The key to your carpet cleaning business surviving is charging the right rates. You've already purchased commercial carpet steam cleaners, tile cleaning machines and pressure washing equipment. The methods you use are top-notch, but all of this won't ensure the success of your company. If your prices are too high, you risk losing business. And if your prices are too low, then you risk having your business shut down.

You want to come off as a legitimate carpet cleaning professional, which means you need to know how to provide accurate estimates. There are a number of things you must consider when you're quoting your prices, such as the following.

The Importance of Inspections

There's really no way to provide a customer with a solid estimate if you haven't seen the carpet. Not all jobs are the same – some requiring heavy duty truck mounted machines and others only needing commercial carpet steam cleaners. The more soiled the carpet is, the higher you will likely charge. This is because you end up using more product and running your machines longer.

Aside from the amount of grunge in a carpet, you also have to consider the size of the job. Obviously, the larger the area that needs cleaning, the higher you charge. The cleanliness of the carpet and its size will undoubtedly determine the estimate you give. Some even charge by the square foot.

Other variations include whether you have to move furniture. Some professionals like to include this in their rate. Look at the floors and see if there are a lot of stains and spots, urine odors and other heavy soiling.

The Condition of the Floors

What's the difference between a lightly soiled floor and one that's heavily soiled? Some professionals don't charge more for carpets that have more soil. Others find this to be a major determining factor in how much they charge. When you go to inspect the carpet, make sure to identify the type of fibers and textiles of the floor, as well as the color and any unique challenges cleaning the carpet would pose.

Offering Other Services

Sometimes, you'll come to a client's property and end up performing other services, like tile cleaning. Make sure you have your tile cleaning machines in the car with your commercial carpet steam cleaners. You may also want to charge extra for carpet areas that have discolorations and severe damage. Or if you're in an area that cherishes eco-friendliness, you can perform green cleaning services.