How Much Do Commercial Cleaners Charge?

December 17, 2014

How much do commercial cleaners charge? It seems like a simple enough question, doesn’t it? In fact, there are a wide variety of factors that will influence the charges that commercial cleaners quote. From location and services to the frequency of cleaning and even the time it takes to complete the job, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered before you can get a clear picture of commercial cleaning costs. So, instead of talking hard and fast figures, let’s take some time to understand how commercial cleaning companies charge for their services.

Geography

Nope, this isn’t a lesson in world capitals, but a realistic approach to understanding that depending on your location, commercial cleaners will charge differently. In urban centers, everything costs more. The increase cost of real estate essentially trickles down and affects the cost of everything from parking to the cost of cleaning supplies. Generally speaking, when the cost of living is higher, the cost of cleaning is higher too. Products cost more, wages are higher, and the cost of business is higher in urbanized areas, so your commercial cleaning services will typically cost more as well.

Services

Not all commercial spaces are exactly the same, from the size of the space to the types of services required, cleaning charges will vary significantly. If you are operating a large factory that utilizes harsh chemicals or a hospital that has very specific disinfection and hazardous waste cleaning requirements, your cleaning costs will be more compared to the basic cleaning required in your average office environment. More complicated cleaning processes cost more; for example, sanitizing surfaces requires more work and more expensive cleaning products than dusting surfaces. As you can see, the services you require will be reflected in how much commercial cleaners charge.

Frequency

Do you require daily cleaning, or will a weekly cleaning suffice? Obviously, the frequency with which you require cleaning services will affect the cost. A busy office that needs to have recycling and trash removed daily will likely cost more to clean than a small commercial space that requires less frequent servicing. One point to note here, you can generally negotiate lower per hour or per square foot rates for more frequent cleaning, but this doesn’t usually translate to lower costs in the long run. Still, ensuring a clean and safe work environment should be your paramount concern.

Time

Finally, the amount of time it requires to clean a space will also impact costs. Most commercial cleaners will charge hourly, though some will charge by the square foot. Either way, larger spaces usually require more time to clean, so the bottom line is the same. Also, some companies will charge more per hour, but be careful to ask how many cleaners will be involved. While one company will charge you $40 per hour while another charges $60 per hour, you’ll probably pay less if the more expensive company offers more cleaners.

Ultimately, in determining your cleaning costs, you should start with a very specific outline of the types of services you require, the frequency you need cleaning, and the size of your commercial space. Then you can contact local cleaning companies to get a quote that will give you an idea of what you’re likely to spend. Read more about janitorial services prices here