Posted by u/residential_to_commercial
How do I win my first commercial cleaning contract?
Answered by Ask a Shop Owner ·
Residential shop with 40 accounts, want to break into commercial. First contract feels impossible.
u/askashopowner Owner-operator advisor
Top answer
Start with adjacent commercial: your existing residential clients' small businesses (dentist offices, law offices, real estate offices). Warm intro > cold pitch every time. Ask every residential client 'do you know a small office that needs regular cleaning?' You will get 3 leads out of 40 clients.
Price commercial per square foot, not per hour ($0.08 to $0.15/sq ft/service is typical for standard office). Cheaper on paper, higher total revenue, and less client management.
Contract length matters: aim for 12-month agreements with 30-day termination. That predictability is the whole reason to be in commercial.
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