Commercial cleaning bid template — Chattanooga, TN-GA
Chattanooga spans Hamilton County in Tennessee and extends into Walker County, Georgia. Volkswagen's North American production plant anchors a dense automotive and advanced manufacturing cluster; Amazon, Wacker Chemical, and a growing logistics corridor round out the employer base. Erlanger Health System and CHI Memorial anchor the medical segment. Tennessee has no state minimum wage above the federal floor at $7.25/hr; the competitive market wage for commercial janitors runs $13–$15/hr.
Chattanooga Labor Rate Inputs
BLS OEWS May 2024 (SOC 37-2011) places the Chattanooga MSA mean in the $13–$15/hr range. Tennessee DOL wage resources at Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. See the wages breakdown for the Chattanooga MSA.
Burden math on a $14/hr base: FICA 7.65% = $1.07; FUTA/SUTA ~2.4% = $0.34; Tennessee workers' comp approximately $2.40–$3.30 per $100 payroll; health insurance ~$2.80/hr; vacation/PTO ~4%. Total burden: 28–35%, loaded rate near $18–$20/hr. Use the production-rate calculator for full margin modeling.
Chattanooga Pricing Benchmarks
| Segment | Typical Frequency | Market Rate Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class B suburban office (5k–15k sq ft) | 3×/week | $0.09–$0.13/sq ft/month | Hixson, East Brainerd, East Ridge corridors |
| Automotive/advanced manufacturing office | 5×/week | $0.12–$0.17/sq ft/month | VW, supplier campuses; scope boundary required |
| Medical office (non-OR) | 5×/week | $0.16–$0.22/sq ft/month | Erlanger, CHI Memorial affiliates |
| Logistics/distribution office support | 3×/week | $0.06–$0.09/sq ft/month | I-75/I-24 logistics corridor |
| Day porter (full-time) | Daily | $2,100–$2,800/month | Multi-tenant buildings, corporate campuses |
Cross-check against cleaning bid benchmarks. Stress-test margins with the bid stress-test tool.
Scope-of-Work Essentials for Chattanooga
Automotive manufacturer and supplier accounts require explicit scope delineation between corporate office areas and production floors, which are managed under separate facility agreements. Medical office scopes must address OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen requirements (29 CFR 1910.1030). Logistics accounts need clear scope boundaries between office and warehouse/dock areas. Use the scope-of-work generator for complete exhibits.
- Define scope boundary between office and production/warehouse floor for all industrial accounts
- Include background-check compliance language for VW supplier and corporate campus accounts
- List disinfectants by EPA Reg. No. for medical accounts
- Confirm Tennessee recycling requirements: Hamilton County waste-diversion rules
- Confirm after-hours access protocol for corporate campus and manufacturer accounts
Tennessee Licensing and Insurance Requirements
Tennessee does not require a statewide contractor license for commercial janitorial services. Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga require local business licenses; verify at the City of Chattanooga Business portal. General liability minimum $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate; automotive and medical accounts often require higher limits. Workers' compensation is mandatory under Tennessee Workers' Compensation rules for employers with 5+ employees.
Bid Walk Checklist — Chattanooga Accounts
- Confirm scope boundary between office and production/warehouse floor for all industrial accounts
- Measure cleanable area per floor; confirm background-check requirements for VW/supplier campuses
- Count restrooms and determine if medical compliance is required
- Confirm Tennessee and Hamilton County recycling and waste-stream requirements
- Photograph flooring to price periodic maintenance accurately
Sample Line-Item Bid Structure
| Line Item | Qty / Unit | Unit Rate | Monthly Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nightly cleaning — Class B office (8,500 sq ft) | 8,500 sq ft | $0.11/sq ft | $935 |
| Restroom service (6 restrooms, 5×/week) | 6 units | $185/unit | $1,110 |
| Breakroom daily wipe-down + trash | 1 unit | $160/month | $160 |
| Entry glass & lobby detail (weekly) | 1 unit | $105/month | $105 |
| Annual carpet extraction (5,500 sq ft) | 5,500 sq ft | $0.21/sq ft | $96 (amortized) |
| Supplies (paper, liners, soap) | Pass-through | Cost + 12% | ~$200 |
| Total Monthly | ~$2,606 |
SCA and Prevailing Wage Considerations
Federal facilities in Chattanooga (TVA offices, federal courts, VA clinics) trigger the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act. Confirm Wage Determinations via SAM.gov. Tennessee and Georgia have no state prevailing wage laws for private commercial work. Automotive manufacturer contracts are private and not subject to prevailing wage. See cleaning for healthcare for medical-account scope templates.
What Buyers Expect in Chattanooga Bids
- Clear scope delineation between office and production/warehouse areas for all industrial accounts
- Background-check compliance program for automotive supplier and corporate campus accounts
- References from comparable automotive, medical, or logistics accounts
- Escalation clause tied to Tennessee CPI or BLS wage index
- Evidence of workers' comp compliance for industrial-adjacent cleaning work
Competitive Landscape and Bid Tips
Chattanooga is a mid-size Southeast market where the VW and automotive supplier ecosystem creates a premium B2B segment. Firms with experience in automotive supplier environments have a structural advantage; manufacturers rotate cleaning contracts every 2–4 years. Class B commercial and logistics accounts are price-competitive. Use the account profitability auditor to validate margin before discounting on logistics volume accounts. The bid generator speeds quote production. See cleaning for hospitality and retail for the growing Chattanooga tourism and hotel sector.
Key Resources for Chattanooga Bidders
- BLS OEWS — SOC 37-2011 Janitors and Cleaners
- Tennessee Workers' Compensation
- Tennessee DOL — Wage Regulations
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
- DOL Wage and Hour — Service Contract Act
By the Opora Editorial Team · Last updated: 2026