Commercial Cleaning Bid Calculator
Estimate a competitive commercial cleaning bid based on square footage, cleaning frequency, labor rates, and supply costs.
Formulas Used
Labor Cost per Visit = Workers × Hours/Visit × Hourly Wage × (1 + Burden Rate)
Supply Cost per Visit = (Square Footage ÷ 1,000) × Supply Rate per 1,000 sq ft
Monthly Direct Cost = (Labor/Visit + Supply/Visit) × Visits/Month + Monthly Overhead
Monthly Bid = Monthly Direct Cost ÷ (1 − Profit Margin %)
The margin formula ensures profit margin is a true percentage of revenue (not a markup on cost).
Per-Visit Bid = Monthly Bid ÷ Visits per Month
Annual Bid = Monthly Bid × 12
Production Rate = Square Footage ÷ (Workers × Hours per Visit)
Assumptions & References
- Labor burden (25–35% is typical) covers payroll taxes (FICA ~7.65%), workers' comp, unemployment insurance, and benefits. Source: SCORE, SBA
- Industry production rates typically range from 1,500–3,500 sq ft per labor hour depending on facility type. Source: BSCAI (Building Service Contractors Association International)
- Supply costs of $3–$8 per 1,000 sq ft per visit are common for standard commercial cleaning. Source: Cleaning Business Today
- Profit margins of 10–28% are typical for commercial cleaning contractors. Source: IBISWorld Janitorial Services Industry Report
- The bid formula uses margin-on-revenue (cost ÷ (1 − margin)) rather than markup-on-cost, which is standard practice for service pricing.
- This calculator does not account for specialized services (floor stripping, window washing, etc.), travel time, or contract length discounts.
- Minimum wage floor of $7.25/hr reflects federal minimum; many states and localities require higher rates.