Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Klean07 on September 08, 2010, 10:54:03 pm
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Just wondered how much extra you guys charge for a 2 monthly job. Because I had a custy last week ask if she could have it done every two months instead of normal monthly. When I told her it was going to cost £5 extra her jaw almost touched the floor!!
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must be 50% more
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we offer 6 and 12 week choice, 6 being standard, we charge 35% more for 12, not one complaint about that yet.
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When I quote I have a card on there it says 4 week cleans ,8 week cleans,first cleans and first time cleans. 4 week say 12 pound, 8 week 18 pound, First clean 24 pound, one off clean 25 quid.I am upfront from day one.
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I don't charge any extra, it doesn't make any difference to me. I just set them up on George and when they come up as due I go and clean them.
Besides, 8 weeks is becoming the normal sort of interval these days, I pick up more customers because I am flexible.
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When I quote I have a card on there it says 4 week cleans ,8 week cleans,first cleans and first time cleans. 4 week say 12 pound, 8 week 18 pound, First clean 24 pound, one off clean 25 quid.I am upfront from day one.
Surely you don't put set prices on your card because every house is different price.
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i dont charge any extra .
i quote monthly , but they can have 8 weekly if they ask !
no one offs , or 3 or 4 monthly .
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I don't charge any extra, it doesn't make any difference to me. I just set them up on George and when they come up as due I go and clean them.
Besides, 8 weeks is becoming the normal sort of interval these days, I pick up more customers because I am flexible.
it's interesting to hear you say that Vince, I've got a similar situation myself at the moment and have come to the same conclusion.
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When I quote I have a card on there it says 4 week cleans ,8 week cleans,first cleans and first time cleans. 4 week say 12 pound, 8 week 18 pound, First clean 24 pound, one off clean 25 quid.I am upfront from day one.
best way!!! get it straight from the start! that way no probs!
def second that!!
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I do that Wizkid.
I had a lady come up to me in the street yesterday and ask me to quote. It was a small victorian cottage semi about 150 metres from my nearest custy - but has loft rooflights and a third floor dormer so I gave her the following options after establishing that this was to be a regular arrangement.
First clean including rooflights and dormer - £25
Subsequent every two months - £16, every month £13, but no 3rd floor and rooflights included - but she can ask me to add them in a couple of times a year for an extra fiver.
All written on a card and she's having it (oo err matron! ;D) every other month for £16. I did the first clean on the spot.
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Most of our customers are 4 weekly. We charge 25% extra for 8 weekly. It does make a difference, 8 weeklys are dirtier and take longer therefore need to be priced accordingly.
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i wouldnt have the cheek to charge more if a custy wanted it 8 weekly instead as chances are with this day and age its because they cant afford to have it monthly.. what a load of crap yea they are a bit dirtier after 8 weeks but how would that justify charging an extra 50 percent????no wonder im icking up a lot of new work at mo with other shiners taking the mick like that.
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i wouldnt have the cheek to charge more if a custy wanted it 8 weekly instead as chances are with this day and age its because they cant afford to have it monthly.. what a load of crap yea they are a bit dirtier after 8 weeks but how would that justify charging an extra 50 percent????no wonder im icking up a lot of new work at mo with other shiners taking the mick like that.
::)
Which is why cleeen, that on August 27th you posted under "Smallest best paying round" the following ...
(sic) "Im just embarrased to say coz i work long hours for crap money"
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i always state from the start, with a new customer, that 8 wkly cleans are slightly more expensive.
but i dont charge 50 % more.
eg, £10 monthly £12 bi-monthly
works fine for me and nobody complains.
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i wouldnt have the cheek to charge more if a custy wanted it 8 weekly instead as chances are with this day and age its because they cant afford to have it monthly.. what a load of crap yea they are a bit dirtier after 8 weeks but how would that justify charging an extra 50 percent????no wonder im icking up a lot of new work at mo with other shiners taking the mick like that.
::)
Which is why cleeen, that on August 27th you posted under "Smallest best paying round" the following ...
(sic) "Im just embarrased to say coz i work long hours for crap money"
lol...doh! :)
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I don't charge any extra, it doesn't make any difference to me. I just set them up on George and when they come up as due I go and clean them.
Besides, 8 weeks is becoming the normal sort of interval these days, I pick up more customers because I am flexible.
same here,8 weekly doesnt take any longer generally wfp
unless pigeons have left a missile behind.
im also getting more requests off new custies for 8 weekly
sign of the times :)
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I don't charge any extra, it doesn't make any difference to me. I just set them up on George and when they come up as due I go and clean them.
Besides, 8 weeks is becoming the normal sort of interval these days, I pick up more customers because I am flexible.
same here,8 weekly doesnt take any longer generally wfp
unless pigeons have left a missile behind.
im also getting more requests off new custies for 8 weekly
sign of the times :)
::) this is why we should all be charging more, because it does take longer, and is very easy to work out why.
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My standard is 8 weeks... I have some larger houses on 12 or 16 weeks. For 12 weeks I add £5 onto the standard price, or for 16 weeks I add £10.
Seems to work OK for me!
Andy
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I do 6 weekly or 12 weekly at a 50% premium. Almost exactly one in three of my customers take the 12 weekly option.
Vin
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I do charge some 50%, extra, this is on really compact work areas, as I don't want them all jumping on the bandwagon, and they would if I charged the same. Some bigger jobs I don't charge extra for.
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same price 2 or 4 weekly
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If your not charging extra for changing from 4 to 8 weeks you really are doing yourself out money,
1. yes there is more dirt and cr@p will be more baked on over 8 weeks rather than 4
2. 4 week price is for regular maintance clean - 8 week is nearer a full clean and will take longer
3. How fair is that to other custy's ? paying the same price every 4 weeks as another who gets theirs done every 8
weeks or ad hoc? - as a custy i would be pee'd off
4. 8 weekly is inconvienant you now need to find another custy
5. if it's money saving explain the above and point out they still save ie.. £10 4/w means they spend £20 every 2 months
at 8/w the price is £15 so saving them £5 every two months.
other custy's wont think they are being short changed, the job is a worthwhile price for the hassle and
you can them fit in another custy and be better off ( alternate 8/w at £15 ) gives you £15 every 4/w rather than £10
Darran
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sorry......
by the way i do charge more when changing from 4 to 8/w - never had a prob.
and new custy's get a 1st off price - 4/w price 8/w price and any longer same as 1st off.
Darran
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If your not charging extra for changing from 4 to 8 weeks you really are doing yourself out money
Agree. If people are prepared to pay the premium (and a third of all my customers pay it with a smile), then as an economist would put it, you're leaving money on the table by not charging it.
Vin
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We charge 35% more for an 8 weekly clean 60% for 12 weekly.
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all first cleans should really be priced up as a one off clean.......
Otherwise if they dump you straight after, then you have been well paid. ;)
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same price 2 or 4 weekly
do you wear a mask cleaning 2 weekly ?
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The windows are not really any harder to clean at 8 weeks or 12 weeks. Increased risk of a bit of bird crap or whatever of course. The real difference is in the sills and, this time of year, the cobwebs. Even so its no big deal.
My point is that you give the customer the service they want and thats what building a solid round is all about. Fewer and fewer customers want four weeks and thats a fact. I charge a good price, based on an hourly rate and just bash on through my list each day. It makes absolutely no difference to me when they were last cleaned.
Its actually better for me because every day is different I don't get that stuck in a rut feeling. Besides, I don't think many of my customers would pay my prices every month.
