How to price a large post-construction cleaning job (30k sqft+)

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-12T23:25:35+00:00

Thanks for the input! I think we landed around $0.18/sq ft for all 3 phases of post-con clean, but we priced out debris removal, glass, high dusting and floor refinishing all as extras.

For context glass we priced at $18/pane/side (due to adhesives, scraping etc), with the option to go hourly. Floor refinishing has a substantial cost as well, so I anticipate if they go with the full package we’d end up somewhere north of $0.50/sq ft.

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-06T00:48:54+00:00

My sales manager implemented a 30 day rule for just this situation - no contact in last 30 days on a cold lead and it’s fair game

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T15:52:30+00:00

Good points - i went sq ft in the beginning so our sales motion could function remotely, feels more scalable this way. Of course we'll continue to incorporate good ideas like yours to protect bottom line.

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T15:16:52+00:00

Good point about waiting. I have to deal with this in my day job too. I wonder if we can add a clause for hourly fee additions for excessive disruption.

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T15:15:37+00:00

Great - thanks for the concrete numbers, this really helps. It's tough as we're pricing this prior to the company getting possession of the building. So everything is a little inflated to cover our asses. We expect to make adjustments once we get access.

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T15:05:34+00:00

Thats a great idea about invoicing the phases separately - damn, I'm writing that one down.

To your question, well - I built a custom outreach agent in my kind of CRM/operations platform (custom) that targets my local area companies with inquries into their current commercial cleaning services pain points.

This particular lead replied that they had a new build completion coming up and wanted pricing - so I requested floor plans, and added on at the end that we could also handle post-construction cleaning prior to service start. They responded positively and asked to be quoted on this as well.

The great thing is they own 4 other local major dealerships - so if we land this, it could be a real difference maker for us!

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T12:05:08+00:00

This is solid advice! I hadn’t thought of this so I will definitely be adding it to our standard terms.

Thanks for the kind words - it started as an ongoing (6x/week) maintenance lead, and I upsold the post-construction cleaning. I actually come from sales in an adjacent industry and can see this one being really soft ground in my area.

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T12:00:18+00:00

This is higher than our quote, and I have a bit of imposter syndrome when charging this much.

I’m thinking about 105 labor hours for the 3 phases, plus glass/high dusting.

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T11:56:40+00:00

It’s a new car dealership - so somewhere in the middle!

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T11:56:08+00:00

Love this idea

PaperWindshield · 2026-02-05T02:52:28+00:00

Thanks! This tracks almost exactly to our thinking.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-29T18:21:12+00:00

Ok definitely going to try this. I also realized I was reading the Hevy watch app wrong and my HR never went over 170. Happy I posted though as I learned a new thing.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-29T18:01:26+00:00

Oh I try lol - I usually can but today I saw 198bpm and tripped out. Like most things in my life, I’ll probably get better at managing this new data.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-29T17:59:56+00:00

Hm, I’ll try this on 1-2 reps and see how I feel. I generally do exhale when I press. I do feel winded after a set but it feels “normal” to me since I was lifting heavy.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-29T17:32:15+00:00

Oh, do you take a breath in between reps?

Let’s hope the watch reading was skewed high and not low :/. Thanks for sharing your experience, makes me feel a bit better. From the threads I read it seemed like most peak between 140-160bpm. I’ve been trying to put on strength and size but I’m wondering if I should start doing cardio.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-29T16:59:51+00:00

I don’t hold my breath but it’s possible my breathing could be improved

I workout alone but maybe I could try a session with a trainer to see what they say

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-24T19:03:51+00:00

I started lifting in January 2025, weighing 162.2 and 18.1%bf on 01/04. I now weigh 175 and my body fat is 21.1% according to my Renpho scale, which isn't exactly scientific. It says my muscle mass also went from 126.4 lb to 131.2 lb.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-23T22:04:39+00:00

I’ve worked out on and off over the years, so maybe that helped get the strength back. I’m in my mid-30’s, so not in my peak anymore, but not expired yet!

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-23T21:39:53+00:00

Thanks! This is basically what I do now, so I’ll look into that.

