When I started a couple years back i stuck to the SF price like glue. Inexperiance I guess, cause I would over charge my commercial accounts and undercharge resi ones. Turns out SF, for me any way, is just one way to look at the picture.
I found that in resi I spend alot more time manuevering around furniture, dealing with stubborn spots & stains, talking with the customer (most who are women that are bored as hell) and doing just traffic lane work. The SF of these homes was small but the work took hours. Now I have a good idea when a job will take me x amount of time. I some times charge more just cause the custy is talking my ear off and I know I will blow a half hour right there.
As for commercial, some situations, especially big ones, there areas that dont need to be done, and your competition knows that, so they price lower knowing that they wont even bother with the very sides of a hallway, etc.
Just my two nickles and a dime
