Cleaning Services
Labor runs 60% of revenue. Miss by a few points and the profit disappears. We track true job costs so you know which accounts actually make money.
Started With a Bucket and a Van
Most cleaning businesses start simple. One person, a few residential clients, cash or check at the door. You keep track in your head or a notebook. It works fine when you are the only one doing the work.
Then you add a commercial contract. Then a crew. Then another. Suddenly there are payroll taxes, workers comp, supply runs, vehicles, and a property manager who pays net-45. The notebook does not work anymore. Receipts pile up. You know you are busy but you are not sure if you are actually making money.
Who This Covers
Who This Covers
Commercial janitorial companies, residential cleaning services, pressure washing and window cleaning operators, post-construction cleanup crews. Any cleaning business where labor costs are the biggest line item.
The Friction
The Friction
Growing from solo operator to employer changes everything. Payroll runs every week. Insurance premiums go up. Supplies need tracking. The bookkeeping that worked when it was just you becomes a bottleneck you keep meaning to fix.
Labor Is the Business
In cleaning, labor typically eats 50 to 60 percent of revenue. That is normal for the industry. But it also means there is very little room for error. If your true labor cost on a job is 65 percent and you priced it at 55 percent, you are losing money on every visit. Do that across enough accounts and you are working hard to go backwards.
We track hours by job and by client. This shows you which accounts are profitable and which ones you should renegotiate or drop. When you know what each job actually costs, you stop guessing and start pricing based on real numbers.
True Job Cost
True Job Cost
Hours worked, drive time between sites, supplies consumed. We calculate what each job actually costs so you can see the true margin. Some accounts look good until you factor in the commute.
Payroll That Runs Smoothly
Payroll That Runs Smoothly
Part-time staff, varying schedules, different pay rates for different work. Cleaning payroll gets complicated fast. We handle the processing and make sure everyone gets paid correctly and on time.
The Cash Flow Squeeze
Commercial contracts look great on paper. Recurring revenue, predictable work, professional relationships. But property managers and office buildings often pay net-30 or slower. Meanwhile your workers need to be paid every Friday. This timing gap is where cleaning businesses get squeezed.
Massachusetts also takes worker classification seriously. The rules for determining who is an employee versus an independent contractor are strict, and the penalties for getting it wrong are real. If you use subcontractors, the documentation and structure need to be right.
Forecasting the Gap
Forecasting the Gap
We project when commercial payments will arrive against when payroll and supply bills are due. This lets you see the cash gap before it becomes a crisis and plan accordingly.
Worker Classification
Worker Classification
Employee versus contractor rules in Massachusetts are specific. We help you track payments correctly, maintain proper documentation, and stay on the right side of compliance requirements.
Know What Each Job Makes
When you know your true costs, you price with confidence. New quotes are based on real numbers, not hopeful estimates. You can walk away from accounts that do not make sense. You stop subsidizing problem clients with profits from good ones.
The scramble fades. Payroll is handled. Taxes are filed on time. Your CPA gets clean books at year end. You spend your energy on operations and customer relationships instead of digging through receipts and wondering where the money went.
Pricing Confidence
Pricing Confidence
With accurate job costing, rate increases are justified by data. When a property manager asks for a discount, you know exactly how much margin you have to work with and when to say no.
Growth Decisions
Growth Decisions
Adding another crew means more revenue but also more labor, insurance, supplies, and vehicles. We show you the math before you hire so growth is deliberate and profitable.
Greater Boston's Trusted Bookkeeping Partner
The Next Step:
A Short Conversation
We'll ask a few questions, figure out what you need, and give you a straightforward quote.