Pricing can get tricky for any business. Whether you require the services of an accounting firm, personal trainer, or even a cleaning company, understanding why prices are set the way they are will help you better understand what to expect.
If you’re considering a cleaning service, the cost will most likely depend on the time spent carrying out the task. Some services charge by the hour, while others charge per room or square footage of space cleaned.
At first glance, you might think that different rates for similar jobs are unfair – but in reality, it’s all about what customers are willing to pay and how much work is involved. Let’s go over the pricing methods you’re likely to encounter when hiring a cleaning service.
Hourly
Hourly rates are a pretty standard way to calculate domestic cleaning prices. If cleaning your home is fairly straightforward and takes a short period to do so, this might be the best option for you.
This type of pricing is often associated with small jobs like:
– one room cleanings
– weekly spot checks and maintenance work (like sweeping and general dusting)
Most experienced professional cleaners will not offer an hourly rate if the job requires a fair degree of skill. If a cleaner finishes their task faster, on average, due to their expertise and experience, an hourly rate isn’t the most rewarding option. Instead, they will offer a flat rate for the job.
It’s essential to take into account the thoroughness of the job and the time to complete it. Hourly rates are a good option for small jobs that don’t require much skill or training, but you should be aware of the limitations and drawbacks associated with this type of pricing:
Pros
- Clear, easy to understand pricing
- Balanced with the amount of work involved in the task
Cons
- You’ll only know what you’re paying after the work has been completed.
- It’s difficult to estimate the time involved accurately
- It doesn’t incentivize employees to finish a job more quickly; if they’re done faster than expected, there is no additional compensation
Flat Fee
The pricing method is the most popular among cleaning services and remedies the problem mentioned prior associated with hourly rates. A flat fee is a set price for the job, determined by its complexity and estimated time of completion.
This type of pricing is often associated with large jobs like:
– full home cleanings (including all rooms and spaces)
– move out cleans (for renters who are vacating their space)
– after construction cleaning, including painting or renovations that required dusting, sweeping, etc.
A flat fee can also be an appropriate choice if you have specific requirements such as having your oven cleaned before the holidays – which would require more time and effort than just general housekeeping tasks.
All labor costs are included in this pricing model so customers know what they’re paying upfront without any surprises along the way.
Pros
- The customer knows upfront how much to pay
- Fair pricing based on the agreed-upon scope of work and skill required
- Increases employee productivity as they’re more likely to complete jobs faster
Cons
- The customer may pay more than they need to, or less in some cases. This is due to the lack of a time-tracking mechanism that hourly rates offer (no way for customers to know how long it will take).
- A flat fee can be a good option for large jobs that require more time or skill, but it may not work out as well if you’re looking to pay less on an hourly basis.
Room Rate
A room rate is a fixed fee for an individual space, regardless of its time to clean it. For example, if you want your kitchen cleaned – but not your living area or bedroom – this would be the best option because only the kitchen will need to be done.
The price remains the same as long as no additional specifications are required, such as window washing or oven cleaning that takes more than 30 minutes on average.
Room rates will vary depending on the size of each space, and the cleaning tasks required to finish the job. More often than not, a kitchen will be priced higher than a bedroom as it’s generally damp and dirty due to daily cooking.
Pros
- Like flat fees, room rates are fixed per space so customers know what they’re paying upfront.
- Great for people who have specific areas of their home that they want cleaning
Cons
- It’s easy for customers to overpay if they have specific requirements that are not included in the pricing
Square Foot Rate
A square foot rate is a cost based on the size of each space and is determined by multiplying the length of a room by its width, giving you its square feet.
However, depending on the complexity of the cleaning tasks, square foot prices may be increased (regardless of square feet). As jobs can vary substantially, many employees keep time trackers to see how long it takes to complete a space. Recorded tracked time can be then used to better price square foot rate services.
This pricing method is generally used for larger commercial facilities to ensure cleanliness for their staff caused by high foot traffic.
Pros
- Square foot pricing provides a fair and consistent value for commercial cleaning jobs
- A quote can be agreed upfront, saving customers from any nasty surprises
Cons
- Customers not knowing the square footage of their space may accept a different pricing method instead
