Hi Jason
To succeed, you need the technical ability and the tools to perform. So you need to perfrom to a higher standard than with your current employer. Formal training is vital for this. You need to project your professionalism. Well mannered, well presented and on time, telephone calls must be dealt with in a businesslike manner (no music in the background, children shouting etc. etc). Your marketing must be well packaged, and the advice given by Shaun and others on Clean It Up is very worthwhile reading. Finally, your prices must be realistic and reflect the costs of being in and running a business. Working for yourself, you should reasonably expect to achieve in excess of the typical UK average industrial wage which is in excess of £20kpa, plus a typical minimum overheads, without advertising, of > £10k. Plus profit for re-investment and expansion.
You will not be competing on price. No matter how low your prices, someone will always be cheaper. At the prices you illustrated above, you'd probably scrape a reasonable living together, but you're unlikely to runa healthy, profitable business. Certainly not as a one man band.
Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken
