[nathankaye]

The only time I charge for a first clean charge is when the customer hasn't had a window cleaner for some time, hence windows and frames are manky. The higher price reflects the extra work and water being used to get the windows upto scratch.   I've not had any new customer argue or resent this. Obviously if their frames and windows are relatively clean, then I charge whatever cleaning schedule they pick.  For instance 4 weekly at £15 or 8 weekly at £20.   Again I've never had a customer argue at this and I've never had a  new customer dispute my only payment option of direct debit.

[KS Cleaning]

I never ask new customers if they want a regular clean. That way I don't give them the opportunity to say what they think I want to hear, so I always assume it's either a one-off or ad hoc clean. I don't charge any extra for a first clean either. The reasons I work this way  are to give the customer the chance to see the quality of my work at a non-inflated price. I also see it as 'investing in the customer'. If they are happy enough with my work and the value for money it offers, they may then propose a regularly scheduled clean. I'm happy with all scenarios as they give me plenty of work with plenty of variety, and I have a good core of regular (turn up and clean according to agreed schedule) customers who have come to me in the way described above.

John

You are trad though aren’t you? On the whole, first cleans won’t take much longer than regular cleans when trad.

[Stoots]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain

But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.

[John Mart]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain

But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.

I think there’s a lot of truth in that, but if the house is really minging I think it’s sensible to charge a bit more. Most will pay it. If your spidey senses are tingling charge double. If I have a bad feeling about a customer I’m often correct.

[Johnny B]

I never ask new customers if they want a regular clean. That way I don't give them the opportunity to say what they think I want to hear, so I always assume it's either a one-off or ad hoc clean. I don't charge any extra for a first clean either. The reasons I work this way  are to give the customer the chance to see the quality of my work at a non-inflated price. I also see it as 'investing in the customer'. If they are happy enough with my work and the value for money it offers, they may then propose a regularly scheduled clean. I'm happy with all scenarios as they give me plenty of work with plenty of variety, and I have a good core of regular (turn up and clean according to agreed schedule) customers who have come to me in the way described above.

John

You are trad though aren’t you? On the whole, first cleans won’t take much longer than regular cleans when trad.

Yes I'm trad KS, so yes it doesn't usually take too much longer unless it's a minger! I don't worry about how long any job takes anyway; I just plod away until it's done.

John

[dazmond]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain

But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.

i think your wrong there adam..charge more even if its only slightly more....they will pay it if they havent been cleaned for a while......

[Dry Clean]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain

But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.

i think your wrong there adam..charge more even if its only slightly more....they will pay it if they havent been cleaned for a while......

Did you charge more for the first clean when you had 20 customers on your books ? some people buy work, some do unpaid canvassing to gain work, some pay advertising costs and some people take a hit on the first clean in the hope that the customer will appreciate it and recommend them to others, its just another cost in the cost of building a round,  there are no rights or wrongs on this one.

[Smudger]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.
how is charging more over inflated ? - if the normal clean takes 20 minutes but the first clean takes 40 minutes then the additional charge is reasonable and justified

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.
thats a point of view - but also i dont see why we should subsidise the customers lack of care for their home - you will get plenty of new work even with a first clean charge - it roots out the messers looking for a cheap 1 off clean - i offer a half price clean on the sixth clean as a reward for loyalty

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.
again thats a very blinkered view - the perception is you are not confident enough to impiment a first clean price - and yes growth is still very fast with a first clean price with the added advantage that i dont lose money for every new customer i take on

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain
Its not pride - its business
But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.
correct - just the use of text to sensationalise your case for not charging a first clean price

As with many things in life, business etc.. their is more than one way to do things - some ways suit some and not others - i just dont get the attitude that if it does not work for you those who do do it are some how ripping off customers ? its just a n ill informed generalised statement with no facts to support your own beliefs

Darran

[Slacky]

I take a chance on every new customer

We all do.

I had one a couple of weeks ago who asked for their windows to cleaned. Im sure I told her I visit every 6 weeks. Once she'd paid online she e-mailed me to tell me she'd done so. I replied telling her I'd see her in 6 weeks. She promptly cancelled. My response was 'Thats fine, thanks for your business' What else is appropriate?

I don't understand why peeps get in a tiss about it. FB groups are full, everyday, of shiners starting threads about a customer backing out of a £12.00 a month deal. Is this likely to break the bank?

Seems there's a new breed of 12 year old shiners starting out unable to deal with the ups and downs of interacting with Joe Public. The fact is,  sometimes a custard cancels on you?

If you cant hack it you need to not be in the service industry.

[John Mart]

I take a chance on every new customer

We all do.

I had one a couple of weeks ago who asked for their windows to cleaned. Im sure I told her I visit every 6 weeks. Once she'd paid online she e-mailed me to tell me she'd done so. I replied telling her I'd see her in 6 weeks. She promptly cancelled. My response was 'Thats fine, thanks for your business' What else is appropriate?

I don't understand why peeps get in a tiss about it. FB groups are full, everyday, of shiners starting threads about a customer backing out of a £12.00 a month deal. Is this likely to break the bank?

Seems there's a new breed of 12 year old shiners starting out unable to deal with the ups and downs of interacting with Joe Public. The fact is,  sometimes a custard cancels on you?

