Hi Gary,
my database is packed with AB clients in herts and n london. Started off doing free cleans and offerening the complete cleaning package with a first class domestic cleaning company and with an oven u franchisee. They already had an established business so we now all sell each others services under one name. I have been lucky in cleaning some high profile houses who have given me excellent testimonials to use on their roads much to my surprise!! I have been a business development manager for 10 years so sales and marketing are hopefully my stronger points, i am not in the business to rip people off either, and in fact a company in london charge £1 per sq ft so i am not considered expensive. Also, a great thing for me was joining BNI, have picked up some great work/contracts there. We also do all the cleans for 3 high end letting/estate agents, they have had cheaper cleaners but for them its a great time saving exercise to get one complete cleaning company to do the lot.
i did not go into the FT system as it were, just wanted to know a fair price! bearing in mind i have been out the game for a long time i thought i would ask the experts and Altec's name came up and they were fantastic (how Ian see's this is as a negative post is beyond me!!) I thought 51p was the norm, and as a new company it was easy to start out at that price and stick to it!!