Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mike Halliday on November 29, 2012, 05:46:51 pm
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....Carpet cleaning companies within 10 miles of you?
Just found 2 more within 3 miles of me....making 14 competing companies
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only 14 within 10 miles..........Luxury,I have far more than that but not all actively market themselves and are only seen on the free listings of web directory sites.
I often wonder how they get work,I suppose they are"beer money"cleaners
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Don't know - don't care
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Same as Steve.
I would guess more than that though ;D
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Is this a how many are actually within 10 miles or how many work/advertise within the 10 miles.
I think we have about 10 actually in the area but possibly 18-20 who claim to be in the area with their false phone numbers and false addresses.
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Don't know - don't care
what he said.
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Don't know - don't care
what he said.
That sound full of bravado, But is it sensible?
I thinks it important to be aware of other companies, you don't have to let them effect your business but to not care is in my opinion not sensible.
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If you dig deep you'll be surprised how many people clean carpets in you region. When we first set up the supply business we did a mail shot to let people know we were here. We concentrated in the area between Berwick upon Tweed and Teeside.
We ended up with over 150 on our database. Apart from Tyneside and Teeside most of this area is rural. Oh and the inbreds from Wearside ;D
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Not bravado Mike.
I'm a one-man owner/operator. There are only so many hours a day and only so many days per week that I can physically work. I have a reasonable sized database of clients, some of whom are very wealthy.
I know my market and I rarely get into a competitive pricing situation.
The cheaper operators in my area are welcome to the market that they target, I'm not interested in it.
Even if another carpet cleaner moved in next door to me, I doubt it would have an effect on my business.
If you choose to deal with all and sundry then maybe you have to worry out about local competition - I don't.
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Not bravado Mike.
I'm a one-man owner/operator. There are only so many hours a day and only so many days per week that I can physically work. I have a reasonable sized database of clients, some of whom are very wealthy.
I know my market and I rarely get into a competitive pricing situation.
The cheaper operators in my area are welcome to the market that they target, I'm not interested in it.
Even if another carpet cleaner moved in next door to me, I doubt it would have an effect on my business.
If you choose to deal with all and sundry then maybe you have to worry out about local competition - I don't.
Couldn't agree more. Spending time worrying about the competition is time spent away from your own business. Look after your clients and they'll look after you.
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Don't know - don't care
what he said.
That sound full of bravado, But is it sensible?
I thinks it important to be aware of other companies, you don't have to let them effect your business but to not care is in my opinion not sensible.
Yeah but why worry what the scruffy, BO smelling, dodgy pedo looking, scumy competition get upto.
My adverts and marketing costs over £1400 per month and I’m delighted to run a modest loss on this thanks to a massively huge database of happy commercial and domestic customers. I like to starve out my competition. I’ll be only happy when I see them hungry and homeless.
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Don't know - don't care
what he said.
That sound full of bravado, But is it sensible?
I thinks it important to be aware of other companies, you don't have to let them effect your business but to not care is in my opinion not sensible.
if you don't let them effect your business then why would you need to care?
what effect would being aware have on your business?
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100's
Did a search and the map was red, could hardly see the street layout
;) ;) ;)
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Derek unless all you compete on Is price then knowing your compition is helpfull,
An example is a local company to me who I often quote against, I know he works alone, I always mention that I work with my son so will happily move and replace all the furniture...... He won't. although I am slightly more expensive I usually get the job
Another example is another hull company. they are a great company and a lovely couple own It, but I know they have a big office with staff, I mention to customers that this office and all their staff needs to be paid for, and who really foots the bill? the customer.... We work from home so can offer a more competitive price
Knowing other companies weakness is a valuable tool when quoting against them
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Sorry that figure was nearer 250 not 150 ::)
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Don't know - don't care
what he said.
What they said :D
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Derek unless all you compete on Is price then knowing your compition is helpfull,
An example is a local company to me who I often quote against, I know he works alone, I always mention that I work with my son so will happily move and replace all the furniture...... He won't. although I am slightly more expensive I usually get the job
Another example is another hull company. they are a great company and a lovely couple own It, but I know they have a big office with staff, I mention to customers that this office and all their staff needs to be paid for, and who really foots the bill? the customer.... We work from home so can offer a more competitive price
Knowing other companies weakness is a valuable tool when quoting against them
still don't get it, i offer the best service i can and i tell all my customers that. i can't be any better until i get better through trying harder, competitors don't make me better, this forum and the guys like yourself and others make me better, training makes me better, trial and error makes me better, i will be marketing the cwap out of my business in 2013, i won't be able to market any more, what my "so called" competitors do has no bearing on me doing the best i can for my business. as long as your doing your utmost best then your competitors have no bearing on your business. thats just my opinion and therefore i won't be keeping an eye on or caring how many competitors i have round here. obviously i'm not being sensible but hey, we all ready know that ;D
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Derek unless all you compete on Is price then knowing your compition is helpfull,
An example is a local company to me who I often quote against, I know he works alone, I always mention that I work with my son so will happily move and replace all the furniture...... He won't. although I am slightly more expensive I usually get the job
Another example is another hull company. they are a great company and a lovely couple own It, but I know they have a big office with staff, I mention to customers that this office and all their staff needs to be paid for, and who really foots the bill? the customer.... We work from home so can offer a more competitive price
Knowing other companies weakness is a valuable tool when quoting against them
I see where you're coming from Mike. We need to sell our services based on what the competition is doing rather than what we can do, yes?
Sorry, I'll stick to selling what I know best........me ::)
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Who Cares! BUT i was at a Marketing meeting this morning and AN Other carpet cleaner was there! He stood up and BLAH BLAH ive got a TM dont need Customers water BLAH BLAH They Left me to last :)
I stood up and said Am booked fully before xmas looking Nationwide commercial work for the New year!
Funny he Never came over at the end to say HI, Just Buggered off straight away, as I got questioned about a few leads.
God loves em TRYER Me Am A DOer
Funny they said He was Cheaper than me too....
