[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.

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.

It would be hard enough to build a round in my area offering 4 weekly only if I'm being honest, I clean on a 6 weekly rota
but Lee stated he has a full round of 4 weekly and that's what I'm replying to, he looking to offer this as a way of freeing up
time and increasing his earning potential, nothing wrong with that.
I just cant see why a customer would want to take his offer unless money was very tight as it might work out cheaper over
the year but its a massive lose in value for money.
That's why I think these type of customers might be a flight risk.

[lee_dewing]

Interesting reading.

8 weekly I knew you'd agree

Probably leave things as they are for now through winter.

Will have a weed out have a few pains in the behind customers.

Will vet new customers harder
And give them higher monthly prices to push em to 2 monthly cleans fit more In at better prices.

What % mre  do you lot charge for 2 monthlies?

Thanks
Lee.

[SeanK]

Lee I'm not trying to be rude but your posts make very little sense, you say you have too much work now but will
vet new customers harder.
You don't want to sell any work as its all good.
How are you going to cope with these new customers if you don't want to employ and don't have room for them now
8 weekly or not ?
You have dumped messers as you have went along but will now weed out the pain in the behinds.
Your not going to force your customers into taking your new terms so unless they decide to move your back to square one.
Taking the steps your looking to do would have been ok if your round had been about 50% full not when its too full to
handle the work you already have.
Your whole plan is based on an idea that you might get a few customer who are happy the way things are now to cut their cleans in half for the sake of a few quid.
Sorry but I don't see the sense in this.

[Perfect Windows]

We charge 50% more for 12-weekly than 6-weekly.  Two thirds of our customers take the 12-weekly option.  They pay less every year, we earn more per hour. 

I would strongly recommend doing it.  I've said before that the biggest constraint on how much a sole trader can earn is the number of working hours in a year.  Doing this increases your hourly rate hugely.  Why would you not want to do it?

[SeanK]

We charge 50% more for 12-weekly than 6-weekly.  Two thirds of our customers take the 12-weekly option.  They pay less every year, we earn more per hour. 

I would strongly recommend doing it.  I've said before that the biggest constraint on how much a sole trader can earn is the number of working hours in a year.  Doing this increases your hourly rate hugely.  Why would you not want to do it?

Must be some dirty brutes in your area, I can just see the reaction I would get from the wife if I suggested only cleaning
them every 12 weeks.

[Perfect Windows]

We charge 50% more for 12-weekly than 6-weekly.  Two thirds of our customers take the 12-weekly option.  They pay less every year, we earn more per hour. 

I would strongly recommend doing it.  I've said before that the biggest constraint on how much a sole trader can earn is the number of working hours in a year.  Doing this increases your hourly rate hugely.  Why would you not want to do it?

Must be some dirty brutes in your area, I can just see the reaction I would get from the wife if I suggested only cleaning
them every 12 weeks.

I've heard all this before.  I've even been told that we're forcing people to have dirty windows because we charge so much for 6-weekly that they have to go 12-weekly (which ignores the concept that we might have competition).  Some tosspot even suggested that only Southampton customers would accept this. I've been accused of out-and-out lying and that no-one would accept the deal.

I really don't care about whether customers' windows are spotless when we return to clean.  I care that the customers are happy.  They are happy to pay 50% more for a 12-weekly clean, so why on earth would I want to persuade them otherwise?  We leave them spotless, they pay us more, why would I upset that applecart?

Vin

[Jonny 87]

It's a tricky one.

In my area people want 4 weekly.

Check your own Windows and after 4 weeks there is a very visible layer of dirt on the glass. (Not massive, but enough) customers who are quite house proud want there Windows cleaned frequently, and customers who are willing to only have there Windows cleaned every 3 months generally don't want to pay high prices.

For me, 4 weekly is the staple, and 8 weekly prices are about 20%higher.

To the OP of this thread,  It does sound like you want to have your cake and eat it too. If you don't want to expand, then you can't keep on taking on more and more customers. For what you are proposing to do, you would need to make it compulsory and move every one to a higher frequency. Otherwise I'm pretty sure not many of your customers would voluntarily pay higher prices for less frequency, and you will,still be in the same situation (which is a good situation to be in) of having more work than you can service.

All the best and I hope whatever you do works out.

