Businesses are looking for coronavirus cleaning quotes on the fly, but you don’t want to misquote in a hurry trying to prepare your bid, especially when there are serious considerations.
It’s hard to estimate how much this coronavirus (COVID-19) will change society over time. Major world events can have far-reaching impacts that stretch over decades. That’s true for both positive and adverse events. While it’s easy to see the after-effects of the Great Recession of 2008 or World War II, there are also moments like the moon landing or products like smartphones that alter the future of humanity.
Coronavirus has had a much quicker impact on our lives than many events, but it’s fair to say that it will produce some form of long-term change in society. Never before has the entire globe shut down like this. More immediately, however, coronavirus cleaning is on the minds of nearly every business. But for building services and commercial cleaners, this brings up the question of how to correctly bid for these jobs, which are in high demand.
There are at least two possibilities here. Your current clients may be requesting additional coronavirus cleaning services. You might also find that inquiries are coming into your office from new potential clients looking for one-time deep cleans.
In either case, the best way to get that business is to offer a competitive bid quickly. But make no mistake, coronavirus cleaning isn’t just a simple sweep, mop, and vacuum. There are multiple factors to consider, and the associated cost to you will vary, so it’s crucial that you have the tools to create an accurate proposal and the ability to send it to your new clients right away.
Make more accurate bids, more quickly, with Janitorial Manager’s built-in bidding calculator. Contact us right now for a free, no-obligation demo and find out exactly how you can start winning more business.
Considerations When Bidding on Coronavirus Cleaning
First things first, of course. What does coronavirus cleaning mean for you and your team? We are still learning a lot about COVID-19, but according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus may live on surfaces for a few hours or “up to several days.” That means that time is a factor in how much exposure you and your team might face. But unless you can guarantee a building has been 100% unoccupied, it’s best to assume that surfaces are contaminated. To bid on a coronavirus cleaning job, you should move forward with a proposal that considers contamination a given.
For cleaning and disinfecting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer the following guidelines for personal safety:
- “Cleaning staff should wear disposable gloves and gowns for all tasks in the cleaning process, including handling trash.”
- Open windows, if at all possible, to allow fresh air to circulate.
- If there is the risk of a splash or disturbance of particles, additional PPE is required.
- Clean hands often, and always wash with soap and water immediately after removing gloves and PPE.
For the products you can use to clean, the CDC says that “products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also has guidelines that may impact your expenses, including the equipment you need and the time it takes to do a particular job. For cleaning tasks, they suggest following the Bloodborne Pathogens standards, stating that the PPE and Hazard Communication standards “may also apply.” OSHA also states that cleaners should not use compressed air or water sprays to clean, “as these techniques may aerosolize infectious material.”
As you can see, there are potentially significant considerations for any coronavirus cleaning bids you may entertain. You may also find that there are delays in getting PPE or some cleaners if you don’t already have them. So again, consider all of this as you work up your bid.
Bidding for Coronavirus Cleaning
How do you create accurate estimates and share it with a client in a flash? By using janitorial software with a built-in bidding calculator. Here’s how.
Our bidding calculator includes ISSA templates based on their time and tasks standards. However, you also have the freedom to use your own standards for bidding if you prefer that. You can easily (and instantly) determine your expenses and calculate your margins. Estimates include hourly labor rates, the average number of hours you’ll need to clean a location, supply rates, and overhead rates. You can also include the number of times per week tasks will need to be done in the case of a longer-term contract.
Here’s where a calculator comes in especially handy, though. It’s easy to adjust your factors based on changes in the process. For instance, you could determine how much the cost would change based on using one cleaning product vs. a more or less expensive product, or compare the cost of a job based on how many people work.
There are other built-in calculator options, too. Use the Margins Calculator to meet a specific price for your services, or use the Labor Rates Calculator to determine your hourly labor rates based on your expenses. In other words, you can approach a bid from several directions and easily customize it to meet both your needs and the needs of your client.
Just walk through the facility, fill in the variables, and generate an accurate quote. It’s that simple.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you fill in those variables.
All high-touch surfaces will need extra attention. That means doorknobs, vending machines, microwaves, computer keyboards, elevator buttons, stairway railings, and so on. Bathrooms will need extra attention, too. Then there are things like table and chair legs that are easy to overlook under normal circumstances. If you use a sprayer or fogger to disinfect a location, that will require special protective equipment and trained employees.
Something else to consider is the well-being of your employees. Coronavirus cleaning is hard work, and it comes with significant risk. As you bid on these contracts, think about how you can improve the circumstances your team is working through. You may not be able to remove the risk of COVID-19, but you can compensate them appropriately. Offer a pay increase or a bonus for workers who take on these jobs. Extend paid sick time and help your team work through any difficulties they may be facing.
It’s worth noting, too, that when you share with clients that you charge a premium for coronavirus cleaning so you can pay your employees more for dealing with that risk, that can be a selling point. People like hiring companies that take care of their employees, and the chances are that you won’t be charging substantially more than your competitors. Plus, you can guarantee a thorough and satisfactory job.
Bidding on coronavirus cleaning jobs will take a little more thought than typical cleaning proposals, but with a bidding calculator, it’s as simple and streamlined as possible.
Make more accurate bids, more quickly, with Janitorial Manager’s built-in bidding calculator. Contact us right now for a free, no-obligation demo and find out exactly how you can start winning more business.