You've bought all your cleaning supplies and equipment, told everyone you know that you have started a cleaning business and now you are ready to start bidding on jobs and getting down to work. So your next step is to meet with potential clients and put together a bid for their cleaning services. But how do you know what to charge for cleaning your potential client's building?
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Start off by remembering that you are in business to make a profit and earn a living. Sometimes the tendency is to price our services low in order to get our foot in the door. Pricing your services too low may mean you will end up working for very little per hour. And more importantly, will have little left over to reinvest in the growth of your company. There are cleaning companies that charge more than others and have all the work they can handle and there are companies that have lower fees yet are struggling to find work! Don't sell yourself short or you will not be able to earn a living off your cleaning business.
The rates for commercial cleaning vary widely depending upon the area you live. Hourly rates are anywhere from $15 to $40 per hour depending on the type of services that you provide, whether or not you're doing the work yourself, and your company's overhead and expenses. Monthly square footage rates could run anywhere from $.05 to $.20 per square foot depending on the type of building you are cleaning and the frequency of cleaning. You'll be able to bid a higher square footage price for medical facilities versus office buildings due to more specialized cleaning needs. You'll likely bid a lower square footage price for large buildings versus small buildings. For example, you may bid $.08 per square foot for a 50,000 square foot building versus $.12 per square foot for an 8,000 square foot building.
You will most likely be charging your customers a monthly price and you will need to figure that price by estimating how long it will take to perform the services that your client has requested. The more productive you or your employees are, the higher the hourly production rate. If you're able to clean 3,500 square feet per hour, your profit will be higher than if you're only able to clean 2,500 square feet per hour, so adjust your price accordingly.
It's also a good idea to find out what the "going rates" are in your area. A few phone calls to competitors may be necessary to get an idea of the basic charges in your area. Use a script when you call so you can compare apples to apples. So what do you say when you call? Try something like, "Hi, I have a small business office that I would like cleaned once a week. It is 3000 square feet and has two small restrooms. Can you give me a rough estimate of what you what you charge per month?" The person may or may not give you an estimate. Most contractors will insist on walking through the building, but it is worth a few phone calls so you have a ballpark figure on what cleaning companies in the area are charging.
To estimate what you should charge for cleaning a building, start by doing a walk-through with the building owner or manager. Keep track of the following:
* Frequency of cleaning (once a week, three times a week, five times a week). If frequency is one or two times per week, it's best to estimate your time and multiply by your hourly rate. If cleaning 3 or more times per week you can estimate your time by the square foot.
* Overall square feet
* Types of floor surfaces and square footage of each (carpet, vinyl flooring, ceramic tile)
* Types of rooms - general office, break room, restrooms. Also note the number of toilets/stalls and fixtures in each restroom, as well as the types of restroom supplies used.
* Any special considerations - heavy traffic areas, elevators, unusual requests, etc.
* Make note of the specific services the client is seeking such as emptying trash, dusting, restroom cleaning, mopping and vacuuming.
The following services are specialized services and you should bid them separately, and list a per-service charge on your bid:
* Stripping and Waxing (.25¢ - .50¢ per square foot)
* Buffing/Burnishing (.03¢ - .07¢ per square foot)
* Machine Cleaning of Ceramic Tile floors (.12¢ - .21¢ per square foot)
* Carpet Cleaning (.12¢ - .25¢ per square foot)
* Carpet Spotting ($20 - $40 per hour)
* Cleaning appliances (microwave, refrigerator) - $10 - $35 per appliance
* Window Washing ($1.00 - $5.00 per pane)
Make sure you take enough notes so you can put together a realistic price that is fair to the client and one in which you will make a profit. After your first meeting with the client, go back to your office look through your notes and decide what it will cost you to clean the building. You may have to consult a production cleaning rate chart to determine how long it will take you and your staff to clean the building. Once you have an idea of how long it will take to clean the building you can put your cost estimate together:
* Estimate the time it will take by using a production cleaning rate chart or calculator.
* Determine your labor cost for cleaning the building one time.
* Determine your monthly labor cost to clean the building.
* Estimate a monthly cost for supplies. This will be a fairly low figure, perhaps 1 or 2% of monthly sales.
* Be sure to add in a profit margin!
Add up the figures and you will come up with your monthly cost. If you have access to a bidding calculator you will be able to put in a series of numbers and come up with a price. A bidding calculator will also show what profit you can expect to make. It is also advisable to add a first time cleaning charge. This is usually an hourly rate of perhaps $20 - $25 an hour. commercial floor cleaning company near me The first time you go through a building it will take longer and you may find the previous cleaning service may have left dirt in cracks and crevices that you will have to clean the first time through.
Once you have your price established, put your bid packet together. Your bid packet should specify what you are responsible for and what the client is responsible for (buying their own trash can liners, restrooms supplies, etc.). It should also include the monthly charge for cleaning services, how long the agreement is for, and the procedure to cancel the contract if either party is unhappy.
It is important to learn how to price your cleaning services so your customers know you are providing a professional service at a realistic price and so that you make a profit. After all, if you do not make a profit you won't stay in business very long!
Copyright (c) 2006 The Janitorial Store
Cleaning has significant benefits on people that we all know very well. No one would like to be at a place that is odorous and not hygienic. The same applies to our offices because people tend to spend most of the time there and they have to focus on the work for the whole day. This is the reason, professional office cleaning in Melbourne has become a strong need.
Have you ever thought of working at a place that smells horrible? Definitely not. This is because we all know how important it is to be at a good place and work with a refreshment.
You must have heard a cliché - first impression is the last. If you are an owner of a company and your office is in the worst condition, you need to think about renovation as soon as possible.
Why so?
The reason behind seeking expert office cleaning services is for your business's growth. The more positive vibes your office spreads the more positivity you can attract.
More visitors tend to look into your office and would like to work with you.
Below, we have categorized some of the most common benefits that you can have with expert office cleaning services.
Increase business
As many people reach your office, you would also like to welcome them to the office. They can be anyone, candidate, interviewee, client, customer, or relative of any of your employees. A clean and good office environment works as a power. A person who comes to your door leaves the place with an impression. It's up to you whether you want to make a good impression or bad. The more they receive good feedback from people, the more people come to know about you and they reach you whenever they seek any similar services.
Productivity
You may not have an idea about how the office environment impacts productivity. No one would like to work at a noisy and tasteless place. Understand what your employees like and then renovate the place accordingly. Cleaning can increase the overall business profits and productivity.
No more sick leaves
As the surrounding is clean and neat, no one gets ill that happened earlier. The healthier your employees feel the more productive they can work. They will also avoid taking frequent sick leaves which ultimately impact your overall business goal.
Good reviews
Good reviews at any place work as a super-powerful weapon. People believe in word of mouth and they would like to work into and with the company that actually cares for their employees. If people say well about you, your business, and your services, it will impact your overall business.
Bottom lines,
Start finding out a good Office Cleaning Melbourne Company to increase your business value and raise the standard. Would you like to add anything to the list or any experience to share? You can through the comment box given below.