[Darren O]

Danny collecting is the worst part of the job thats why i dont take on any more houses unless there local.All my customers are happy fortnightly even if i changed it to monthly they still wouldnt pay anything like £8 the way it is just now everybodys happy.

[DASERVICES]

It also depends what service you offer as well, I know window cleaners who just blade and do not detail so they fly around their work. So as a customer they would begrudge paying a high price for that service as they see the time that is spent.

Then there are ones that detail, wipe the sills and sometimes the frames. This takes time do that so charging a low rate would not be business like.

The thing is we have to ask why will people not pay that amount of money, I find they will if you sell yourself as a business you will get those prices in any area. They will pay for that if they know you are a reputable person and conduct yourself in the right way.

Try this method the next time you are asked to quote, for example 3 bed house you normally charge £4. Say to them you have a min price of £7.00 because you are a business and you spend £300 + on insurance, licenses etc.. before you even start. If they reply back that is way too expensive , just be polite and walk away. 8/10 I have experienced that they call you back as you walk down the path.

You will soon find that as long as you offer a good service they will stick with you and then in the long run you will have all these new customers which are good earners. Then you will soon realise that there is good money to be made out there.

 There is a big fear factor that you cannot charge prices like that because you will be undercut by joe bloggs, fine , but why would you want to clean someones windows that does not recognise what a good service you provide. I wouldn't, I prefer customers that respect you as an individual and the good job you do, I pick my customers now, not them picking me.

Give it a go as others have done this and now are beginning to realise what is the point of working your pants of for so little money when you can earn the same at high prices and take life easier.

[windowwashers]

Danny collecting is the worst part of the job thats why i dont take on any more houses unless there local.All my customers are happy fortnightly even if i changed it to monthly they still wouldnt pay anything like £8 the way it is just now everybodys happy.

Darren, when I started window cleaning every other that I new charged from £3 to £5 and I charged £8 that was 8 years ago. You have the mind set of this IMO, jusy gibe it a try charge £8 just a couple of times. Then again you have to offer a better service than the £4 windows cleaners something I have always done and always will, if you dont this is why it is only £4. Please dont take that as an insult was not meant that way ok. just as I said baffled to 2 week cleans for so little money, I know areas do have a little bit in the price structure, but times change, and I lived up north where window cleaners were charging £3 and got houses the same at £10 so I know it can be done.

[Darren O]

When we clean the windows we detail and wipe the sills dont touch the frames.We also do some big houses with wfp we use a trolley system some of them £25+ per month.On the housing estate iam talking about its all ex council but still a good estate i was born there so i no everybody maybe i could charge a bit more but with 2 of us doing it we do it in 2 and half days i pay my mate £60 a shift and i clear £600 for 2 and a half days work a fortnight still not to bad money also meant to say we get a lot of good tips maybe thats because we are to cheap who knows.

[danny mckim]

Maybe the problem is when i first started on the newbuilds about 13 years ago the price was £3.00. Having now managed to get them to £4.50 i feel im doing ok. Now when we pick up new houses we are pricing them about £6/£7. Also as Darren says we now know most of these customers well and putting them up to £6 or £7 would be unfair. We dont have a minimum price we have a target for each day and as long as we beat that we are delighted.

[window wonder]

 Im also from the same area as danny  i think area has alot to do with it., when your prices are low and you have been doing them for a while its hard to get them up even a pound ,but if you have enough work you can afford to loose some custys  if they are not happy with an increase if you are the only window cleaner in the estate then i would bump them up ,harder if someone else cleans in the estate   you wfp yet danny?
An easy way to increase your hourly rate is to convert to wfp ,working on my own its incresed my earnings from £5 -10 per hour sometines more on large houses.
so  you could be doing an exta £150 a week based on a 6 hr day 5 days a week
either fill the time you save with more work or enjoy the time saved doing something you enjoy.
I have been lucky to sell some work recently ( houses at 4,50 ) and replace with larger houses  £15 - £60
i only collect 2 days a month as anyone not in sends a cheque.
I hated collecting too but as its only 2 days a month now its not so bad,
If i happened to do £4.50 houses id set up direct debit or just collect the two weeklys evey 4 weeks instead.

[danny mckim]

Hows it going mate. Ive got a wfp system but prefer to use my backpack Too much hassle with all the hose, leaving the van open etc. The only thing annoying about the backpack is filling it. Do you do all your work wfp? I still do alot inc shops trad. I know i should change completely but as you know it takes a bit of time. Dont know if youve noticed but there seems to be windowcleaners appearing round about us all the time,  Its a bit of a pain when they canvass your work and maybe pick up 1 or 2 that you dont do

[window wonder]

Yea im good , yea im doing all wfp tops and bottoms , started with the back pack but like you say filling was a pain so i got a 1000l tank lasts all day the hose can be a pain but easier than the back pack  i find, suppose it depends on what everyones work is like weather a back pack is easier or tank is.
My brother is using the back pack and trad bottoms , hes getting on fine with it.