[Perfect Windows]

Tell you what I'd suggest, Lee, offer half frequency for a 50% uplift in prices.  Make the offer to a subset of your customers.  Make clear that it means more per clean but less over a year.  If any of your customers are like mine they'll snap your arm off to take up the offer, your round will be more manageable and you'll be earning more.  You can then expand the offer to more customers until you end up with about four weeks of work every month.

If they all say "no" you'll be exactly where you are now.

[8weekly]

Tell you what I'd suggest, Lee, offer half frequency for a 50% uplift in prices.  Make the offer to a subset of your customers.  Make clear that it means more per clean but less over a year.  If any of your customers are like mine they'll snap your arm off to take up the offer, your round will be more manageable and you'll be earning more.  You can then expand the offer to more customers until you end up with about four weeks of work every month.

If they all say "no" you'll be exactly where you are now.

But be sure to say that after two months they are harder work and take longer - which is true. Sorta. 

[dazmond]

i have a lot more 8 weekly customers than i did 5 years ago and my hourly rate has increased as a result( i charge more for longer frequencies.)

depending on area when picking up new customers i offer a longer frequency at a higher price as i  have a pretty  full workload but i dont offer a longer frequency to existing 4 weekly jobs.

[robbo333]

Hi Lee
I think you're right in trying to get your hourly rate up. If you offer an 8 weekly service you can defo charge more per hour. How much more depends on what you are charging already and the custy themselves. If it were me, I would pick all the houses where the windows are still fairly clean (after 4 weeks) and offer an 'alternative' service. Let the custy decide. Give them the option.
Something like... "i've noticed your windows are still fairly clean, are you sure you want me to come every 4 weeks? This water fed pole system does keep them cleaner for longer. I'm only thinking I could save you some money. At the moment it cost you £12 per month, naturally they'd be a bit dirtier so every 2 months I would charge £15. If you fancy we can give it a try and see how you get on. We can always swap back if you're not happy.
Usual bullpoo etc.
You need to pick the right custys though.

[SeanK]

Hi Lee
I think you're right in trying to get your hourly rate up. If you offer an 8 weekly service you can defo charge more per hour. How much more depends on what you are charging already and the custy themselves. If it were me, I would pick all the houses where the windows are still fairly clean (after 4 weeks) and offer an 'alternative' service. Let the custy decide. Give them the option.
Something like... "i've noticed your windows are still fairly clean, are you sure you want me to come every 4 weeks? This water fed pole system does keep them cleaner for longer. I'm only thinking I could save you some money. At the moment it cost you £12 per month, naturally they'd be a bit dirtier so every 2 months I would charge £15. If you fancy we can give it a try and see how you get on. We can always swap back if you're not happy.
Usual bullpoo etc.
You need to pick the right custys though.

Robbo it wouldn't be worth it for an extra £3 per clean you would at the least need to add on 50% to make it worthwhile
don't forget its not just the clean but all the extra hassle that comes with dealing with a larger amount of customers.
Don't forget if you go from 4 to 8 weekly you need double the amount of customers.

[KS Cleaning]

Tell you what I'd suggest, Lee, offer half frequency for a 50% uplift in prices.  Make the offer to a subset of your customers.  Make clear that it means more per clean but less over a year.  If any of your customers are like mine they'll snap your arm off to take up the offer, your round will be more manageable and you'll be earning more.  You can then expand the offer to more customers until you end up with about four weeks of work every month.

If they all say "no" you'll be exactly where you are now.

I would  think some customers will tell him to do one if he tried for a 50% uplift in prices, he has recently increased prices by 25%. So lets say he was doing a house for £20 a matter of months ago and it was increased by 25% new price is £25,now he is going to up that by 50% to £37 . The only upside is he will have plenty room to take on new customers at his 8 weekly frequency as a lot of his old customers will have cancelled.

[lee_dewing]

Ks understand what your saying there.
Did a letter when I put my prices up.

Said basically 2 tier system newer customers had higher prices.
Most of my round had not had a rise for more than 5-7 years.

Nearly all my customers said they understood.

If the 2 monthly price was the same or less than old price before rise might work.
Agree might be a bit too soon.

Sean sorry maybe I don't make sense
Yes I am full up but I think that you should leave the door open to new work at the right price if it pushes up your hourly rate.

I have dumped messers but I have very recently had customers turn sour.

One custie cleaned nearly a year.
I won't bore you with long story but when 1st took him on I thought he would be a pain and has been last couple of cleans.

Also another custie great for just over a year but now wants me to give them an appointment all to do with unlocking gate.

