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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 09:23:42 am

Title: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 09:23:42 am
Hi Guys after a little advice. We recently invested in a wfp system van to start window cleaning as a bolt on to our office and Domestic cleaning service.
Getting clients has been very slow, as there seems to be quite a few cleaners in my area.
But we have been offered the chance to buy an Established round. We are told has a turnover of £800 every four weeks.
This is being done at present using traditional method but we would be WFP so I accept that we may loose a few customers, but what kind of price would you guys think the round to be worth?
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: Wc Solutions on April 21, 2013, 09:27:30 am
x 3 the monthley cost I'd pay... That just my opinion tho.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 09:40:48 am
Hi Mate thank you for your thoughts. He is looking at 5x.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: p1w1 on April 21, 2013, 09:44:57 am
depends really, for that £800 how many houses is that for? what is the average price? are they compact or spread out? what sort of hourly rate do they bring in? the list goes on. I have paid 3 times for some work and 5 times for other work, at the end of the day it's worth what its worth to you.
paul
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: Wc Solutions on April 21, 2013, 09:45:10 am
Go in the middle at x 4 maybe
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 09:48:38 am
depends really, for that £800 how many houses is that for? what is the average price? are they compact or spread out? what sort of hourly rate do they bring in? the list goes on. I have paid 3 times for some work and 5 times for other work, at the end of the day it's worth what its worth to you.
paul

Thanks Paul I am tempted as it would bring in much needed income. The average house/price is at present 3 bed detached being cleaned for £8. And 90% of the round is in the same street.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 09:49:31 am
Go in the middle at x 4 maybe


Lol Tried that he wont budge on price.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: Ian101 on April 21, 2013, 09:49:42 am
if you explain the benefits of wfp you may not loose any.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: Ian101 on April 21, 2013, 09:50:40 am
Go in the middle at x 4 maybe


Lol Tried that he wont budge on price.

also insist on working the entire round before money handed over ............ dont just give a wad of cash for a list of names !!
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 09:52:57 am
if you explain the benefits of wfp you may not loose any.

Kinda hoping that Ian.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 09:55:15 am
Go in the middle at x 4 maybe


Lol Tried that he wont budge on price.

also insist on working the entire round before money handed over ............ dont just give a wad of cash for a list of names !!

Also told him If I buy it he would have to sign a disclaimer that he would not work the same streets window cleaning for 5 years ;)
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: Sean Dyer on April 21, 2013, 09:59:24 am
4/5x seems to be the average. In fact 6x would not be uncommon. As long as its worth while ie decent prices and mostly compact.
If changing over I would maybe be tempted to do tops only for a few cleans then the lot, whether it would make any difference to the ones who aren't going to like who anyway though I don't know?
The round sounds good though. Should be able to do 3 an hour and up once established on compact work so £8 each will be a good rate in that scenario
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 10:09:12 am
4/5x seems to be the average. In fact 6x would not be uncommon. As long as its worth while ie decent prices and mostly compact.
If changing over I would maybe be tempted to do tops only for a few cleans then the lot, whether it would make any difference to the ones who aren't going to like who anyway though I don't know?
The round sounds good though. Should be able to do 3 an hour and up once established on compact work so £8 each will be a good rate in that scenario

Thanks for your input Sean. yea it seem genuine enough Ive watched the guy doing the streets hes selling for a year or two.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: tlwcs on April 21, 2013, 10:20:46 am
I'd be careful. £8. Bristol seems too cheap to me, how long have they been at that price?
You will get people to accept wfp but not a price increase as well
Tony
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: Deangsi on April 21, 2013, 10:31:37 am
Be carefull buying a traditional round I bought 1 and lost 50percent over 4 months of so luckily I paid 1 times the value. But as roands go x4 seems fair on that being trad
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: keyser soze on April 21, 2013, 10:33:48 am
i recently bought a round and i held back 500 retention, and i glad i did because the round he sold was supposed to have  been worth 550 a month, but after me working it the gross value to me after the  cancellations and messer which i eliminated straight away was worth 350, so in real terms he would have got 4.5 times instead of the agreed 3 times. he wasnt happy but after a meeting he conceded and reduced the cost . remember that a customer who liked it done trad before may be difficult to change to wfp .some people just dislike wfp .  there is a lot of wc who dont do it properly. (inc me when i first started.) experience changes that
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: sean mcc on April 21, 2013, 10:50:46 am
Hi
   Why not go out and get your own customers,i only started last year and am surprised at how easy it is to get customers if you are well presented  do a good job and charge a reasonable rate,it also gives experience regarding pricing ,meeting people,getting a feel for the job etc.Just try a couple of hours canvassing once a week,it soon builds up. :)
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: keyser soze on April 21, 2013, 12:44:07 pm
Hi
   Why not go out and get your own customers,i only started last year and am surprised at how easy it is to get customers if you are well presented  do a good job and charge a reasonable rate,it also gives experience regarding pricing ,meeting people,getting a feel for the job etc.Just try a couple of hours canvassing once a week,it soon builds up. :)





i think different areas of the country  can be good to do this, however where i live its not a good town to canvass. i dont know why tbh
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: KS Cleaning on April 21, 2013, 01:30:59 pm
Go in the middle at x 4 maybe


Lol Tried that he wont budge on price.

also insist on working the entire round before money handed over ............ dont just give a wad of cash for a list of names !!

Also told him If I buy it he would have to sign a disclaimer that he would not work the same streets window cleaning for 5 years ;)
Be mindfull that if he is only selling off part of his round, good chance it is the lowest priced work per hour he has.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 02:33:08 pm
I'd be careful. £8. Bristol seems too cheap to me, how long have they been at that price?
You will get people to accept wfp but not a price increase as well
Tony

I wondered that Tony at the moment I would charge £10.00 for the same house. Not convinced I am going to buy but interested in the opinions of you guys
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 02:37:26 pm
i recently bought a round and i held back 500 retention, and i glad i did because the round he sold was supposed to have  been worth 550 a month, but after me working it the gross value to me after the  cancellations and messer which i eliminated straight away was worth 350, so in real terms he would have got 4.5 times instead of the agreed 3 times. he wasnt happy but after a meeting he conceded and reduced the cost . remember that a customer who liked it done trad before may be difficult to change to wfp .some people just dislike wfp .  there is a lot of wc who dont do it properly. (inc me when i first started.) experience changes that

Valid point fella.To be fair I am quite new to WFP myself. Ive been practising on my own friends and family and been happy with results. It seem a reasonable deal to get some customers and a income but would also wipe out my financial safety net so to speak so a little 50/50 at the moment
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 02:38:57 pm
Hi
   Why not go out and get your own customers,i only started last year and am surprised at how easy it is to get customers if you are well presented  do a good job and charge a reasonable rate,it also gives experience regarding pricing ,meeting people,getting a feel for the job etc.Just try a couple of hours canvassing once a week,it soon builds up. :)

Sean that's the way I intended to go mate but the area I am in seems to be a Closed shop so to speak.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 21, 2013, 02:42:43 pm
Hi
   Why not go out and get your own customers,i only started last year and am surprised at how easy it is to get customers if you are well presented  do a good job and charge a reasonable rate,it also gives experience regarding pricing ,meeting people,getting a feel for the job etc.Just try a couple of hours canvassing once a week,it soon builds up. :)
It does seem people around here don't respond to canvassing too




i think different areas of the country  can be good to do this, however where i live its not a good town to canvass. i dont know why tbh
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: sean mcc on April 21, 2013, 05:41:57 pm
Hi
   Why not go out and get your own customers,i only started last year and am surprised at how easy it is to get customers if you are well presented  do a good job and charge a reasonable rate,it also gives experience regarding pricing ,meeting people,getting a feel for the job etc.Just try a couple of hours canvassing once a week,it soon builds up. :)

Sean that's the way I intended to go mate but the area I am in seems to be a Closed shop so to speak.
  How do you mean closed shop,i go knocking on doors where other windies work,i just ask if they need a window cleaner,i do not try to take others work,just hope to pick up the ones which are not being done
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: wpclean on April 21, 2013, 06:16:00 pm
For that kind of money you could pay a canvasser, and get quality work at prices you want.