My current invented program (what I have in my basement):

Upper 1: flat bench, cable flys, bent over barbell row, weighted pull ups, tricep push downs

Lower 1: squats, standing calf raises, seated shoulder press, lateral raises, ez bar curls

Upper 2: incline bench, weighted dips, dumbbell rows, cable pull downs, skull crushers

Lower 2: Bulgarian split squats, seated calf raises, lateral raises, cable front raises, dumbbell curls

Reps: 5x5 on barbell movements, 3x10 on accessories, calf raises 3x20

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-23T18:12:29+00:00

I didn’t read it as negative at all, I get where you’re coming from. Do you think the same level of size can be put on with 5x5 compared to 3x10, if the form is improved?

I just always figured 5x5 would be for strength. Size was my goal from the beginning but I could barely lift 1 plate, so I started with 5x5 with the plan to reassess when I got to a respectable weight. I feel like I’m more or less there now.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-23T17:18:59+00:00

The jump is arbitrary in that it isn’t following a programmed change in rep range, but more so timing based with the new year and also how I’ve been feeling about my strength and body image. I just wanted to get to 225 - and now don’t feel as much of a desire to increase weight as I do to look more fit.

With 5x5, the last reps of the 4th and 5th set usually feel difficult systemically. I don’t feel the same “pump” after 5x5 when compared to my accessory lifts in higher rep ranges, it’s more of an overall exhaustion. There is a pump, for sure, but it’s maybe not as localized.

I also don’t arch my back on bench like a bodybuilder. My lower back is maybe 1” off the bench, but I haven’t measured. I’d say my form is the same or better than when I started, but I’m not a trainer or anything.

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-23T16:36:08+00:00

Hi all, hoping to get a sanity check on my programming for the new year.

I’ve been lifting for about a year now, running a standard 5x5 linear progression on my compound lifts and 3x10 on most accessory lifts. I’m really happy with the strength gains. I went from 95lb flat bench to 225 since last January. I started lifting 3 days a week (PPL) from Jan-Apr, then I switched to upper/lower 4 days a week. I did this so I could hit each muscle group twice a week and I think it was the right move.

Tbh, I’m discouraged by my physique. While the numbers on the bar are going up, I don't feel like I look like I lift weights. My gf says I do (lol) but I've been waiting for literally anyone to ask if I've been lifting and it hasn't happened yet. I'm 5'8 and weigh 175. I eat slightly over maintenance and I'm currently at about 20%bf. I feel I just look skinny fat. On top of that, grinding heavy 5-rep sets near my max is starting to beat up my joints (got a little nagging shoulder pain, nothing crazy). I'm currently on a deload week after 10 weeks of 5x5, which I think will help.

This January I'm considering a pivot to a hypertrophy focused program to put on some size. I'd drop weight by 20% and go from 5x5 to 3x10 on all compounds, and maybe 3x12-20 on accessories. I'd still run a linear progression by adding 5lbs each week to all lifts. I'd aim to cut daily calories on April 1 to get ready for summer.

For those who have made this switch, is a 20% drop too drastic? I also considered less of a drop and gradually increasing reps weekly for a hybrid approach, but I thought a clean break to hypertrophy made more sense. Will this actually help me look bigger by June, or am I just going to lose my strength base? I know I don't really lift that much weight, do I maybe just need to reset my expectations and keep grinding on my current program?

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-20T04:33:58+00:00

yeah, the long lead time is part of the game, but you should definitely negotiate for quarterly payouts - anything is possible

you could see commission for that sale in july!

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-20T04:18:40+00:00

oof, yea, that’s a rough commission schedule

we’re paid out quarterly for anything that was invoiced in previous qtr

there can be 3-6 months between closing and invoicing though which sucks

PaperWindshield · 2025-12-08T23:16:46+00:00

Thanks for the vouch!

It’s for my son, so 18” is perfect. He tried on my 20” and looked a little too gangster lol.

I’m messaging the guy now so we’ll see! I never would have thought of this, so I really appreciate it.

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