KleanerDude
Member
Estimating Large Commercial Retail Space
NOTE: It looks like we are going to get this job but
I had posted this in a different area in here, probably
kind of inappropriately, so it was suggested to re-post
it in this specific location, more appropriately - and
I am still very interested in getting feedback that could
help us in future large areas like this.
We have given all the logistics and the bid and it looks
like it is going to be accepted but I still think your feedback
would be invaluable. After about 2 weeks, I will reveal all
of the details as to what has happened with this job. Thanks.
--------------------------------------------------------
I need some advice on bidding a 42,000sf retail store space in
southern California. It is a linoleum floor.
They want a regular scrub/buff once a month - a deep scrub and
wax once every 3 months - and once a year - strip.
This would be an ongoing job - trying to figure out how many
people to do the job? How many hours?
And how much to charge per square foot?
They have a cleaning service but not happy with them.
We don't want to under/over charge but we don't usu. get jobs
this big.
It's on a large retail hobby shop floor with lots of product stands
- which we don't have to move.
What I have discussed with my owner is the approach that as
long as you make a good profit margin, what difference does it
make how you formulated the bid? Cents per sq. ft. or based on
hours worked and expenses?
The General Manager of the retail business, upon further query
from me, stated that the present crew they have, who they have
become displeased with, and thus, why we are approaching them
with our bid, would be in the store one night from 8pm until
midnight. There were 4 workers total doing the work. The co.
locks them in at 8pm and lets them out at midnight. There is an
emergency door to get out, if needed.
So, anyway, in our case, the cost of the materials that are needed
to do this job are around $800. CLUE: the business will
provide all cleaning materials, so that takes that expense
off the table!
There would be a total of 4 workers doing this job, counting the
owner.
So, the 3 workers, hypothetically being paid $25 per hour - that
would come to $300 - figure the owner for $25 per hour, as well
- and we're looking at a total of $400 for worker costs.
So far, that comes to $1200 in labor & materials. Considering if
the business had to rent the truck mount and other cleaning
equipment, extremely liberally I would say that would tack on at
least another $500. For my finder's fee, as I made the contact by
phone and set up the deal, my commission would be $200. That
brings our expenses to $1900.
Also, this retail business General Manager is saying that he would
want our company to perform this work once every month, a scrub
and buff. Once every three months, he would want a deep scrub
and wax and once a year a strip and complete re-do. Basically, it
means that whatever bid we submit would pretty much have to be
paid by the company every month, so we have to be sure it is as
reasonable an amount as we can get.
Since this is basically a potentially long-term monthly contract, we
want to do our best to not over-bid this job. We can't get a clue out
of the GM what the present cleaning team they now have is getting
monetarily. Sometimes they will tell you, but most not. In this case,
NOT. He did tell us that the present cleaning crew only takes 4 hours
and they are not happy with their work, it is also in my mind that
maybe the 4 hours is not enough and they rush and maybe that's why
the place is not happy with their work. My owner was VERY surprised
that it could only take 4 hours to do the work.
Another thing is it is a hobby shop retail customer floor with lots of
about 4'X4' product displays throughout the store. So, this is not a big,
open space floor area. It has a large number of these 4'X4' product
display stands. Does it sound like an area that could be cleaned in 4
hours by 4 workers?
I have suggested to the owner that as long as you are going to make a
good profit, considering all of your expenses and labor and time
involved, don't bid so high, if it is really only 4 hours for 4 people. He
is thinking of bidding around $3000 - i even thought $3500. That way
we would have some wiggle [negotiation] room.
I have also thought we need a clause that says if it does take longer than
the 4 hours the GM said, we would have to add a proportionate $ amount
onto our final invoice but not sure how we could do that - if we are agreeing
to a certain amount to do the job??? That is a question and a concern - what
do we do with that?
In my opinion, as long as the cleaner owner is making a good enough profit
margin and it is a long-term job - even $3000 would be a fair bid. As I am
not an expert at bidding, that is why I am presenting this scenario here for
your feedback.
My company has three trucks - all have Hydramaster cleaning systems.
It's not MY company per se - i am just working for the guy scheduling
appointments and ran into this 42,000sf retail space we are trying to
determine how to estimate the job.