Bless his Auld Cotton Sox
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Actually just been on the TACCA site and, according to that info, there aren't any other cc's within ten miles. The nearest is 13.7 miles away. Some tin pot company called Affordable Cleaners......whoever the hell they are :D
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Some fair answers except blackey who sounds like a twat
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Actually just been on the TACCA site and, according to that info, there aren't any other cc's within ten miles. The nearest is 13.7 miles away. Some tin pot company called Affordable Cleaners......whoever the hell they are :D
I know him! There's no need to worry though, he's only got a little blower!!! he might even use a rug doctor!
;D ;D ;D
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It's good business to sell our own companies strengths to our customer, I could tell a customer 20 reasons why I'm the best company to satisfy thier cleaning requirements. But if I told them all 20 reasons I would overwelm them with needless information. We need to tell them only the benefits that are applicable to them
One of my strengths is ( as i mentioned earlier) we work as a 2 man team,but I know 2 other companies who also work as a 2 man team, when I quote against these companies the fact that thier are 2 of us is irrelevant and has no additional benefit to the customer.
the strengths & benefits of using our companies are what is different betreen us & our competitors...... How can we sell our benefits if we don't know the weakness of our competitors.
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Mikes right.
Blackey what was that about, was you drunk writing that, lol.
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mike your theory only works if you quote last or have a full list of who your quoting against.
so you like to check out your competition!, nothing wrong with that. i'm not saying your stupid for checking them out, i personally don't see the point, i list as mush as i possibly can about my company that is good and if i don't get the job i move on to the next quote.
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I don't clean carpets because I can't! I have never learned how and I don't want to. However, when I was a Tiler I was the most expensive Tiler in the area, I didn't care what others were charging or what they quoted. I went in talked to the customer and I listened to what they wanted I then either decided to quote or not depending on the job and what they said. If I decided to put my quote in, it was based on us earning a decent wage for the job and making a profit even though in a lot of cases they would say we have had a quote for £500 if I felt I needed to charge £1200 then I would!
Basically I agree with Derek and a few others on here "I charge what I think I am worth and to earn a living" I don't care what others are charging I just get on with it. We have applied the same rules to Stone Cleaning and Restoration and as far as I am concerned it works! I know a Carpet Cleaner in my area who works 10 Hours a day 51/2 days a week and earns a fortune. He is by no means the cheapest but he's good and always busy! I once asked him what his competitors rates were and he said "Don't Know and Don't Care. I am in do the job then out and on to the next job"
Kev Martin
Tiling Logistics
Marblelife Ltd
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It's good business to sell our own companies strengths to our customer, I could tell a customer 20 reasons why I'm the best company to satisfy thier cleaning requirements. But if I told them all 20 reasons I would overwelm them with needless information. We need to tell them only the benefits that are applicable to them
One of my strengths is ( as i mentioned earlier) we work as a 2 man team,but I know 2 other companies who also work as a 2 man team, when I quote against these companies the fact that thier are 2 of us is irrelevant and has no additional benefit to the customer.
the strengths & benefits of using our companies are what is different betreen us & our competitors...... How can we sell our benefits if we don't know the weakness of our competitors.
So , have you got time to post all my on Mike weaknesses
;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
geoff
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Do you mean like your inability to write in English that makes some sort of sense :D :D
What were you actually trying to say???
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Hi guys
I think it also relates more to those who target a specific town, I cover a large area including parts of East and North London and The City, plus Essex so I have so many competitors it would take me a week to count them ;)
I know there will be those who are way cheaper than me but as I'm not prepared to work at those prices so I don't worry about it.
Cheers
Doug
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good start MIKE, poop MY KEYS HAVING TROUBLE recognising where i press, or it may help if i turned on my lights, even put on my glasses ;D geoff
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Don't care about the competition as long as the work keeps coming in ;D
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I think it's about trying to create a match winning conversation so you hold the interest of the customer and make them want to choose you over choosing price, counting the competition is not 100% reliant as it does depend on where they advertise and where and how the customer searches for a cleaner ie if the customer in your service area looks in the free press and you aren't there then you aren't going to get a call even if the customer lives on the next street.
Shaun
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Ive got this dodgy bloke called Shaun near me.
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Its pretty easy to become complacent in this game.
Most replys are from guys in the business 10 + years and at that point things just seem to take care of themselves.
Try starting from scratch using advertising to get the work and I reckon most of us would struggle. It was easier years ago to get work.
With the dawn of the NET anyone can say and look professional all it takes is money to get a site going.
Once in the door its a different matter of course.
My problem with my competitors is that even the Chemdrys and cleaning doctors are doing suites for less than £100 now.
Mark
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I'm sure Jason (the other dodgy cleaner) and Allan jr will tell you that in our area South Yorkshire I can't think of anyone who charges say £200 for a suite although the reverse of that I can't think of any franchise that charge £100.
Shaun
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Bless his Auld Cotton Sox
John V?
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It's all very well saying you don't care if your prices are higher than your competitors, but the customer will care - so it's up to you to brief them on why perhaps they're not 'comparing apples with apples'. I don't know half my competitors, but it's easy to throw in a few 'blanket' statements to plant a seed about the service they can expect to receive from me, and from my competitors.
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I am a one man band - going since 2006 - very happy with my lot - never worry about what other people are doing or saying "life's too short" - no I really mean it , at the end of the day life is far too short .
Or to quote the great Bill Shankley " what other team !!!- you mean there,s another team on the field ??"
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Oh and the inbreds from Wearside ;D
;D ;D ;D
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Don't know - don't care
what he said.
That sound full of bravado, But is it sensible?
I thinks it important to be aware of other companies, you don't have to let them effect your business but to not care is in my opinion not sensible.
if you don't let them effect your business then why would you need to care?
what effect would being aware have on your business?
I Care ;D That leaflet I got the other day from affordable cleaners advertising £120 for a 4 bed detached house is very cheap Derek, and doesnt do me or the only other reasonably priced carpet/upholstery cleaner in Northwich any favours at all.
The prices on your leaflets and website are silly and one day I hope you will agree and realise your mistake.
