I've gotten a couple of more janitorial accounts. Along with it the carpet cleaning, etc. but I bill those separately.

Still new at janitorial though and I only have a handful of customers - small potatoes really. I service them all myself at the moment, but if it gets big enough I would like to bring someone on.

I bid these with the mindset of having another person doing the work. This is the formula I use, does it make sense?

Est. Job Time = X Hours

Employee Pay = Y $ Per Hour (incl. associated fees, etc.)

Cost of product used = Z $ Per Job

XYZ X 30% - 40% = X1 $ Add On Per Labor Hour

XYZ + X1 = Billable labor time
___________

So, say you pay someone $10.00 an hour. Add to it FICA, Comp, etc. and that brings it to $11.50 an hour. Add to it $.50 an hour for product used.

Total $12.00 an hour of labor time (using rounded numbers to keep it simple).

$12.00 X 40% = $4.80

Billable labor time = $16.80

___________

Is this the right approach?

Also, where I am still having trouble is estimating cleaning time. Anyone know of a guide or rule of thumb for estimating time?

Thanks

hypothetical question

so would you go give a hospital/ hotel well any large job or well i guess any small job... lets say they just had new commercial carpet laid would you give them a bid to enap this know this would void the warranty ? or would it void it ? ...

Can anyone give me a sq. ft. price range to clean tile and grout? I would scrub with my cimex and rinse with my TM. Thanks

http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q518...els2-1.jpg
http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/q518...heels1.jpg
Crude but it works and easy to switch back to wheels off the floor mode which I like better for residential padding.

When I clean with Encap I have run into problems with very soiled areas. I just cannot get them clean using just an encapsulation method. I always vacuum first, then pre-spray and use either my Oreck Orbitor or a Dirt Napper Brush and then clean with a rotary 175/300 swing machine, and then follow up with a post vacuum. I did a place the other day and in front of the kitchen and sofa's there is still that dark shadow. I am going back with my Rotovac to see what it can do. I have used almost every suppliers chemicals however, this is a problem that I have had for sometime now. Any advice ?

I have over 1200 chairs to clean at a hotel. We are only cleaning 400 at a time. Due to their budget. I don't want to TM them. Would two people using a HOS micro work good? One person spraying and one using the micro. Just looking for the easiest and most economical way to knock these out.

Does any one here use SohoOS online free invoicing? It's actually free and works very well for emailing invoices and even converts to PDF to save and print. Pretty nice for a free system.

I am about ready to buy one of these machines? Can someone give me the pros and cons of each? Also I heard the new Trinity has a multi speed. Which is supposed to eliminate tip blooming. Is that true? And can you clean hardwood with either machine? Also I have a Cimex. But am looking for an all in one for residential.

Thanks

I finally cracked the nut on an big apartment complex. I've been calling on several property managers in the area and finally got a call. The first thing they asked was "do you steam clean" It has to be steam cleaning. I was a little off guard since I haven't had anyone ask that for a long time. I said I have access to all methods but I primarily use a low moisture oscillating absorbent pad system that produces excellent results and dries quickly.
He said well I'm sorry to waste your time...so I said " If you'd be interested in a free demo, I'd be glad to come out"...Now he asked what I'd charge for a 1 bedroom unit. 1 bedroom and small living room...I gave him an approx price after explaining that I don't usually do sight unseen pricing (but in this case I just wanted to get in the door) So long story short, I think the only reason some people ask if you do "steam " cleaning is because they don't know what else to ask.
I'm doing 2 apartments tomorrow and hopefully many more soon.

Anyone ever see this goons blog? http://a-1carpetservice.blogspot.com/
Calls companies that use Cimex machines "scampooers" and hacks.

"They do it because they can use a minivan and almost no investment in equipment."

I believe this says it all about his prejudice and ignorance. He is angry or feeling sorry for himself that he spent a lot of money on a truckmount and is loosing business to companies using encap methods and for some reason he feels he is entitled to those accounts.

There is plenty of carpets out there and there is no reason to slam anyone that runs a legitimate, insured business. It competition.

I loose plenty of vct business to small companies with an electric buffer and a mop bucket. Good for them! Just because I own two garages full of propane buffers, strippers, autoscrubbers does not mean that I think those that don't are hacks or scamming customers. Results are results.

just my $0.02