1. Walk the site before you price it
Measure cleanable areas and record the details that change labor time: floor types, restroom and breakroom count, occupancy, soil level, security requirements, storage, waste handling, and access windows. Ask what is excluded and write it down while you are on site.
2. Estimate hours from the scope
Use a production rate that matches the specific area and task, then calculate each area separately. A lobby, open office, restroom, and breakroom do not move at the same pace.
3. Build your operating cost
| Cost layer | What belongs there |
|---|---|
| Labor | Hours per visit × loaded hourly labor cost × visits per month. |
| Supplies and equipment | Recurring chemicals, consumables, equipment allocation, and site-specific materials. |
| Overhead | Insurance, supervision, vehicles, admin, and the portion of fixed operating cost the account must carry. |
4. Set the bid from cost and margin
After you calculate the monthly operating cost, set a deliberate gross margin. The formula is:
A margin is not an extra percentage added to cost. It is the share of the final price remaining after operating cost. That distinction saves an unpleasant amount of math later.
5. Check the bid against the written scope
Review the proposal line by line. Confirm that cleaning frequency, floor care, consumables, initial work, client responsibilities, and excluded services match the labor model. If the scope changes, the bid changes.
Need the editable model?
Build the bid from your actual inputs.
The CleanOps Bid Fieldbook includes the editable eight-input workbook, walkthrough system, assumptions audit, and buyer guide.
View Fieldbook pricing