How do I train my daughter to bid on cleaning contracts before she takes over?

Begin by letting her sit in on the whole bidding cycle: the first call, the walk-through, the written quote and the follow-up. Afterward, explain what you noticed on the site that never made it onto paper, such as awkward access, heavy foot traffic or a difficult building contact. Then open your cost notes. Show how you estimate cleaning hours, supplies, equipment wear and travel between sites, and where you add a cushion.

Have her rebuild an old bid from scratch and compare it with yours. The gaps teach more than a lecture. Next, hand her the lead on a smaller bid while you stay quiet in the room. Afterward, review what she said and what she skipped. Do the same when you lose a bid: ask the client why, and keep the answers in a shared file.

Finally, introduce her to the people who award work. Relationships with property managers and facility staff take time, so start the introductions well before you step back. Be open about what you got wrong early on. Pricing a building too low, promising a schedule the crew could not keep or taking on a client who never paid are lessons she can borrow instead of repeating them herself.

Key takeaways

• Let her follow a bid from first call to follow-up, not just the pricing.
• Have her rebuild one of your old bids and compare the gaps with you.
• Review lost bids together and keep the client’s reasons on file.
• Share the mistakes you made early so she can skip them.