How to Bid a Commercial Cleaning Job

Winning profitable cleaning contracts comes down to accurate bidding. Bid too low and you work for nothing, bid too high and you lose the job. The good news is that bidding is a process, not a guess. Here is how to put together a solid commercial cleaning bid.

Walk the Building First

Never bid from a phone call. Tour the facility and note everything that affects time and cost:

• Total square footage and the breakdown of floor types
• Number of restrooms, offices and common areas
• Frequency the client wants, such as nightly or a few times a week
• Special requirements like floor stripping, carpet cleaning or window work

Estimate the Labor Time

Labor is the biggest cost in cleaning. Estimate how long each task takes using production rates, which tell you how much area a worker can clean per hour for a given task. Add up the time for all tasks at the required frequency to get monthly labor hours. This is the foundation of the bid.

Add the Other Costs

1. Labor: hours times your loaded labor rate, including payroll taxes and insurance
2. Supplies and consumables: chemicals, liners, paper goods
3. Equipment: wear, replacement and any machines the job requires
4. Overhead: your business costs spread across jobs
5. Profit margin: the reason you are in business

Factor In Equipment Efficiency

The right equipment lowers your labor hours, which lets you bid competitively and still profit. An auto scrubber cleans floors far faster than a mop, and a backpack vacuum covers carpet quickly. Efficient equipment is a competitive advantage in bidding.

Present a Clear Bid

Spell out exactly what is included, the frequency and what is extra. A clear scope protects you from scope creep later. Build your bids on accurate production rates and the right equipment, and you win jobs that actually make money. Equip for efficiency with our commercial cleaning equipment.