[Jettaway]

Im not normally one to ask for pricing help, but I have a few commercial quotes and I haven't had a good success rate with previous ones, I really want to try and secure these new jobs, previously I think I have been a bit expensive.

They are both for a big hotel chain and are to clean paving slabs around the hotel..

One measures in around 170m2 and the second is just under 700m2

The areas really just need a going over with the fsc but there are a few areas that will need turboing.

Esp with the big one, if I go in at a day rate, it seems to me like I would be grafting my nuts off doing a huge area for money that would be cheap compared to the size, however if I price metre rate, it seems excessively expensive for the amount of time taken.

These jobs are both about 40 miles from base and I use a 3000psi 16lpm machine.

If anyone can private message me or email me with advice and to chat about it then it would be appreciated.






Edit- pictures didn't work but I can email them

[Matt Gibson]

Hi mate,

You mention at a day rate, you would be working your nuts off for minimal money for a job that size. Your day rate should be something your happy to be working for. The size of the job is irrelevant if you price at a day rate, unless you specify to the client how many days it will take.

I have never quoted per m2, but i know it works for some people. I always try and get a specific amount per day. Not always possible i know, but its a lot easier to achieve on commercial jobs. If it seems a bit expensive, knock a few quid off if its a big job. as a discount for the m2 being so large etc.

Its hard for me to give advice, because its a different ballgame up here. Though i cant complain because i usually get what i want.

[drive surgeon]

We always end up regretting doing day rates. We used to charge £400 for two of us but if we charged per sq meter we would have got way more. We always say to measure area and quote per sq meter.

[drive surgeon]

Make sure you quote for time and diesel just to get to job and back plus the time to do the whole job. Sounds like it shud be a nice sum of money 

[Roger Oakley]

Depends how bad you want the job? for that size area around 850 sq mts try somewhere between £2-£2.50 per sq mt one man on his own should if water supply and drainage etc is good should be able to do in 3 days.
Commercials always want cheap, one of the reasons we don't do them anymore, but you could offer a test clean FOC or at a cost, then if you get the job deduct the test clean off of final invoice your choice.

[Alan McTernan]

Hi,

I charge per m2 always have done. But for jobs of this size I then work out how much we can clean in a day and if the m2 charge is too high I bring it down to the time it can be cleaned in price. You can always bring the price down but you can never put it back up

I hope this helps?

[chris scott]

Work out how much you want (either price psqm or day rate) .Then add some due to the fact the will not pay for a month (or at all!) . Stick with that price. If you don't get it ..don't worry. Let somebody else do the work for f**k all.

[Alan McTernan]

Well said Chris

[Roger Oakley]

Work out how much you want (either price psqm or day rate) .Then add some due to the fact the will not pay for a month (or at all!) . Stick with that price. If you don't get it ..don't worry. Let somebody else do the work for f**k all.

Very true words there Chris, I did finally get paid by Harrods (re our phone call the other week) it did take me saying I would come and collect the monies owed, they paid with-in 2 days cancelled our contract with them, now we have their residents calling direct for works, so Harrods loose out on their massive mark-up.

[wpclean]

I have always thought commercial work was lower priced per hour, but the up side was the continuity of work, ie you have a steady stream of work which is regular.   Maybe I am wrong !

[Jettaway]

Its hard to estimate how long it would take to do, the 700m2 I think could be done in 1-2 days, (Its not heavily soiled) but then gotta keep in mind stuff like barriering work areas off, maybe a subbie to help out and with moving gear around, public moving around hotel and around the streets and any other time delays, even driving to and from the jobs an hour each way.
 
I can't decided on a metre rate, dunno whether to drop to £1 a metre or go higher or lower. This will be my biggest job to date in terms of size and I could do with increasing my commercial works.
Drainage is good, but waters only at one side, so gonna need a lot of hose.

If it took me 2 days I would be happy at £700, if it takes 3 I'm screwed... Big decisions

[drive surgeon]

We always check the tap flow also which your feeding your tanks with. We have sat around for ages on some jobs waiting for tanks to fill up. We go to big jobs with 1200 litres on board but the 15 litre a minute machine will suck it all up even with the tap filling up. Soil if your not connected to a decent flow add that time on also.  We always worry about price. We always think the customer might think its too high.  We always end up thinking we should have charged more.  Most people end up losing out with commercial prices. Domestic is always paid in your hand mostly cash. Why should you reduce the price if its a huge area? Your losing out if you do. Even when you finish the job your then waiting ages to be paid or not getting paid at all.  We say on some jobs we need to be paid on completion. Those commercial dudes will have you doing it for nothing if they could.

[M W.]

We always check the tap flow also which your feeding your tanks with. We have sat around for ages on some jobs waiting for tanks to fill up. We go to big jobs with 1200 litres on board but the 15 litre a minute machine will suck it all up even with the tap filling up. Soil if your not connected to a decent flow add that time on also.  We always worry about price. We always think the customer might think its too high.  We always end up thinking we should have charged more.  Most people end up losing out with commercial prices. Domestic is always paid in your hand mostly cash. Why should you reduce the price if its a huge area? Your losing out if you do. Even when you finish the job your then waiting ages to be paid or not getting paid at all.  We say on some jobs we need to be paid on completion. Those commercial dudes will have you doing it for nothing if they could.

agree. mammoth grocerie chain.  their delivery wagon broke down on a 4 house shared drive, leaked p/steering fluid  all over. idropped everything to help. 3.5 months to get paid.  i price up commercial work too lose, or be paid very well for our labour. 

[Blast Away]

If we've never worked for them before I tell them they need to pay us on completion or immediate transfer(a day or 2)