To me the thinking changed when I went WFP, its more than just a different method of cleaning. It enables you to develop a different attitude to the way you work. I started using George at the same time and the combination of the two has really made a difference to absolutely everything.
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I don't charge any extra, it doesn't make any difference to me. I just set them up on George and when they come up as due I go and clean them.
Besides, 8 weeks is becoming the normal sort of interval these days, I pick up more customers because I am flexible.
same here,8 weekly doesnt take any longer generally wfp
unless pigeons have left a missile behind.
im also getting more requests off new custies for 8 weekly
sign of the times :)
::) this is why we should all be charging more, because it does take longer, and is very easy to work out why.
sorry but generally it doesnt...but hey maybe thats because im
talented.
i could charge more for the sake of it but idont ;D
i do charge 50% more now for first cleans and twelve
weekly which happens very rarely
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If your not charging extra for changing from 4 to 8 weeks you really are doing yourself out money
Agree. If people are prepared to pay the premium (and a third of all my customers pay it with a smile), then as an economist would put it, you're leaving money on the table by not charging it.
Vin
nope dont agree i just fill that 4 weekly space with another customer
problem solved :)
i treat my customers fairly and in general they do the same
with me
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The windows are not really any harder to clean at 8 weeks or 12 weeks. Increased risk of a bit of bird crap or whatever of course. The real difference is in the sills and, this time of year, the cobwebs. Even so its no big deal.
My point is that you give the customer the service they want and thats what building a solid round is all about. Fewer and fewer customers want four weeks and thats a fact. I charge a good price, based on an hourly rate and just bash on through my list each day. It makes absolutely no difference to me when they were last cleaned.
Its actually better for me because every day is different I don't get that stuck in a rut feeling. Besides, I don't think many of my customers would pay my prices every month.
To me the thinking changed when I went WFP, its more than just a different method of cleaning. It enables you to develop a different attitude to the way you work. I started using George at the same time and the combination of the two has really made a difference to absolutely everything.
good post :)
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If your not charging extra for changing from 4 to 8 weeks you really are doing yourself out money
Agree. If people are prepared to pay the premium (and a third of all my customers pay it with a smile), then as an economist would put it, you're leaving money on the table by not charging it.
Vin
nope dont agree i just fill that 4 weekly space with another customer
problem solved :)
i treat my customers fairly and in general they do the same
with me
I treat my customers fairly as well, in my humble opinion. I would have thought that the fact that one in three is happy to pay that premium suggests that I'm pricing it at a point with which my customers are happy.
As for filling with another short period customer (4 weeks for you, 6 for me) I'd rather have a round of 600 twelve weeklys all paying £30 a visit (£18,000 every twelve weeks) than 300 six weeklys all paying £20 (£12,000 every twelve weeks). Case one gives me much more turnover.
And before you tell me I'm not treating my customers fairly, remember again that one in three of my customers is paying the premium. Are they doing it because they are unhappy? I suspect not.
Vin
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Apart from my commercial round I've only 2 customers who want them done monthly all the rest are either 2, 3, 4 or half yearly cleans.
If a 2 monther wants to push it out to 3 monthly I charge exactly the same. Reason being that he/she are financially tight and I'd sooner keep the customer than try to be clever and have them say "oh well let's leave it then". Besides as somebody rightly said the work isn't that much harder (unless of course you really are crap at your job ;D).
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We only charge more for first cleans where they are absolutely filthy and the sills/frames are disgusting OR if they've had a load of building work/jet washing done and the windows are particularly filthy other than that same price.
Most of our customers do want 4 weekly - a few moan if we're even a week late so we make sure we aren't late to them!
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it's interesting how people see this, in industry/manufacturing the more you buy the cheaper the product,
if i want 1 off it would cost £10 if i wanted 10 off the price would drop by 25% each.
if i shop at Tesco's and buy 2 of the same item i get 3rd at half price if i buy 1 - no discount even if i went back
the next day and got another.
my local garage gives me a better price because they get my 2 cars and van, all servicing and MOT's repairs etc..
( ie.. MOT is charged at staff rate not the advertised rate )
if i used them once in a blue moon i would not get this !
so why should w/c be any different ?
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Because food and car/van servicing are essentials whereas having clean windows isn't.
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servicing is not essential at a garage, you could do it yourself ! - if not, why not, because it's easier to
pay for some one to do it.
Darran
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servicing is not essential at a garage, you could do it yourself ! - if not, why not, because it's easier to
pay for some one to do it.
Darran
Er maybe you can service your own cars and vans but us lesser mortals can't and therefore take them to a garage.
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i could service mine, but it would never start again ;D
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likewise some people cant clean there own windows !!!
Darran
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likewise some people cant clean there own windows !!!
Darran
True but windows don't "need" to be cleaned.
I can go years without my windows being cleaned, but I can't go years without my car being serviced or without buying food.
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you go years without cleaning your windows?? tut tut call yourself a window cleaner? what a disgrace :'(
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i don't need to go to a garage so its not essential to me.
but i do and i get good service and as i use them for several vehicles i get
a better price than if i used them infrequently which is the whole crux of the thread
Darran
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Look if Simon Knight et al think that an 8 weekly is no longer to do than a 4 weekly then let them continue in that cosy notion.
Meanwhile in my world a 4 weekly is about 10%/20% quicker on average. Here's why:-
1. On 4 weekly there is no need to do the top frames every clean
2. At 4 weeks you don't need to rinse so thoroughly = saves a bit of water
3. On 8 wks more Cobwebs and spidey nests.
4. More and more baked on Bird's muck
5. More muck in the joint between cill and bottom frame and "splash up" grit on doors and patios.
6. More slug trails
On one house the difference is a few minutes which seems minimal. But if you do 20 houses in a day then that's an hour in which you could do another three or four houses. You also save a litre or two per house which gives you more capacity should you need it.
I wouldn't dream of offering 3 or 4 monthly except in very rare and well paid circumstances.
I offer my custies both 1 and 2 months and as mentioned above about a third go for two months at the higher price.
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some people are full of it on here. I must say many talk a good days work. Window cleaners are 10 to the dozen.we are all over the place..if a custy of mine said they are strapped for cash and ask to go 8 weekly and i said yes but will cost you an extra 5 pound im sure the next canvasser or leaflet they get through the post they wouldnt think twice about changing as will save them the money they cant afford to pay.
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some people are full of it on here. I must say many talk a good days work. Window cleaners are 10 to the dozen.we are all over the place..if a custy of mine said they are strapped for cash and ask to go 8 weekly and i said yes but will cost you an extra 5 pound im sure the next canvasser or leaflet they get through the post they wouldnt think twice about changing as will save them the money they cant afford to pay.
That is what happens
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some people are full of it on here. I must say many talk a good days work. Window cleaners are 10 to the dozen.we are all over the place..if a custy of mine said they are strapped for cash and ask to go 8 weekly and i said yes but will cost you an extra 5 pound im sure the next canvasser or leaflet they get through the post they wouldnt think twice about changing as will save them the money they cant afford to pay.
Utter nonsense cleen,
You obviously haven't any confidence in your ability to retain your customers except through the old "keep the price low" and then panic if another window cleaner drives by. If you do a good job and your custies trust you then you will have let the "cheapest price messers" go long ago. Who wants'em?
You've changed the scenario quoted above to a specific instead of general practice. When you canvass or are asked to quote you simply say:- "I offer several options - monthly at £12, every two months as the windows will have more bird muck and dirt on them for £15. The first clean will be extra again to get them up to scratch, which would you prefer?"
