FOR CLEANING BUSINESS OWNERS

Commercial cleaning
estimate calculator.

Turn your time, expenses and target margin into a clear price per visit.

COMMERCIAL CLEANING

Your numbers.
Your estimate.

USD · Per visit
01

Build your estimate

Example values to get you started. Replace them with your own costs. Need to plan the labor first? Use the cleaning-time calculator.

Time & team
hrs
On-site time for one visit
people
Include yourself if you clean
$/ hr
Include wages and any employment costs you pay.
Other costs per visit
$
$
Vehicle + paid travel time
$
This visit’s share of fixed costs
Target profit margin
Choose your target
%

Profit as a share of your selling price, after the costs above.

THE SAME VISIT, DIFFERENT UNITS

Compare your price by area.

How to compare rates

Use the area included in this visit’s scope. Changing the area here does not change your cost-based estimate above.

sq ft
Example area. Replace with the area you will actually clean.
$/ sq ft / visit
Enter your own rate for the same scope. No market rate is assumed.
Your estimate per sq ft / visit
$0.0569
Your estimate per on-site cleaner-hour
$37.92

These are selling-price equivalents, including the other costs and margin above. The hourly figure is not a wage. Unit rates are rounded; use the total price for your quote.

THE MATH, MADE SIMPLE

Costs first.
Margin second.

Labor is your crew size × hours per cleaner × hourly labor cost. Add supplies, travel and this visit’s share of overhead to find your total cost.

Estimate = total cost ÷ (1 − margin)

With the starting example values: $182 ÷ 0.80 = $227.50. A 20% margin is different from adding a 20% markup.

FROM ESTIMATE TO SCOPE

Put the quote in writing.

Add your client, schedule and included work to a printable cleaning quote.

Open quote template

THE JANITORMATH FIELD GUIDES

Plan the work. Price the job.

Practical answers behind the numbers.

01 / PRICING BASICS

How to price a commercial cleaning job

Start with costs, then work toward a price that covers the scope.

Read guide
02 / CHOOSING A BILLING UNIT

Hourly vs. square-foot cleaning pricing

Compare billing units without losing sight of your costs.

Read guide
03 / WORKED EXAMPLES

Three office-cleaning estimates, explained

Follow three transparent examples from inputs to final estimate.

Read guide
04 / UNDERSTANDING PROFIT

Profit margin is not the same as markup

Learn why adding 25% to your costs does not give a 25% margin.

Read guide
05 / COSTS & RATES

Commercial cleaning costs and rates: what changes the quote?

Understand the costs behind a cleaning quote and compare rates for the same scope.

Read guide
06 / TASKS & SCHEDULES

Commercial cleaning checklist: daily, weekly and monthly tasks

Adapt a commercial cleaning checklist for small offices, with daily, weekly and monthly examples, completion statuses and a printable worksheet.

Read guide
07 / FINDING THE RIGHT WORK

How to get commercial cleaning contracts: find work that fits

Find commercial cleaning contracts, follow a worked scope-to-price bid example and prepare your proposal with a free fillable PDF worksheet.

Read guide
08 / STARTING YOUR BUSINESS

How to start a commercial cleaning business

Plan a commercial cleaning business with a service scope, startup-cost worksheet, cash-timing example and practical first-job checklist.

Read guide
09 / SOFTWARE WORKFLOW

Zoho FSM for cleaning businesses: estimate to appointment walkthrough

Tested Zoho FSM cleaning workflow: save an estimate, check its PDF, create a work order and schedule an appointment. Includes scope and test limitations.

Read guide