[lee_dewing]

Hi everyone.

I  have a weeks work too much and growing.

I'm monthly I have a handful of 2 monthly accounts.

I did do a price increase an average of 25% to nearly all my customers, only lost 5 custies.

I keep picking up more work.
I know that's good!

I don't want to employ, not yet anyway.

If I offered custies a 2 monthly service what percentage should an increase in their clean price be?
30-40-50%

Anyone done this?
In theory should earn more working a manageable round rather than running late and losing money each month as can't complete my round especially winter months.

Thanks lee.

[Shane sharples]

I was actually wondering how this works aswell, say a £12 monthly needs to be moved to 2 months. Is it £18 and it works out to be a saving of £4 a month or £36 a year?

[lee_dewing]

Hi. Shrek.

Actually saves £40.
Not being a smart ar5e

As I'm sure you know 12 cleans@£12=£144

6 cleans@£18=£108

So customer saves and your hourly rate goes up a fair bit.

Obviously the more the clean price the more the customer saves so worth it to them.
But more importantly bigger rises in your hourly rate.

[lee_dewing]

£36 saved in that instance to the customer forgot to say.
Thanks.

[SeanK]

Don't see how its worth it to a customer, you would need to be a real plank to sacrifice 6 cleans to save £36.

[lee_dewing]

Agreed not a good example.

But say £20 and upwards jobs?

[SeanK]

The thing is you already have a full round with people who are happy to pay for the 12 cleans so unless you up your
monthly prices to an unaffordable level they wont have a reason to go 2 monthly as it will always be better value for money
to stay as they are.

[Plankton]

He's got too much so increasing the rate and reducing their service is the best way forward for him although he could sell some on. I've offered six weeks instead of three with an increase of 20% and there was a small uptake on it plus some newbies. It depends on your work load/customers if you're employing then it's better to leave it alone.

[SeanK]

He's got too much so increasing the rate and reducing their service is the best way forward for him although he could sell some on. I've offered six weeks instead of three with an increase of 20% and there was a small uptake on it plus some newbies. It depends on your work load/customers if you're employing then it's better to leave it alone.

Its an option but I certainly wouldn't say its the best way forward, as explained there's nothing in it for the customer so
forcing them to take a reduced service at a higher rate isn't going to do a lot for his reputation.
But there's no harm in offering the option and seeing if anybody bites.

[Plankton]

I should have said they should be offered rather than told.
Although I did change my Stonehouse/Larkhall work from two and four weekly to three weekly cleans. Just gave them a months notice and only a couple mentioned way down the line.
Chap I sold it to said they are "Nice customers"

[DaveG]

I'm wondering how your customers will react to another price rise Lee? You said in OP that they have had a 25% rise, some might view this as another "sneaky" one...

[ascjim]

Don't bother. Monthly's are the best, why change?

If your too busy, give the work away or employ.

[dazmond]

just keep the work at monthly if the customers are happy with that frequency lee and get round when you can esp if they ve had a price increase.

i dont really get behind that often spring/summer/autumn or winter as i normally finish work at(or before 4pm) all year round, work in most bad weather and work more saturdays during the winter months.

barring prolonged extreme weather conditions(heavy snow on the ground for weeks)i tick along nicely with very little disruption to my normal cleaning schedule.

if your struggling with your workload id take a good look at your round and drop P.I.A jobs and bad/late payers.

well done for finally increasing your prices.

[lee_dewing]

Wouldn't be forced on anyone.

Was thinking of offering a reduced service it saves the customer money over the year.

As I'm wfp I do notice the windows stay cleaner for longer.

Offering the 2 monthly service to the £20 upwards and most seem to go for it.

Other option is to sell off my cheaper/less profitable part of my round, although I've always
Kull'd bad work off.

Tbh  I don't really have any bad work and would be grieved to sell any.

Thanks for your replies.
Lee

[lee_dewing]

Hi. daz.
Beat me to the keyboard

Yep there is a few pains that could get shot of.

Seem to run a week late.
I could tweak things over the Xmas break.

Shuffle round about so in most effective order.

Going out shortly.
Thanks everyone.

[Darranvps]

Do it 4 weekly! Not Monthly
4 weekly = 13 cleans per year!
Easier to manage than monthly and you only need 4 weeks work PER MAN to get them a FULL YEARS WORTH OF WOR- EASY to EMPLOY and GROW YOUR BUSINESS

[Mick Kent]

Don't see how its worth it to a customer, you would need to be a real plank to sacrifice 6 cleans to save £36.

Hahaha i love this...
so true though!

[8weekly]

I think you miss the point. Lee has to do half the work  for an extra £36. Now it may be different where you are, but here I could not keep the 4 weekly customers at the prices I was charging - only £15 for a semi at the time. People just did not want a 4 weekly service.

[SeanK]

I think you miss the point. Lee has to do half the work  for an extra £36. Now it may be different where you are, but here I could not keep the 4 weekly customers at the prices I was charging - only £15 for a semi at the time. People just did not want a 4 weekly service.

We all get the point but the difference is Lee has a full workload of customers willing to pay his monthly price, now to offer
them fewer cleans at a higher price might favour Lee but it certainly wouldn't favour his customers if they have any sense.
Even for a £20 clean at 12 a year offering them 6 at £30 a clean will save them £60 over the year but they will still be out of
pocket by £60 or 3 cleans.
Personally I think anybody desperate enough to take him up on this offer will leave as soon as a cheaper cleaner comes
along.

[8weekly]

I think you miss the point. Lee has to do half the work  for an extra £36. Now it may be different where you are, but here I could not keep the 4 weekly customers at the prices I was charging - only £15 for a semi at the time. People just did not want a 4 weekly service.

We all get the point but the difference is Lee has a full workload of customers willing to pay his monthly price, now to offer
them fewer cleans at a higher price might favour Lee but it certainly wouldn't favour his customers if they have any sense.
Even for a £20 clean at 12 a year offering them 6 at £30 a clean will save them £60 over the year but they will still be out of
pocket by £60 or 3 cleans.
Personally I think anybody desperate enough to take him up on this offer will leave as soon as a cheaper cleaner comes
along.

Must be different where you are. No one wants monthly here... genuinely that is true because that's how I started and I couldn't keep them on a 4 weekly cycle.