Per Hour or Per Room

[Fivevalleycleaning]

Hi all.

I am in the process of creating my pricing for my new cleaning business.

However, I would like your thoughts on whether I should price per hour or per room?

I am thinking per hour as if the room only needs a quick clean then it would be costly if I priced per room.

Many thanks

 

[mit74]

Hi all.

I am in the process of creating my pricing for my new cleaning business.

However, I would like your thoughts on whether I should price per hour or per room?

I am thinking per hour as if the room only needs a quick clean then it would be costly if I priced per room.

Many thanks

if you do price per room what happens if you get there and there's junk up to the ceiling and stubborn stains that need more than just mr muscle?

 

[Alan]

Interesting question. Carpet cleaners tend to price per room. General cleaners tend to price per hour.

 

[Keen2clean]

You can price per hour, as long as the hourly rate used is enough to pay you or employee enough, cover cost of consumables, depreciation of equipment, running cost of vehicle, fuel costs getting there.

 

[Talay]

No-one ever asks for a one room clean or indeed a one hour clean. If they do, just move on as you're wasting your time going there and back for an hour's work.

If you do it by the hour, everyone ends up clock watching. Your cleaners start winding down when nearing the last 15 minutes and your client misses a heartbeat if they get 1:59 instead of 2:00. You also get no credit for overstaying and you might have to pay out for more hours than you get paid if your cleaners find themselves stuck with a room needing another 10 minutes or so.

The skill is in your estimating and knowing, not guessing how long it will take. Lastly, there is a world of difference between a first deep clean, a periodic clean and a weekly clean in terms of time and materials. You need to know all to pitch accordingly.