- Commercial Cleaning
- Pricing
- Brisbane
- Ipswich
- Procurement
If you manage premises anywhere across Greater Brisbane or Ipswich, “How much should commercial cleaning cost?” is one of the hardest questions to answer from a brochure. Two quotes for the same office can differ by thousands a year, and the cheapest is rarely the one that keeps your site consistently clean. This 2026 guide breaks down what actually drives the price, the common pricing models, and how to compare quotes so you can budget with confidence.
What drives commercial cleaning pricing
A genuine quote is built from your site, not a flat rate. The main cost drivers are:
- Floor area and layout — total square metres, plus how broken-up the space is. Many small rooms take longer than one open floor.
- Frequency — daily, three-times-weekly or weekly service changes the per-visit and annual cost significantly.
- Site type — a medical suite, childcare centre or food premises has stricter hygiene requirements than a standard office.
- Surfaces and fittings — hard floors, carpet, glass, kitchens and amenities each need different methods, consumables and time.
- Access and hours — after-hours or weekend work, security inductions and key management add to labour cost.
- Consumables — whether bin liners, hand soap, paper towel and toilet paper are included or billed separately.
Labour is the largest component by far. In Australia, a compliant provider pays the relevant cleaning award, superannuation, insurance and training, so be cautious of any rate that looks well below the market — someone is usually absorbing that gap, often through corner-cutting or underpayment.
Common pricing models
Most providers across Brisbane, Ipswich, Springfield and Logan use one of three models.
Per hour
Simple and transparent: you pay for the hours worked, typically with a minimum visit length. This suits smaller or variable sites, but it rewards speed over outcome, so pair it with a clear scope so you know what those hours must cover.
Per square metre
Common for larger or standardised spaces such as warehouses and open-plan offices. It makes comparing similar sites easy, though it can under-price detail-heavy areas like amenities and kitchens.
Fixed contract price
A set monthly or weekly fee for an agreed scope and frequency. This is the most predictable option for budgeting and the most common for ongoing commercial cleaning contracts. The key is a written scope of works so everyone knows exactly what is included.
What to budget
Rather than chase a single dollar figure, build your budget from your own variables: floor area, how many days a week you need service, your site type, and whether consumables are included. Get two or three quotes on an identical scope, then ask each provider to itemise labour, consumables and any periodic extras such as carpet steam-cleaning, window work or strip-and-seal of hard floors. Those periodic tasks are frequently quoted separately, so confirm whether they sit inside the contract or on top of it.
It also helps to treat cleaning as part of your wider facilities spend. A coordinated approach alongside your building maintenance often reduces duplicated site visits and gives you a single accountable point of contact.
How to compare quotes
When the quotes land, compare like for like:
- Is the scope of works documented, with frequency for each task?
- Are public liability and workers’ compensation current, and can they show certificates?
- Who supplies and pays for consumables?
- What quality assurance exists — audits, a logbook, a named account manager?
- Are periodic tasks (windows, carpets, hard floors) included or extra?
Why the cheapest quote rarely wins
A rock-bottom price usually buys fewer hours than the site needs. The first few weeks look fine, then standards slip, staff turnover rises, and you spend management time chasing the things that were promised. The better measure of value is consistency at month twelve, backed by insurance, trained staff and a real quality system. Certification such as ISO 9001 is a useful signal that a provider runs to an audited process rather than promises.
Get a tailored, itemised quote
Broadsafe Maintenance is ISO 9001 certified and fully insured, delivering commercial cleaning across Brisbane, Ipswich, Springfield and Logan. For a transparent, itemised quote built from a walk-through of your site, contact our team.