Trouble with buying work is that it is only good will, and if you are changing over to wfp can be a nightmare !

Even if you were to do the canvassing for a solid month you could pick £800 of monthly work.

Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: Smudger on April 21, 2013, 06:52:49 pm
Many good points on this thread and only you will really know if the asking price is worth the cost.

If buying i would expect to do the round with the seller doing the majority of the work so i could see the time
taken and how customer relations are.  if satisfied the seller would have to do the round with be while i clean
he would introduce explain that i would be cleaning from now on etc..  ( but no mention of selling )

You are likely to gey some drop out but this should be small if you thorough with the first clean ( BTW - does he clean
the frames ?? - if not your in for one hell of a month )

with the above you can judge the time it takes ( trad ) and after the initial clean you should be able to knock 30%
off the times for wfp and give you some idea on what this work will bring in p/h

Darran
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: davids3511 on April 21, 2013, 07:11:53 pm
i recently bought a round and i held back 500 retention, and i glad i did because the round he sold was supposed to have  been worth 550 a month, but after me working it the gross value to me after the  cancellations and messer which i eliminated straight away was worth 350, so in real terms he would have got 4.5 times instead of the agreed 3 times. he wasnt happy but after a meeting he conceded and reduced the cost . remember that a customer who liked it done trad before may be difficult to change to wfp .some people just dislike wfp .  there is a lot of wc who dont do it properly. (inc me when i first started.) experience changes that
I'm not sure why the old guy should cover the costs of cancellations due to you changing the method. Messers and bad payers yes but it's your problem what method to use I recon.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: all clean and pristine on April 22, 2013, 08:37:42 am
Many good points on this thread and only you will really know if the asking price is worth the cost.

If buying i would expect to do the round with the seller doing the majority of the work so i could see the time
taken and how customer relations are.  if satisfied the seller would have to do the round with be while i clean
he would introduce explain that i would be cleaning from now on etc..  ( but no mention of selling )

You are likely to gey some drop out but this should be small if you thorough with the first clean ( BTW - does he clean
the frames ?? - if not your in for one hell of a month )

with the above you can judge the time it takes ( trad ) and after the initial clean you should be able to knock 30%
off the times for wfp and give you some idea on what this work will bring in p/h

Darran

Hi Darran some valid points there fella and I thank you for your input. I don't think he does do frames mate so yea see your point.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: SunShineCleaning on April 22, 2013, 09:11:56 am
If you have £4000 to spend I would employ a canvasser as said earlier, train your own to bring in the type of houses you want.

Give them the price of the first clean and then a bonus if the customer lasts 6 months.
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: dazmond on April 22, 2013, 09:18:15 am
how long has the round been established?if its 5 years or more then its prob worth more.

if its 6 months dont bother!

average price of the jobs?

payment methods?

frequency?

add ons?

your always taking a risk buying work but if you introduce yourself well and do a good job you wont lose many( if any) of the work bought.

good luck and offer him a lower amount cash if you think its worth it!! ;) ;D ;D


GOOD LUCK!!



dazmond
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: SunShineCleaning on April 22, 2013, 09:26:27 am
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-38318779.html?premiumA=true

This is in Chipping Sodbury one of the areas you cover. For an established business looking for an add on I would suggest that you aim for £15 for a house like this.

It's all very well having a street full of cheap work but I don't think it will give you the best profit over 12 months.

You would be £4k down to start with and even if you had a 75% retention rate you would be in month 7 before you made any money. If you employ it would be considerably longer.

Pay a canvasser and price high!
Title: Re: cost of a round
Post by: paul13 on April 22, 2013, 05:27:26 pm
I clean them for a fiver ;D