Most floor restoration companies can tell you what they charge per square foot. Far fewer can tell you what they actually make per square foot. Those two numbers are rarely the same. A price per foot is a starting point, not an answer. A profitable estimate accounts for: - Condition of the stone. Light dullness and heavy etching, deep scratches or lippage are two different jobs, even on the same floor. - Stone type. Terrazzo, travertine and marble each take different tooling, time and products. - Number of steps. Grinding, honing, polishing and sealing all cost time and consumables, and diamonds wear out. - Access and setup. Moving furniture, working around business hours, long hauls from the truck and water control add real hours. - Overhead. Insurance, fuel, equipment wear, vehicle costs and your own pay for the time spent selling and estimating. - Profit margin. This comes after all of the above, not out of whatever is left. The bidder who wins on price alone often loses on profit. The one who walks the floor, explains the process and prices the real work usually wins the customer and the margin. Do you price by the square foot, by the hour, or by the job? Why?