Determining an initial clean up fee can be tricky simply because there is no way of knowing ahead of time what condition the building will be left by the outgoing service.  Some companies will actually go above and beyond cleaning so that the incoming service has to struggle to meet the standard they set.  If the incoming service does not meet the standard then they have hope to be called back into the contract after a period of time.  Other companies will cut back to basic daily service and allow floors and carpet to deteriorate since they feel they have nothing to lose.  

The best way of determining the initial clean up fee to propose to the customer is to have accurate data and use an estimator based on your current wages/benefits/supplies/equipment, etc.  By doing so, you can negotiate from a factual basis rather than guessing.  For instance, if 10,000 SF of hard floor needs to be stripped/scrubbed/recoated (at least four coats), then it is relatively easy to calculate the costs.  If carpet has become very soiled with numerous spots and stains it may be necessary to use a truck mount (if practical) or other HWE (Hot Water Extraction) system to restore the carpet to a condition that can be maintained from that point forward.

A general rule of thumb is to charge a little less than one month’s fee to thoroughly white glove the site within the first two to three weeks of start up.  This general suggestion needs to be modified to reflect what actually needs to be done to satisfy the customer.

Initial clean up fees can be a delicate subject to discuss with a new customer but it also can protect all stakeholders and get the account off to a good start.  We will look further into this topic in a future issue. Your comments and questions are always welcome.  I hope to hear from you soon.  Until then, keep it clean…..

 

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678.314.2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.


posted on 8/19/2013