If Mrs. Lady comes up to me as a regular loyal custy and says hubby has lost his job and I'm gonna have to cancel then I will be reasonable but it is very rare and I don't run a charity I run a business and I learn from others on this forum and from my own mistakes.
Trust me - I've been on this forum long enough to hear folk tell me that wfp is rubbish and will never work; that you cannot work in the rain; that you must collect and not leave payment slips; that you need a "wrapped shiny van" with a company made system. There is even one guy who says that patches rule. And that you cannot be a window cleaner without a ladder.
Even I'm guilty of saying "shy away from taking on staff - they cause nothing but trouble" and yet there are very successful guys and gals who do - one of whom I know who is a millionaire.
Meanwhile, myself and others carry on learning and growing our businesses and let those with closed minds carry on in their own sweet way.
But to others that are learning and want to make an informed decision then I say "Read on Macduff!" ignore the naysayers and improve your business methods. ;)
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I am genuinely shocked reading this thread. If you don't raise your price along with the interval your throwing money away. I average between 30-40% going from 4 to 8 weeks. People are fine with this as a general rule, maybe lose 1 in 5 tops. I admit I am rushed off my feet so can take the risk.
As one poster said, apart from the financial implication you need to do this as a deterent to others. All good window cleaners know how big word of mouth is in our trade. It can also work against you.
I don't think "company policy" is such a hot idea. You need to be a bit flexible. If someone has been made redundant and your making £15 in 15 minutes, perhaps don't risk losing it. Particularly if you need the work. If your established and your prices are consistent, rarely would it be a good idea. But still judge each case on its merits, anything between 0 and 50% I'd say, but a 30-40% average.
This is a business. Treat it like one. "Bulk buying" or "trade discount" work on the same fundamentals. I think people who don't raise their prices surely know its huge mistake by now and are just arguing for the sake of it.
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some people are full of it on here. I must say many talk a good days work. Window cleaners are 10 to the dozen.we are all over the place..if a custy of mine said they are strapped for cash and ask to go 8 weekly and i said yes but will cost you an extra 5 pound im sure the next canvasser or leaflet they get through the post they wouldnt think twice about changing as will save them the money they cant afford to pay.
You work in the wrong areas dude, if thats what you think.
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some people are full of it on here. I must say many talk a good days work. Window cleaners are 10 to the dozen.we are all over the place..if a custy of mine said they are strapped for cash and ask to go 8 weekly and i said yes but will cost you an extra 5 pound im sure the next canvasser or leaflet they get through the post they wouldnt think twice about changing as will save them the money they cant afford to pay.
You work in the wrong areas dude, if thats what you think.
Don't say "dude" - you'll get arrested for disrespect! ;D (See the "shocking" threads!)
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nigel and gold..i dont know how you can say that. fair enough if you price the custy like that from day 1 but what if they become unemployed or have money issues..when a custy saysto me "im sorry im going to have to cancal you cleaning my windows as i cant afford it my husband has lost hes job" thats when id say well would you want it every other month instead and 9 times out of 10 i keep them as a custy..i wouldnt dare have the cheek to say ill add on an extra £5. like i said we are 10 to the dozen people want the best price as well as the best job. nuff said
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Look if Simon Knight et al think that an 8 weekly is no longer to do than a 4 weekly then let them continue in that cosy notion.
Meanwhile in my world a 4 weekly is about 10%/20% quicker on average. Here's why:-
1. On 4 weekly there is no need to do the top frames every clean
2. At 4 weeks you don't need to rinse so thoroughly = saves a bit of water
3. On 8 wks more Cobwebs and spidey nests.
4. More and more baked on Bird's muck
5. More muck in the joint between cill and bottom frame and "splash up" grit on doors and patios.
6. More slug trails
On one house the difference is a few minutes which seems minimal. But if you do 20 houses in a day then that's an hour in which you could do another three or four houses. You also save a litre or two per house which gives you more capacity should you need it.
I wouldn't dream of offering 3 or 4 monthly except in very rare and well paid circumstances.
I offer my custies both 1 and 2 months and as mentioned above about a third go for two months at the higher price.
You can do all your customers in 2 months? Blimey I really struggle to get round in 3 months...and 4 is probably more realistic! Mind you the houses I clean tend to be anywhere from 4 to 8 bedders and I also do the insides as well. Perhaps your customers live in shoebox land :P
Your points 1-6 may well count if you're wfp but as I'm trad (and proud of it) I know for 100% fact that the difference between a 2, 3, 4 or 6 month clean is notional, and as I said previously if I do find it takes far longer then I will charge a bit extra, and my customers don't mind as they know I'm not taking the p1$$ and they're gonna have a good job done.
You always come onto the forum and act like some sort of sage and that your word is law...and people tend to suck-up and agree with you (possibly because you can string a sentence together grammatically with no spelling mistakes...which is impressive to some on here!)
Frankly mate you may be a big-shot where you come from but in Putney SW15 you'd be F all !
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nigel and gold..i dont know how you can say that. fair enough if you price the custy like that from day 1 but what if they become unemployed or have money issues..when a custy saysto me "im sorry im going to have to cancal you cleaning my windows as i cant afford it my husband has lost hes job" thats when id say well would you want it every other month instead and 9 times out of 10 i keep them as a custy..i wouldnt dare have the cheek to say ill add on an extra £5. like i said we are 10 to the dozen people want the best price as well as the best job. nuff said
If you just said "yeah, it's going up 50%" they would probably dump you.
Being strapped for cash has happened to me and I've said "Look, I can cut your annual bill by going to once every twelve weeks instead of six. If the customer is a £16 customer and they go up to £24, they are going from £128 a year to £96. The customer's happy (his bill has gone down) and I'm happy (if I can fill with another 12 weekly my turnover has just gone up by 50% on that part of my work).
Vin
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yes but a jump from 16 pound to 24 sounds madness. Thats fair they save over the year but as soon as they get canvassed again or a leaflet they will be tempted to drop you. I know as have been a canvasser for years and i do get jobs where a cleaner is charging well over the odds for example i wouldnt turn down that 16 pound job every 8 weeks where you would be selfish and state will have to be 24. Someone who is lacking funds wont agree with this. I wouldnt if it was me and im sure you wouldnt either.
You are not offering anything better are you. Its not as if your upgrading to first class. Well anyway im happy with my round and it grows and grows and i get good prices. Its just my view but i wouldnt feel right charging extra just for 8 weekly id consider if job was 4monthly or 6monthly as would get filthy but not 8 weekly no way pedro. Mind you i guess if you havnt a full round then to make it you have to risk charging mad amounts and hope they stick.
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i like my cozy notions ;D
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you would be selfish
Wow, thanks for that. I think I'm offering them an option to cut their annual cost while still keeping their business at a value that makes it worth my while doing them. We'll have to disagree.
Its not as if your upgrading to first class. Well anyway im happy with my round and it grows and grows and i get good prices.
Mine grows and grows as well and from what each of us have said on this thread, I seem to be getting better prices than you for my less regular customers. If you like that, then I have no argument with you. I'm simply suggesting that there is another way.
Mind you i guess if you havnt a full round then to make it you have to risk charging mad amounts and hope they stick.
That's an odd notion. Surely a less than full round is what tempts people into being busy fools by undercharging. Many of the people on here complain about their underpriced work and how, once they are full, they will drop it. I'm clear about my prices from the start, so all of my work is well priced. (and I won't have to drop customers through no fault of theirs)
Each to their own, of course.
