Cleaning business guide
Cleaning pricing guide
Start with the tasks the customer is buying. Then calculate crew time, supplies, travel and operating costs before setting the price. A recurring maintenance visit and a first deep clean need different scope and time assumptions.
Calculate a cleaning price from the visit scope, total person-hours, loaded labor cost, supplies, travel and allocated overhead. Distinguish recurring maintenance from deep cleaning or move-out work, and use recorded visit times to revise future quotes.
Choose the service and billing unit
| Service | Scope to confirm | Possible billing unit |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring maintenance | Agreed room checklist, frequency and regular condition | Per visit or agreed person-hours |
| Deep cleaning | Built-up grime, detail work, reachable surfaces and furniture movement | Fixed scope price or agreed hours |
| Move-in or move-out | Whether the property is empty; cabinet interiors, appliance interiors and waste | Whole-job price with separate extras |
| Hourly work | Rate per cleaner or per crew, expected time and approval of additional time | Recorded hours |
| Area-based work | Measured area, surface condition and included tasks | Square feet or square meters, with defined extras |
Define the cleaning visit before pricing it
Record rooms or areas, surfaces, frequency and included tasks. A recurring visit to a maintained property should not automatically have the same time allowance as a first deep clean, move-out clean or property with unusual access.
Clarify whether ovens, internal windows, carpets, laundry, specialist waste or customer-provided products are included. State who supplies equipment and cleaning products, and how parking, travel or difficult access affect the quote. Document an assumption when the quote is based on photographs or a description rather than an inspection.
Convert crew time into person-hours
Two cleaners working for 2.5 hours create five person-hours of labor. The example below uses illustrative US-dollar costs and a margin on fully allocated job cost; it is not a recommended cleaning rate.
| Cost item | Example |
|---|---|
| 5 person-hours × $22 loaded labor | $110 |
| Supplies | $12 |
| Travel | $18 |
| Allocated overhead | $30 |
| Total allocated visit cost | $170 |
| Price at a 20% margin on allocated cost | $170 ÷ 0.80 = $212.50 |
The difference is $42.50, or 20% of the $212.50 price. Adding a 20% markup to $170 instead produces $204 and a margin of about 16.7%. Apply any separately applicable tax after checking its treatment, and avoid including the same travel or overhead twice.
Check recurring work against actual time
State the visit frequency, cancellation or rescheduling terms and how extra tasks are approved. Keep any first-visit charge separate from the recurring price. A customer should be able to tell which service dates a monthly invoice covers.
After several visits, compare actual person-hours and consumables with the quote. If the scope changes, explain the revised task list and price before providing additional work.
Compare quotes using the same task list
Customers should compare crew size, the billing unit, rooms, appliance and window tasks, products, travel, tax and extra-charge conditions. A lower total may cover fewer tasks. Ask for the scope before deciding which quote meets the need.
Use the cleaning estimate template to present visits, tasks and extra services clearly. Keep internal cost and margin calculations separate from the customer's scope and agreed price.
Frequently asked questions
How do I price a two-person cleaning crew?
Calculate the total hours worked by both people, then apply their loaded labor costs. Two cleaners for 2.5 hours equal five person-hours.
Should deep cleaning and recurring cleaning have the same price?
Price each from its actual scope and expected time. A first deep clean may include tasks and conditions that do not recur on later maintenance visits.