How to price a house cleaning job without guessing
Start with cost, then apply margin. Estimate labor hours, include payroll burden, add supplies, travel, and allocated overhead, and divide total cost by one minus your target profit margin.
The formula
Price = Total job cost ÷ (1 − target margin)
If two cleaners work four hours each at $20 per hour, loaded labor is higher than $160 because payroll taxes, insurance, and other labor costs must be included. After direct costs and overhead, a 30% target margin means dividing the total cost by 0.70—not simply adding 30%.
Example
| Loaded labor | $189 |
|---|---|
| Supplies, travel, overhead | $52 |
| Total estimated cost | $241 |
| Price at 30% target margin | $344 |
The final quote still needs a scope check. Heavy buildup, pets, stairs, access delays, add-ons, and unusually large kitchens can materially change the time required.