Vin
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perfect windows.. Whats your average price then and how many custies you got to be so sure of yourself. I have set prices for the size of house not if they want it 4 or 8 weekly. How would you get many recomendations charging an extra 8 pound if 8 weekly from 4. Well if all your custies are fine with this then fair play to you.
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I don't think whether 4 or 8 weekly is the main consideration. Things like being on a main road, lots of shrubs by windows (more cobwebs), close to lots of trees (more rubbish on sills and bird poo). We have 4 week cleans which actually are dirtier than 8 week cleans so the main thing is to assess the clean overall with the frequency being part not the whole consideration. If you just automatically have a price for the size of a house and the frequency of the clean then you surely miss all these factors too?
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perfect windows.. Whats your average price then and how many custies you got to be so sure of yourself. I have set prices for the size of house not if they want it 4 or 8 weekly. How would you get many recomendations charging an extra 8 pound if 8 weekly from 4. Well if all your custies are fine with this then fair play to you.
I'm afraid I'm not going to discuss details of my business size here. My average turnover per customer visit is just under £21 (I've excluded a number of high priced jobs as they would skew that upwards unfairly).
I think the important figure is that almost exactly a third of my customers take the reduced annual cost associated with twelve-weekly cleans (or my extortionate uplift as you might describe it!).
My the way, to go back to your earlier suggestion that I'm selfish, yes I suppose I am. I'm running a business to make as good a living as I can, so everything I do is in service of that.
Vin
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This is such an incredibly bizarre thread!
If a customer wants to have a bigger gap between cleans the answer is "yes ma'am"...after all they are her windows for Gods sake!
If one subsequently finds that the longer gap takes X amount more time to get 'em cleaned then X amount more gets charged. But in reality the extra time is so minimal that the extra 50p isn't worth asking for 8)
The Malc Golds of this world will argue that 50p times 1000 cleans a year = £500
I say that you'll lose £5000pa if you take that attitude.
Gold has his opinions and has been around for donkeys years, has an established round and customers faithfully to him...I suspect he is also a good window cleaner!
But that's Gold!...us lesser mortals need to bend and charge prices according to what the market will stand.
We, all of us, daily see a glut of 8ft double pointers strapped to the roof of the family car...these are the people who want our business. They're not bad people, merely the unforunates who've lost their jobs and want to earn a few quid to keep a foof over their heads and put grub on the table.
On the basis that this isn't exactly the most skilled job on Gods earth then at these times we need to add a bit of "added value" for our customers.
As an example:
2/3rds of my work is commercial: I used to do outs only..now I do insides (albeit occassionally)....and don't charge :o...Mad?...well no actually. What I'm doing is ensuring that as long as they are in business I will be their window cleaner.
This isn't the economy to be haggling over a few quid. Be grateful you're kept on.
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This is such an incredibly bizarre thread!
If a customer wants to have a bigger gap between cleans the answer is "yes ma'am"...after all they are her windows for Gods sake!
If one subsequently finds that the longer gap takes X amount more time to get 'em cleaned then X amount more gets charged. But in reality the extra time is so minimal that the extra 50p isn't worth asking for 8)
The Malc Golds of this world will argue that 50p times 1000 cleans a year = £500
I say that you'll lose £5000pa if you take that attitude.
Gold has his opinions and has been around for donkeys years, has an established round and customers faithfully to him...I suspect he is also a good window cleaner!
But that's Gold!...us lesser mortals need to bend and charge prices according to what the market will stand.
We, all of us, daily see a glut of 8ft double pointers strapped to the roof of the family car...these are the people who want our business. They're not bad people, merely the unforunates who've lost their jobs and want to earn a few quid to keep a foof over their heads and put grub on the table.
On the basis that this isn't exactly the most skilled job on Gods earth then at these times we need to add a bit of "added value" for our customers.
As an example:
2/3rds of my work is commercial: I used to do outs only..now I do insides (albeit occassionally)....and don't charge :o...Mad?...well no actually. What I'm doing is ensuring that as long as they are in business I will be their window cleaner.
This isn't the economy to be haggling over a few quid. Be grateful you're kept on.
i think you are treating your customers as your slave master, doing insides for free?
i couldnt do that, if im not getting paid then i wont bother
also to everyone who doesnt add more when the frequency goes upyou are mad, you are basically saying the windows get no dirtier, of course they do , they are much dirtier maybe as you now wfp you dont notice as much ?
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This is such an incredibly bizarre thread!
If a customer wants to have a bigger gap between cleans the answer is "yes ma'am"...after all they are her windows for Gods sake!
If one subsequently finds that the longer gap takes X amount more time to get 'em cleaned then X amount more gets charged. But in reality the extra time is so minimal that the extra 50p isn't worth asking for 8)
The Malc Golds of this world will argue that 50p times 1000 cleans a year = £500
I say that you'll lose £5000pa if you take that attitude.
Gold has his opinions and has been around for donkeys years, has an established round and customers faithfully to him...I suspect he is also a good window cleaner!
But that's Gold!...us lesser mortals need to bend and charge prices according to what the market will stand.
We, all of us, daily see a glut of 8ft double pointers strapped to the roof of the family car...these are the people who want our business. They're not bad people, merely the unforunates who've lost their jobs and want to earn a few quid to keep a foof over their heads and put grub on the table.
On the basis that this isn't exactly the most skilled job on Gods earth then at these times we need to add a bit of "added value" for our customers.
As an example:
2/3rds of my work is commercial: I used to do outs only..now I do insides (albeit occassionally)....and don't charge :o...Mad?...well no actually. What I'm doing is ensuring that as long as they are in business I will be their window cleaner.
This isn't the economy to be haggling over a few quid. Be grateful you're kept on.
i think you are treating your customers as your slave master, doing insides for free?
i couldnt do that, if im not getting paid then i wont bother
also to everyone who doesnt add more when the frequency goes upyou are mad, you are basically saying the windows get no dirtier, of course they do , they are much dirtier maybe as you now wfp you dont notice as much ?
Fine Sean, have you never heard of BOGOF? (buy one get one free)
My customers are not my slave masters but they are my source of a good income and I do whatever I can to keep them onside, which I think in this day and age isn't too shabby a tactic.
Look around you mate and see the number of pointers on cars...anybody can do our jobs! We need to give a bit extra, no?
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if you are doing insides free,the customer will want them everytime,and as word gets out all customers who are in will want free insides,the ones i do just get charged the same as outsides, so they dont get ripped off and they are happy
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Klean 07 said ." Surely you don't put set prices on your card because every house is different price" You it by the tail end. I quote individually on each house and give them the chose at what interval they want then cleaned. I have been caught to often with a monthly price and the they want a one off when they cannot give me a answer at once. ::) ::)
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>Simon Knight
If you are only doing 1000 cleans (that an extra 50p can be applied to) in a year then you have more to worry about than whether I advise the original poster to charge extra for his 2 monthly cleans as he has asked.
With custies it's all down to trust and the way you tell'em and the way you handle yourself. If you don't want to then carry on as you are while the majority of us on here look for ways to increase our income and improve our businesses.
I appreciate you telling me that it cannot be done and that I would be F all around your manor and I'm not at all surprised to hear that you are trad. and proud of it. I don't come on here to irritate or upset anyone but to share my experiences - if they clash with yours then so be it.
You give free cleans for the insides eh? And you think that is really good advice?
Time is money.
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This is such an incredibly bizarre thread!
If a customer wants to have a bigger gap between cleans the answer is "yes ma'am"...after all they are her windows for Gods sake!
If one subsequently finds that the longer gap takes X amount more time to get 'em cleaned then X amount more gets charged. But in reality the extra time is so minimal that the extra 50p isn't worth asking for 8)
The Malc Golds of this world will argue that 50p times 1000 cleans a year = £500
I say that you'll lose £5000pa if you take that attitude.
Gold has his opinions and has been around for donkeys years, has an established round and customers faithfully to him...I suspect he is also a good window cleaner!
But that's Gold!...us lesser mortals need to bend and charge prices according to what the market will stand.
We, all of us, daily see a glut of 8ft double pointers strapped to the roof of the family car...these are the people who want our business. They're not bad people, merely the unforunates who've lost their jobs and want to earn a few quid to keep a foof over their heads and put grub on the table.
On the basis that this isn't exactly the most skilled job on Gods earth then at these times we need to add a bit of "added value" for our customers.
As an example:
2/3rds of my work is commercial: I used to do outs only..now I do insides (albeit occassionally)....and don't charge :o...Mad?...well no actually. What I'm doing is ensuring that as long as they are in business I will be their window cleaner.
This isn't the economy to be haggling over a few quid. Be grateful you're kept on.
i think you are treating your customers as your slave master, doing insides for free?
i couldnt do that, if im not getting paid then i wont bother
also to everyone who doesnt add more when the frequency goes upyou are mad, you are basically saying the windows get no dirtier, of course they do , they are much dirtier maybe as you now wfp you dont notice as much ?
Fine Sean, have you never heard of BOGOF? (buy one get one free)
My customers are not my slave masters but they are my source of a good income and I do whatever I can to keep them onside, which I think in this day and age isn't too shabby a tactic.
Look around you mate and see the number of pointers on cars...anybody can do our jobs! We need to give a bit extra, no?
buy one get one free is okay simon for huge companies like tesco how give in one hand and take in the other, check your reciepts, you never save as much as you think
however there is a price attatched to my time at work, if i price a job i try not to under or over price, rather i price keenly to what i need to earn to turn a profit, if i then add work on for free i am working for free effectively, or working for less, either way it is a bad business practice and not a way i feel is suitable to stop people taking business of me, if it came to that i would give the jobs away as i am not that scared of the competition, my prices are reasonable i do a good job, i am friendly my customers know me and trust me, i dont need to throw in free cleans to keep custom
i think simon either a, you are panicking unduly, or b, you are over pricing so are offering frebies, or your customers are unsatisfied for some reason? i hope you dont take offence as i mean none, but i think you need to rethink your tactics as free cleans are no good especially for a sole trader your time is too precious
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I agree with Simon, he knows his business and he knows his customers. You are only as good in the customers eyes as your last clean.
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I think some are looking at this the wrong way.
Dont charge EXTRA for longer intervals, simply have a standard rate (one off) and charge LESS for increased frequency.
So if you are to price up a £15 house that would be done every 4 weeks, start off with the one off price of £30. Then if cleaned within the next 2 months £20, if cleaned every 4 weeks £15.
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Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?
I really don't see why the price of a window clean should vary according to the interval. Its still the same house. Like Simon I think the idea is a bit bizarre.
I provide a service and I charge £x. End of story. How often my customers want to take up my service is up to them
A bit like that girl who has a card in our newsagent's window
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Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?
I really don't see why the price of a window clean should vary according to the interval. Its still the same house. Like Simon I think the idea is a bit bizarre.
I provide a service and I charge £x. End of story. How often my customers want to take up my service is up to them
A bit like that girl who has a card in our newsagent's window
does she clean windows ;)
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we all run our businesses differently and im certainly not going to get in a slanging match with the differing views etc!
me?well lately ive had a few custies ask to go on 2 monthly as husband lost job etc,etc and i just accept it and charge the same(if its priced ok in the first place).sometimes i have added a few quid here and there for the longer frequency esp if i know they will be dirtier due to trees/road etc.
i am getting more new custies on 2 monthly at a good price and i think its the way forward for my business.also im actively trying to get bigger higher paying jobs(2/3/6 monthly) to add to my regular 4 weeklies.
a lot of my 4 weeklies are very compact and pretty cheap prices but i still earn ok money from them plus i get a steady stream of conny roofs/fascia cleans from these custies and ive been cleaning these for years!!
as for cleaning insides for free not a chance in my book!i hate inside cleaning!always have!if anyone asks i say double the outside price that usually works!very rarely get taking up on the offer.(this is on domestics by the way).
commercial is a bit different.if it was an exceptional well paying job then i might relent if its only every now and then.
i think i have to go with what vin says in relation to charging high rates for less frequency.i think this makes good business sense.i mean offer 2 monthly from the start at the higher price.
as for simon still trad with a lot of commercial.you really should get wfp!its speeded me up a lot!and its a lot safer and less tiring.no brainer mate!hey and i was trad for 16 years until 3 months ago!! ;) ;D ;D
regards
dazmond
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Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?
I think you've missed the point.
The barber would take the same time to cut your hair no matter how long it was.
The dirtier a window is, the longer it willl take to clean.
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I think you've missed the other point. It wouldn't matter if it took less time to clean a window every twelve weeks rather than every six. What matters is whether the customer will pay more. If they will, then let them, as you'll make more money. In my experience, people will pay more.
Vin
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so if someone says to you can you clean my windows weekly or semi annually you say yes sir that is £10 a clean no matter what
bull crap
its a very silly way to run a business, the less often the window gets cleaned the more difficult to schedule the longer time to clean , hence the increase in time and effort is a direct relation to an increase in cost if you cant see that then something is wrong!! or you overcharge in the first place
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Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?
I really don't see why the price of a window clean should vary according to the interval. Its still the same house. Like Simon I think the idea is a bit bizarre.
I provide a service and I charge £x. End of story. How often my customers want to take up my service is up to them
A bit like that girl who has a card in our newsagent's window
does she clean windows ;)
No but she'll give you a good leathering.
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Does the barber charge you more if you are bit late getting your hair cut?
I think you've missed the point.
The barber would take the same time to cut your hair no matter how long it was.
The dirtier a window is, the longer it willl take to clean.
Thats the bit we will have to disagree on. 4,8 12 weeks the windows take exactly the same time to clean. In fact I would challenge anyone to consistantly tell the difference.
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Thats the bit we will have to disagree on. 4,8 12 weeks the windows take exactly the same time to clean. In fact I would challenge anyone to consistantly tell the difference.
I reckon that is irrelevant. Will the customer pay more for an 8 or 12 week clean? If they will (and in my experience they will) and if it won't affect your long-term relationship with the customer then why not charge it and earn more money? Why are you in business? To make money or to be "nice"?
Vin
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I'm already top end on prices, don't make the mistake of thinking I am a soft touch. I go out in the mornings to make money and for no other reason. However, theres more to making money than just increasing your prices. Keeping you AND the customer happy with your prices/service, now thats a harder balance to strike.
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I'm already top end on prices, don't make the mistake of thinking I am a soft touch. I go out in the mornings to make money and for no other reason. However, theres more to making money than just increasing your prices. Keeping you AND the customer happy with your prices/service, now thats a harder balance to strike.
well if you are charging 12 weekly prices full stop thats a different thing although i still think custies would be upset if they knew
but to say there is no difference is not true, i notice it between 2 and 4 weekly let alone 12
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If you have had the customer for some time then suddenly they want to change from monthly to 2 monthly then in my opinion you have to gain a new customer to cover for the month that your losing. This particular one is an £18 3 story terraced house with limited parking. So its not that easy to do.
If I had a few more that wanted to change to 2 monthly then I would have to replace a lot more. So putting a fiver on price for next time buys me more time to get a new one to replace that one.
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Of course it takes longer to clean if the frequency is longer.
Think of washing your car by hand - if you do it religiously every week it takes less time than if you do it once a month. If you leave it three months then its longer again.
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What a right old bunch of so and so's you are
To charge extra for first cleans or less frequent cleans is just greedy
You have convinced (kidded) yourselves that it takes longer to clean every eight weeks than four
Absolute nonsense
Some one mentioned the difference in cleaning a car weekly and eight weekly
Doh here is what you don't want to understand
Now raw you ready ? Don't worry it won't hurt cmon open up your minds just a little
Right let's use then car wash theory, take a clean car into a car wash and take a filthy car into a car wash same time same result both clean ha ha but how come what about all that extra dirt?
Here it comes here is what you are denying. The thing ie the car or the window..............IS THE SAME SIZE so you dot clean anything more it is not bigger it is not harder doh more dirt where? On the other dirt.If a window is dirty all over younclean it if it I'd really dirty all over you clean it
Cmon kidding on customers is one hinge but lying to yourself that is just daft
What happens if you go four weekly and there is little dirt do you still clean the whole window? Or just the dirty bit. If it is only a little dirty do you charge LESS because you didn't have to clean a lot of dirt off
Whether it is dirty a little dirty filthy or clean just clean the window and charge the same the reason the customer wants eight weekly is to save money so you go and charge her more
Charge her the same from day one if it is a tenner house the first clean is a tenner the four weekly is a tenner and the six monthly is a tenner this way you keep the customer for years and makena great great deal more money
But you s,ash and grabbers can't see that, you also can't see how someone like me takes all your customers and makes more money over long term
"Hi can I use your car wash please mr garage man and how much is it" well how often do you wash it? "Oh every week" that's good well then it will be £5 please
Next guy goes up to counter" can I have a token for your £5 car wash please" just a minute there customer how often do youngish your car " eh about every two months" okay that will be £9 please " but ghat last bloke got it for a fiver why do I have to pay more .......altogether now " yours is dirtier"
What a lot of tosh
Gordon
Ps Gold you are spot on and that is why you are getting the customers
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Sorry about the spelling on my post but it is not easy typing fast on my ipad
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You have convinced (kidded) yourselves that it takes longer to clean every eight weeks than four
I've been quite clear that I'm not saying that. To remind you, I said 'Will the customer pay more for an 8 or 12 week clean? If they will (and in my experience they will) and if it won't affect your long-term relationship with the customer then why not charge it and earn more money? Why are you in business? To make money or to be "nice"?' - I've emphasised the bit in bold as it's important.
Nothing at all in there about how long it takes. Correct price is what the market will bear. If people will pay more for a twelve week clean, you'd be mad not to offer it at the price they want to pay.
Finished me bacon butty, off to my fourth job of the morning. Good start!
Vin
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What a right old bunch of so and so's you are
To charge extra for first cleans or less frequent cleans is just greedy
You have convinced (kidded) yourselves that it takes longer to clean every eight weeks than four
Absolute nonsense
Some one mentioned the difference in cleaning a car weekly and eight weekly
Doh here is what you don't want to understand
Now raw you ready ? Don't worry it won't hurt cmon open up your minds just a little
Right let's use then car wash theory, take a clean car into a car wash and take a filthy car into a car wash same time same result both clean ha ha but how come what about all that extra dirt?
Here it comes here is what you are denying. The thing ie the car or the window..............IS THE SAME SIZE so you dot clean anything more it is not bigger it is not harder doh more dirt where? On the other dirt.If a window is dirty all over younclean it if it I'd really dirty all over you clean it
Cmon kidding on customers is one hinge but lying to yourself that is just daft
What happens if you go four weekly and there is little dirt do you still clean the whole window? Or just the dirty bit. If it is only a little dirty do you charge LESS because you didn't have to clean a lot of dirt off
Whether it is dirty a little dirty filthy or clean just clean the window and charge the same the reason the customer wants eight weekly is to save money so you go and charge her more
Charge her the same from day one if it is a tenner house the first clean is a tenner the four weekly is a tenner and the six monthly is a tenner this way you keep the customer for years and makena great great deal more money
But you s,ash and grabbers can't see that, you also can't see how someone like me takes all your customers and makes more money over long term
"Hi can I use your car wash please mr garage man and how much is it" well how often do you wash it? "Oh every week" that's good well then it will be £5 please
Next guy goes up to counter" can I have a token for your £5 car wash please" just a minute there customer how often do youngish your car " eh about every two months" okay that will be £9 please " but ghat last bloke got it for a fiver why do I have to pay more .......altogether now " yours is dirtier"
What a lot of tosh
Gordon
Ps Gold you are spot on and that is why you are getting the customers
perfectly said..as i said before people are full of it on here...talk a good days graft. I think its a joke charging more for 8 weekly. vin and gold mention good business sence but id say good bus sence is to have max prices on all work not only if 8weekly. id feel im being robbed if someone charged me an extra 50percent just because i want by windows every 8 and not 4.
also another point when commercial goes from quartely to 6 monthly or even 2 monthly to quartely because they want to save money, well i dont see them paying more in face they do all they can to pay less and often drop you to a cheaper quote. In an ideal world it would be great but this is window cleaning and like it or not there is so much competition out there.
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> Gordons windows
You just tried to destruct my argument and then in the PS tell me I'm spot on.
??? ;D
Anyway -
In your car wash analogy you take your car to the powered car wash which gives every car exactly the same amount of time and detergent and power whether it is dirty or not.
Window cleaning is like a hand car wash and that is the similarity - I said "if you wash your car every week it is different to monthly etc" not "if you take your car to a car wash".
When you've got a set up (in fairytale land) where the custy brings his windows to an automatic window wash then you might have an argument that stands up. Until then think it through.
But I agree with your PS! ;D
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i hope you guys can see where im coming from with this:
if you look at it in another way - bit like bulk buying, more you buy the cheaper it is per item (hope that made sense)
so the same with the window cleaning, 12 cleans cheaper than 6 .....
i to think it takes longer - the frames can get very dirty after 2 - 3 months, so it takes longer to get it back into a good condition ...
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> Gordons windows
You just tried to destruct my argument and then in the PS tell me I'm spot on.
??? ;D
Anyway -
In your car wash analogy you take your car to the powered car wash which gives every car exactly the same amount of time and detergent and power whether it is dirty or not.
Window cleaning is like a hand car wash and that is the similarity - I said "if you wash your car every week it is different to monthly etc" not "if you take your car to a car wash".
When you've got a set up (in fairytale land) where the custy brings his windows to an automatic window wash then you might have an argument that stands up. Until then think it through.
But I agree with your PS! ;D
cant disagree with your car analogy using four to one
cleaning windows every month is quicker(weekly car)
cleaning windows every four months(monthly car) yep
i def would charge more
4 to 8 weeks though generally no difference in
cleaning speed so dont charge more ;D ;D ;D 8)
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> Gordons windows
You just tried to destruct my argument and then in the PS tell me I'm spot on.
??? ;D
Anyway -
In your car wash analogy you take your car to the powered car wash which gives every car exactly the same amount of time and detergent and power whether it is dirty or not.
Window cleaning is like a hand car wash and that is the similarity - I said "if you wash your car every week it is different to monthly etc" not "if you take your car to a car wash".
When you've got a set up (in fairytale land) where the custy brings his windows to an automatic window wash then you might have an argument that stands up. Until then think it through.
But I agree with your PS! ;D
::) just what I was thinking
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wow so it is not easier to clean clean windows than really dirty ones
maybe i take longer because the dirt scares me then and its all psychological that very dirty windows are longer to clean than ones that i do every 4 weeks ??
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I think some are looking at this the wrong way.
Dont charge EXTRA for longer intervals, simply have a standard rate (one off) and charge LESS for increased frequency.
So if you are to price up a £15 house that would be done every 4 weeks, start off with the one off price of £30. Then if cleaned within the next 2 months £20, if cleaned every 4 weeks £15.
Did I already say this?
Some of you are desperate to leave money on the table!!
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leave the money on the table ;D
is this ciu members cool new saying ::) ;D
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Gordonswindows,
Can you answer one question? Does a first clean take longer than a maintenance? If so, why?
Vin
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What a right old bunch of so and so you lot are
To charge extra for first cleans or less frequent cleans is just clever
You have convinced (educated) the customer that it takes longer to clean every eight weeks than four
Absolute class
Some one mentioned the difference in cleaning a car weekly and eight weekly
Doh here is what you don't want to understand, we don’t clean cars
Now are you ready? Don't worry it won't hurt c’mon open up your minds just a little
Right let's use then car wash theory, take a clean car into a car wash and take a filthy car into a car wash same time same result both clean ha ha but how come what about all that extra dirt?
Here it comes here is what you are denying. The thing i.e. the car or the window..............IS THE SAME SIZE so they both fit inside a huge bit of cleaning equipment you don’t clean anything more, if it is not bigger it is not harder doh, more dirt where? On the other dirt. If a window is dirty all over, you clean it if it is really dirty all over you clean it. Obviously you don’t take them to the car wash, you’re a window cleaner! You charge accordingly to how much longer it takes to get the same result.
C’mon kidding your customers is one thing but lying to yourself that is just daft
what happens if you go four weekly and there is little dirt do you still clean the whole window? Or just the dirty bit. If it is only a little dirty do you charge LESS because you didn't have to clean a lot of dirt off, of course not.
Whether it is dirty a little dirty filthy or clean just clean the window and charge the same the reason the customer wants eight weekly is to save money so you go and charge her more, but not so much more that there’s no different to her paying a less frequent price, OBVIOUSLY
Charge her the same from day one if it is a tenner house the first clean is a tenner the four weekly is a tenner and the six monthly is a tenner this way you keep the customer for years and make a great great deal less money
But you smash and grabbers can't see that, you also can't see how someone like me takes all your customers and makes more money over long term, and you call me the smash & grabber!!!!!!!!!!
"Hi can I use your car wash please Mr Garage man and how much is it" well how often do you wash it? "Oh every week" that's good well then it will be £5 please
Next guy goes up to counter" can I have a token for your £5 car wash please" just a minute there customer how often do youngish your car " eh about every two months" okay that will be £9 please " because it needs a more thorough clean. Now are you sure it doesn’t really need a super clean for £15 but that last bloke got it for a fiver why do I have to pay more .......altogether now “yours is dirtier"
Nothing like stating the obvious.
Gordon (AKA: Smash & Grab Window Cleaning)
Ps Gold you are spot on and that is why you are getting the customers and making more money
?
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What seems to be missing is the realisation that the first time you call and clean you have no knowledge of when they will cancel. It takes longer on first cleans WFP because you have to get the frames up to scratch, same for trad. I understand about investing the time on the initial call but at that point you don't know how long they will be a customer.
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What seems to be missing is the realisation that the first time you call and clean you have no knowledge of when they will cancel. It takes longer on first cleans WFP because you have to get the frames up to scratch, same for trad. I understand about investing the time on the initial call but at that point you don't know how long they will be a customer.
Thats the way i sort of look at it i dont charge more for a first clean unless its really bad but i always provide 3 quotes for the cleaning a monthly, bi-monthly (slightly more) and 1 off (even more generally double the monthly clean) as you say you never know how long they will be your customer so you need to try and get the most out of them.
paul
paul
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Gold and Tom if you can't see what I meant it doesn't matter how many times I say it you will still not get it. Bet you find a lot of funny jokes not funny because you just don't get it.
Anyway first clean and maintenance clean does it take longer no the first clean doesn't take longer the subsequent cleans take less time and that's where the gain is
"leave the money on the table" can and should be seen in a different light, not by pushing every pound out of the customer who will eventually no really they will,eventually realise that there is an adequate window cleaning service oit there that does her sister or friend or whoever for much less so by "overcharging" you don't keep the client long and the person charging less just keeps on earning earning and earning. Add it up from the time you might lose the client to a time later when the "cheaper" w/c is still earning from the client oh and her neighbours her boss her bosses business her boss' house his neighbours.....
Never left money on the table in fact they have to go to the bank for more because of the trust I have built up with her I do her gutters and charge what I like because she now knows I would not "overcharge" and then her carpets and
Do you get it yet ? You see the forum isn't about being right or getting one up on each other it is about sharing good solid advice that has been hard earned over time and protecting our business our trade.
Greedy never got anywhere just charge fair the first time the hundredth time the thousandth time it just keeps on rolling in.
Instead of seeing the extra up front think of the extra each time after that when it ismreally easy and quick to clean the windows because you have learnt the easiest way
Gordon
Cmon on then all you "experts" come and score points off of me while I sit here in the bath and am still earning
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Better not hog this post but why do the "experts" hide their details, no name, no website no nothing in their profile? Hmmmm I wonder? It can't be lack of funds for a website what with the prices and the amount they make an hour what with their extra on first cleans and not leaving money on the table
Gordon
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Better not hog this post but why do the "experts" hide their details, no name, no website no nothing in their profile? Hmmmm I wonder? It can't be lack of funds for a website what with the prices and the amount they make an hour what with their extra on first cleans and not leaving money on the table
Gordon
My details are there gordon.
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Thank you Stuart yes they are and having looked earlier at your site I have to say I like it it is very good, clear as a bell, the client can see what they are getting before even approaching you
The hat doesn't fit though I meant the ones without anything in their profile or did you think I meant you as one of the experts?
I think not, you are quite happy to have your say and be open about who you are that I respect
Gordon
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Better not hog this post but why do the "experts" hide their details, no name, no website no nothing in their profile? Hmmmm I wonder? It can't be lack of funds for a website what with the prices and the amount they make an hour what with their extra on first cleans and not leaving money on the table
Gordon
My website's not hard to find - look at my signature.
Vin
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Anyway first clean and maintenance clean does it take longer no the first clean doesn't take longer the subsequent cleans take less time and that's where the gain is
You're the guy saying that a longer period between cleans doesn't mean the windows are harder to clean, then you come up with this. Pure sophistry.
If it's impossible to get customers to pay the extra without hacking them off, why do almost exactly one in three of my customers pay it? Has it occurred to you that you may not have a monopoly on what works? Clearly, this works for me, amongst others.
Vin
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Ewan that was funny ;D in the bath earning money=plumber well done
perfect windows why do you always get upset when someone doesn't agree with you? you locked another topic when it was going wrong and now you are quoting Latin, again I will ask if you are so right why bother what everyone else thinks, just do what you think is right and either everyone else will go bust or struggle and you will do great, but ask this maybe just maybe somebody else may be getting it right?
by the way I don't have the answer I just try to do my best and make a few quid ;)
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I don't think gordonswindows is a plumber just because he earns while he is in the bath - he might be a tiler or a cleaner. He certainly cleans everything he can get his hands on!
>stu-mac
I think sophistry is greek, not latin but I do see your point - anyone with more than half a brain can see the way to go with this.
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I don`t know what gordonswindows does in there; but I wish he`d hurry up.
I`m dying to use the bog :-[.
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I don't think gordonswindows is a plumber just because he earns while he is in the bath - he might be a tiler or a cleaner.
>stu-mac
I think sophistry is greek, not latin but I do see your point - anyone with more than half a brain can see the way to go with this.
no idea malc I just googled it to see what it meant ::) but Gordon must being doing something right as he has been voted the best small business in Scotland and he regularly offers up offers of 1k to new starts of small businesses.
Anyway I am not saying you are right or he is right just find what is best for you and go with it.
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perfect windows why do you always get upset when someone doesn't agree with you? you locked another topic when it was going wrong and now you are quoting Latin, again I will ask if you are so right why bother what everyone else thinks, just do what you think is right and either everyone else will go bust or struggle and you will do great, but ask this maybe just maybe somebody else may be getting it right?
"Sophistry" isn't Latin. It's a word in pretty common english usage whose meaning is "a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning. " That definition's from dictionary.com.
As to why I talk about things where I believe I'm right, can you tell me the point of this forum? Taking your suggestion to its logical conclusion our mental patterns on reading a thread should be "Oh, I disagree with what he thinks; I'd better keep my mouth shut".
Calm down and welcome the differences of opinion. It's how we progress.
Vin
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> Stu-mac
Well done gordonswindows for being voted the best small business in Scotland (unfortunately I'm not eligible! ;D) and I admire his philanthropy. Seriously.
But size and diversity of business isn't always relevant to a one man band operator as we don't have lower paid staff from whom we can make a profit. We just have our own time and time is money and of course a bigger interval between window cleaning will take longer.
But hats off to gordons windows (especially when he is in the bath) for expansion and if he has advice on employing then I'm all ears.
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true that gold
a sole trader has different demands on time and that small difference in time taken to clean a 12 weekly than a 4 weekly adds up if you have a whole day of 12 weeklies you will do less houses so need more money to make same day rate
simples
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WOW! - took the daughter to Alton Towers for 2 days and look at this thread!
Sunshine has it in a nutshell - basically the price for a house is the longer period option ie £15 but the custy would like
4 wky so in fact they get a discount rate for having a more frequent service and that is £10
therefore those with a sliding price scale give better service and value for money than those charging X regardless of length as they must be overcharging all their 4 wky custy's ;)
As Gold pointed out the car wash thing is automatic - sorry every house is given personal attention and i see a big difference in 4 to 8 weekly cleans. and have you seen how cr@p a car wash is on a really dirty car.
It appears that some w/c's are not confident with their business/work as to worry about the 'next' flyer taking their business,
my experience so far has been that the majority of customer moves are due to bad work or being unreliable - otherwise custy's tend to stick with you through thick and thin.
Darran
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true that gold
a sole trader has different demands on time and that small difference in time taken to clean a 12 weekly than a 4 weekly adds up if you have a whole day of 12 weeklies you will do less houses so need more money to make same day rate
simples
i thought the topic was for 4-8 weekly not 12
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I think some are looking at this the wrong way.
Dont charge EXTRA for longer intervals, simply have a standard rate (one off) and charge LESS for increased frequency.
So if you are to price up a £15 house that would be done every 4 weeks, start off with the one off price of £30. Then if cleaned within the next 2 months £20, if cleaned every 4 weeks £15.
Did I already say this?
Some of you are desperate to leave money on the table!!
Sunshine,
I like this idea. Do you currently do this? And do you take into account the overpayment if they do become a regular customer? What I mean is, if they pay £30 for visit one then become regular, do you give them anything back of the "extra" £15 they have paid?
Vin
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I think some are looking at this the wrong way.
Dont charge EXTRA for longer intervals, simply have a standard rate (one off) and charge LESS for increased frequency.
So if you are to price up a £15 house that would be done every 4 weeks, start off with the one off price of £30. Then if cleaned within the next 2 months £20, if cleaned every 4 weeks £15.
Did I already say this?
Some of you are desperate to leave money on the table!!
Yes, works well so far, bear in mind I dont need the work and my website pre-qualifies customers.
They dont get anything back for being regular simply works out less per visit if they are regular.
Sunshine,
I like this idea. Do you currently do this? And do you take into account the overpayment if they do become a regular customer? What I mean is, if they pay £30 for visit one then become regular, do you give them anything back of the "extra" £15 they have paid?
Vin
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Better not hog this post but why do the "experts" hide their details, no name, no website no nothing in their profile? Hmmmm I wonder? It can't be lack of funds for a website what with the prices and the amount they make an hour what with their extra on first cleans and not leaving money on the table
Gordon
My website's not hard to find - look at my signature.
Vin
Nice website. Interesting decision to put prices up without seeing the property. Pretty solid prices though, I guess you don't get caught out often.
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It’s all Hebrew to me
Anyway, you didn’t welcome my difference of not even an opinion, just a different element to economics, so you didn’t progress that time, better luck next time “Perfect Windows”!
I don't feed trolls, Ewan.
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Ewan I usually understand and agree with your many posts but this time you have lost me
How do you think we managed to build a small business? It was by being a sole trader learning the ropes and then taking the fearful step to employing, to suggest that a sole trader is different to a small business means nothing to the client who gets their windows cleaned.
Someone else, I forget their name mentioned the lower paid staff well that's a laugh, our window cleaners are on basic £12 an hour with bonus add to that the costs of employing another 20% and all the other costs of equipment etc and they are anything but lower paid. You sole traders are the lowest cost employees ever and you keep all the money to yourself. Some of you tell us you earn £30 an hour well for our lot to make me £240 a day they have to work very very hard
Sole trader window cleaner small business national business there are no difference when it comes to the client they want clean windows......I love it when I go on the tools because I get paid like you guys and I remember what it feels like to go home with pockets stuffed full of cash
Gordon
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I think some are looking at this the wrong way.
Dont charge EXTRA for longer intervals, simply have a standard rate (one off) and charge LESS for increased frequency.
So if you are to price up a £15 house that would be done every 4 weeks, start off with the one off price of £30. Then if cleaned within the next 2 months £20, if cleaned every 4 weeks £15.
Did I already say this?
Some of you are desperate to leave money on the table!!
Sunshine,
I like this idea. Do you currently do this? And do you take into account the overpayment if they do become a regular customer? What I mean is, if they pay £30 for visit one then become regular, do you give them anything back of the "extra" £15 they have paid?
Vin
Yes it works well. There is no 'overpayment' rather a discount for regular customers.
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this thread is getting ridiculous,
if you are happy to clean at longer frequencies at the same price then fine i wish you all the best
but for gordon or anyone else to suggest its wrong to add a few quid for a longer frequency is mad , it is simple logic and is practiced by nearly all the window cleaners i know, in fact all of them only since this thread did i realize some dont . I have never had a customer complain about it yet and dont think they ever will even they understand the logic behind it :)
so thats me finished, no point arguing anymore about it :)