FIELD GUIDE / 01
A cleaning quote you
can explain.
Start with the work, connect it to paid hours, and price the complete cost. SweepTally makes the assumptions visible so you can revise them after the walkthrough.
First estimate in five steps: replace the example scope; set monthly visits; enter your wage and complete costs; check the stress scenarios; review your client proposal. Pro users should save and back up before closing.
1. Count person-minutes, not crew time.
If two people clean a restroom in 15 minutes, the cost model needs 30 person-minutes. Enter time per unit, the number of units, and how often the work occurs. A monthly detail clean should not be multiplied by every routine visit.
Task-based workloading is consistent with ISSA’s workloading approach. SweepTally does not supply ISSA production rates. The example values are illustrative; use measured times or rates you are authorized to use.
2. Make frequency explicit.
| Schedule | Average occurrences / month |
|---|---|
| 3 visits each week | 3 × 52 ÷ 12 = 13 |
| Weekly task | 52 ÷ 12 ≈ 4.333 |
| Every two weeks | 26 ÷ 12 ≈ 2.167 |
| Twice monthly | 2 |
| Quarterly task | 1 ÷ 3 |
These are planning averages. They do not account for holidays, access restrictions, shutdowns or the exact dates in a calendar month. Adjust visits and scope for the account.
3. Include every paid hour and allocated cost.
Loaded hourly labor cost equals base wage × (1 + employer burden). Add paid setup and travel person-minutes to the task hours. Include owner-performed work at a realistic replacement cost.
Enter supplies, equipment allowance and this account’s share of overhead separately. Overhead can include supervision, insurance, admin, sales, software and unpaid collection time. Avoid double counting amounts already included in employer burden.
4. Margin and markup are different.
Suppose the complete monthly cost is $600 and you target a 25% modeled operating margin. The required price is $600 ÷ 0.75 = $800. Adding a 25% markup gives $750 and only a 20% margin.
The result is modeled operating margin based on your inputs. It is not a guarantee of profit. Taxes, overtime, seasonal work, sales expense, receivables losses and owner compensation are included only if you enter them.
5. Recheck after the first month.
Enter actual paid hours, including setup and travel. Those hours replace the planned hours. Other costs remain unchanged unless you edit them, so this is a labor-based comparison rather than a full accounting report.
Test a 15% labor overrun, a $2 wage increase and two unpaid monthly hours. Scenarios are independent. They hold revenue fixed at your existing price when entered, or your target price otherwise.
Help without a support ticket.
Where are my estimates saved?
The hosted preview does not save. Pro saves estimates on your device in the browser you use to open the app. Click Save estimate before switching. Export JSON backups regularly. Browser storage is not a substitute for backups and can be cleared by browser settings.
How do I move Pro to another computer?
Copy the downloaded Pro HTML file and an exported JSON backup to the other computer. Open the HTML in a current desktop browser and choose Import backup. Imported estimates are appended; existing estimates are preserved.
How do I send a PDF proposal?
In Pro, open Proposal, enter your company and client, and download the client proposal. Open that HTML file and choose Print / save PDF. Only the client-facing scope and price are included. Review before sending.
What happens if I lose the download?
Use My purchase with the checkout email to request a new access email. If payment is processing, retry the confirmation page; do not purchase again.
Can this sign contracts or manage my crew?
No. SweepTally models scope and pricing. It does not schedule staff, run payroll, issue invoices, accept client signatures or replace your service agreement.