[vivaro 013]

i do work for a company were i normally invoices them for each job, if its a small  job, less than 100 pound i just do the job, over that i qoute them before commencing work , been ask today to state what my hourly rate is and travelling cost are , has any body got any ideas how can explain this to them without me losing out

[Llaaww]

this probably won't help much but I would never discuss hourly rates with anybody. The only people who want to talk about it are the ones trying to get the price down to the absolute minimum.

Not worth doing business with.

[Window Washers]

i do work for a company were i normally invoices them for each job, if its a small  job, less than 100 pound i just do the job, over that i qoute them before commencing work , been ask today to state what my hourly rate is and travelling cost are , has any body got any ideas how can explain this to them without me losing out

I would not quote an hourly rate, but would quote a day rate to them I would quote a quater, half day and full day rate which includes travelling times ect I would guess they are looking for the cheapest hourly rate going so if you say £10 a hour they will just ask every other till they find a £6 an hour company
I would also point out the hourly rates from a £6 per hour window cleaner can work out more expensive than a £10 an hour window cleaner quality and price will differ alot on price as will speed of clean and a host of other things.

Why do they want to know your hourly rate, surley it is the job you do for the price

[cozy]

We charge travel time too the job if the custy want's it itemised on the bill, otherwise it's included in the price. We don't charge both ways though, Hourly rate applies, hope that makes sense.

[HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANERS (scrimmy)]

we used to charge travel time also, however in todays climate i have stopped doing that, no one has ever asked me my hourly rate, and to be frank i dont have one as its a non starter in my book. i simply price the job on how long i will be on the site, the travel expense ( and travel time ) is down to me and my end of year books/expense. loads of people who are working for employers dont get that benefit, thet may need to commute for two hours each way daily, but only get paid from when they start work, so why should i be different ( as i said i used to do that but now i dont)

[leapstallbuildings]

i do work for a company were i normally invoices them for each job, if its a small  job, less than 100 pound i just do the job, over that i qoute them before commencing work , been ask today to state what my hourly rate is and travelling cost are , has any body got any ideas how can explain this to them without me losing out

Rather than do that, I would offer to quote all work - even the sub £100 stuff.  I would be uneasy about a customer asking for details of how I quote because I don't have a specific method.  It's more a case of me reckoning a job will take a certain time so I price accordingly subject to a minimum charge.  Also, I will think that if it's a long way away then I need to add a bit - especially if I have no other work around there.  Then there might be a bit extra if I think I can swing it.  I may occasionally add a bit on if someone seems like they might be a haggler.  Capitalism is about charging whatever the market will carry.  Not pretty but everyone else seems to do that.

[foxy]

window cleaning is a job price; not an hour rate unless you are working for someone. they will begrudge you earing much above the minimum wage. i was asked to do some work (high level) in a shopping centre, an atrium, and 30 foot glass at a train station + other bits. i paid for a scissor lift course and bought a harness and lanyard; (£200 for the course and almost the same for the equipment) on the promise of lots of work. they were more than happy with what i did, i charged them £140 for around 10 hours work. the manager came and asked me recently if i'd do some more work for them, not on a job price but on minimum wage rate. window cleaning is not seen as a skilled job by facilities management (and others) wfp or not.