Commercial pricing works differently than residential — it's almost always quoted per square foot rather than as a flat job price, because commercial properties vary so much in scale. Here's how it typically breaks down for Indianapolis businesses.
Typical Commercial Rates
- Storefront/entryway washing: $0.20–$0.35/sq ft
- Sidewalks and walkways: $0.15–$0.25/sq ft
- Parking lots (surface cleaning): $0.10–$0.20/sq ft depending on size
- Dumpster pad cleaning: $75–$175 flat, often billed as a recurring service
Larger jobs generally bring the per-square-foot rate down, similar to volume pricing in most trades.
One-Time Cleaning vs. Recurring Contracts
Many Indianapolis businesses — especially retail storefronts, restaurants, and office parks — move to a recurring schedule (monthly or quarterly) once they see how quickly grease, gum, algae, and general grime return in high-foot-traffic areas. Recurring contracts typically run a lower effective rate per visit than one-off cleanings, since scheduling and setup become more efficient over repeat visits.
What Drives Commercial Pricing Up
- Gum and grease removal: heavily trafficked sidewalks near restaurants need pre-treatment, not just water pressure.
- Oil-stained parking areas: similar to residential driveways, but at commercial scale, oil staining under regular parking spots needs degreasing agents.
- After-hours scheduling: cleaning outside business hours to avoid disrupting customers or employees sometimes carries a modest premium.
- Water access and drainage considerations: commercial properties have specific requirements for where wash water can go — see our guide on Indianapolis stormwater rules for why this matters more for commercial lots than a residential driveway.
Ready to book, or just want a straight answer on pricing for your property?
Who This Applies To
We work with a range of commercial clients throughout Indianapolis and suburbs like Greenwood — retail storefronts, restaurant patios and entryways, office building exteriors, and HOA-managed common areas. If you manage multiple properties, our property manager's scheduling guide covers how to set up a maintenance cadence across a portfolio rather than reacting property-by-property.
Getting a Commercial Quote
Commercial quotes typically require a quick walkthrough or detailed photos to measure square footage accurately and identify problem areas like grease or oil staining. Call us to set up a walkthrough and we'll put together a straightforward proposal, including recurring-service pricing if that fits your property better than a one-time clean.