[Richard Shepherd]

I had a commercial job on 13 sites, which took 3 of us one full week a month to complete and paid £4200 for the week.

Did it for 4 years then one month I got an email giving me 2 months notice, when I enquired as to why they said they had found someone 45% cheaper. Slap in the chops but make hay while the sunshines.

[sunshine windows]

Richard, as a small company you'd certainly struggle if you lost a few jobs like that. Another reason why I don't chase commercials like this, as I feel you'd need to put everything you had into acquiring lots of this type of job, employ and potentially fire as and when the contracts expire.

My biggest annual commercial value is just over £5k and I'm quite happy that I have nothing else any where near. Next is around £2.5k and they're currently on the verge of going (company I sub from are not getting paid).

[Dave Willis]

Where's this Sunshine?

[sunshine windows]

If you look closely, you can see me doing the Morecombe and Wise skip into the sunset 

[CleanClear]

If I wanted I could fill my days with hourly rates like these, but I'm happy keeping my round very comfortable and building the other guys up to increase my income steadily.

 

[CleanClear]

I've recently been getting quite a few commercial quotes and have priced them in line with what I would earn on good domestic runs. Needless to say I don't get accepted very often.

I can never make head nor tail of commercial pricing. Like you i've been knocked back loads of times. Interestingly though, at the same time i've got work i've had for a few years where my hourly rate is more than my domestic work, and comparable with anything posted here, yet i was 50% cheaper than the previous contractors.

[sunshine windows]

.   Where's this Sunshine?
   

If I told you  ..................................... Well you know the rest   

[sunshine windows]

I can never make head nor tail of commercial pricing. Like you i've been knocked back loads of times. Interestingly though, at the same time i've got work i've had for a few years where my hourly rate is more than my domestic work, and comparable with anything posted here, yet i was 50% cheaper than the previous contractors.

I remember earning £400 from a subby job nearly 10 years ago which I had to pay a sub subcontractor £40 for an hours work. This was before my time working wfp, but it got me thinking of the potential earnings, as previously I had only done domestic jobs between £5-£30 a pop.

[8weekly]

Where's this Sunshine?

Is it Ashdown House?

[sunshine windows]

It is, been cleaning it since its refurb in 2012. Gorgeous place to work

[8weekly]

It is, been cleaning it since its refurb in 2012. Gorgeous place to work

Have you met the "owner"?

[sunshine windows]

Met the Mrs, but not the tenant 

[Dave Willis]

Just sent my quote off. Wasn't sure if it was Berks or Oxfordshire. No matter - just ordered a longer ladder too.

[Perfect Windows]

I've recently been getting quite a few commercial quotes and have priced them in line with what I would earn on good domestic runs. Needless to say I don't get accepted very often.

I can never make head nor tail of commercial pricing. Like you i've been knocked back loads of times. Interestingly though, at the same time i've got work i've had for a few years where my hourly rate is more than my domestic work, and comparable with anything posted here, yet i was 50% cheaper than the previous contractors.

That highlights that for commercial, the secret is the same as for all work.  Bid at a price that suits you, not the customer.  If they don't want you at the rate you want to earn, it wouldn't be worth doing anyway.  Some will accept it and it'll make the work worth doing.

Vin

[sunshine windows]

That highlights that for commercial, the secret is the same as for all work.  Bid at a price that suits you, not the customer.  If they don't want you at the rate you want to earn, it wouldn't be worth doing anyway.  Some will accept it and it'll make the work worth doing.

It's the only way you will build a lucrative round you're happy to service, as opposed to having a round full of 'grudge' cleans.

[Perfect Windows]

That highlights that for commercial, the secret is the same as for all work.  Bid at a price that suits you, not the customer.  If they don't want you at the rate you want to earn, it wouldn't be worth doing anyway.  Some will accept it and it'll make the work worth doing.

It's the only way you will build a lucrative round you're happy to service, as opposed to having a round full of 'grudge' cleans.

Someone on here once quoted someone from memory (and I'm now doing the same so it's twice mangled).  It went something like: "any job you think about with dread isn't worth doing".

Vin

[sunshine windows]

100% agree with that Vin.

I don't increase my prices anywhere near often enough, so by the time an increase is due, they can be bumped up by anything up to 25%.

I went through my whole round late last year and made increases where I felt necessary. Lost 1 customer who is now back on board.

I think this reflects on the quality of service we provide as we're far from cheap. I was happy (ish) with the round as it was but now it's great

[Tom-01]

100% agree with that Vin.

I don't increase my prices anywhere near often enough, so by the time an increase is due, they can be bumped up by anything up to 25%.

I went through my whole round late last year and made increases where I felt necessary. Lost 1 customer who is now back on board.

I think this reflects on the quality of service we provide as we're far from cheap. I was happy (ish) with the round as it was but now it's great

Thats good mate. It makes a big difference. I've set out the beginning of this year refining our work, dumping messers straight away, any new quotes that seem a pain I just say we can't do.

How do you find servicing your work whilst building up others work?

We've got a few good commercial jobs and large houses, and I know we're not cheap but as you say its the service they buy in to. And it makes a massive difference to cash flow. I'm on Aworka at the moment and looking back to Jan and Feb 2014 to Jan and Feb this year we will have done an extra £10,300 in that two month period. This is due in part to commercial but also tightening up the domestic work. I haven't gone looking for any commercial work its trickled in nicely over the past 2 years.

[sunshine windows]

Thats good mate. It makes a big difference. I've set out the beginning of this year refining our work, dumping messers straight away, any new quotes that seem a pain I just say we can't do.

How do you find servicing your work whilst building up others work?

We've got a few good commercial jobs and large houses, and I know we're not cheap but as you say its the service they buy in to. And it makes a massive difference to cash flow. I'm on Aworka at the moment and looking back to Jan and Feb 2014 to Jan and Feb this year we will have done an extra £10,300 in that two month period. This is due in part to commercial but also tightening up the domestic work. I haven't gone looking for any commercial work its trickled in nicely over the past 2 years.

Nice increase in revenue Tom!

I'm not chasing work at all at the minute, as it's coming in quite nicely. We're getting anywhere between 10-30 new enquiries a week.

Now all 3 franchisees are up to speed with work and pricing, I just pass the details of potential customers onto them and let them deal with it.

I'm still building my round too but in non competitive areas to the others. They work more locally to where they live to kinimise travel, whereas I'm happy doing work in the sticks.  Once I have enough work again I'll start another one off.