Making Big Money In Floor Care $$$$

[evetsclean]

This is getting way off topic from the original post, but I had to add my 2 cents. I agree with Dan, most sales reps are "sales professionals" not "janitorial professionals". Their livelihood depends on selling you their product. Some know what they're talking about, most don't.

And Dan, I wish I could get away with 3, 4 or 5 coats, lol. In my grocery stores, it's a minimum of 7 coats of Castleguard, preferably 9 or even 10. That will usually last us about 3 months. Then it's worn. Our problem is we get monthly inspections, including the use of a "depth meter" which is a fancy way of saying shine meter. We need the 7 - 10 coats to pass the inspection.

[strawbanana]

I have been doing window washing for years for a carpet company. Recently I started printing a newsletter on the back of our receipts (we use quickbooks). She didn't know about all of our services, so now she will be using us to refer her customers who want carpet cleaning....

now comes the biggy, they install commercial tile... VCT, and need a cleaner for them , so yeah I am going to rent a floor cleaner like we used to use back at our squadron... ooh rah Marine Corp... and do it .

But I don't know the first thing about pricing for it here in California, I would like to preface CA with we are in a small farming community medium income is quite low to medium. I don't want to overprice and lose it, and I don't want to underbid.

How would you price it if you were being fed jobs like this..

any help would be appreciated. thanks

[niksondelio]

Hi Kevin,

My name is Nikson I'm from Riverview florida, I started in this business 1 1/2 year ago, commercial cleaning, now I want to continue doing floor care, I'll like to know if you can help me to get more customer to extend and growing up my business.
I'll like to be a full member, what can I do to be a member and get more customers from you in my area. Thank you so much for your cooperation.

[marc]

Hello ! I am a new member just had a question on pricing floors. Do you go by square foot or by the time it may take?
thanks ,
Marc

[logan5127]

Jul 30, 2009 12:52:02 GMT -5 marc said:

Hello ! I am a new member just had a question on pricing floors. Do you go by square foot or by the time it may take?
thanks ,
Marc

For us; Stripping/finishing by sq ft and service/maint. by time. Scrbbing and top coats can go either way.

[Kevin]

Your square foot price is determined by profit, expenses and the amount of time it takes.

Example 1000 sq. ft. floor, we have a minimum price of $250 so it is .25 per sq. ft.

[logan5127]

Aug 1, 2009 13:57:45 GMT -5 Kevin said:

Your square foot price is determined by profit, expenses and the amount of time it takes.

Example 1000 sq. ft. floor, we have a minimum price of $250 so it is .25 per sq. ft.

However sq ft pricing varies tremendously.
Example of my work : 1000 sq ft vct floor , we have a minimum price of $300 but we also charge .40 sq ft , so the cost to a customer with 1000 sq ft is $400. That is if everything is normal to my expectations . Such as ease of job, how much and what type of finish is on floor, and a whole list of other variables.

Each of us will have to decide how much to charge. Each of us will have to decide if we want to charge by sq ft or by time it takes or by the job. The end result of what we charge will determine if we have made a decent profit or no profit at all.

[Mirnes]

So, how do you know what type of finish is on th floor?

[logan5127]

Nov 14, 2009 13:41:46 GMT -5 Mirnes said:

So, how do you know what type of finish is on th floor?

We ask the client first. If they do not know, we look in janitor closet. Even when they tell you or you find some , you still do not know for sure. IF it has been on the floor for a couple of years and it still looks like a lot of finish is still there, than it is probably urethane fortified. If you are concerned about it , than carry a spray bottle full of mixed stripper and a black scrubby pad. Ask if you can test a spot to see how hard it is to get up before you price the job. Spray a little spot and let it set for about 10 minutes. You should be able to tell if the stripper dissolved the finish , if it just loosened it up or if it seems to only remove a very thin layer. I have been doing this type work for 25 years and still could not tell you what finish is on a floor unless I was the one to put it there. Even then I am not 100% sure that they did not add another type finish on top of what I put down at some point.

[gavin33h]

Hello,
I,m stripping a 800 sq ft building and the floor is the worst floor ive ever seen. But my question is do I charge a min of 300.00 and add on .50 per sq ft totaling 700.00? If this is the case they want the floor stripped every other quarter so is the minimum a one time deal or do I charge a minimum every other quarter. Also they want me to burnish once every other week and I would charge .25 per sq ft but would i also charge an extra minimum charge say 75.00 and would i charge a minimum once per month for the duration of the year? any help would be appreciated . Im new to this board and find every ones comment very helpfull and I wish every one a wonderfull Holliday.

[alphacleaning2009]

As far as I know, you use Minimum charge only when your calculated price comes to the number that is lower than your Minimum Charge. You don't add numbers to the Minimum Charge. You use minimum charge OR higher price.

Example. Let' use a situation that is similar to yours. As you say, your minimum for stripping is 300.00 $ and you charge .50 per sq ft. Let's say your customer wants you to strip an area of 500 sq. ft.
First of all you calculate the price using you numbers. 500 sq.ft x .50 per sq.ft = 250 $. This number is lower than your minimum, so you use your minimum which is 300 $.

Now in your real situation you have an area of 800 sq. ft and your calculations show that the price is 400 $. So you use 400 $.

The same with burnishing.

I hope that helps.

[gavin33h]

Terry,
Thank you for your quick response. I kind of figured that you were right with your response. i just wanted to be 100 percent right so it would be one less question in the back of my head.
My other question is one that i have always had a problem with. One sample is i just put in a bid for floor service and the business want strip and wax every other quarter and to burnish twice a month. Below this sentence is what part of the bid looks like and I think it might look a little confusing and not professional looking.


[ Strip and wax two times a year
First time $412.50
Second time $300.00

Burnish / Maintenance Once every other week (2 times month) $300.00 a month.

A yearly schedule will be added to this contract when awarded

Baseboards are not included into this bid.]




If any one can copy and past a better idea or or some how help me in any way that would be helpful.

[logan5127]

I would word it something like the following

1.) Strip and Finish: approx xxxx sf. two times a year.
(Baseboards not included in price.)
A. $412.50 for first time only. $300 for each time thereafter.

2.) Maintenance: Sweep, Mop and Buff.
A. To be done every two weeks at $150 per time.
$150 x's 26 weeks a year=$3,900divided by 12 months=$325.00 per month.


This contract/agreement will be good for one year from start date.
Also include payment terms.

[gavin33h]

Dan
Thank you for helping me out.
Gavin

[gavin33h]

I hope I'm not straying too far from the topic. I really hate asking all these question but I really don't have anybody to look up to or ask about for for the janitorial aspects in life. That is one reason I like this web sight because of the help and we all understand each other. Anyways I was wondering if there is any good "Janitorial bidding software" out there that calculates everything from waxable floors to carpet cleaning, windows, bid proposal all the works less than 150.00. ANYONE?