Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: richy27 on November 17, 2008, 08:58:40 pm

Title: pricing
Post by: richy27 on November 17, 2008, 08:58:40 pm
i know its best to keep things close your chest i am starting out have done my training and am getting ready to start have come up with a marketing plan but am so confused on pricing i hear so much and there seems to be such a big divide in price structures any tips to help me work it out
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: davep on November 17, 2008, 09:02:38 pm
Fill in your location for a better response  ;)
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: richy27 on November 17, 2008, 09:04:57 pm
cheers done that new to this
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: markpowell on November 17, 2008, 09:09:23 pm
I would aim for between £35.00 and £45.00 per hour to start and see how it goes.
Have you got all risk insurance cover in place?
You have to have a min charge in place from day 1 then you wont end up going out to clean a bathroom for £15.00.
The first 2/3 years are when you will make it or break it, you will need to spend at least £5000 a year on advertising, then there is the equipment, tax etc.
Good luck
Mark
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: davep on November 17, 2008, 09:10:00 pm
Most people work out what they want per hr to cover the overheads and then to make a good living.  

Next, ignore what others around you charge.  Dont match the cheapo cleaners who do suites for £35 etc as you need to promote a quality service and not a quick in and out (if thats what you give  ;))
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: richy27 on November 17, 2008, 09:12:40 pm
cheers thats about what i was thinkin get some pretty dodge flyers from big companys come flooding through the door sends me in a spin got all the correct insurances in place liabilty treatment risk etc.
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: Mike Osbourne on November 17, 2008, 09:15:03 pm
When you are starting you are going to be slow, don't rush, learn. So initially I wouldn't tie price to an hourly rate, if that makes sense.

 The only way to find out what you can charge is test different prices over time, then stick for a while with what yeilds the best profit, not what price produces the most yeses.
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: clinton on November 17, 2008, 09:18:11 pm
Richy

Thats one step you have done mate by geting insurance etc.

What area you from mate ???

Dont worry about the leaflets that come through your door with prices.

Got a job done today and i got 165 for the suite was a large one at that so just thought say that price and got the job and my clients a manager of a day center and she wants me to go and clean 150 sitting chairs at the center :)
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: richy27 on November 17, 2008, 09:20:07 pm
cheers bud i am from south west devon did my training with the ncca
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: davep on November 17, 2008, 09:21:59 pm
Clinton did you change your pic cos you had so many look a likeys?
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: richy27 on November 17, 2008, 09:24:24 pm
managed to get decent van the other day a vaux combo 05 reg 25 k on the clock for 2100
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: Mike Osbourne on November 17, 2008, 09:27:12 pm
One thing that goes without saying really but just in case.

Go balls out now, don't wait, between now and Christmas is the best time all year. By January it's all too late.
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: clinton on November 17, 2008, 09:28:31 pm
Hi dave

Yep  ;D

Now i know how to changer my picie myself am up n running ;D

Think it was the simply red thing that made me change it :D
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on November 17, 2008, 09:35:50 pm
Go out and quote every job big or small. don't tell them that you are new as it doesn't instill confidence.

If you go out to quote you will get may be 8/10 and lets face it the phone won't ring off the hook unless you do a big advertising campaign.

Shaun
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: richy27 on November 17, 2008, 09:41:20 pm
def marketing is the biggest thing been to see a designer got my areas i want to target for the domestic work then i am goin to write letters and follow them up with calls to hopefully get some commercial work on the go
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: clinton on November 17, 2008, 09:46:28 pm
Richy

Might also try and see if a c cleaner near you might let you go out with him for a day ???

Thats what i did many years ago and did sub contract a few days a week and was learning so much.
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: Mike Osbourne on November 17, 2008, 09:48:31 pm
It also helps if you have a nice, neat and tidy appearance. ;D
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: clinton on November 17, 2008, 10:02:19 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: mark shannon on November 17, 2008, 10:49:20 pm
Go out and quote every job big or small. don't tell them that you are new as it doesn't instill confidence.

If you go out to quote you will get may be 8/10 and lets face it the phone won't ring off the hook unless you do a big advertising campaign.

Shaun

Good advice if your polite and more importantly the customer LIKES you you will get 8/10 jobs.

Also you can fit the price to client expectations and estimate the time the clean will take, which is hard to do on phone.

Mark

Title: Re: pricing
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on November 18, 2008, 05:43:29 pm
Flipping heck, Clinton!

150 sitting chairs. That'll do your head in just moving them around.

Good luck to you.

Roger
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: Jim_77 on November 18, 2008, 06:03:03 pm
Are you sure they're sitting chairs and not the standing type?

:)
Title: Re: pricing
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on November 18, 2008, 09:06:36 pm
Could be that there is an "h" missing. Oh, I hope not! :)