Commercial Cleaning Jobs Pricing: A Complete Guide to Setting Profitable Rates

Let's face it: how to price a commercial cleaning job can be a little overwhelming. Do you charge an hourly rate? Per square foot? What if you price yourself out of the market, or worse, undercharge and can't keep your cleaning business afloat?

The good news is this-with the right approach and with the help of various tools like Tofu cleaning software, it's possible to achieve a pricing structure that can be competitive and profitable all at once. This guide will walk you through everything that you must know about commercial cleaning prices, from understanding your actual costs to choosing the best method of pricing in regard to various services.

Whether you're pricing your very first office cleaning contract or refining the rates for your established commercial cleaning service, we'll cover the pricing strategies that work in the real world. You'll learn how to calculate your cleaning rate, factor in everything from cleaning supplies to insurance, and confidently charge what your services are worth.

Understanding Your Base Costs

Before you can confidently price your services, you need to know exactly what it costs to run your commercial cleaning business. Think beyond just wages and cleaning supplies. Your total cost includes insurance premiums, vehicle expenses, equipment costs for vacuum cleaners and mops, disinfectant products, and administrative expenses.

Don't forget overhead, rent for storage space, utilities, phone bills, employment taxes, and fees for staying compliant with occupational safety and health regulations (including Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements in the United States).

Here's a simple calculation: Add up all your monthly overhead expenses; let's say that's $5,000. Estimate your billable hours per month, maybe 160 hours. Divide overhead by hours: $5,000 ÷ 160 = $31.25 per hour just to break even. Add your direct labour costs, and you'll see your absolute minimum hourly rate before any profit margin.

Common Pricing Methods for Commercial Cleaning

Per Hour Pricing

Charging an hourly rate is a very straightforward and easily understandable method of pricing for clients. This kind of pricing works well when the scope is variable or for small office jobs. The average commercial cleaning rate in the United States can vary between $25 to $90 per hour depending on the location, nature of cleaning services, and skill level required. Specialty services, such as deep cleaning or infection prevention and control in medical clinics call for higher rates.

Square Footage Pricing

Here's the most popular way to price commercial cleaning jobs: charge per square foot. Most commercial cleaning companies use this pricing structure because it's predictable for everyone involved.

Notice how the price per square foot decreases as space increases? That's because you gain efficiency in larger commercial spaces. This pricing method gives you accuracy when estimating commercial building contracts and helps clients budget effectively.

Flat Rate Pricing

Flat Rate: In this pricing model, you have one set price per cleaning visit, regardless of how long it takes. Using the above example, you might charge a small office $350 per visit for standard janitorial services. The client knows exactly what they'll pay, and you know exactly what profit to expect.

Specialty Services

Some cleaning jobs deserve higher rates because they require specialized skills or equipment. Carpet cleaning, window cleaner services, ultra-low volume disinfection, and deep cleaning all fall into this category. Think about a restaurant requiring kitchen degreasing or a clinic needing strict housekeeping standards; these demand expertise that justifies premium commercial cleaning prices.

Factors That Impact Your Cleaning Service Prices

Pricing isn't one-size-fits-all. Understanding what drives commercial cleaning cost helps you quote accurately and avoid losing money on contracts.

1. Calculate square footage and layout - Size matters, but so does configuration. An open office space cleans faster than the same square feet divided into multiple offices
   
   
2. Determine cleaning frequency - Daily janitorial service costs less per visit than weekly deep cleaning because you build efficiency into your schedule
   
   
3. Assess the type of commercial building - Office cleaning differs from restaurant sanitation or medical clinic requirements
   
   
4. Define service scope - Basic dusting and vacuuming costs less than packages including kitchen cleaning, public toilet sanitization, and carpet maintenance
   
   
5. Check special requirements - Some spaces need specific disinfectant products or infection prevention protocols that increase your expense
   
   
6. Consider access and timing - After-hours cleaning often justifies higher rates
   
   
7. Clarify supply responsibility - If you're providing all cleaning supplies, factor that into your cleaning rate
   

Research what other commercial cleaning companies in your area charge. Resources like HomeAdvisor provide data on average commercial cleaning rates by region. You do not have to be the cheapest, as being a budget choice normally will attract clients who will not appreciate the quality of your work.

Setting Your Profit Margin and Pricing Strategy

Here's where we talk about making actual money, because covering costs isn't enough. Your cleaning business needs profit to grow, handle emergencies, and replace equipment.

Most successful cleaning business owners aim for profit margins between 10% and 28% after all expenses. Let's make this practical: if a cleaning job costs you $800 in labour, supplies, and overhead, with a 20% profit margin you'd charge $960. That extra $160 is not just pocket money; it's reinvestment into your commercial cleaning service. To protect these margins, consider implementing a billing automation service that ensures invoices go out promptly, and payments are tracked efficiently reducing the administrative burden that can eat into profitability.

• Value-based pricing means charging to deliver results, not just time spent. If your service prevents infection spread in a medical facility, that's worth more than basic mopping.
  
  
• Competitive pricing requires knowing your market. Where do you want to position yourself, budget option, mid-range, or premium service?
  
  
• Tiered pricing gives choices to the clients and helps protect profit. Offer basic, standard, and premium packages at different price points.
  
  
• Track everything with data. Which cleaning contracts are most profitable? How long do different square footage spaces actually take? Use a calculator or software to analyze job profitability

Real data beats guessing every time. After several commercial cleaning jobs are completed, you'll find that there are patterns which will help you to adjust your pricing structure. If restaurant kitchens take 30% longer than the standard office space, factor that into your rate-based pricing from day one.

Conclusion

Pricing commercial cleaning jobs doesn't have to be a guessing game. Know your true costs including labour, overhead, insurance, and cleaning supplies. Determine the pricing method for each of the cleaning services you provide: an hourly rate, per square foot, or flat rate-whichever makes the most sense. Consider cleaning frequency, speciality requirements, and commercial building type when deciding on a cleaning rate.

The cleaning industry needs professionals who charge appropriately for quality work. When you underprice, not only do you harm your commercial cleaning business, but you also make it even tougher on everyone else to earn money at a sustainable level. Your expertise and professionalism have real value attached.

Don't be afraid to charge what you are worth. Clients who truly value professional commercial cleaning service know that the lowest price rarely delivers the best results. Do the math on your costs, research the average commercial cleaning rates in your market, and confidently price a commercial cleaning job that supports both your clients' needs and your business success.