Travel time and fuel
Getting to and from the job costs you time and money, even if you don't charge for it.
How to Quote a Cleaning Job — Module 1
Module 1 of 3
How to Quote a Cleaning Job · Module 1
Why Most Cleaners Underprice
How pricing by instinct quietly costs you money, the hidden costs most quotes leave out, and why being the cheapest is a trap.
- Free taster
- Module 1 of 3
- About 5 minutes
Free taster micro-course. This is a short introduction to quoting, not the full pricing system. For in-depth courses with assessments and certificates, see the CCMTec® Academy.
What you'll learn in this module
- Why so many cleaning businesses underprice without realising it
- The hidden costs most cleaners forget to include in a quote
- What underpricing is really costing your business
Be honest with yourself
How did you come up with your last quote? Did you work it out properly, with costs, time, overheads and profit? Or did you go with a number that felt about right? Maybe you checked what a competitor charges and came in a bit lower to win the job.
If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Lots of cleaning businesses, especially in the early years, price by instinct rather than by calculation. And it costs them far more than they realise.
The most expensive sentence in the cleaning industry: "I just
charge what feels fair."
The costs you're probably forgetting
When most cleaners think about what a job costs, they think about their time and their chemicals. The true cost is a lot more than that.
Equipment wear
Machines, mops, cloths and vacuums all wear out. Each use has a cost.
Insurance
Public liability, equipment cover and, if you employ anyone, employers' liability, which is a legal requirement.
Unpaid admin time
Quoting, invoicing, chasing payments and scheduling are all working hours.
Tax
Your turnover isn't your take-home. Self-employed cleaners need to set money aside for Income Tax and National Insurance.
Your own wage
If you're not paying yourself a proper hourly rate, you're not running a business. You're running a very expensive hobby.
The uncomfortable truth
If you win nearly every job you quote for, your prices are probably too low. Losing some quotes on price is a normal, healthy sign that you're charging what your work is worth.
The race to the bottom
Pricing low to win work feels smart when you're starting out, but it's a trap that's hard to escape. Low prices attract price-sensitive clients who leave the moment someone cheaper comes along. They value the price, not your work. You end up working harder for less, with nothing left to invest in better equipment, training or growth.
The cleaners who build lasting, profitable businesses aren't the cheapest. They're the ones who know exactly what their work is worth, and charge for it.
Coming up in Module 2
The three things every cleaning quote must cover, and why missing even one means you're losing money before the job starts.
Want to go further?
Our full Academy courses cover topics like this in real depth, with practical guidance, assessments and certificates.
Explore full coursesDisclaimer: This micro-course is a general introduction to pricing and quoting for cleaning businesses. It is not financial, tax or legal advice. Always get professional advice for your own business.