[suffolkclean]

We are looking for contract work and are happy to start with small contracts & build on it. Been contacted by 2 different companies:-
1) Wanted fair bit list of jobs done 1.5 hrs min I thought nearer 2 hrs twice a week with us to supply cleaning chemicals,vac, mop bucket. Cleaning at 6am or 3.30pm
They got a price of £34 per week £17 per visit 
I really can't see a cleaner being happy to start at 6am to earn £10!! ish
2) Cleaning communial area once a fortnight - everything supplied same hours again £45 month
£22.50 per visit
I am being completely unrealistic?
I'd really love to hear from you guys how much you would charge for these 2 small ones.
Regards
Barbara

[Paolo]

We are looking for contract work and are happy to start with small contracts & build on it. Been contacted by 2 different companies:-
1) Wanted fair bit list of jobs done 1.5 hrs min I thought nearer 2 hrs twice a week with us to supply cleaning chemicals,vac, mop bucket. Cleaning at 6am or 3.30pm
They got a price of £34 per week £17 per visit 
I really can't see a cleaner being happy to start at 6am to earn £10!! ish
2) Cleaning communial area once a fortnight - everything supplied same hours again £45 month
£22.50 per visit
I am being completely unrealistic?
I'd really love to hear from you guys how much you would charge for these 2 small ones.
Regards
Barbara

£17 a visit works out at £8.50 an hour. That is cutting it very very fine if with a part time employee with no ENI to pay. Once you build in holiday/sick/materials etc etc

The communal ways at £11.25 an hour is much more realistic.

[suffolkclean]

Thanks for your reply Paolo - was hoping for a few more responses 

[martin19842]

hi there

with fuel prices as they are, and not looking to reduce, hourly rates are increasing not reducing. both the prices quoted are on the low side.  what really annoys me is that a client, and it doesnt matter who they are whether they be domestic or commercial, expect cleaners to turn up sometimes at unsociable times perform miracles and then get paid the lowest possible price.

you must sell yourself to the potential client when you meet them to discuss their requirements, you as a company are fully insured, you supplu all the materials, the COSHH assessments, risk assessments, health and safety etc, so the client doesnt have to worry about those items.  tell the client how your company operates, its structure etc, paint them a picture of what they are getting from you.

once you have done that submit a professional quote, thet way they then see that they are getting value for money.

when you meet a potential client, ask them what the current arrangements are?, why are you thinking of changing, you will be amazed at how many companies change because the service they are getting is poor, then ask what they are currentlhy paying.  at that point i wuillmake it clear that the quote they will receive from me may be more than they are paying, but then you have to justify why that is.

i hope that helps, its just an opinion

regards

martin

[suffolkclean]

Hi Martin
Thanks for your reply. I agree totally with what you say - we don't have many contracts as we do lots of one offs but I'm thinking if this is the rates companies are charging I would probably not even go down this route as its barely making any money. Diesel costs are up, insurance, equipment.

The 1st quote on my post I visited, the lady was very chatty we hit it off well & I was pleased she came back to me to let me know the price she was quoted from the other company (or self employed person not paying any bills)! So she was obviously interested in us providing the service. She wasn't happy with original company as they were not reliable missed lots of areas & generally did a bad job but she dosn't want to pay for it!! So for her 2nd cleaning company she's going with the cheapest again. VERY frustrating, I find the contract cleaning side of things the most difficult to break into - is there actually any small-medium sized businesses who want to pay more than £10 hr for cleaning?

I would be REALLY interested to hear from others who have small contracts like this  - what is your minimum charge to the customer? I've been thinking 2 hrs minimum cost to the customer am I wrong?
Barbara

[Pristine Clean]

Don't forget about TUPE.

@ £11.25 that is the normal rate for us in fact that's fairly high. We have contracts as low as £9.60 per hour but that a fair amount of hours.

With our office cleaning contracts we find if we try to sell at a higher price it fails simply because we have too much competition here at low prices.

I understand Martin saying "sell your self" but generally we can all be professional, offer everything under the sun and be 100% reliable and the work outstanding. The only difference is price. Everyone in most cases will go with the cheaper price at this moment in time unless they have money to burn.

Good luck to anyone who gets more per hour.

Dave

[suffolkclean]

Hi Martin thanks for that - what would you charge a customer only needing 1.5hrs per fornight? I would really appreciate it as this is the 2nd one like this I've had recently.
Barbara

[Adam P]

do you have a minimum charge? if not you should set one and then go in with that and explain it's your minimum charge per clean if less then x amount of hours per week. we find most customers are ok to pay this and it at least keeps you earning something out of the small ones.

[martin19842]

hi there

yes i agree set a minimum charge, because there is a point at which it isnt worth doing the work, but only you will know what your charge point is.

regards

martin

[TonyW65]

I am surprised to hear people charging such low rates? How do you survive?

An agency model can get by on £10-11......but a company with employees?

Its common place to have a minimum two hours and I wouldn't move for less than £13 an hour, with many of our clients paying £15 an hour. We supply all the products of course and comprehensive insurance.

If you keep working for peanuts, people will continue to expect it. I see "new starts" come and go, because they only think about "how much an hour" i earn, and not, fuel, car tax, products, holiday pay, accountant, tax man.......