What Is the Average Cost to Clean a Restaurant?

If you’re looking for a quick, general answer, the cost on average to clean a restaurant (per 2022 prices) is $120 per hour with a range of $20 to $150 per hour. But is that what you’re really after? Or are you more interested in learning what it might cost to clean your restaurant?  

How Much Will It Cost to Clean My Restaurant? 

We thought that was what you were looking for! If you own or manage a restaurant–or you’re planning to open one soon–getting a handle on costs is an essential part of running a business. If you choose to outsource some of the cleaning tasks at your restaurant, there are a number of factors that will impact your bottom line. 

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Restaurant Size 

Often, cleaning service providers will base their prices on the square footage of the restaurant to be cleaned. Thus, a large restaurant will typically cost more to clean than a smaller one. Most restaurant managers can expect to pay about .12 to .40 per square foot for cleaning services.  

Scope of Work 

Most restauranteurs will depend on in-house staff to take care of day-to-day cleaning. These tasks may include wiping down food prep areas and stainless-steel surfaces, mopping floors in the kitchen area, vacuuming the lobby and dining areas, and cleaning bathrooms. Each are essential for a safe, attractive, and healthy environment for both patrons and employees, and it is typical for shift managers to post chores to be done and who is responsible for seeing they are completed.  

If management chooses to outsource such light cleaning responsibilities, those costs can typically run between $.05 and $.20 per square foot 

Often, however, it is the more difficult or time-consuming tasks that get farmed out to professional cleaning companies. These tasks can include washing walls and ceilings, deep-cleaning tasks like degreasing fans and equipment, and heavy-duty sanitizing. In addition, a more thorough cleaning of restroom facilities may also be outsourced. 

Flooring 

The type of flooring found in your restaurant may also factor into cleaning costs. If you have carpeting in your reception, lounge, or dining area, regular vacuuming will likely be handled by staff, but you’ll also want to invest in occasional professional carpet cleaning services. This can cost on average about $.05 to $.25 per square foot.  

If, on the other hand, your restaurant has vinyl, tile or hardwood flooring, then stripping and waxing will be an occasional necessity. These services can run about $.20 to $.30 per square foot.  

Hood Cleaning 

Your kitchen hood and exhaust system are in place to capture and contain grease, grime and smoke and keep them from escaping into the whole of your restaurant. And while it is a dirty and time-consuming task to keep everything clean, it is absolutely imperative that you do it regularly to protect against fires. Firms that offer professional kitchen cleaning services know how to properly disassemble kitchen hoods to thoroughly clean them, and they use powerful grease-cutting solutions to get the job done. This task is typically billed at between $120 and $200 per hour.  

Crew Size 

Many restaurant cleaning tasks can be handled by a single outsourced worker, often one who arrives after a restaurant is closed for the evening and who can work unencumbered at a variety of daily or weekly tasks to ensure even the most minor of details is addressed. Other more challenging jobs may require a crew of two, three or more workers to get the job done. The end result should be that your own staff can count on arriving each morning confident that everything will be clean and orderly for the start of each new day.  

Other Details 

How often you rely on professional cleaning services to help with restaurant cleaning will, of course, impact your bottom line. Additionally, the types of cleaning products and who will be responsible to provide them will also impact costs.  

Controlling Costs 

DO YOU OWN A RESTAURANT IN PENNSYLVANIA? 

CALL (800) 851-0806 FOR YOUR FREE QUOTE 

You can exert a good deal of control on the amount you pay for outsourced cleaning services by knowing what you and your staff can reasonably handle in house and what needs to be handled by a professional.  

For those services you choose to outsource, it’s important to do some shopping to find a reliable, knowledgeable, and skilled service provider who can provide references. Make sure you meet the people who will be performing the work you request and get a checklist of the tasks they will be completing.  

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’ll want to feel comfortable with the cleaning company you choose especially if you have them at your restaurant for frequent cleanings.