[josephus]

Hi Guys

I haven't been on this forum in a long time but have gone back to Carpets after a long break.

I was just wondering if you could offer a bit of advice for my efforts.

I have a good quality Extracta with 75 feet of hose. I'm using Prochem products so I can be sure of them.
I'm using Facebook now to get customers with low low prices but am still booked up every week and making 400 pounds before picking the kids up from school.

I had t shirts made up and I plan to get some basic sign writing  soon as well as get several different leaflets to target different areas and also find a course on Leather repair and cleaning so I can offer that.

Basically while I offer a bare bones service I'm charging pennies but as I get back to it and improve my skills I'll target higher paying jobs. I took the two day Prochem course many years ago and still have my books which I'm rereading to get back into things.

If things go well (I've decided on one year) I'll upgrade to a larger portable that I can use as a semi truckmount or a full on second hand truckmount, as well as flying over and taking a course in their use and servicing.

What more should I do?

[Mike Halliday]

You are  building a database of low paying customers these will fall away when you up your prices.

If you are set on offering  a low price to get customers then at least give  them the opertunity to  spend more money for a more premium service. Offer a bare bones service but up-sell a better clean ( protector, deodoriser, pet treatments etc..etc)

People who pay a cheap price will (if given a reason)  spend more money you just need to give them a reason that's of value to them.

[Carpet Dawg]

You say you are getting customers via facebook with low low prices, how low are you talking? I have seen some very cheap prices on fb  i.e. £20 a room, £50 for a suite etc

My second question is how the FFFFFECK are you making £400 a day "before picking the kids up from school" non the less at those prices?? 

It seems you have it sussed mate, you don't need our help. 

[josephus]

My mistake mate, sorry. I WISH I was making 400 a day, I'm only back at it three weeks and am making that a week.  It's not huge but I think it's an OK start.

As to prices, I'm doing three rooms for about 50 pounds or hall stairs and landing + suite for £50.00. It's low but no complaints and lots of recommendations so far. As I improve and gain confidence and hopefully some regular work I'll slowly raise my prices.

I'm finding my custom is mostly housing estate and very grateful, many have ever had carpet cleaning. I'm doing the jobs right but making it clear i'm not removing stains that don't come out with detergent, unless they pay extra.

[josephus]

Hi Mike

Right now I'm happy to be paying the rent but I certainly take your point, nobody wants to be the lowest bidder and I plan to improve my skills, my equipment and my expectations as soon as I can.

This has allowed me to buy a nice (to me) van, keep the lights on and, to be honest, given me a lot to be positive about after a lot of bad luck.

I hope that next year you'll see me buying a nice truckmount on this site.

Cheers

[Carpet Dawg]

I would get away from that market as quick as possible mate. The longer you stay at that price point the longer and harder its going to take up start earning more per hour. As soon as you raise the price they'll just find someone else who's cheap. You want quality clients who are happy to pay a good price for a good service. They tend to be nicer people and have nicer and CLEANER carpets.

You should be aiming at a bare minimum of £50 a room and £100 a suite. And those prices are in the low to medium price range IMO.

I suggest you get a website made and get some leaflets made. Target nice areas. On the leaflets and website don't mention price, sell quality, service, experience, the best clean possible etc etc.  Price is only in your head.

[Stoots]

Im pretty much at the same price point although not quite that cheap.

quite happy to do a rough arse job for 20 quid a room at the moment (i have a minimum price of 50 tho)

did 4 carpets yesterday on an EOT. 80 quid in an hour n half, quick hoover, quick prespray and agitate, 2 passes with the wand  and done. cash in back pocket and gone. 

[josephus]

Thanks for the good advice.

In light of it i'm going to get my leaflets printed and target better paying jobs. I'll continue with the cheap stuff, maybe less cheap but work hard to improve and move up.

[bennymon]

It will take its toll at them prices you will work many hours on the dirtiest and most difficult jobs . Put your prices up and you will work in houses with cleaner carpets for less hours and more profit .

[Mike Halliday]

The old saying is very applicable.... " double your prices, lose half your customers, do half the work,  but you make the same money"

The maths of charging more is very interesting, if you charge £20 for a room then £15 is your profit, so if you raise your prices by 25% you actually increase your profit by 33%.

[gwrightson]

Any 2 rooms cleaned for £40 or any 3 rooms for £50! Call today. 01482 ******

Get Offer

Carpet cleaning offer
Expires Wednesday, May 4, 2016

62 people claimed this offer

I get this guy popping up on my face book every day almost, as you can see he has 62 taken this up already, and he only had it up a month ,although last month he had same offer as he does every month ,
I seem to recall last months he had well over 150 take it up , What I cant work out is quite how he does it!looking at the comments he gets ,he travels quite a way for that price,

Geoff

[Steve Chapman]

At £400 a week in reality you are making probably around £250 in profit at best which is worse than working in a supermarket.........

Just a thought.............

[josephus]

Hi Steve

I agree it's not great and that I'll need to move past this but it's not that bad I think.

All my work was within 5 miles of my house and I earned it with 13 little jobs. The machine was used and cost a grand.  Chemicals (Crystal Green and Pre Spray) were another maybe tenners worth. I'll be able to buy a replacement in two years by saving another tenner a week.

So you've spent 20 quid on fuel, ten to save towards a new machine and ten pounds on chems and you end up with £360.00 before tax, and I made that between 9.30am and 1.30pm in five days.

I reckon the average Tesco store manager isn't making that hourly rate! I can't wait until the kids are older and I can do more work!

[homenclean]

Good luck nice to see you are having a go there is a place in the market for what you are offering and it's all down to what you are happy to earn.  may be you could try something like £55 first room then £15 per room there on this would mean a 3 bed semi would be £115 to £130 (dependant on dinning room or not).
This works for a guy round our way . 3  hours and your done.

Good luck going forward.
John

[gwrightson]

Hi Steve

I agree it's not great and that I'll need to move past this but it's not that bad I think.

All my work was within 5 miles of my house and I earned it with 13 little jobs. The machine was used and cost a grand.  Chemicals (Crystal Green and Pre Spray) were another maybe tenners worth. I'll be able to buy a replacement in two years by saving another tenner a week.

I would take another look at your figures.
You are omitting quite a number of other expenses.

I hope you succeed , you appear to be determined, but just take another look at what you realistically will need to spend per week.

Geoff

[josephus]

Will do mate, thanks. I can tell you this. For the past two years I have have been surviving on a fiver a week for myself and struggling to pay the bills, these past few weeks I've had a couple hundred to bank and fifty in my back pocket, the kids have been to the movies, and I HAVE A TRANSIT VAN! I love them!!

I'm gonna do more and better but right now this is a godsend. Thanks to everyone for the great advice.

Jo

[homenclean]

It's nice to hear someone trying to do better for their family, soon you'll be talking about taking the kids on holiday etc.if you maintain this attitude I'm sure you'll succeed.
John