Another customer taking longer and longer to pay.
That's another reason I don't want to turn down new work and obviously if it is in roads I already work in as will make my round more compact.

Perfect, robbo, daz, 8 weekly.
Thanks for your thoughts on the extended service.
I do think it's worth it how much of my round I offer it to and when is something to ponder on over Xmas holidays.

It's good to see that other's are happy to do this.
Some Windies I talk to think this is madness.

But as said by others only so much one person can do by themselves.
Seems another avenue to boost income other than employing someone.

[chris turner]

Just go ahead and do it Lee. I done a similar thing not long ago and it was the best thing iv ever done.
I was 90% 6 weekly, 10% 8 weekly. I'm now 90% 8 weekly and I kept my bread and butter, good paying best customers on 6 weekly.
All the customers that were moved to 8 weekly had an average of £3-£5 added to there price, but I made it abundantly clear in the letters that they were in fact saving money each year on there window cleaning.
I lost 1 customer..
My schedule is now far easier yet I make the same, if not more money. 1 day a week 6 weeklies, 3 days a week 8 weeklies with 1 day left to spare for extras or the site work I do, if there's any plots that need doing.

[G Griffin]

I'm thinking of doing this and going away for a month every two months.
The price increase will pay for the 5* hotels.

[Perfect Windows]

I would  think some customers will tell him to do one if he tried for a 50% uplift in prices, he has recently increased prices by 25%. So lets say he was doing a house for £20 a matter of months ago and it was increased by 25% new price is £25,now he is going to up that by 50% to £37 . The only upside is he will have plenty room to take on new customers at his 8 weekly frequency as a lot of his old customers will have cancelled.

I think the important point here is that he offers it as an option.

Then the clean that was £20, so £240 a year, that was increased to £25, can now choose if they wish to pay £37 x 6 = £222.  So even with the rpice increase they have a choice to pay less annually if they wish.  I've not read anwhere that he's going to inflict it on them against their will.

[Lakes and Pennine]

if you have a full month of regular work that pays and settles your bills. why take on extra that is going to stop you doing your existing work
you can only do a days work in a day so it seams like you are taking on more work just to stand still and perhapce upset the apple cart.
you either have to employ...or start working sat mornings to financially benifit

[SeanK]

I would  think some customers will tell him to do one if he tried for a 50% uplift in prices, he has recently increased prices by 25%. So lets say he was doing a house for £20 a matter of months ago and it was increased by 25% new price is £25,now he is going to up that by 50% to £37 . The only upside is he will have plenty room to take on new customers at his 8 weekly frequency as a lot of his old customers will have cancelled.

I think the important point here is that he offers it as an option.

Then the clean that was £20, so £240 a year, that was increased to £25, can now choose if they wish to pay £37 x 6 = £222.  So even with the rpice increase they have a choice to pay less annually if they wish.  I've not read anwhere that he's going to inflict it on them against their will.

Who in their right mind will pay £222 for 6 cleans if they can get 12 for £300 to be honest I would tell him to get lost just
for mentioning it.
Mate your not thankful enough that you work in an area full of rich dummies, I wonder how many who read your posts
think to themselves this guy wouldn't last 10 minutes in my area.

[Perfect Windows]

Who in their right mind will pay £222 for 6 cleans if they can get 12 for £300 to be honest I would tell him to get lost just
for mentioning it.
Mate your not thankful enough that you work in an area full of rich dummies, I wonder how many who read your posts
think to themselves this guy wouldn't last 10 minutes in my area.

Sean, if you're interested (and I'm pretty sure you're not - this answer's for anyone reading with an open mind) I started the 50% uplift so that I could offer 12-weekly cleans but so that not many people would take it up - I didn't want to have to gain the bigger numbers that it would take to fill the round.  I was offering  12-weeklies at a 25% uplift but uptake was too high so I hammered up the price.  Much to my surprise people still took up the deal and, fool that I am, I enjoyed getting more per hour.  It's also noticeable that the 12-weekly customers very rarely cancel. Much less often than the 6-weekly.  So they slowly tend to take over the round.

It isindeed possible that I live in the only place in the UK where people are stupid enough to want to do this.  Oh, and the outskirts of Bimingham where someone on here does it with great success.  And Cumbria.  Both people on here who contacted me and discussed it before going ahead and succeeding.  So perhaps the three of us live in the three areas where it works.

An alternative is that customers quite like the idea.  Just a thought.