The essential terms, metrics, and acronyms every cleaning business owner should know — explained in plain English.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health — UK regulations that require cleaning businesses to assess and control exposure to hazardous chemicals. Compliance is...
Read definition →Personal Protective Equipment refers to gloves, masks, goggles, aprons, and other gear worn by cleaning staff to protect against chemical exposure, biological h...
Read definition →A systematic process of identifying potential hazards at a cleaning site and evaluating the measures needed to minimise risk to staff and occupants. Risk assess...
Read definition →The percentage of revenue remaining after subtracting direct costs such as labour, cleaning supplies, and travel expenses. For cleaning businesses, a healthy gr...
Read definition →The percentage of revenue that remains as profit after all expenses are deducted, including overheads, marketing, insurance, and administrative costs. Net margi...
Read definition →Predictable income generated from repeat clients on regular cleaning schedules, such as weekly or fortnightly services. Recurring revenue is the backbone of a s...
Read definition →The mean revenue earned per cleaning job, calculated by dividing total revenue by the number of completed jobs. Tracking AJV helps owners understand pricing eff...
Read definition →The percentage of clients who cancel or do not renew their cleaning services over a given period. A high churn rate signals problems with service quality, prici...
Read definition →The total revenue a cleaning business can expect from a single client over the entire duration of the relationship. CLV helps owners understand how much they ca...
Read definition →A Key Performance Indicator is a measurable value that tracks how effectively a cleaning business is achieving its core objectives. Common cleaning industry KPI...
Read definition →A detailed written description of all cleaning tasks, areas, frequencies, and standards included in a service agreement. A clear scope of work prevents misunder...
Read definition →A Service Level Agreement is a formal contract between a cleaning company and a client that defines expected service standards, response times, and penalties fo...
Read definition →A pre-service site inspection where a cleaning company representative visits the premises to assess the scope of work, identify special requirements, and provid...
Read definition →A fixed-price model where the client pays a set amount for a defined cleaning service regardless of how long the job takes. Flat rate pricing simplifies quoting...
Read definition →A pricing model that charges clients based on the total area of the space to be cleaned, typically calculated per square foot or square metre. This method provi...
Read definition →The percentage of incoming cleaning enquiries for which you submit a formal quote or estimate. A low bid rate may indicate capacity constraints, poor lead quali...
Read definition →The percentage of cleaning quotes or estimates that convert into confirmed, paying jobs. A strong close rate for residential cleaning typically ranges from 40%...
Read definition →Offering complementary services to existing clients that differ from their primary service — for example, offering window cleaning to a regular domestic cleanin...
Read definition →The practice of offering existing cleaning clients upgraded or additional services beyond their current package, such as adding oven cleaning or carpet shampooi...
Read definition →A thorough, intensive cleaning service that goes beyond routine maintenance to address built-up grime, hard-to-reach areas, and neglected surfaces. Deep cleans...
Read definition →A comprehensive cleaning service performed when a tenant moves out of a rented property, designed to restore it to move-in condition. These cleans are typically...
Read definition →A single, non-recurring cleaning job performed as a standalone service without an ongoing agreement. One-off cleans include spring cleans, post-event cleanups,...
Read definition →A routine, recurring cleaning service performed on a set schedule — typically weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. Regular cleans form the foundation of most cleani...
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