What is included in loaded labor rate?

Loaded labor rate includes base wages plus payroll taxes, workers compensation, benefits, and overhead. For most cleaning operations this runs 1.3 to 1.5 times the hourly wage. A technician earning $16 per hour typically costs $21 to $24 loaded.

How does equipment type affect ROI calculation?

Different equipment types clean at different production rates per hour. Walk-behind scrubbers cover less area per hour than ride-on models, while autonomous scrubbers eliminate direct labor during operation. The calculator adjusts labor savings based on the production rate typical for each equipment category.

Should I include chemical savings in the ROI?

Include chemical savings if the new equipment meters solution more accurately or uses less water than your current method. Autoscrubbers typically reduce chemical use by 20 to 40 percent compared to mop-and-bucket. Enter your current annual chemical spend and the expected savings percentage in the advanced fields.

Equipment ROI Calculator

Iron only pays when labor hours actually drop.

Inputs

Purchase price ($)

Equipment type

Sqft cleaned per day

Loaded labor rate ($/hr)

Working days per year

Annual chemical spend ($)

Chemical savings (%)

Calculate the payback period and five-year return on investment for floor care equipment by comparing labor hours saved against purchase price. Enter your equipment cost, daily square footage, and loaded labor rate to determine whether the machine pays for itself.

Instruction

Enter the purchase price and select your equipment type from the dropdown.
Set the square footage cleaned per day and your loaded labor rate per hour.
Read the payback period in months and the five-year ROI percentage.

Worked example

A contractor evaluates a walk-behind scrubber at $12,000 that will clean 20,000 square feet per day with labor costing $24 per hour.

The calculator returns the number of months until the equipment pays for itself through labor savings and the total return on investment over five years of operation.

Questions operators ask

What is included in loaded labor rate?: Loaded labor rate includes base wages plus payroll taxes, workers compensation, benefits, and overhead. For most cleaning operations this runs 1.3 to 1.5 times the hourly wage. A technician earning $16 per hour typically costs $21 to $24 loaded.
How does equipment type affect ROI calculation?: Different equipment types clean at different production rates per hour. Walk-behind scrubbers cover less area per hour than ride-on models, while autonomous scrubbers eliminate direct labor during operation. The calculator adjusts labor savings based on the production rate typical for each equipment category.
Should I include chemical savings in the ROI?: Include chemical savings if the new equipment meters solution more accurately or uses less water than your current method. Autoscrubbers typically reduce chemical use by 20 to 40 percent compared to mop-and-bucket. Enter your current annual chemical spend and the expected savings percentage in the advanced fields.