Direct answer
Multiply cleaners by elapsed hours, add visit costs and overhead, then divide by one minus target margin to obtain a planning price.
| Figure | Source |
|---|---|
| Numbers shown on this page | Fictional worked example; not a market benchmark |
| Formula and definitions | Serman Tools method stated on this page |
| Your quote or operating result | Your verified business inputs |
Calculate price per visit
Use the scope and crew plan for one visit. Defaults are fictional.
Price the crew, not just the clock
Two cleaners working three hours create six person-hours of labor. A $26 true labor cost therefore contributes $156 to the visit, even though the crew is on site for three elapsed hours. Confusing elapsed hours with person-hours is a common way to understate cleaning labor.
True labor cost should reflect the employer costs and paid nonproductive time that apply to the crew. If payroll burden and paid travel are already included in that rate, do not add them again elsewhere.
Keep visit-level costs visible
Supplies, laundry, travel, parking, equipment wear and allocated overhead do not behave exactly like labor. Separate lines make it easier to compare residential, turnover, office and deep-clean jobs. For recurring work, model the repeatable scope and reduced setup or travel burden directly before considering a discount.
Target price per job = true visit cost ÷ (1 − target margin). Revenue per person-hour is a capacity check, not profit.
Fictional worked example
The default crew creates six person-hours and $156 of labor. Supplies, travel, equipment and overhead add $96, producing $252 before reserve. A 4% reserve raises true visit cost to $262.08. At a 30% target margin, the planning price is $374.40, or $62.40 of revenue per person-hour.
If the actual visit takes four hours instead of three, person-hours rise from six to eight. Update the model instead of assuming the original flat price remains profitable.
What the result leaves out
The calculator does not inspect the property, determine scope, price hazardous work, calculate taxes or decide local market acceptance. Add specialty chemicals, access constraints, key handling, security checks, linens, disposal and subcontracted work when they apply. Document exclusions and the condition standard in the quote.
Frequently asked questions
Should cleaning jobs be priced by labor hour or by job?
Either can work. A per-job price should still be tested against expected person-hours and true labor cost.
How should a recurring-clean discount be handled?
Model the recurring scope and lower travel, setup or soil-load cost directly before applying any discount.
Does revenue per person-hour equal profit?
No. It is selling price divided by person-hours and still contains every entered cost plus planned profit.
NEXT STEP
Compare the visit with the full cleaning model.
The free calculator includes recurring-discount visibility. The workbook adds six trade models, scenarios and a 30-quote log.