Commercial Pool Bid Calculator
Calculate a profitable monthly bid for commercial pool accounts. Input your labor, visit schedule, and overhead to build a bid that covers costs and earns a profit.
Your Commercial Bid
How Commercial Pool Bidding Works
Bidding on commercial pool accounts is fundamentally different from residential pricing. Instead of a flat monthly rate per pool, commercial bids are built from the ground up using labor hours, visit frequency, chemical costs, and overhead allocations specific to the property.
The goal is to arrive at a monthly number that covers every dollar you spend servicing the account and leaves enough margin to make it worth your time. Get it right and a single commercial account can replace 10-15 residential stops on your revenue sheet.
Building Your Bid from Labor Hours
The foundation of any commercial bid is labor. Start by estimating how many hours each visit takes and how many visits per week the property requires. Multiply by your sell rate (what you charge per labor hour, not what you pay your tech) to get the labor portion of the bid.
- Hours per visit: Walk the property and time yourself. Include chemical testing, brushing, vacuuming, skimming, pump room checks, and any pool-specific tasks like backwashing filters or cleaning salt cells.
- Visits per week: Health codes in most states require commercial pools to be tested daily. Many property managers handle daily testing themselves but hire a pro 3-5 times per week for full service.
- Sell rate: This is your billing rate, not your tech's hourly wage. A common range is $55-$100/hr depending on your market, the complexity of the account, and competition in your area.
Chemicals: Included or Billed Separately?
Most commercial contracts bill chemicals separately from the service fee. This protects you from price swings on chlorine, acid, and specialty chemicals. The client pays actual chemical cost plus your markup, which is typically 15-25% for commercial volume.
If the property manager wants an all-inclusive bid, add a buffer of 10-15% to your chemical estimate to account for months with higher usage (summer, heavy bather loads, storms).
Overhead Allocations
Every commercial account should carry its share of overhead. Allocate a portion of your insurance, vehicle costs, and administrative time to each account. Commercial liability insurance is typically higher than residential, so make sure your allocation reflects the actual premium increase from taking the account.
Property Type Considerations
- Apartment complexes: High bather load, often require 5-7 day service during summer. Expect more chemical usage and more frequent filter cleaning. Pool furniture and deck cleanliness may be part of the scope.
- HOA / Community pools: Seasonal in many markets. May need a separate bid for summer (full service) and winter (maintenance only). HOA boards compare bids aggressively, so be prepared to justify your pricing.
- Hotels / Resorts: The highest service standard. Expect daily visits, spa maintenance, water features, and strict health department compliance. Hotels pay premium rates but demand premium responsiveness.
- Gyms / Fitness: Typically indoor pools with controlled environments. Lower chemical volatility but higher bather load per gallon. Maintenance windows are tight (early morning or late night).
For a deeper dive into structuring commercial bids, read our Complete Commercial Pool Bidding Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I determine my sell rate per hour?
Your sell rate should cover your technician's burdened wage (hourly pay plus taxes, insurance, and benefits) plus a margin for profit and overhead. If your tech costs you $25/hr fully burdened and you want a 50% gross margin, your sell rate should be around $50/hr. Most commercial pool service companies charge $55-$100/hr depending on the market, with many operators in the $60-$75/hr range for standard accounts.
Should I include chemicals in the monthly bid or bill separately?
Most experienced commercial pool operators bill chemicals separately. This protects your margin when chemical prices spike (chlorine costs can swing 30-50% seasonally). A separate chemical line item also makes your service fee look more competitive when property managers compare bids. Include a markup of 15-25% on chemicals to cover purchasing, storage, and delivery.
How many visits per week does a commercial pool need?
Health department requirements vary by state, but most commercial pools require daily water testing. Full-service visits are typically 3-5 times per week for standard properties and 5-7 times per week for high-use properties like hotels and large apartment complexes. Some contracts include daily testing with full service 3 days per week.
What profit margin should I target on commercial accounts?
Target a 25-40% net margin on the labor portion after all overhead allocations. Commercial accounts are more demanding than residential, so do not underbid just to win the contract. A well-priced commercial account at $1,200/month is better than a cheap one at $700/month that eats all your margin in callbacks and extra visits. Pricing varies heavily by market, so research what competitors in your area charge before submitting a bid.
How do I handle seasonal changes in service scope?
Many commercial contracts use a tiered pricing structure: a higher rate during peak season (May-September) when full service is needed 5-7 days per week, and a reduced rate during off-season for maintenance-only visits 2-3 times per week. Calculate both rates separately and present them as a 12-month average or as seasonal billing rates in your proposal.
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