[joelmcginley]

Anyone out there using Cleanbid software for commercial janitorial estimates?

[Clough]

Hi, joelmcginley!

I'm going to let Stringer know about this thread. Out of all the Experts here, if any of them know about that software or whether using something like that would be the best choice, he would.

Thanks!

[Stringer]

I am afraid that I can't help you with this one. I am not familiar with them.

Stringer

[Clough]

Do you use any kind of software for figuring out bids, Stringer?

[jimname]

I think Cleanbid is too expensive as it certaintly doesn't include anything you need other than bidding on only cleaning jobs, there's more you need than just a bid program. Also their system is not a program it is online only as they have access to all you put into the system that's a privacy thing. You own nothing and they have no fulltime or flate fee to pay for a annual or buy the rights to use the software. Personnally it still needs lot of extra work to it as they have not really finished working with it.

[jimname]

I think Cleanbid is too expensive as it certaintly doesn't include anything you need other than bidding on only cleaning jobs, there's more you need than just a bid program. Also their system is not a program it is online only as they have access to all you put into the system that's a privacy thing. You own nothing and they have no fulltime or flate fee to pay for a annual or buy the rights to use the software. Personnally it still needs lot of extra work to it as they have not really finished working with it.

[CleanGuru]

Right up front, I should say, I am one of the developers of the CleanBid Program. I apologize for the length explanation below, but I wanted to give a reasonably thorough response to your note.

After running our own janitorial business for a number of years, we wanted to see if we could create an easier way for contractors to bid cleaning jobs. We think we have in the CleanBid Program - certainly not perfect, but we hope useful and user-friendly.

First, in 2007, after several years in development, we were thrilled to finally be able to make it available - online. That was one of our goals - to have it be online, so we could continually improve it and then instantly make those changes available to everyone. In addition, it allows us to give instant, real time, one-one-one customer support - to help members with their own, unique bidding questions and issues.

Plus, I should say that we take our members privacy and security very seriously, so similar to other online programs that are widely trusted and relied on, such as Quicken Online / QuickBooks Online for Accounting, each CleanBid Account is secure, regularly backed up and password protected .

We try to make the program as affordable as possible. That's why earlier this year, we created several new plans to our program. So, while our standard monthly membership had been $49.97, we now offer three different plans, one of which is our new, Basic Plan for only $27/mo.

While we are very happy to offer this new, more affordable membership plan, we understand the feelings expressed by many frustrated, independent janitorial businesses who, having to deal with low-balling competitors, want to respectfully remind their prospective customers that in a very real and positive way "You get what you pay for."

These independent cleaning business owners feel they need to point out the very real connection between quality and price (i.e. value)... and we believe our CleanBid Program is a good example of this principle as well.

Let me offer here one idea to consider regarding the value of the program:

We believe a part of the overall value of the CleanBid Program comes directly from one of the unique characteristics of the many of the cleaning jobs our members bid on, and that is, that they are very often, reoccurring in nature - as opposed to a one-time sale.

So, for example, let's say a janitorial business was quoting on cleaning a local bank branch 3 (three) times per week; and that the monthly profit on that one job was $100. If we assume this account remains an active client and is kept in budget, the cleaning contractor might reasonably expect to continue making $100 every month.

And, if they used, just as an example, $47 of that $100 profit from that one on-going account to pay for, let's say, a CleanBid Plus Plan; that one account alone could be used to continue to 'pay' their monthly $47 fee each month... still leaving them with an additional $50/mo. Of profit.

So, one way to think about the value of a bidding program like CleanBid is in terms of its ability to help a cleaning business land and keep one or more profitable cleaning job(s) which could on its own more than cover uninterrupted access to the Program.

Our goal is to have the program be the fastest, easiest and most professional online program available anywhere today to bid janitorial jobs.

We hope members find that to be a real and tangible value.

The CleanBid Program includes sections for everything from cover letter and proposal to references and job specifications; all of which can be easily updated and customized.

Finally, while we realize janitorial businesses need a great deal more than just bidding help, such as in the areas of marketing, quality control and management, the CleanBid Program is simply our best effort in one area where we felt cleaning contractors most desperately needed help - namely, bidding.

We do plan on creating marketing and management programs to help janitorial businesses as soon as we can, but we do not want to release any until we feel they are of the same quality and usefulness as we believe the CleanBid Program is in janitorial bidding.

We need to hear what people like and don't like about our program - it's one of the very best ways we can learn how to make CleanBid a program that truly delights the user. If you'd like, feel free to call us anytime to share your thoughts on things we can improve on.

Thanks,
Tony Dietsch
Clean Guru LLC
888-531-4878