Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Suffolkcleaners on December 03, 2020, 02:00:36 pm

Title: Price increases
Post by: Suffolkcleaners on December 03, 2020, 02:00:36 pm
Has anyone during the pandemic increased any of there prices? I’m due an increase on some jobs but don’t know if it’s business suicide to increase at the moment when some people are tightening there belts.

Anybody increase with good results?  Also what is a fair increase. Let’s say a £15 4 weekly job?
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Slash on December 03, 2020, 02:27:35 pm
I did one today,been doing it for a few years and she cancelled a few months back,rang me the other day to come back.
I did it this morning and was a £35 job and increased it to £40.
I noticed evidence of another WFPer as there was red bristles caught in some window frames and I don't use red brushes.
She obviously got somebody cheaper than me and was obviously rubbish.
Left the bill with her anyway and she paid.
To be honest I'm not that bothered  if she cancelled again. ;D
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Ched on December 03, 2020, 02:31:22 pm
Try just upping a few custys by £1 as that's a 6.6% rise on £15. It does depend a bit on when you last increased.
See how the first ones take it, if most are OK then do the rest.
If you lose 1 in every 15 they you are still on same money but 1 less job :-)
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Suffolkcleaners on December 03, 2020, 02:44:13 pm
How often do you guys increase?
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: james peters on December 03, 2020, 03:11:44 pm
I  have increased about 40 jobs over the last month.
not had any cancelations.
some have gone up by £1 , but for most by £2.... a couple by £3
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: NBwcs on December 03, 2020, 04:34:42 pm
I started putting mine up about a week before the 1st lockdown, then put the rest on hold and finished putting them up in sept/oct. i only put them up by 50p or a £1  and left some which  i didnt want to risk losing for such a small increase. I lost just one and they have now asked to come back. I think i got the timing about right, personally wouldn't want to be telling people right now, especially as the govt have now put a pay freeze on the public sector, its sent a negative message out there. You just gotta go with what you feel is right, its easy to talk your way out of doing it but then again, i would never want to put them up this time of year anyway with xmas round the corner.
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Splash & dash on December 03, 2020, 04:40:32 pm
Personally think increasing prices by 50 p is crazy on cheaper jobs a £1 increase on jobs over 25 go up by £2-3  every 2-3 years , lost only a couple of jobs
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: dazmond on December 03, 2020, 04:48:27 pm
Has anyone during the pandemic increased any of there prices? I’m due an increase on some jobs but don’t know if it’s business suicide to increase at the moment when some people are tightening there belts.

Anybody increase with good results?  Also what is a fair increase. Let’s say a £15 4 weekly job?

yep....i increased over 200 accounts back in march/april...most a quid or two,some a fiver...no cancellations.........its an extra few grand a year!....happy days.....

for a 4 weekly  £15 job id put them up a quid......2 quid if it was an 8 weekly.....
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Mike Burd on December 03, 2020, 05:50:10 pm
Generalization alert.

Most window cleaning customers are either elderly or in secure jobs. They won’t be bothered you’ve put your prices up. There will always be one or two that cancel when you put up prices. Covid won’t make any difference. If they had problems you’d have been cancelled already.
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: robbo333 on December 03, 2020, 05:59:19 pm
I'm putting quite a few up in the New Year. Just a pound or two, nothing crazy.
I think my increases are fair and reasonable, so if the custy doesn't like it, that's their problem.
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: KS Cleaning on December 03, 2020, 06:09:35 pm
I will be increasing prices in March/April.  Hopefully by that time there will be more of a feel good factor amongst the general public rather than all the doom and gloom that’s circulating at the moment.
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Suffolkcleaners on December 03, 2020, 06:12:40 pm
I agree with all above. Us windies need an increase sometimes as well. Everything else goes up. I might wait until the new year and just test a few to see how it goes. Maybe test a few that are either a little underpriced or not fussed about losing.
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Richard iSparkle on December 03, 2020, 06:22:33 pm
Has anyone during the pandemic increased any of there prices? I’m due an increase on some jobs but don’t know if it’s business suicide to increase at the moment when some people are tightening there belts.

Anybody increase with good results?  Also what is a fair increase. Let’s say a £15 4 weekly job?

just go for it.

the ones who cancel were going to cancel anyhow for the usual reason... so that just makes the decision for them. the rest of them won't blink. and you'll have more money
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: dazmond on December 03, 2020, 07:18:09 pm
I agree with all above. Us windies need an increase sometimes as well. Everything else goes up. I might wait until the new year and just test a few to see how it goes. Maybe test a few that are either a little underpriced or not fussed about losing.

have a look at the inflation calculator.....and see how much £15 is worth today compared to a few years ago....you might be surprised.....this can also be shown to customers who moan about a price increase....

i always have a price review every year and usually put some up in april......i inform them by a slip/text/email in march (or feb if its a 2 monthly job).....

i never put my prices up any other time of year unless an existing customer has had extra windows or a conny added on to their house for example
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: dazmond on December 03, 2020, 07:26:10 pm
one other  time that ill increase a price is when a  customer moves and i pick up the new owners if ive not put the original price up for a while
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: JandS on December 03, 2020, 07:35:53 pm
Same house but with a new occupant...it's a given that it goes up.
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: Phil J on December 04, 2020, 07:24:03 am
I'm holding off till all this settles down, then I'm putting most of them up. Picked up loads of work in the last few months, so they are all priced well. All the older jobs are getting a price increase.
Title: Re: Price increases
Post by: mac74 on December 05, 2020, 08:39:46 pm
I agree with all above. Us windies need an increase sometimes as well. Everything else goes up. I might wait until the new year and just test a few to see how it goes. Maybe test a few that are either a little underpriced or not fussed about losing.

have a look at the inflation calculator.....and see how much £15 is worth today compared to a few years ago....you might be surprised.....this can also be shown to customers who moan about a price increase....

i always have a price review every year and usually put some up in april......i inform them by a slip/text/email in march (or feb if its a 2 monthly job).....

i never put my prices up any other time of year unless an existing customer has had extra windows or a conny added on to their house for example

That Inflation Calculator is a great tip, im going to use that, nice one. Cheers m