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Is that for real?
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Pricing is a personal issue it's also a hot potato on here it's more interesting if Derek gets response from prices already advertised compared to the 'ring me and see' approach.
Shaun
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Correct Shaun, but surely £120.00 for a four bedroom detached would work out at very little more than minmum wage after all expenses, but, each to their own, not for me though! I only do this work for money (not passion as some claim), and I can't/don't complain with my lot!
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As per O/P, not sure how many in my region, but the only person I ever pass work onto is Andy Hogarth, who I know to be a good guy, who also does a great job.
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I'm sure Derek will reply, as soon as he's finished polishing his spurs and lassoo ;D ;D
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I'd love to know Dereks secret...
How the bloody hell do you get someone to reliably deliver your leaflets??
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I'd love to know Dereks secret...
How the bloody hell do you get someone to reliably deliver your leaflets??
DIY ;D
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special offer, 4 bed detached house "From" £120 paul, Thats "FROM" . its a marketing phrase.
not got a clue what you charge paul and TBH don't care what you charge. allthough i know that one guy quoted £49 for 2 rooms in sydney st, i quoted £60 and got the job. its not about price but it helps if your affordable in these trying times.
my mate delivers my leaflets, hence why he wasted one through pauls door. ;D
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I'm sure Derek will reply, as soon as he's finished polishing his spurs and lassoo ;D ;D
No Jim he wont he'll be really tired from cleaning all of them 4 bed detached houses for £120 including the vat, ;)
£60 for two rooms in sydney street and you got the job - Bloody hell Derek you'll be paying tax if you carry on like this.
Like I say Derek the carpets are just an add on for me, your mate did waste one through my door, it went straight in the green box? ffs he was cross eyed and had a really bad limp, he said he could beat your price of £35 to clean my lounge, I said I'd have a think about it but £35 was a bit much :'( but he left me your leaflet anyway.
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Happy Mondays.
At least his profile is up to date showing his website.
Yours however!!!
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Derek says that he's not the most expensive cleaner in the area, £120 to clean carpets isn't my price but it is Derek's surely that's his business I'm pretty sure he does a great job I've seen his before and after pics and they look brilliant when he has enough work that he's falling over with it his prices may rise but he has one source of income and he has a family to provide for and I'd guess that he's getting on with it.
Im sure Derek doesn't need me to defend him but we do have to take into consideration others looking in and we need to make sure they get the right impression.
Shaun
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Bless his Auld Cotton Sox
John V?
:P ;) it was funny!
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Derek says that he's not the most expensive cleaner in the area, £120 to clean carpets isn't my price but it is Derek's surely that's his business I'm pretty sure he does a great job I've seen his before and after pics and they look brilliant when he has enough work that he's falling over with it his prices may rise but he has one source of income and he has a family to provide for and I'd guess that he's getting on with it.
Im sure Derek doesn't need me to defend him but we do have to take into consideration others looking in and we need to make sure they get the right impression.
Shaun
At the risk of being seen as a forlock tugger, I totally agree with Shauns post. What the hell has it got to do with anyone else how much WE decide to charge. If I were in the middle of a large city I may well be able to charge less and still make the same margin. I'm not in a city and often travel a fair few miles to get to a job. My ticket price reflects that. So long as I'm doing the very best I can and not short changing my customer then the price decission is mine, not a decission for a committee.
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Think a lot of the time pricing depends on
the travelling factor.
If your travelling 30+ minutes to each job
in a rural area you have to charge more.
Hate to think what travelling times are up
in the North of Scotland.
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Derek says that he's not the most expensive cleaner in the area, £120 to clean carpets isn't my price but it is Derek's surely that's his business I'm pretty sure he does a great job I've seen his before and after pics and they look brilliant when he has enough work that he's falling over with it his prices may rise but he has one source of income and he has a family to provide for and I'd guess that he's getting on with it.
Im sure Derek doesn't need me to defend him but we do have to take into consideration others looking in and we need to make sure they get the right impression.
Shaun
My point is Shaun - Derek said he didnt care about other carpet cleaners and how many in the area, he doesnt really have to care about others with the "from" prices on his marketing.
I live on a newish estate that has been leafleted by Affordable cleaners, I do a bit of work on this estate, average lounge is £80.00 plus vat going up to £110.00 plus vat. Derek has advertised a 4 bed detached "from" £120.00 :( TBH I dont really care if someone works for low prices, Derek is using a truckmount not a karcher or rug doctor, Im also pretty sure he does a very good job - hence my gripe on his prices.
JandS, well done you and others keep the profiles up to date, it will be the making of your business one day ???
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Happy Mondays.
At least his profile is up to date showing his website.
Yours however!!!
Hey, no wonder your defending cheap prices "HSL £15.00" ;D I know you have put subject to size but this is a wind up isnt it?
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Derek says that he's not the most expensive cleaner in the area, £120 to clean carpets isn't my price but it is Derek's surely that's his business I'm pretty sure he does a great job I've seen his before and after pics and they look brilliant when he has enough work that he's falling over with it his prices may rise but he has one source of income and he has a family to provide for and I'd guess that he's getting on with it.
Im sure Derek doesn't need me to defend him but we do have to take into consideration others looking in and we need to make sure they get the right impression.
Shaun
My point is Shaun - Derek said he didnt care about other carpet cleaners and how many in the area, he doesnt really have to care about others with the "from" prices on his marketing.
I live on a newish estate that has been leafleted by Affordable cleaners, I do a bit of work on this estate, average lounge is £80.00 plus vat going up to £110.00 plus vat. Derek has advertised a 4 bed detached "from" £120.00 :( TBH I dont really care if someone works for low prices, Derek is using a truckmount not a karcher or rug doctor, Im also pretty sure he does a very good job - hence my gripe on his prices.
JandS, well done you and others keep the profiles up to date, it will be the making of your business one day ???
Those prices are better than my area, we have some clowns working for nothing. I've tried to ignore them and not match them but last month I cleaned 2 customers carpets, it's dog eat dog at moment, it will soon be a case if if you can't beat them join them either that or jack in.
