What you'll get from this guide
- A profitable janitorial bid covers labor + supplies + overhead + 15–28% profit margin.
- Janitorial contracts typically price at $0.04–$0.15 per sq ft per visit depending on scope.
- The #1 bidding mistake is forgetting to include drive time, supervision, and supply restocking in your cost basis.
- Use the calculator below to build a data-backed bid for any janitorial contract.
Janitorial Bid Builder
Enter the contract details to build a profitable bid.
Recommended Monthly Bid
$2,438/month
Per Visit$122
Monthly Labor Cost$1,320
Profit Margin20%
Annual Contract Value$29,256
Estimates are for planning only. Actual pricing depends on site conditions.
How to Build a Janitorial Bid
A profitable janitorial bid starts from your actual costs, not from what you think the client wants to pay.
The formula: Monthly Bid = (Labor Cost + Supply Cost + Overhead) ÷ (1 − Target Profit Margin). This ensures your margin is built into the price rather than hoping for leftovers.
- Labor cost = crew size × hours per visit × hourly wage × visits per month
- Supply cost = per-visit supply cost × visits per month
- Overhead = labor cost × overhead percentage (covers insurance, vehicles, admin, supervision)
- Bid price = total cost ÷ (1 − target margin percentage)
Common Bidding Mistakes
- Underbidding to win the contract: winning at a loss means every month costs you money
- Forgetting drive time: if a crew drives 45 minutes each way, that is 1.5 hours of unpaid labor per visit
- Not including supervision: someone has to QC the work and handle client communication
- Ignoring supply restocking: consumables like trash bags, paper products, and chemicals add up fast
- Bidding based on competitor price instead of your actual cost structure
Janitorial Bidding FAQs
How do you calculate a janitorial bid?▼
Calculate your total monthly cost (labor + supplies + overhead), then divide by (1 minus your target profit margin). For example, if your costs are $3,000/month and you want a 20% margin, bid $3,000 ÷ 0.80 = $3,750/month.
What profit margin should a janitorial company target?▼
Most healthy janitorial businesses target 15–28% net profit margin. Below 10% is unsustainable long-term. Above 30% may make you uncompetitive unless you're in a specialty niche like medical or cleanroom.
How much should I charge per square foot for janitorial cleaning?▼
Janitorial contracts typically price at $0.04–$0.15 per square foot per visit. The exact rate depends on facility type, scope, frequency, and local labor costs. Medical and industrial facilities command higher rates.
Should I include supplies in my janitorial bid?▼
It depends on the contract. Many janitorial companies include standard supplies (cleaning chemicals, trash bags) and charge separately for paper products and specialty chemicals. Always specify what's included vs. billed separately.
How do I bid on a large janitorial contract?▼
Walk the facility during operating hours to assess traffic patterns and soil loads. Calculate your labor hours based on production rates (sq ft per hour per cleaner), add supplies and overhead, apply your margin, and present a professional proposal with scope of work details.
Win More Contracts with Professional Bids
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