How to Build a Roof Cleaning Pricing Formula in Autobidder
Setting Up a Price Formula For Roof Cleaning
Step 1: Start With the Base Formula
Every formula begins with your foundation — in this case, the square footage of the roof.
Question:
“How many square feet is your roof?”
- Input type: Number
- Unit: Square feet (ft²)
- Variable name:
roof_sqft
You’ll multiply this by your
base rate per square foot.
For example, you might use
$0.40 per square foot:
base_price = roof_sqft * 0.40
This is the primary driver of your pricing formula.
Step 2: Add Key Multipliers
Each additional question acts as a multiplier that adjusts your base price based on difficulty, time, materials, and access.
Here are the main ones used in this formula:
Roof Material
Question: “What type of roof do you have?”
Options:
- Shingle → 1.0
- Metal → 1.2
- Tile → 1.22
This multiplier accounts for cleaning difficulty and solution cost.
Roof Steepness
Question: “How steep is your roof?”
Options:
- Low → 1.0
- Medium → 1.2
- Steep → 1.35
Steeper roofs require more safety setup and time, so the price increases proportionally.
Roof Shape / Complexity
Question: “What best describes your roof shape?”
Options:
- Simple → 1.0
- Moderate → 1.15
- Complex → 1.3
Pro Tip: Include reference images or short guide videos for each option to help customers understand what applies to them. This prevents confusion and builds trust.
House Height (Stories)
Question: “How many stories is your home?”
Options:
- 1 Story → 1.0
- 2 Story → 1.15
- 3 Story → 1.25
This accounts for additional ladder work, setup time, and safety considerations.
Gutter Presence
Question: “Does your home have gutters?”
Options:
- Yes → 1.0
- No → 1.3
- Not sure → 1.0
If gutters aren’t present, cleaning usually requires different water flow and rinse techniques — hence the cost increase.
Step 3: Add Conditional Questions
Conditional logic makes your formula feel intelligent and context-aware.
Example: Galvanized Roof Logic
You can set up an extra question that only appears if a user selects “Metal” as their roof material:
Question: “Is the roof galvanized?”
- Yes → 1.24
- No → 1.0
Conditional Display Rule:
Show only if
roof_material = metal
.
This ensures the question is only visible when relevant.
Step 4: Combine Everything Into a Formula
Once all variables are added, combine them into a single formula:
final_price = roof_sqft * 0.40
* roof_material
* roof_steepness
* roof_shape
* story_count
* gutter_presence
* galvanized
Step 5: Add Minimum and Maximum Safeguards
To prevent unrealistic prices from formula errors or small jobs, set a minimum and maximum price.
- Minimum: $750 (example)
- Maximum: $4,500 (optional, to catch miscalculations)
This ensures your quotes stay professional and within realistic bounds.
Step 6: Testing and Debugging Your Formula
Always
test your formula using the “Call Screen” or admin testing mode before going live.
If you encounter an error:
Common Causes
- Missing Values:
Every variable must have a default value — even if it’s just “1.”
Example: if the “galvanized” question doesn’t appear, it still needs a default value so it doesn’t break the formula. - Typos in Formula:
Check for missing multiplication symbols or spacing errors. - Conditional Question Defaults:
If a conditional question isn’t shown, make sure its variable still has a value so the math holds. - Unassigned Variables:
Any variable that returns blank or “none” can trigger an error. Assign all values before saving.
If you’ve checked all these and the error persists, you can contact Autobidder support for personalized help.
Step 7: Save and Test Live
Once everything looks right, save your formula, test it with a few scenarios (different materials, shapes, and sizes), and ensure your price ranges make sense.
| Input | Example | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Roof Square Footage | 2,000 sqft | — |
| Material | Tile | 1.22 |
| Steepness | Medium | 1.20 |
| Shape / Complexity | Complex | 1.30 |
| Stories | 2 Story | 1.15 |
| Gutters | Yes | 1.00 |
| Estimated Price | ≈ $1,761.60 | |
Step 8: Expand and Evolve
As you use Autobidder more, you’ll find new opportunities to refine your formula:
- Add options for partial cleanings (e.g., north side only)
- Include special treatments or roof preservation coatings
- Create bundles for roof + house + gutters for upselling
Every new real-world scenario gives you a chance to make your calculator smarter.
Final Thoughts
This formula-building process is designed to evolve with your business. Start simple — with square footage and a few multipliers — then layer in conditional logic, images, and reference videos over time.
Your goal is to make the quoting process accurate, professional, and effortless for both you and your customers.
If you run into an issue, visit Support inside Autobidder and submit a help form — you’ll get direct guidance to resolve any formula errors quickly.
Calculator Flow Chart:

