True costs of cleaning carpets (Approx. 5 rms)

**Rob Allen** · 07-23-2009, 06:21 PM

What is the "actual' average cost of cleaning an average 5 areas of carpet by an average 1 truck operation?

**sharp_shepherd** · 07-23-2009, 06:34 PM

If you include time and overhead my guess is probably about $50 but if i'm doing the cleaning it's more like $200.

lol.

**ThomasRestoration** · 07-23-2009, 06:35 PM

It would cost me ............in "true" costs around $105. This is my cost of doing business, this may sound high for some and low to others. This was with one tech and not moving furniture just a simple S-100 cleaning.

**Brent** · 07-23-2009, 06:38 PM

Stick to topic.

**sharp_shepherd** · 07-23-2009, 06:40 PM

Why bother even using Tide. When the customer calls back all pissed off it's not like i'm going to answer the call....just let it go to voicemail.

**cosway-canada** · 07-23-2009, 06:41 PM

The true cost is more than what most guys in my city Charge :(

**Brent** · 07-23-2009, 06:42 PM

Stick to topic

**ThomasRestoration** · 07-23-2009, 06:47 PM

$90 with Tide, Oxy-Clean and a little spit!

**Brent** · 07-23-2009, 06:59 PM

Rob are your going to start deleting post that are not related to the topic. If so that is going to be a full time job.

**Rob Allen** · 07-23-2009, 07:02 PM

Brent I know your what your trying to accomplish so it won't be too hard.

**ThomasRestoration** · 07-23-2009, 07:07 PM

Most owners dont know the true cost to clean carpet, they base the price they charge with what everyone else charges....

**leofry** · 07-23-2009, 07:07 PM

I would say mine is quite a bit cheeper.
Gas = $5
Autombile maint =10
COG = $8

just a guess off the top of my head.

**Brent** · 07-23-2009, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Rob Allen

Brent I know your what your trying to accomplish so it won't be too hard.

Can you please inform me what I am "trying" to accomplish. I like to think I contribute just a little bit to the success of this BB. Look I got thanked 12 times in 13 posts. I dont even know what for. I was thinking of posting a link for your BB on my website to help spread the word.

**Rob Allen** · 07-23-2009, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by ThomasRestoration

Most owners dont know the true cost to clean carpet, they base the price they charge with what everyone else charges....

True. That is the purpose of this thread, to help others ascertain their costs.

**Iceman** · 07-23-2009, 07:11 PM

I got a really good spread sheet from Jeff Cross from Cleanfax Magazine for determining cost of business on a per truck basis including chemicals, insu, gas, advertising,maintenance,TM, etc. The spread sheet also breaks down the profit margin based on price per square foot. It helped me determine a pricing structure based on REAL costs of doing business. It does however assume you are pretty busy and account for running the TM 5 hrs/day. If that's the case $.19/sf@500 sf/hr. would be your break even point assuming you took a 60k salary everything above that is profit. It doesn't break it down for the average room that Rob was asking about but nonetheless factors in alot of details. I feel knowing your cost per/sf is essential and the most accurate form of determining costs.

Chris

**ThomasRestoration** · 07-23-2009, 07:12 PM

John... Where do you keep your vans? In that cost where is your marketing, admin costs,maintence, labor??? is that just your varible costs and not your fixed cost? just nosey.

**ThomasRestoration** · 07-23-2009, 07:13 PM

spelling was never my strong suit!

**leofry** · 07-23-2009, 07:18 PM

lol sorry like i said it was on top of my head.... to me insurance marketing and a few other things would be hard to tell per job. It depends on how many jobs you do.. lets say you do 5 jobs a day or lets say you do 2 jobs a day. OK to look back at last year I would say its $130 per job... but thats the first year. I would assume it wouild be higher on the first year vs say the 5th year....

**ThomasRestoration** · 07-23-2009, 07:22 PM

My cost were much lower my first years because I did most of the work myself, keep the van in my basement, didnt spent a lot in costs" phone system, advertising, labor, insurence for 6 trucks, etc. Just was making a point on the price that most cleaners charge is based on the other guy!

**leofry** · 07-23-2009, 07:28 PM

yeah I totaly understand. I know we have debated that one a milltion times on here and will a million more. It looks like i charge a lot less than some. but really i try to get $100 bucks an hour. I use to read where some charged soooo much more, then i see a pic of the place there talking about and it makes me understand. I clean a lot of small homes. You have to go buy you local market not by what somoeone in CAL charges compared to Kentucky. small town vs big city. I think my charges are righ tin line..seem right to me anyway.