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Hi Steve, if I had to earn a living just cleaning carpets then I would be very worried indeed by Dereks and many others pricing structure, thankfully I earn a half decent living doing other things. So will carry on cleaning carpets and upholstery for the foreseeable future.
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Something that Derek and others with " competitive " pricing have, which many others DO NOT HAVE is HIGH PRODUCTIVITY .
A couple of years ago there were a number of posters on here who worked along the lines of TAKE THEM FOR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE and waste or they would say spend a lot of time APPEARING to do more than the HIGH PRODUCTIVITY guys who actually do as much but just do it a lot more quickly.
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That model is a great idea Robert.
IF YOU HAVE A LIMITLESS AMOUNT OF WORK COMING IN.
::)
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Well the keyword is FROM
Which means he most likely charges more so I don't get the fuss. Standard marketing.
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Warren is spot on, how many times have you looked on websites (especially for airlines) to see the FROM word and to never actually be able to get anything at the price after this.
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Warren is spot on, how many times have you looked on websites (especially for airlines) to see the FROM word and to never actually be able to get anything at the price after this.
I think you can get pulled up on it though if you can't show you have done a job at that price.
You could do an empty EOT for that if there are no major issues and be done in 2 hours, that's not bad money.
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I know plenty. self included who can rattle off an empty 4 bed rental in around an hour. With a truckmount.
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I know plenty. self included who can rattle off an empty 4 bed rental in around an hour. With a truckmount.
With my eyes shut 8)
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I know plenty. self included who can rattle off an empty 4 bed rental in around an hour. With a truckmount.
prove it! come and clean my carpets and ill time ya. its only 2 bed so you can do the suite aswell
cos i cant be bothered ;D
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I know plenty. self included who can rattle off an empty 4 bed rental in around an hour. With a truckmount.
an hour ???
must include tea and biscuits then ;D
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Warren is spot on, how many times have you looked on websites (especially for airlines) to see the FROM word and to never actually be able to get anything at the price after this.
I think you can get pulled up on it though if you can't show you have done a job at that price.
You could do an empty EOT for that if there are no major issues and be done in 2 hours, that's not bad money.
Yes we expect this from companys with multi million pound turnovers its part of life, you are comparing an airline with a small carpet cleaning business??
I understand what "from" means and I also understand marketing in a cleaning business to some extent.
EOT empty 4 bed detached in one hour wow ;D well done but I'm not really into rushing a job and like to take it easy - vac the carpets - pre-spray - aggitate then rinse and put the driers on them. I live on an estate of about 3000 houses mainly consisting of middle class people, the houses range from £200k to about £420k, not that many empty eot cleans to be had on here really. Even if there was keep those silly prices to the letting agents and landlords if you think you can clean a 4 bed detached for £120 in an hour.
BTW the average 4 bed detached on this estate has "on average" 150 m2 of carpeted area. I would rather charge about £300 plus the vat and take my time for this amount of carpet than rush it just to get back home to log onto my pc and talk aload of rubbish on a forum. The from £120 is misleading and way to cheap for a 4 bed detached house :o
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Bloody hell I thought I was physically fit but I can't do a full house in 1 hour infact I'd be troubled to do it in 2 hours, epic fail.
Shaun
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Any how Paul, Derek if you are so fast at cleaning carpets and can earn £120 in an hour cleaning a 4 bed detached house and your so good at marketing and getting repeat and new customers with your amazing advertising, how come your not registered for vat yet??? 8 hours every day 52 weeks a year at that rate would be good eh ;D ;D the only downside is you would have to register for vat.
My advice would be, take your time its not a race, the forums will still be here even if it takes you all day to earn £120 :)
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Paul you know it doesn't work like that, you do have to have the phone ringing off the hook all year round peaks and troughs are part of the industry fair enough my troughs are few and far between but I've been doing this for longer than the other 2.
Not all jobs are at the best rates you can get bogged down with stain removal or a chatty customer or telephone calls.
Shaun
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Paul you know it doesn't work like that, you do have to have the phone ringing off the hook all year round peaks and troughs are part of the industry fair enough my troughs are few and far between but I've been doing this for longer than the other 2.
Not all jobs are at the best rates you can get bogged down with stain removal or a chatty customer or telephone calls.
Shaun
Point taken Shaun, I agree with you I sometimes clean for as little as £30 - £40 ph but advertising the fact is daft, Although Derek wont agree, I think that advertising £120 for a 4 bed detached on my estate is silly, it doesnt do me or the local chem dry any favours and in the long run it wont do him any favours. I clean lounges on here for a minimum of £80 plus vat, when people see the leaflet they may come to the conclusion that I have overcharged them and not use me again, they may call Derek, he then could be in the situation that he has to register for vat and have to add another 20% on his prices.
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The problem with advertising low prices for volume jobs is the customer can't help to scale it down for smaller jobs they may need. if you advertise £120 for a4 bed house they must think...... £120 4 bed house, my living room must only be it's about £30 then
And if you clean a 4 bed in an hour (plus 30 mins Travel time) it will still take 30-40 mins to clean just a living room so then your hourly rate drops to £20. not every job is a 4 bed house.
The low prices stratagy only work when every job is multiroom, the single room jobs kill any profit
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don't think the local chemdry is too worried about my prices, he passed me a commercial job last month. he was too busy and they wanted it done the following weekend so reccomended me, i was booked for saturday but did it sunday. lady at the toyota garage told me" we usually use chemdry but forgot to book the clean in and had to get it done last minute, chemdry was booked up for 2 weeks solid so reccomended you, said you were very good". Saying that, i have passed a couple of jobs his way.
FYI
takes me around 2 hours to do an empty or "don't move any furniture" 4 bed house. did a "move in" clean on a 3 bedder yesterday and charged my 3 bed special offer price. 1 hour 30 minutes, came up beautiful. customer gave me a hug she was that pleased. ;D
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It was actually me who passed on your number to the lady at Toyota Derek and it's not one of my custys.
If I recall I was on holiday at the time and I told her that you charge about £120 for a four bedder so those carpets at the garage should cost about £30 ;D
I said perhaps he may have time if he's not at Macdonalds ;)
Joking aside, I don't think they were too bothered about the price as they had to have it done b4 the inspection otherwise they get fined for having dirty carpets.
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cheers john, she definately said chemdry though and said they usually do it. £200 i got, took 2 hours with me mate helping. thanks again, owe ya one. ;)
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I think Derek's price's are very reasonable, a lot of people would think of your price's as "silly", in fact a lot would call it a rip off.If you can get away with it, fair play to you, but Dick Turpin springs to mind.
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Deep clean, its alot to YOU
You are not my customer.
Sure its alot to a poor carpet cleaner, but its not alot to someone with a real proffesional job.
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fact is, there are customers out there who would look at my prices and decide not to use me cos i'm priced on the low side, and there are customers out there who would not pay pauls and others prices because there too high. i still get turned down on being to expensive but for me,, its water off a ducks back, these are my prices and only my customers will pay these prices, don't see what the problem is really.
to say i'm unprofessional (craig) and silly (happy mondays) , is personally unprofessional and silly. ;D there will always be cheap and always be dear and always be guys somewhere in the middle, its called choice.
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Derek, you know i'm not calling you unprofessional, I mean there are lots of professionals out there on £50k plus salaries.
We should not get to doom and gloom, I know its on the news alot but Apple ipads are still flying off the shelfs like hot cakes at £600 a go ;D
My clients are still paying my prices, though I will admit new business is down this year, thats why I have said I would not want to start now with no client base.
Higher prices give you a great buffer in these times :)
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Craig is right.
People have money for want they really want even if it's that that makes them poor. They will go to any lengths to get it including paying stupid interest rates.
It's our job to find the ones who will really want it when made aware of it and get the best price for doing it.
It's called marketing.
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d
FYI
takes me around 2 hours to do an empty or "don't move any furniture" 4 bed house. did a "move in" clean on a 3 bedder yesterday and charged my 3 bed special offer price. 1 hour 30 minutes, came up beautiful. customer gave me a hug she was that pleased. ;D
Gave you a hug? Obviously blind aswell then Derek :-*
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thank god i'm not gay, or that would of offended me john. ;D
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Happy Mondays love the profile pic I went to see them on that tour
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Sorry that figure was nearer 250 not 150 ::)
249 this Wearside inbred wants nowt to do with you FTM
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wow and its normaly me getting the stick for whAT I CHARGE .... tell you what pass me the address and i will under cut the lot of yer ;D
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fact is, there are customers out there who would look at my prices and decide not to use me cos i'm priced on the low side, and there are customers out there who would not pay pauls and others prices because there too high. i still get turned down on being to expensive but for me,, its water off a ducks back, these are my prices and only my customers will pay these prices, don't see what the problem is really.
to say i'm unprofessional (craig) and silly (happy mondays) , is personally unprofessional and silly. ;D there will always be cheap and always be dear and always be guys somewhere in the middle, its called choice.
You still get turned down for being expensive ;D where are you handing them leaflets out now? the job centre ;D ;D
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Happy Mondays love the profile pic I went to see them on that tour
Great gig - first time I saw them was in December 1988 at the g-mex supporting New Order and A Certain Ratio
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don't think the local chemdry is too worried about my prices, he passed me a commercial job last month. he was too busy and they wanted it done the following weekend so reccomended me, i was booked for saturday but did it sunday. lady at the toyota garage told me" we usually use chemdry but forgot to book the clean in and had to get it done last minute, chemdry was booked up for 2 weeks solid so reccomended you, said you were very good". Saying that, i have passed a couple of jobs his way.
FYI
takes me around 2 hours to do an empty or "don't move any furniture" 4 bed house. did a "move in" clean on a 3 bedder yesterday and charged my 3 bed special offer price. 1 hour 30 minutes, came up beautiful. customer gave me a hug she was that pleased. ;D
I cleaned 4 bed detached house last summer just up the road in sproston that had been rented by a premier league fooballer, the master bedroom was around 120 m2, I could have rushed it and cut corners but took my time and earned very good money direct from him for two full days work.
I do alot of work for a very wealthy and well known self made multi millionare on the outskirts of knutsford, the house is worth around £8 million, again the rooms are very large I take my time and charge around £50 per hour plus the vat.
No one job or property is exactly the same - so Imo putting pricing on leaflets and websites is daft
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I saw the wembley gig on that tour I've seen them 4 times
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don't think the local chemdry is too worried about my prices, he passed me a commercial job last month. he was too busy and they wanted it done the following weekend so reccomended me, i was booked for saturday but did it sunday. lady at the toyota garage told me" we usually use chemdry but forgot to book the clean in and had to get it done last minute, chemdry was booked up for 2 weeks solid so reccomended you, said you were very good". Saying that, i have passed a couple of jobs his way.
FYI
takes me around 2 hours to do an empty or "don't move any furniture" 4 bed house. did a "move in" clean on a 3 bedder yesterday and charged my 3 bed special offer price. 1 hour 30 minutes, came up beautiful. customer gave me a hug she was that pleased. ;D
No derek I can assure you the local chem dry didnt recommend you or pass the oakmere toyota job on, it was cloverleaf. So maybe in the future start passing the work you cant or dont want to do on to cloverleaf.
Worried about your prices ??? Dave wont be and neither am I. If you feel you can make a good living and a profit in your business by cleaning carpets for 50p per M2 then carry on and good luck ;D Carpets are just an add on to this business so any revenue gained from it is a bonus and nothing else.
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What a n.o.b who the hell is he
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There are a lot of comments that seem to conflict in this thread, but don't at all when you consider that we all have different outgoings. If you don't have a mortgage, young family, no other income etc. then you can afford to charge less to bring the work in and maintain the same standard of living. Doesn't mean you are any less professional though. :P
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There are a lot of comments that seem to conflict in this thread, but don't at all when you consider that we all have different outgoings. If you don't have a mortgage, young family, no other income etc. then you can afford to charge less to bring the work in and maintain the same standard of living. Doesn't mean you are any less professional though. :P
All very true..... well said that man ;D
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Some fair answers except blackey who sounds like a numpty
I second that !!!!!!!
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What a n.o.b who the hell is he
Thats not a very nice thing to say about someone on a public forum - very brave of you ??? and btw it begins with a k if thats what you meant :)
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What a n.o.b who the hell is he
;D ;D
happy monday's get off your high horse and chill out it's none of your business what other people charge
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What a n.o.b who the hell is he
;D ;D
happy monday's get off your high horse and chill out it's none of your business what other people charge
It is my business when they leaflet my patch with silly prices and it is my business when retired painters and decoraters such as Antony call me horrible names ;D
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your patch???????? i thought we lived in a free country with free enterprise . you dont have a patch its everyone's and anyone's
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your patch???????? i thought we lived in a free country with free enterprise . you dont have a patch its everyone's and anyone's
Free enterprise, free speech for all ;D I'm all for that pal. Just trying to help derek and others make a bit more money on a job ticket thats all, is that ok with you?
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the jist of the whole thing is someone else put leaflets out in the area you work in(and their cheaper) and your peeved. that's fair enough but you sound like your preaching . we all have to compete at times with other people's leaflets . if carpets are only an add on for you then why are you so concerned . your on a soap box about something that every carpet cleaner in the country has to deal with at times. im not the cheapest in my area but i'm also not the dearest . concentrate your energy into your own business
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What a n.o.b who the hell is he
;D ;D
happy monday's get off your high horse and chill out it's none of your business what other people charge
Paul that answers some questions ;)
It is my business when they leaflet my patch with silly prices and it is my business when retired painters and decoraters such as Antony call me horrible names ;D
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Gentleman (well I hope you all are???) let's just step back a little it's starting to get personal please debate but no name calling etc
Shaun
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Gentleman (well I hope you all are???) let's just step back a little it's starting to get personal please debate but no name calling etc
Shaun
Yes Shaun, well said. Lets debate... and not call names. Mr Moss whats the ;) all about? questions answered ??? wtf :)
Dan the get off my patch thing was a joke, and so was the reply to the #OAP carpet cleaner, some of you want to lighten up a bit and get a sense of humour.
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Gentlemen come on Shaun you have met me on more than one occassion you know the answer ;) ;)
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Tony you are a gentleman you and your good lady made me feel very welcome when I met you last specially as I was taking money from you and left with my life intact.
Shaun
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didn't come across like that happy mondays given your previous posts in this whole thread.. im off for a smoke and a movie .. to quote the great donald sutherland in kelly's heroes ... too many negative vibes man :)
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Gentlemen come on Shaun you have met me on more than one occassion you know the answer ;) ;)
Dont take this the wrong way Tony, and bearing in mind you did call me a n. o. b. dont worry too much because I have thought about it and have decided to forgive you, I can confirm that no further action will take place at this time. Without the shades you look like that guy off 15 stone babies on C4 the other night - hows the new business going then? is it a better earner than painting and carpet cleaning :)
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didn't come across like that happy mondays given your previous posts in this whole thread.. im off for a smoke and a movie .. to quote the great donald sutherland in kelly's heroes ... too many negative vibes man :)
Lol... you wanna watch what your smoking man ;D
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Ha just pulling your chain you donut ;)
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I have plenty within a 10 mile radius but it makes no difference to what I do on a daily basis !!
If I was scratching for work, I might check out the prices charged locally but my work is not all local anyway so that would not matter.
Steve Barnett is 10 minutes up the road but we rarely pass each other by ...... I am sure there are jobs where he is dearer than me and days when my price would be higher than his ......... luckily, the other half a dozen or so, CC's near me ..... i regard as colleagues and we are near enough to offer assistance when required ;)
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Gentleman (well I hope you all are???) let's just step back a little it's starting to get personal please debate but no name calling etc
Shaun
Yes Shaun, well said. Lets debate... and not call names. Mr Moss whats the ;) all about? questions answered ??? wtf :)
Dan the get off my patch thing was a joke, and so was the reply to the #OAP carpet cleaner, some of you want to lighten up a bit and get a sense of humour.
errrrrhhhhhhhammmmm
look i just want a post code to this patch please and ill dig some of my old leaftes out that have we will beat any quote right down both sides ;D ;D ;D and ill send the big man over there right away northing like getting in the middle of a good old price war
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Gentleman (well I hope you all are???) let's just step back a little it's starting to get personal please debate but no name calling etc
Shaun
Yes Shaun, well said. Lets debate... and not call names. Mr Moss whats the ;) all about? questions answered ??? wtf :)
Dan the get off my patch thing was a joke, and so was the reply to the #OAP carpet cleaner, some of you want to lighten up a bit and get a sense of humour.
errrrrhhhhhhhammmmm
look i just want a post code to this patch please and ill dig some of my old leaftes out that have we will beat any quote right down both sides ;D ;D ;D and ill send the big man over there right away northing like getting in the middle of a good old price war
Used to be a guy locally to me who advertised "never beaten on price". Traded himself into the ground. Just how low do some want to go? If another company offer to undertake the work for £10 are you going to do it for £5?
Piling high and selling cheap may work in a Poundland situation, but selling a "service" or "trade" cheaply will only ever have one result, and it won't be a good one.
Price war? Not interested, quality will always sell. If you want to view yourself as "only a cleaner" carry on charging like an un-professional business and your clients will only ever see you as such.
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Differentiation is the key ??? By that I mean - you have to make yourself different in some meaningful way from every other cleaner. If you don't then you will end up competing on price which means you either lose out or make smaller/no profits. Once your clients have a reason to use you - and only you - then you have the makings of a successful business.
I work in London which is full of low priced cleaners. Do a google search for carpet cleaning London and you will get through hundreds of pages of listings before you find my site. The competition for work is very high. My view was that to get the high price work in my area I have to be different than all those other people, otherwise I am just one of many. I have done that and for this year so far I am working on 95% repeat clients and 5% recommendations. So what happens on the other hundreds of pages of internet listings is irrelevant.
So my comment to Mr Happy Monday is that you are looking at this the wrong way round. You are asking Derek to be the same as you. You want him to charge the same price for the same service to make the playing field level. What he has done is differentiated himself by offering "affordable" cleaning. i.e., a good job at a low price. You need to think more about what differentiates you from all the other cleaners in the area. When you have successfully done that you will never need to bother about anyone else's marketing again.
Nigel
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Differentiation is the key ??? By that I mean - you have to make yourself different in some meaningful way from every other cleaner. If you don't then you will end up competing on price which means you either lose out or make smaller/no profits. Once your clients have a reason to use you - only only you - then you have the makings of a successful business.
I work in London which is full of low priced cleaners. Do a google search for carpet cleaning London and you will get through hundreds of pages of listings before you find my site. The competition for work is very high. My view was that to get the high price work in my area I have to be different than all those other people, otherwise I am just one of many. I have done that and for this year so far I am working on 95% repeat clients and 5% recommendations. So what happens on the other hundreds of pages of internet listings is irrelevant.
So my comment to Mr Happy Monday is that you are looking at this the wrong way round. You are asking Derek to be the same as you. You want him to charge the same price for the same service to make the playing field level. What he has done is differentiated himself by offering "affordable" cleaning. i.e., a good job at a low price. You need to think more about what differentiates you from all the other cleaners in the area. When you have successfully done that you will never need to bother about anyone else's marketing again.
Nigel
I wish there was a like button on here! Good point of view Nigel!
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Differentiation is the key ??? By that I mean - you have to make yourself different in some meaningful way from every other cleaner. If you don't then you will end up competing on price which means you either lose out or make smaller/no profits. Once your clients have a reason to use you - only only you - then you have the makings of a successful business.
I work in London which is full of low priced cleaners. Do a google search for carpet cleaning London and you will get through hundreds of pages of listings before you find my site. The competition for work is very high. My view was that to get the high price work in my area I have to be different than all those other people, otherwise I am just one of many. I have done that and for this year so far I am working on 95% repeat clients and 5% recommendations. So what happens on the other hundreds of pages of internet listings is irrelevant.
So my comment to Mr Happy Monday is that you are looking at this the wrong way round. You are asking Derek to be the same as you. You want him to charge the same price for the same service to make the playing field level. What he has done is differentiated himself by offering "affordable" cleaning. i.e., a good job at a low price. You need to think more about what differentiates you from all the other cleaners in the area. When you have successfully done that you will never need to bother about anyone else's marketing again.
Nigel
Good post Nigel...
still not getting a Christmas card though :P
;D
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Great post Nigel.
I might print that off and stick it on my office wall. :)
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Same here a great post Nigel :)
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What he has done is differentiated himself by offering "affordable" cleaning. i.e., a good job at a low price. You need to think more about what differentiates you from all the other cleaners in the area. When you have successfully done that you will never need to bother about anyone else's marketing again.
Nigel
this sounds good in theory but its a bit harder to achieve, there are not many ways to differentiate ourselves from other companies, ask 100 cleaner what makes them different from everyone else and half will say they offer 'a great job at an affordable price'
in the end most of us offer exactly the same...... clean carpets at what we believe is an affordable price.
we can try and make ourselves look different by mentioning 'eco friendly' or '24hr emergency service ' or 'police checked' but in the end we clean carpets
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There are many ways to differentiate yourself from others but I'm not about to post them here.
I think more emphasis should be given to learning about running a business, particularly as we are often told on here that carpet cleaning isn't rocket science.
There are basic fundamentals that apply to running any business, irrespective of what product you sell or what service you provide, cash flow is one of the most important quickly followed by making a profit.
I've lost count of the number of people across the various forums who have argued the toss about charging cheap prices, only to be out of business 6 months later.
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What he has done is differentiated himself by offering "affordable" cleaning. i.e., a good job at a low price. You need to think more about what differentiates you from all the other cleaners in the area. When you have successfully done that you will never need to bother about anyone else's marketing again.
Nigel
this sounds good in theory but its a bit harder to achieve, there are not many ways to differentiate ourselves from other companies, ask 100 cleaner what makes them different from everyone else and half will say they offer 'a great job at an affordable price'
in the end most of us offer exactly the same...... clean carpets at what we believe is an affordable price.
we can try and make ourselves look different by mentioning 'eco friendly' or '24hr emergency service ' or 'police checked' but in the end we clean carpets
mike, weren't you pointing out them very ways in the beginning of this thread?, backing up why we should be aware of our opposition, you know, like you work in pairs or, moving furniture, etc....
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Also standing out from the crowd takes time and loads of word of mouth as these days everybody has got good web sites these days and talk the talk but customers know that most of them are pooe and will mainly go on reccomendation.
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my post was slightly misleading yes there are many ways to make our selves different once we get in the house. i was more referring to happy mondays point about low prices on leaflets, how can a potential customer tell the difference between companies
its how we get the customer that differentiating becomes a problem, as Paul says everyone can have a brilliant website or impressive, sign-written van & talk the talk.
everyone looks professional, how does the customer know who to chose?
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Mike,
If the client is so attracted to the low price then maybe they are not the client you want. My travels around the UK would suggest that there are plenty of people for whom price is not the first concern, including me. Personally I would not use any service from a leaflet through the door and I would not want the cheapest possible price. For any service I would want a proper job at a fair price. Would you choose a plumber from a leaflet through the door?
Leaflets are therefore not for me but if I did do them I would want mine to say "award winning" carpet cleaning service recommended by Which magazine and endorsed by xxxxxx celebrity ( OR SOMETHING SIMILAR). That should differentiate from the others and not a mention of price. I would prefer to focus all my attention on recommendations from carpet suppliers, designers, existing clients etc. It takes a long time but Rome wasn't built in a day. It is worth it in the end because you end up with zero marketing costs and a diary full of appointments which you don't even have to quote for. That is how you make "super" profits
I disagree with you that all carpet cleaners look professional. Quite the opposite in many cases.
