One of the most frequently asked questions we hear at All Pro Cleaning Systems is how much commercial cleaning services cost. It is a simple question to ask, but one that is not so easy to answer. Why? Because commercial cleaning isn’t a one-size-fits-all enterprise. Every facility is different. Cleaning needs differ from one facility to the next.
The HomeAdvisor website stated an average price of $140-$300 for commercial cleaning at the time of this writing. But the site did not explain what the fee covers or how the numbers were derived. The best way to know exactly what you’ll pay for cleaning services is to call a commercial cleaning company, tell them what you need, and let them work up a quote for you.
Hourly or Square Footage
Pricing commercial cleaning services begins with determining the basis for charges. Most commercial cleaning companies charge by the hour or the total area cleaned. When charges are assessed hourly, cleaners clock in and out at the start and end of their shifts. If a cleaner works at multiple sites, clocking time at each one is necessary.
Charging based on area essentially involves measuring the total amount of space and then assessing an appropriate rate per square foot. So a cleaning company might charge $0.10 per square foot for daily, routine cleaning and several times that amount for deep cleaning the same area.
Factors That Influence Charges
It doesn’t hold that commercial cleaning companies charge the same rate on every contract. They could not. There are too many factors in play to come up with a consistent rate that works well across the board. Cleaning companies need to quote each job based on its own merits.
Here are just some factors that influence charges:
- How Space Is Used – How the client uses a particular space matters. Industrial spaces cost more to clean because they are harder to clean. By contrast, office breakrooms tend to not require a lot of work on a regular basis.
- Cleaning Frequency – Cleaning frequency can affect charges to some degree. A space that needs more regular cleaning and less deep cleaning could be quoted at a different rate than another space that needs just the opposite. In addition, more frequent cleanings mean more frequent visits. That costs more.
- Type of Cleaning Required – Spaces vary in terms of the type of cleaning they require. An office space might only need vacuuming and dusting a few times per week while a restaurant kitchen requires thorough cleaning and disinfecting on a nightly basis.
- Cleaning Difficulty – Hand-in-hand with the type of cleaning required is the degree of difficulty involved. The more difficult the job, the higher the rate.
Customers can get quotes by contacting commercial cleaning services and explaining what they need. In many cases though, a cleaning service rep will come out and actually inspect the property. A visual inspection makes for a more accurate quote than a phone conversation.
Pay Attention to the Details
Assuming this post will prompt you to get a quote for your own facility, we want to encourage you to pay attention to the details of any quotes you receive. Be sure you understand exactly what is being quoted. Understand the services being offered, the frequency being proposed, and anything else on the quote sheet.
As with anything else, you are free to get as many quotes as you want. Your ultimate decision on who will provide commercial cleaning services should only be reached after evaluating quotes and speaking with company personnel to get a feel for how they do business.
