Practical guide
Review a cleaning bid against labor margin
A recurring price is easier to revisit when the estimate and the measured month use the same visible assumptions. Change the scope or actual hours, then compare the resulting margin screen.
Build monthly cost
The engine applies payroll burden to wage cost, then adds supplies, travel cash cost, and the monthly overhead allocation. The defaults calculate an estimated monthly cost of 3,403.29 in the illustrative scenario.
monthly cost = burdened labor + supplies + travel cash + monthly overhead
Price from a target margin
The target contribution margin is applied to the full estimated monthly cost. With the default 32% target, the illustrative suggested monthly bid is 5,004.83.
suggested bid = monthly cost / (1 - target margin percent / 100)
Compare entered actual hours
Enter actual labor hours after a measured month. The tool holds supplies, travel, and overhead at the estimate while changing labor time, so the result highlights where scope, access, or production assumptions need review.
actual margin = (contract price - actual monthly cost) / contract price
Check your own scenario
Replace the illustrative inputs with measured values and dated specifications.
Open Clean Margin DeskMethod and references
Read the full calculation method and its limits
Method and examples reviewed 2026-09-30. Examples are illustrative; input values and specifications are not independently verified.