Question 1

What profit margin should I charge for commercial cleaning?

Accepted Answer

A healthy commercial cleaning margin is 35–50% gross. Small owner-operators often achieve 25–35%, while established businesses with systems and multiple crews hit 45–60%. Anything below 25% is thin and leaves no buffer for slow months or crew turnover.

Question 2

How do I calculate breakeven price for a cleaning job?

Accepted Answer

Add up all your direct costs per visit: labor (cleaners × hours × rate), supplies, drive time labor, vehicle costs, and overhead allocation. That total is your breakeven — charge below it and you lose money on every visit.

Question 3

Should I include drive time in my cleaning pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Drive time is real labor cost. If you pay cleaners for travel, include it at your full labor rate. Even if you don't pay travel, your vehicle cost, fuel, and opportunity cost make drive time a real expense to factor in.

Question 4

What overhead costs should I include in cleaning job pricing?

Accepted Answer

Overhead per visit should include a prorated share of: liability insurance, general business insurance, vehicle insurance, accounting/bookkeeping, phone/software, marketing, and your management time. $10–$25/visit is typical for small operations.

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