Years ago I wrote a post on one of these bulletin boards which listed the 49 ways in which I tried to differentiate my service. Can't find it but it would have fitted in quite nicely here.
Nigel
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Wise words from Nigel as ever.
Will try find your post now.
John
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You will find it here :D
http://www.space.com/18925-doomsday-2012-watch-online-live.html
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Fascinating posts about pricing.....................
I was looking through Gumtree and clicked on carpet cleaners.....what came up was a hell of a shock as there are loads of them and all offering to clean carpets at half the price we charged 25 years ago.
One was boasting about his highly professional service at low cost ( his machine was a Rug Doctor ) another was hiring out " Professional " carpet cleaning machines at £25 per day.............Bex Bissell / Vax Type machines.
Another used a truckmount and had had offers like..... 3 carpets cleaned for £45.
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Nigel
You, as you say work in London. Sorry but this is a totally different world to what most people in this country work in. I work in Teesside, North East England. The world you inhabit is a fantasy world compared to me. Prices per sq foot you can achieve, is probably, if I'm lucky, can achieve per sq yard.
London as as stated in today's Telegraph is in a 'bubble', the real economic world does not exist, in this bubble, even allowing for 'all your competition'. It is nothing and repeat nothing, when compared to people who are willing to to work a 10 hour day for £25.00. If you have no access to benefits, this feeds your family, plus credits. As I say another world. A world you seem oblivious to.
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Nigel
You, as you say work in London. Sorry but this is a totally different world to what most people in this country work in. I work in Teesside, North East England. The world you inhabit is a fantasy world compared to me. Prices per sq foot you can achieve, is probably, if I'm lucky, can achieve per sq yard.
London as as stated in today's Telegraph is in a 'bubble', the real economic world does not exist, in this bubble, even allowing for 'all your competition'. It is nothing and repeat nothing, when compared to people who are willing to to work a 10 hour day for £25.00. If you have no access to benefits, this feeds your family, plus credits. As I say another world. A world you seem oblivious to.
I knew it was grim up north but £2.50 an hour?
Would it not be more financially viable to work elsewhere in the country? I know guys who travel to more affluent areas doing all manor of things for good money. I even saw something tonight about santas getting £500 a gig!
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Teeside obviously has its problems with unemployment and a lot living in poverty,
travel west to where I am from and it also has one of the lowest average wage for the country @ £14.5K , however, there are still customers out there who will always pay more.
I recently started an adwords campaign in a city 20 miles away, the wife rang round for average prices and for example a 3pc suite was £65, I charge £95+ vat (£114) and I have cleaned 4 in that city for my price, which I think is a low price nationally and got all we quoted for. The campaign so far has cost us £5-6 per £100 taken
It is down to who you market to, go cheap and that is what you get. Market to a more affluent area and you will get quality work at a better price.
I would think if you travel 10-15 miles out into the more affluent villages around Teeside, you would command a better price.
Andrew
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Again guys all you are doing with these posts is giving the part timers and the lurkers good marketing info.
Your all Mad :)
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Paul thanks for the DVD
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Nigel
You, as you say work in London. Sorry but this is a totally different world to what most people in this country work in. I work in Teesside, North East England. The world you inhabit is a fantasy world compared to me. Prices per sq foot you can achieve, is probably, if I'm lucky, can achieve per sq yard.
London as as stated in today's Telegraph is in a 'bubble', the real economic world does not exist, in this bubble, even allowing for 'all your competition'. It is nothing and repeat nothing, when compared to people who are willing to to work a 10 hour day for £25.00. If you have no access to benefits, this feeds your family, plus credits. As I say another world. A world you seem oblivious to.
tell me about teeside its been my area for years mine still made a few quid out of it , but not anylonger thats why ive send two of my t.m down south mine asnt been easy and theres been alittle violance involded but northing the big man cant sort ;D
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Paul thanks for the DVD
No probs, the guy that makes the machines is a bit mad, butif you watch it right through there are loads of good tips. Ignore the bypass stuff as that was for the first truckmount they built (my first one ) but the other info s good ;)
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Dave this is the problem with a lot of cleaners in the North East. Its a mindset. The North East has some of the wealthiest people in the country.
Teeside itself may be depressed although there is a healthy number who earn really good money in the petro chemical industry. However you only have to travel a few miles to places like Yarm, Winyard and all the North York Moors towns and villages and you are into a totally different realm of customer.
I have customers up here in Newcastle who have a minimum charge in excess of 80 quid, and they are constantly busy. The vast majority however are busy competing with each other at the lower end of the market a market where customer loyalty is very rare. There are too many carpet cleaners earning a wage rather than running a business and reaping the rewards that the brave decision and hard work to start it should be providing.
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Totally agree ....... always said that I would prefer one £300 job, than three £100 ones ;)
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Totally agree ....... always said that I would prefer one £300 job, than three £100 ones ;)
Why??
3 £100 jobs means 3 more clients who are happy...... 3 more clients to give you more work.... 3 more clients to give you referalls....
so all in all you get much more business from 3 happy customers even if the job ticket is lower than 1 big job....
;D ;D
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Three journeys, 3 lots of trying to find parking, 3 times to set up and break down porty, 3 times to unload & reload van ......... what's not to like :o
I manage to fill the hours/days I want and earn what I need ......... one satisfied client per day is all I need, passing on my details ......... one of the reasons I stopped running adverts six years ago ;)
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Chris you are one of the biggest Internet marketing fundi's out there. Whatchtalkingbout man ::)
Tweeting, facebooking, websites, graphics promotion
What you call that? a hobby?
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Electronic gossip is better than paid advertising ........ it is aimed at my clients via FB & Twitter, as a reminder of what I do & where I do it ........ has picked me up a few new customers along the way though ::)
I am always worried that advertising might cause issues ....... like working afternoons :o :-X :'(