Would customers be happier to pay for your cleaning services if you charged by the hour or square footage?

Question

I am in the process of devising a price sheet for my new house cleaning business which will be both residential and commercial. Please let me know what you think

Answer 1

Commercial cleaning is almost always by the sq. ft.  You get your 'system' of cleaning down so you can be in and out as quickly as possible and on to the next one. You would loose money if you charge by the hour.  Remember, too, that a sq. ft. estimate is for a routine, basic cleaning.  Anything the client may request as an occasional 'extra' (like floor waxing, carpet shampooing) is an add on.

Residential cleaning can go either way, but I have found for the residential, they prefer hourly as small 'assignments' change from week to week.  Usually, nothing big.

Answer 2

If I were to hire someone (I have in the past), I'd get them on the hourly basis rather than per square foot. The reason is simple -- I can get them to clean up more in an hour, than if they took the whole day and charged me per square foot.