WOW. See what happens when I am away from the computer mostly for a few days. I don't know If I should take pride in creating such a lively topic or run for cover and change my name and enter the witness protection program. My original post was simply a response to a young cleaner who was asking about average production rates and was getting answers that were all over the board. Most everyone wants to inject their way of doing things into average numbers. As soon as you do that, they are no longer "average." People who read this forum are mostly not "average" - and I say that in a complementary way.
So, let me address several questions/comments/threats/ and "accusations"
1) The original source of most of these benchmarks was a study done that was slanted toward commercial carpet cleaning training, and was focused on how to write bids on large commercial jobs. The original source (at least where I first got it from) was Cleaning Maintenance Institute in conjunction with Cleaning Management Magazine and Cleanfax Magazine. I can't answer for how peer reviewed they were at the time. I can tell you most of them were published. There was a lot of "peer" review and chances for input and argument many many times since then.
2) For the cleaning methods that were originally not included in the benchmark study, there was some consultation with manufacturers of equipment and/or chemicals for some input - thus there may have been "equipment salespeople" involved.
3) The primary purpose of these numbers is to help a cleaning contractor who is writing bids on a job have some idea of how long a specific job is going to take him/her. It is not meant to stir up a prevacuuming debate; do you charge for stain removal; what about stairs etc. discussion although now Mike has a good way to do that when things get boring.
4) Reread the beginning paragraph.
5) I suggest that Mikeysboard take this up as a project - to create a "benchmark study of your own. " What you will find is a ton of disagreement as companies have a wide variance in how things are done, and how concientious to be about certain activities.In the end, you will reach some average numbers, and there will be those who say they are too low and too high. The great thing is, it will be very useful to newer companies, or companies who are especially trying to get into Class A commercial cleaning and do not have a lot of experience.
Remember - A benchmark is an average collected over a wide number and variety of businesses - everything (in this case) from a high speed bonnet cleaning only building service contractor to a meticulous hot water extraction high end residential carpet cleaning company. It is never meant to be a critique of your way of doing things or to tell you you charge too little or too much.
One final comment - keep in mind - in the commercial Class A world of carpet cleaning - there are companies who figure out how to be very very fast, and still be good. Just down the road from me is a company who does $6 million a year in commercial carpet cleaning only. They employ encap, portables, bonnet, and truckmounts. They turn down residential work - don't want it as they say it "isn't profitable enough and the clients are too picky". They likely do not charge near what you would charge for cleaning the carpet in a bank. Their margins though are quite healthy. That is the beautiful thing about this business - you can do it your way and find enough customers to build a successful business.
Hope that helps - and if you still hate the numbers - get busy on a thread and develop some of your own. I will help publish them and spread them around.