NOTE: It looks like we are going to get this job but
I had posted this in a different area in here, probably
kind of inappropriately, so it was suggested to re-post
it in this specific location, more appropriately - and
I am still very interested in getting feedback that could
help us in future large areas like this.
We have given all the logistics and the bid and it looks
like it is going to be accepted but I still think your feedback
would be invaluable. After about 2 weeks, I will reveal all
of the details as to what has happened with this job. Thanks.
--------------------------------------------------------
I need some advice on bidding a 42,000sf retail store space in
southern California. It is a linoleum floor.
They want a regular scrub/buff once a month - a deep scrub and
wax once every 3 months - and once a year - strip.
This would be an ongoing job - trying to figure out how many
people to do the job? How many hours?
And how much to charge per square foot?
They have a cleaning service but not happy with them.
We don't want to under/over charge but we don't usu. get jobs
this big.
It's on a large retail hobby shop floor with lots of product stands
- which we don't have to move.
What I have discussed with my owner is the approach that as
long as you make a good profit margin, what difference does it
make how you formulated the bid? Cents per sq. ft. or based on
hours worked and expenses?
The General Manager of the retail business, upon further query
from me, stated that the present crew they have, who they have
become displeased with, and thus, why we are approaching them
with our bid, would be in the store one night from 8pm until
midnight. There were 4 workers total doing the work. The co.
locks them in at 8pm and lets them out at midnight. There is an
emergency door to get out, if needed.
So, anyway, in our case, the cost of the materials that are needed
to do this job are around $800. CLUE: the business will
provide all cleaning materials, so that takes that expense
off the table!
There would be a total of 4 workers doing this job, counting the
owner.
So, the 3 workers, hypothetically being paid $25 per hour - that
would come to $300 - figure the owner for $25 per hour, as well
- and we're looking at a total of $400 for worker costs.
So far, that comes to $1200 in labor & materials. Considering if
the business had to rent the truck mount and other cleaning
equipment, extremely liberally I would say that would tack on at
least another $500. For my finder's fee, as I made the contact by
phone and set up the deal, my commission would be $200. That
brings our expenses to $1900.
Also, this retail business General Manager is saying that he would
want our company to perform this work once every month, a scrub
and buff. Once every three months, he would want a deep scrub
and wax and once a year a strip and complete re-do. Basically, it
means that whatever bid we submit would pretty much have to be
paid by the company every month, so we have to be sure it is as
reasonable an amount as we can get.
Since this is basically a potentially long-term monthly contract, we
want to do our best to not over-bid this job. We can't get a clue out
of the GM what the present cleaning team they now have is getting
monetarily. Sometimes they will tell you, but most not. In this case,
NOT. He did tell us that the present cleaning crew only takes 4 hours
and they are not happy with their work, it is also in my mind that
maybe the 4 hours is not enough and they rush and maybe that's why
the place is not happy with their work. My owner was VERY surprised
that it could only take 4 hours to do the work.
Another thing is it is a hobby shop retail customer floor with lots of
about 4'X4' product displays throughout the store. So, this is not a big,
open space floor area. It has a large number of these 4'X4' product
display stands. Does it sound like an area that could be cleaned in 4
hours by 4 workers?
I have suggested to the owner that as long as you are going to make a
good profit, considering all of your expenses and labor and time
involved, don't bid so high, if it is really only 4 hours for 4 people. He
is thinking of bidding around $3000 - i even thought $3500. That way
we would have some wiggle [negotiation] room.
I have also thought we need a clause that says if it does take longer than
the 4 hours the GM said, we would have to add a proportionate $ amount
onto our final invoice but not sure how we could do that - if we are agreeing
to a certain amount to do the job??? That is a question and a concern - what
do we do with that?
In my opinion, as long as the cleaner owner is making a good enough profit
margin and it is a long-term job - even $3000 would be a fair bid. As I am
not an expert at bidding, that is why I am presenting this scenario here for
your feedback.
My company has three trucks - all have Hydramaster cleaning systems.
It's not MY company per se - i am just working for the guy scheduling
appointments and ran into this 42,000sf retail space we are trying to
determine how to estimate the job.
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