If you cant hack it you need to not be in the service industry.

Hmmm, I had one yesterday that was chased for payment after 7 weeks, paid and cancelled saying she wasn't happy with the job. My spidey senses tingled big style on that one so she was emailed twice telling her it was a regular service only and left an invoice with terms that state if you're unhappy, contact us and minimum sign up is three cleans or a cancellation fee. I see no reason to waive the cancellation fee (although I accept it may be a struggle to get her to pay it).

[dazmond]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain

But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.

i think your wrong there adam..charge more even if its only slightly more....they will pay it if they havent been cleaned for a while......

Did you charge more for the first clean when you had 20 customers on your books ? some people buy work, some do unpaid canvassing to gain work, some pay advertising costs and some people take a hit on the first clean in the hope that the customer will appreciate it and recommend them to others, its just another cost in the cost of building a round,  there are no rights or wrongs on this one.

some guys do first cleans  for free round our way!no wonder they cant afford a decent van and system!!

[paul alan]

I do first cleans at a regular price, sometimes I regret it!

I too see it as an investment, but if I only ever did first cleans I would never make any money. I would do something else.

[james peters]

I do first cleans at a regular price, sometimes I regret it!

I too see it as an investment, but if I only ever did first cleans I would never make any money. I would do something else.

I never used to charge extra for first cleans.  but this year I have been expanding, nothing dramatic, just a steady average of about 5 new cleans a week.
I also look at it as an investment, however I plan to keep adding 5 new cleans week in week out if possible .
this means that every week there would be that part of the day or morning where I will be working for less than I want.
It also means that if the customer is only really looking for a one off , then whilst it is frustrating, I still havn,t lost out on that days hourly target.
I am also at the point where as soon as I am not paid or messed about, I just move on ..... I t is very frustrating sometimes, but it is all about numbers .... sometimes is 2 steps foreward and 1 step back.... but at least is another step in the right direction.

[robbo333]

Charging more for a first clean IS an investment in your business.

Your business needs regular, reliable customers and any reasonable person would accept that a first clean will take longer, and therefore cost more.

If a customer didn't want to pay extra for a first clean, then that would send alarm bells ringing and I wouldn't clean for them.

As an aside, a couple of lads near me have started up and offer 25% off the first clean. I know the guy and he said what a big mistake that was!

[AuRavelling79]

I'm quite happy for other shiners to do first cleans at a regular price and to charge the same for a quarterly as a monthly.

They will be busier for less money and they will not weed out so many messers as a shiner like me who explains that the first clean is always more "to take the time to bring windows that have not been cleaned for a while up to standard".

[Dry Clean]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain

But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.

i think your wrong there adam..charge more even if its only slightly more....they will pay it if they havent been cleaned for a while......

Did you charge more for the first clean when you had 20 customers on your books ? some people buy work, some do unpaid canvassing to gain work, some pay advertising costs and some people take a hit on the first clean in the hope that the customer will appreciate it and recommend them to others, its just another cost in the cost of building a round,  there are no rights or wrongs on this one.

some guys do first cleans  for free round our way!no wonder they cant afford a decent van and system!!

Does the guy who pays x amount for a round/work not clean more than one for free ? plus
how long were you cleaning windows before you got a decent van and system ? lol

[Dry Clean]

I'm quite happy for other shiners to do first cleans at a regular price and to charge the same for a quarterly as a monthly.

They will be busier for less money and they will not weed out so many messers as a shiner like me who explains that the first clean is always more "to take the time to bring windows that have not been cleaned for a while up to standard".

[tlwcs]

I don't charge a first clean price either.

That's because im actively seeking work and looking for new customers.

After you have paid to get the phone ringing or the enquiry in the last thing you want to be doing is putting them off with a first clean charge

The cost of getting the phone ringing and the extra time taken with a first clean is just the price you must pay to grow a business. A first clean is an investment of your time and money into what hopefully becomes a long term return on investment customer.

Of course you win some and lose some, that's just part of growing your round.

To charge such over inflated first clean prices might be fine when you couldnt care less about getting the job or not.

I've done half a dozen first cleans this week, sure I earned a bit less per hour doing them but Im pretty certain none would have paid 4x the monthly fee for a first clean, so I would have had 0 new customers in that case.  Speculate to accumulate.

Personally I think if you have ambitions to put multiple vans on the road your growth is going to be very slow trying to get extortionate first clean prices out of people.

Swallow a bit of pride, be prepared to lose a bit in the short term for long term gain

But that's just my opinion, we can all do as we like.

I think there’s a lot of truth in that, but if the house is really minging I think it’s sensible to charge a bit more. Most will pay it. If your spidey senses are tingling charge double. If I have a bad feeling about a customer I’m often correct.

Most expect to pay more for a first clean .
People buy people. If you explain it takes longer and you create a little rapport, most will nod and go with what their told. It's a confidence thing.
If they won't I'm happy to let someone else clean them.

[James Randall]

Yeah I heard about the original conversation. You’re a idiot Marc.

[Slacky]

Yeah I heard about the original conversation. You’re a idiot Marc.

But you only registered on the forum 4 days ago.