How to estimate a cleaning job
Choose a unit that fits the job. Price recurring office cleaning by the visit, deep cleans and move-outs by the job or the square foot, and small homes by the hour. The unit box under each quantity shows the client what they pay for.
Time a walk-through. Walk the space and time each area: desks, restrooms, kitchen, floors. Multiply the minutes by your hourly cost, then add your margin. An estimate from square feet alone often misses busy restrooms and kitchens.
Show a monthly figure for recurring work. Commercial clients budget by the month. Set the quantity to the visits in a month, so the total is the monthly price, and say the number of visits in the notes.
State what is not included. Windows outside, carpet shampooing, and post-event cleans are common extras. List them in the terms with how you price them, and they become upsells instead of disputes.
What a cleaning estimate should include
The example above has a place for each of these:
- The address, the size of the space, and the access hours
- Each service, and how often it is done
- The visits in a month, for recurring work
- Supplies: who provides them, and their cost
- Insurance and staff checks
- What is not included, and the price of extras
- Billing in advance or after, and the notice to cancel
- A start date, and a review after the first month
For a firm price instead of an estimate, choose Quote in the settings panel. Our quote and estimate guide explains the difference.
Estimate templates for other trades
Each template starts with a worked example for its trade. Your business details carry over between them.