Commercial cleaning bid template — Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
Sacramento’s janitorial market is anchored by the state government corridor: the Capitol complex, Cal EPA headquarters, and the cluster of state agency buildings along Capitol Mall. Every state facility contract runs under California’s public works prevailing wage system; bidding without pulling the current California DIR prevailing wage determination for Sacramento County is a compliance failure. The Roseville and Folsom east corridor adds suburban office that prices well below Sacramento’s downtown government accounts.
Sacramento Labor Cost Inputs
BLS OEWS May 2024 (SOC 37-2011) puts the Sacramento MSA mean near $17/hr, median around $15.50. California’s statewide minimum wage is $16.50/hr per the California Department of Industrial Relations. Sacramento has no city minimum above the state floor; commercial janitorial market rates track closer to $17–$18 in practice.
Burden math on a $17/hr Sacramento base: FICA 7.65% = $1.30; CA SUI ~3.4% = $0.58; California workers’ comp approximately $3.00–$3.50 per $100 payroll per the California Division of Workers’ Compensation; health ~$3.25/hr; vacation ~5%. Burden: 29–34%, loaded rate near $22–$24/hr. See Sacramento MSA wage breakdown.
Sample Scope of Work: Class B Office Building
Hypothetical 40,000 sq ft Class B building in downtown Sacramento or the midtown corridor. Valley heat from June through September is the main seasonal scope driver.
| Task | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restroom service + restock | 5x/week | State agency buildings require green-certified products per CalRecycle standards |
| Lobby and elevator service | 5x/week + midday pass | Tule fog season Nov–Feb requires mat exchange on damp mornings |
| Entry mat exchange | Weekly Nov–Feb; monthly Mar–Oct | Fog-season mat program as separate line item |
| Common-area vacuuming | 5x/week | HEPA for medical-adjacent and state research buildings |
| Hard-floor auto-scrub | 2x/week | Polished concrete and VCT common in Sacramento’s state building stock |
| Breakroom and kitchenette | 5x/week | Refrigerator monthly; green products standard for state accounts |
| Conference room reset | 5x/week | Whiteboard, AV equipment, glass table |
| Day-porter coverage (5 hr) | 5x/week | High-traffic Capitol Mall and K Street corridor buildings |
| Carpet extraction (full) | 2x/year | Separate bid line item; spring and fall cycles |
Sacramento Going Rates: What the Market Bears
Downtown Sacramento and Capitol Mall Class B: $0.10–$0.15/sq ft/month for 5x/week. Midtown and Arden-Arcade: $0.09–$0.13. Roseville and Folsom: $0.08–$0.12. Day-porter bill rate near $54/hr; 5-hr/day porter near $1,350/month. Use the day-porter ROI calculator. State prevailing wage adds +10–20% to labor floor; medical +20–30%; post-construction +40–55%.
California Licensing and Insurance Requirements
California requires no statewide janitorial license. Sacramento requires a city business license. California workers’ comp is mandatory; approximately $3.00–$3.50 per $100 payroll per the California Division of Workers’ Compensation. Standard GL minimum is $1M/$2M; state agency contracts typically require $2M/$5M. California’s PAGA creates wage-and-hour class action exposure; payroll accuracy on state accounts requires particular diligence.
California Prevailing Wage and SCA Triggers
California’s public works prevailing wage applies to janitorial on state-funded construction and some state facility contracts; check the California DIR prevailing wage determinations for Sacramento County before pricing any state agency contract. Federal facilities trigger the SCA; pull the California wage determination from SAM.gov. Full SCA guidance: dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/sca.
What Sacramento Buyers Expect in a Bid
- Monthly base service: hours x loaded rate; fog-season mat supplement shown separately.
- Green product spec: CalRecycle or Green Seal certified products for state agency accounts; required.
- Prevailing wage compliance: California DIR wage determination number and covered classification for state facility contracts.
- Equipment depreciation: 36–48 months; HEPA vacuums and auto-scrubbers for state building VCT.
- Insurance and overhead: GL, California workers’ comp, bond, and 13–18% indirect costs.
- Profit margin: 8–13%. California PAGA exposure justifies additional compliance overhead; price it in.
Bid Walk Checklist: Sacramento MSA
- Confirm whether the account is a state agency or state-funded project; California prevailing wage applies and changes the labor floor materially.
- Check green product requirements; state agency accounts require CalRecycle or equivalent certification on all products used.
- Ask about tule fog season; November–February fog tracking requires mat exchange on damp mornings.
- For Roseville and Folsom accounts, confirm floor types; post-2005 suburban buildings often use polished concrete with minimal carpet.
- Verify PAGA-compliant payroll records before onboarding the first California employee; Sacramento state accounts are audited frequently.
The Prevailing Wage Compliance Trap
Sacramento BSCs who price state agency contracts at commercial rates without checking the California DIR prevailing wage determination underbid the true labor floor by $3–$6/hr. The DIR determination covers base rate, fringe benefits, and health and welfare contributions. On a 10-person state agency contract, a $4/hr prevailing wage gap is $80,000–$85,000/year in uncompensated cost. Pull the determination every renewal cycle, not just at initial bid.
Primary Sources
- BLS OEWS SOC 37-2011 (Janitors and Cleaners)
- California DIR, Minimum Wage FAQ
- California DIR, Prevailing Wage Determinations
- California Division of Workers’ Compensation
- US DOL, Service Contract Act
- SAM.gov, SCA Wage Determinations
Build California prevailing wage models with the Opora bid generator. For UC Davis Health and Dignity Health accounts, see the healthcare cleaning hub. Benchmark rates with the cleaning bid benchmarks tool. Check account margins with the account profitability auditor.
By the Opora Editorial Team · Last updated: 2026