[lee_dewing]

putting prices up mostly a pound or two but have got around 15 custies that need a £5 price rise and two custies ear marked for £10.

I have more than enough work and website generating intrest so gonna be brave.

Anyone done this recently?

And how did you get on.

oh a lot of custies have not had price rise in 3+ years some 5 years

thanks lee

[chris turner]

All mine have gone up by an average of £2 recently. Only lost one customer, already replaced with some much better work.
If you have a good relationship with your customers then most won't bat an eyelid.

[jk999]

 :owow if I mention  50p increase they have heart attacks n say someone else will do them cheaper . Let me know how you get on because I  think I'm gonna do an increase

[samson]

We had some we just didn't want to clean as they were out of the way, so put em up loads . . . .and we still kept em 

[jk999]

 😊best way

[Ian101]

Putting about 30% of mine up ... so far so good ... biggest one was from £90 to £210 I did expect to loose it and yes was massively under priced but stuck to it for 2 years and just explained their job had to now match the rest of the round or they would need to find another window cleaner ... part of my cock up was didn't take into account the time wasted walking around the house ... yes its that big 

so my advice ... re price em as if you was quoting for the job from where you're at today otherwise your loosing potential income.

[jonboywalton75]

I've been putting some up recently.
Lost three tight wads, my new website has replaced those in one week.
One OAP ( nice lady) said she needed to cancel me as  I got undercut.
She asked me to drop my price from £15 to £11, my reply was polite but firm.
No need to tell you what I said.
Every customers circumstances are different, some of mine don't like the fact that I have a new van and think I'm earning too much, I say goodbye to those.
Keep pace with cost of living I say.

[lee_dewing]

Hi  Ian.

Good advice that's how I'm going to do.

I'm a bit scared as I'm the sole bread winner of the family.

I'm gonna send a letter to most of my customers that are £2+

Feel that I can get my points across without interruption.
Renforcing all the positives.
I.e  same trusted face at the door every month.

Fully insured.
Reliable service.
Having my full contact details
Phone number,  address.
(Window cleaner used to work for never gave his details to custy)

Also put my website address on letter as gives em something to look at.

Thanks for info  Ian and Chris.
Things feel more prosperous now than a few years ago where I wouldn't of dared alter prices.

Lots of loft extenensions and building works going on.

Hopefully I won't lose more than 20% of my work.

Samson typical work you don't want and they all give you the thumbs up
:-)

Jk  I'l post on here what happens.
Probably won't be til end of September til I know where I stand.

Ps Chris.
I do think I have a good relationship with my customers but time will tell.
:-D.

Off to work.
Thanks lee.

[lee_dewing]

Jon.

I need a new van.

I'm sure that will be remarked on when it happens

[jonboywalton75]

Some have commented that my van reflects well on my small business.
Not all are petty jealous people😃
If you've not put prices up for years you shouldn't lose hardly any.

[Ian101]

I do something like this if they're not home to tell them face to face and leave it with their your windows were cleaned slip

Dear ................
Like all businesses we need to review our prices from time to time.
We haven't increased our prices since 2011.
As from your next clean the increase will be £1.
Remember we clean the frames, sills, glass and any UPVC doors so hopefully you will agree we still offer value for money.

Thanks for your custom.

Ian & Karen
H2o Proclean.


We never say from £14 to £15 as sounds a lot more than "an extra £1"
I always say "Ian & Karen" to reinforce family run business

In 5 years of doing this lost 1 customer who was no loss at all 

The big increase had a different letter than the above.

[Ian101]

This was my take it or leave it email ... not worded smoothly but it did the job 



Hi XXXXXXXX

Like all businesses from time to time we review our prices as we only have so many hours per day to create our turnover.

Since we started cleaning your windows back in early 2013 the demand for our services have increased dramatically and now it’s at a level where we can no longer service all  of our customers unless we are achieving a turnover rate per hour that is achievable with our other work.

Unfortunately this means that we will no longer be able to clean the windows at XXXXXX XXXXX at the current price of £90.

To bring your price up to our current levels would see a required increase of £120 making a new price of £210.

Obviously in percentage terms this is a huge increase - however it reflects, that in May 2013 I under-priced the job but have stuck to my price for over 2 years whilst I could afford to, it brings it in line with what we charge our other customers and means no further price increases for at least 2 years.

You may like to seek another quote and possibly go with another window cleaning company ( obviously I hope not) so I will wait to hear confirmation from you if you would still like us to clean your windows.

Thank you for you past custom.


Best Wishes

Ian H

[lee_dewing]

 Thanks for your posts Ian.

Gives me some help with what I will type up this weekend.

I'l post it on here see what you guys think.
Thanks
Lee.

[jwplasterers]

My advice dont go to greedy like the rest of them or you will end up with nothing

[jonboywalton75]

But keep pace with rising prices!!!!

[jonboywalton75]

My advice dont go to greedy like the rest of them or you will end up with nothing

Btw, who exactly is, the rest of them???

[Clever Forum Name]

Thanks for your posts Ian.

Gives me some help with what I will type up this weekend.

I'l post it on here see what you guys think.
Thanks
Lee.

Hi lee.

Was in the same boat with with my dads round. He needed to put his work up. Well I told him.
One price rise in 14 years

I have a decent letter. Gave out to a
Few and all have thanked me for letter.

So must have done something right lol

Sortedrst @ hotmail.com no gaps

[dazmond]

lee this is a long time coming for you.in the 6 years since i registered back in 2009  ive put hundreds of accounts up TWICE now.ive never lost more than 2-3 accounts each time.i never even thought of the 2008 recession.

most a quid or two,some £5.one £8(from £52 to £60)

i also put off price rises for years before joining this forum.a mixture of lack of confidence in my service and fear of losing customers in droves.TBH back then i didnt clean frames or doors(trad only)and could be unreliable at times(due to a drink problem).

as i sorted myself out and started providing a more professional service coupled with a new fresh outlook and attitude to life and business in general i started to realise i wanted more money for lots of jobs.

ive never typed up a letter, just told them face to face the month(or two)before the new price comes into force or text/phone them or a little note on their invoice.

the large price rises should be on jobs your really not bothered if you lose them or were gonna dump anyway.

IMO you dont need a long winded letter explaining yourself just tell them face to face or phone/text them

[samson]

Any losses will be made up by the price rise.  You will wonder why you hadn't done it sooner 

[Clever Forum Name]

I prefer face to face. But I have customers who I have never EVER met.

Pay online. Done.