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Post by Roman Cleaning Services on Jan 17, 2006 20:15:12 GMT -5
How is this done? I'm pretty much a beginner. I don't do the cleaning myself, I hire people to do it. With that in mind, I can't really figure how long it will take the crew to do a job if I don't have my first commercial account yet? It seems impossible for me to bid by the hour. Also, under what circumstances do I bid by hour instead of square foot?
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Post by Kevin on Jan 17, 2006 20:47:24 GMT -5
In all actuality bidding by the Square Feet, is the same as bidding by hour. I would say that seasoned veterans bid by square feet because they already have a determined amount they want to make per hour including supplies, labor, taxes etc. What bidding by square feet does is eliminate the basic math of the problem. A example: we have a determined price for floor care strip and wax .25 I know if we charge this amount we make money, of course on some jobs We bid higher, but this is the minimum. So this floor were bidiing on lets say 2700 sq. ft or .25= $675.00, Now if I would bid it hourly and add in the supplies, taxes, labor, profit etc. I would arrive roughly at the same price. So you bidding hourly is pretty much the exact same thing, as square feet, Once again veterans just use this to make the math easy, as you will also. If you go clean a office lets say 1000 sq. ft. and it takes you 1 hr. and 5 dollars in supplies, and you charge $40.00 and you are happy with this price, from now on you would bid all your office cleaning at .04 cents an hour..This was a very good question, and I hope you understand.. Now as you get more jobs and different types of services you perform you can make your own square foot equations up to make your estimates quicker... (But believe me even the most seasoned of veterans get the pencil and paper out, going back to the long math to double check, or even tighten up a bid if they know they are competing for the job. )
Also Production and performance rates vary per crew, As one company might be comftorable with 1000 sq. ft per man hour of cleaning, a more detailed crew might average 1500 sq.ft an hour. Its good to observe your crew in action, working with them if possible. Setting time standards as you go along.
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Post by Roman Cleaning Services on Jan 17, 2006 21:54:56 GMT -5
.04 per hour?
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Post by jdinstl on Jan 17, 2006 22:46:29 GMT -5
Yeah, I saw that one too! $0.04/hour? Kevin, I want to subcontract you -- $0.04 an hour, wow...and you people do top class work!
I know you meant $0.04/sq ft -- just had to give ya some ribbin' about it! :-)
John
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Post by Grizzly on Jan 17, 2006 23:07:16 GMT -5
One thing I have to interject here though Kevin is bidding by square feet is a dangerous game. You can't do 1000 sq. ft of broken up space with desks to doodlebug around, numerous corners and detail work in the same time that you can do a 1000 sq. ft open room. Newbies especially must realize that and not just go in and say I'll do the job for a sq. ft price. You need to go through the process of determining the number of man hours to do each particular job plus all the other determining factors. I will only SUGGEST a sq. ft. price after I have gone through the mentioned process and essentially work back to a sq. ft. price for the job we're doing.
Bill
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Post by Kevin on Jan 17, 2006 23:40:05 GMT -5
I screwed up the example the reference of .04 was to commercial janitorial (general cleaning) Not floor care. I agree 100% also with Bill, not every floor job is the same, nor every cleaning job. Bidding by the hour is the starting point, before you bid by square feet. (Did I get it right this time)   |
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Post by russo on Jan 18, 2006 2:52:27 GMT -5
as i said before... i bid by the square feet for buildings more than 50,000 sq. feet. it seems to work good for me. under 50,000- always by the hour unless requested to bid by the square feet. in any bid to determine my square foot charge or hourly charge i always consider my surrounding factors.
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Post by Roman Cleaning Services on Jan 18, 2006 7:41:00 GMT -5
whats your sq ft rate?
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Post by Kevin on Jan 18, 2006 8:51:03 GMT -5
Square feet, is a buzz word also I think. Very popular with building managers and also builders. When commercial buildings along with residential are built they are determining cost of square feet of construction. Mike is also correct alot of bids do require a square foot price.
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Post by logan5127 on Jan 18, 2006 9:00:38 GMT -5
I love the fact that these post show flexibility in how to bid. I think these are some of the greatest post and tips, especially for the newbies.
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Post by jdinstl on Jan 18, 2006 9:20:30 GMT -5
Another spot on post, Bill....hey, you aren't bidding against me on a particular restaurant job are you? :-) Hehe....just kidding!
Yet your post states exactly the challenge I have with this brasserie is the carpet/ceramic tile ratio. Footage-wise, I swag the ratio to be roughly 60/40. The bar area is tiled, as is the trafficways and restrooms. It's not a typical restaurant layout either -- booths in center, larger open dining areas flanking the booths on one side -- and smaller breakout-like dining rooms, each containing a 52" round table. Then of course, the bar area.
I'm going to be meeting with their key people to gather more information as to expectations and requirements -- hopefully soon! This one has a lot of potential, and I have a good chance at it -- so I am being VERY meticulous about this proposal!
Cheers!
John
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Post by jdinstl on Jan 18, 2006 9:22:33 GMT -5
Clarification: swag - scientific wild-a** guess!
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Post by Grizzly on Jan 18, 2006 12:25:24 GMT -5
No John , St Louis is too far to drive for a contract, the driving expense would kill me. You've got a tough situation there, start with the man hours to do the job and then go from there. I don't like restaruants, been burned by two of them to the tune of 6000.00 . They're here today and gone tomorrow and back as a different place the next day.
Bill
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Post by quality on Jan 19, 2006 23:42:05 GMT -5
I think that buildings are hard to price for some reason in vancouver, wA we price house cleaning by hour. buildings are mostly sq foot.
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Post by jdinstl on Jan 20, 2006 0:06:13 GMT -5
She's a real beaut' ain't she? But I figure if I can price this, the experience will teach me to price anything! A friend of mine works there, he manages their catering and has put in good words for me which resulted in the bid invitation. It's an established outfit so I hope I don't get burned for $6k....ouch, Bill! But I've seen exactly what you speak of in restaurants. One building in my old neighborhood was a joke -- it seemed it changed hands every quarter. The sign maker must have made a fortune!
This one could possibly grow into two, as they own another eatery, and possibly pre and post cleaning for various catering events. They cater some pretty high-brow shebangs, there's potential for good exposure.
My friend and I are getting together this weekend, I'll be getting more information from him. Hopefully, I can meet with the principals next week, and get a tighter idea on what all they seek to be included, as well as measurements and the like. They're not in love wth their window washer either, so I'm hoping to be able to provide a one-stop-shopping solution, or at least a proposal offering base services and add-ons they can choose from if they desire.
Cheers,
John
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