How to Bid & Estimate for Cleaning Companies
If you own or manage a cleaning company, providing accurate, fair bids and estimates is one of the most important things you can do to keep your business both profitable for you and desirable for potential customers. Maintaining professionalism and honesty are extremely important, and you will earn your customers loyalty by remaining consistent and truthful regarding pricing and services. With a little research and planning you can make the bidding and estimating process easier for you and your customers.
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Instructions
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Research other cleaning companies in your area and find out how much and how they charge. Some cleaning companies charge hourly, while others charge by the job, square footage or room.
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Decide how you want to charge. While charging by the hour may seem like the best option, some customers rush cleaners who charge by the hour and may excuse you of taking extra time to get more money. Charging by the room or by the job can help give your customer a sense of security because he will know exactly how much he can expect to pay each time you clean. Many cleaning companies charge a one-time new customer fee for the first cleaning since the first visit usually requires more work than subsequent cleanings. Decide whether you want to charge a flat fee for a new customer fee or a percentage of the total cost. Many cleaning companies charge 10 to 20 percent of the total bill for a new customer fee.
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Decide if there are any services you want to charge extra for on a flat-fee basis. Some cleaning companies charge an extra fee for services such as oven cleaning or laundry.
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Ask potential customers if you can visit their home or business to complete a walkthrough. You can provide a much more accurate estimate if you see the area you will be cleaning.
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Print out a bid estimate sheet so that you can write everything down to present to the person who will make the final decision. Download a bid estimate sheet online or make your own in a spreadsheet program out and have it handy while you complete your walkthrough. Create spaces for the various tasks you will complete, the number of rooms, the rate per room and the total fee. Create an extra space for the new customer fee if you have decided to charge one.
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Consider all of the tasks you will need to complete when conducting your walkthrough. Make a mental estimate regarding the time it will take to complete each task. Ask your potential customer about his needs and wants so that you know exactly what he expects before quoting a price.
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Fill out the price per room on your bid estimate sheet and provide a total at the bottom. Show the sheet to your potential customer and address any questions or concerns. Some customers will try to negotiate a lower rate. Decide if you are willing to do this and adjust the prices on your bid sheet accordingly.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not lower your rates too much. Charging slightly less than competitors is OK, especially if you are starting a new business, but charging $10 less per hour than your competition puts you in a difficult position if you need to raise your rates in the future because you find you need to be more profitable.
References
- Photo Credit Woman cleaning the house. image by maron from Fotolia.com
