality. Some cleaners also charge less to beat the competitors. These practices are not standard and won’t be very profitable at the commercial level. Here are a few things that you should consider for pricing office cleaning jobs.
Get The Clear Details of Your Job
Prices you charge for cleaning services differ based on multiple factors. For this you need to know the job location, size of the building where cleaning has to be done, type of cleaning services, say deep cleaning or floor cleaning, number of cleaners required, duration of the service, etc.
You need to make a questionnaire to fetch all the information that you find necessary to set a correct reasonable price. For this, you may create a Google form to ask for information from the clients. This will sound more professional as well. You may also keep records of information in your database for repeat services.
Things to consider when accessing the office cleaning space:
- Measure the total area that needs cleaning. Larger spaces typically require more time and resources.
- List all the rooms that require cleaning including offices, conference rooms, restrooms, kitchens, and common areas. Each type of room may need different cleaning approaches and time investments.
- Determine whether the cleaning job involves regular maintenance, intensive deep cleaning, or special services such as carpet shampooing or window cleaning.
- Know the requirement of how often cleaning is needed. It should be done on a daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.
Calculate The Labor Cost
It is assumed that the cleaning project is for the large offices because usually, small offices do not call for such cleaning services. So, if it is for a large organisation, it is obvious that you need to incur labour costs. Usually, labour personnel are paid on an hourly basis. So it is feasible and accurate to calculate hourly prices for laborers.
Suppose, a laborer works 10 hours every day and he continues to work for 3 days. Then the labor charge has to be paid is 10 X 3 = 30 hours. Now say you have 5 labourers, then this will further increase to 30 X 5 workers = 150 hours.
Pick The Right Pricing Model:
Choose the right strategy and pricing policy to properly quote for your cleaning service based on client needs:
Flat rate: Ideal for consistent and predictable jobs where the scope of work is transparent. This model allows clients to pay only a fixed rate and know exactly what they will be paying each time.
Per square foot: A fair strategy for both small and larger office space. This method involves calculating a rate based on the total area to be cleaned. One needs to include the total area in square feet and the number of rooms or floors to be cleaned.
Hourly rate: To calculate per-hour cost, you need to divide the total hours calculated above by the total number of hours required. To fix an hourly cost for cleaning staff, consider the laws and regulations for the labourers. You should also provide them with the minimum wage. Also, research average hourly rates for cleaning staff in your area.
Understand Job Requirements
Consider the level of expertise, physical demands, and specialized skills needed. Refer to the factors in the cost of living, transportation, and local market conditions. Pay more for experienced or certified staff. Remember to regularly review and adjust your hourly cost to ensure fairness, competitiveness, and compliance with changing regulations.
Include Overhead Expenses
Overhead costs encompass all the miscellaneous operational expenses of running a business that are not directly tied to a specific project say cleaning office job.
- Equipment (including computers, printers, and cell phones).
- Office rent and utility bills.
- Advertising.
- Tools and equipment.
- Liability insurance.
- Business taxes.
- Vehicles, maintenance, and fuel.
- Travel time.
Setting accurate overhead pricing is a must to ensure your business’s scalability, and maintain financial health. Thereby, allowing it to cover administrative expenses without impacting the profitability of the business.
Add Your Markup:
When you’re running a successful business, then you need to consider not only operational expenses but also achieve profitability. If you are uncertain about how much to increase the total business cost as a markup price, it’s often a good idea to set a 20 to 30 % markup. This additional amount will compensate for the business risks, market fluctuations, and investment in growth.
Average Rate Of Office Cleaning Job
When creating a budget for an office cleaning job, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the average rates for various cleaning services. To help with your planning, here are the typical price ranges for common commercial cleaning tasks:
| Commercial Cleaning requirement | Average commercial cleaning rates |
| Stripping and waxing | $.30 to $.50 per sq ft |
| Buffing and burnishing | $.04 to $.12 per sq ft |
| Ceramic tile cleaning | $.12 to $.21 per sq ft |
| Carpet Cleaning | $.08 to $.25 per sq ft |
| Window cleaning | $2 to $5 per window |
Conclusion
The cost of cleaning an office can vary depending on several factors, including the size of the space, frequency of cleaning, and service required. By understanding these factors and costs, you can create a comprehensive cleaning plan that suits your office’s needs and budget. Again, beyond the above essential for pricing right, you should also research competitors in your area to understand market rates and ensure your quoted pricing for cleaning tasks is competitive yet profitable.
