Why Janitorial Service Pricing Varies Between Facilities

Almost everyone has heard the breakup line, “It’s not you – it’s me.”

(And if we’re honest, many of us have probably said it at some point.)

In reality, that phrase often means expectations weren’t aligned from the beginning. Something similar can happen when a business hires a commercial cleaning company. If both sides don’t clearly understand what services are included and how pricing works, the relationship may not last very long.

That’s why it’s helpful for facility managers and decision-makers to understand how janitorial companies determine their prices. When expectations are clear on both sides, it’s much easier to build a long-term working relationship. Below are five major factors that typically influence the cost of commercial cleaning services.

Think of it like reviewing the details before starting a new partnership.

1. How Many People Use Your Facility

The number of people in your building each day is one of the biggest drivers of cleaning costs. Simply put, people create messes. Employees, customers, visitors, students, and patients all contribute to trash, dirt on floors, and restroom usage.

For example, a 30,000-square-foot call center with hundreds of employees working multiple shifts may require more cleaning time than a 300,000-square-foot warehouse that only has a few dozen workers on site. The level of activity matters just as much—if not more—than the size of the building.

2. The Type of Business You Operate

Your industry also plays a role in determining cleaning requirements. Different businesses produce different types of messes.

Manufacturing environments often deal with dust, debris, and grease that require more effort to clean. On the other hand, corporate office buildings are generally easier to maintain. Facilities like schools, medical offices, and public venues may require frequent disinfecting and surface cleaning, which increases labor time.

Because of these differences, two buildings of the same size can have very different cleaning costs.

3. Your Building’s Layout and Features

Every facility has its own characteristics that affect cleaning time. Items such as cleanable square footage, number of restrooms, flooring materials, building density, and the age of the facility all make a difference.

For instance, an older building with hard flooring and tightly packed cubicles will usually take longer to clean than a newer facility with spacious offices and mostly carpeted areas. The more complex the layout, the more time it generally takes to complete the work properly.

4. The Cleaning Schedule You Choose

Most janitorial contracts include standard services such as:

·       Trash collection and disposal

·       Dusting and surface cleaning

·       Vacuuming and mopping floors

·       Restroom cleaning and restocking

However, the frequency of these services can vary greatly. A healthcare facility may require daily floor cleaning and disinfecting, while a typical office might only need those tasks performed a few times per week. The more often services are performed, the more labor hours are required.

5. Your Standards for Cleanliness

Everyone has their own idea of what a “clean” facility should look like. Some managers are satisfied with basic maintenance, while others expect extremely detailed cleaning throughout the building.

For example, a client who wants every surface—including door frames, vents, and ledges—to be dust-free at all times will require additional cleaning time. Higher expectations are completely reasonable, but they do affect the amount of labor needed to meet those standards.

In the end, all of these factors lead back to one primary driver of janitorial pricing: labor hours. The time required for cleaning staff to properly maintain your facility represents the largest portion of the cost.

Now that you understand what goes into pricing a janitorial service, there’s really only one question left.

Interested in starting a new partnership?

Contact us today to request a free estimate for cleaning your facility.