How to Price Commercial Cleaning Contracts: A Complete Guide
Commercial cleaning contracts are the holy grail of the cleaning business — recurring revenue, predictable scheduling, and professional relationships. But pricing them wrong can bankrupt you.
Per-square-foot pricing
The industry standard for commercial cleaning is $0.05-$0.20 per square foot per visit. A 10,000 sq ft office cleaned 5x per week at $0.08/sqft = $800/week or $3,200/month. This range varies by cleaning scope, building type, and market.
Calculate your production rate
Know how many square feet your team can clean per hour. The national average is 2,500-3,500 sq ft per cleaner per hour for standard office cleaning. Track this number for your team specifically.
What to include in every contract
- Scope of work per visit (specific tasks)
- Frequency (daily, 3x/week, weekly)
- Special services and frequency (floor wax, windows)
- Term length (12 months recommended)
- Cancellation clause (30-60 day notice)
- Price adjustment clause for annual increases
- Supply responsibility (you vs. client)
- Insurance and bonding documentation
Common pricing mistakes
- Not doing a walkthrough before bidding
- Forgetting to account for supply costs (8-12% of revenue)
- Ignoring drive time between locations
- Underpricing to win the bid then losing money monthly
- Not building in a profit margin (target 15-25%)
The best commercial cleaning businesses don't compete on price — they compete on reliability, communication, and quality. Price for profit and deliver exceptional service.
