What’s Needed for Commercial Cleaning Services Estimates?

Never lose a commercial cleaning services deal because of an inaccurate estimate again. Precise, customizable quotes are essential in this business, but many variables go into creating them. Make sure your organization is profitable while providing exceptional services.

In this article, we’ll equip you with the crucial details to calculate confidently. Your sales team can provide reliable estimates for an account by following the steps below.

1. Property specifics

Conducting thorough research on the property’s characteristics is vital for a precise estimate. Look into the building’s size, type, and unique features that could influence the cleaning process. Consider aspects like the number of floors, high-traffic areas, or special materials that require particular cleaning methods.

Utilize advanced tools like Atlas by Convex to search for leads and gain a deeper understanding of each property’s specifics. Using this tool to filter properties by attributes such as property type, size, companies onsite, etc. ensures estimates are custom to each building’s unique requirements.

Additionally, assess any logistical challenges, such as accessibility or restricted areas, which could impact your cleaning strategy and costs. By gathering these comprehensive details, you can ensure your estimates are both accurate and tailored to meet the specific needs of each client’s property.

2. Location-based data

Growth is always going to be top-of-mind for your sales team. Does your sales strategy factor in the geographic desirability of leads? A property that fits your qualifications but is far from other service areas will cost time and resources. It’s more efficient to visit multiple sites in the same area. 

The Director of Operations for Stratus Building Solutions knows this all too well. Her team creates a localized target list of high-value prospects with Atlas by finding leads near existing customers. Focus on creating estimates for those sites to decrease travel time and costs. 

3. Contact details of decision-makers

Use your sales prospecting solution to find the appropriate decision-maker. Record their phone number(s), email address, and office location. Once you have multiple methods of contacting that person, reach out to set up a call. Don’t hesitate to switch to another contact method if the first fails. Everyone has a preferred communication method. Once you figure it out, note the details in your CRM.

4. Details about the property and scope of work

The foundations of your estimate are the property details and the scope of work. Understanding the size of the space – and its cleanable areas – should be your first step. The type of business, scope of the cleaning service, and relevant business contacts are other major factors to identify. 

For example, a hospital will have different requirements than an office space. Hospitals will take more time to clean and require higher-grade cleaning solutions. They also have more stakeholders involved in the decision-making process. Gather this data before going on-site to the property to save time and ensure you have a profitable lead. 

5. Current market rates

Determining competitive and fair pricing is critical for estimates. It’s important to recognize that commercial cleaning rates can vary significantly based on the type of business and geographic location. Instead of relying on a generalized cost, use market research tools to gather specific data.

Analyze local rates and understand how they fluctuate based on the services offered. This approach allows you to tailor your estimate accurately, reflecting both the market standards and each client’s unique needs.

Additionally, leverage sales intelligence software or intent data to identify when potential clients are due for or interested in cleaning services, enabling you to time your estimates effectively.

6. Flexible pricing options

Recognize that each business has unique financial constraints and cleaning demands. Contrast standard pricing with flexible, tiered options or customizable add-ons to cater to this variety. This approach allows decision-makers to choose a plan that aligns with their budget and specific cleaning requirements.

Offering a range of choices demonstrates your flexibility and increases the likelihood of satisfying various client preferences. Clients are more likely to agree to the contract when they perceive value in their selected option, cost efficiency, or enhanced services.

7. Operational costs

Forecasting the completion time is crucial to putting together a commercial cleaning services estimate. Once you have the property data, estimate how many hours of labor it will take. From there, determine the optimal number of employees to work the job, and calculate your total labor cost.

Next, add the cost of operating equipment and transportation to the job site. The final total represents your operational costs. Make sure to calculate all of these costs before you provide the estimate. 

8. Feedback mechanism

Even when you provide a fair and accurate estimate, some will decline. Not every opportunity pans out, and that’s okay. Identifying why they declined your services will help your team close future sales. 

Before going into the field, create simple feedback surveys to share with prospects. Ensure to provide a text field where they can leave thorough feedback on their conversation with you and the estimate you provided. Their feedback will help you build and present estimates that meet expectations next time. 

9. Follow-up strategy

No matter how the conversation went, you should always plan to follow up with the prospect. You need to hear that business’s questions and concerns. Follow-up conversations can be what makes an organization decide to work with you. If that lead converts slowly, follow up periodically to see if anything has changed. Make sure those high-quality leads stay on your radar for the future.

Conclusion: Leverage Convex to create an accurate estimate

Crafting a commercial cleaning estimate goes beyond just crunching numbers. It’s about understanding the nuances of each client’s needs and aligning your services accordingly. This process demands attention to detail, flexibility, and a deep understanding of market dynamics.

With Convex, you have a powerful ally in this endeavor. Our solutions support the estimation process by providing property specifics, location-based data, and contact details of decision makers.

Embrace Convex’s capabilities to create estimates that are not just numbers but reflections of your commitment to tailored, quality service. Contact the experts at Convex to learn more.