[Simon Gerrard]

We are in a 'make hay while the sun shines' business. But when it isn't shining  you do what you can to make ends meet.
There are lots of ways of giving a reduced price to customers with them still being aware that you normally charge a lot more. 'we normally charge £160 for this work, but we have a had a cancellation and so if you'll have it done on Thursday, we will do it for £84.' Beats the hell out of sitting at home wondering where your next job is coming from too.

Simon

[AshWhite]

Or my favourite 'I normally charge £100,  but if you're paying cash and don't want an invoicem I can do it for £60'

Joke, honest...

[wynne jones]

I think a lot of people are work shy .... of marketing properly.

It takes a bit of bottle to door knock businesses and risk getting told to fck off. It's easier to settle for wanding for shelf stacker money. It takes self discipline to consistently market, even when your busy, tired and fed up. 

[AshWhite]

As you seem to be the "Del Boy" of the carpet cleaning world..

I think I believe you, (not the bit about it being a joke).

Now I really want to know who you are!

 

[Adam Fearnley]

That £70 was from the £84 after expenses, ok that's without advert expense but still it's far from shelf stacker money so I still don't see how people can scoff at it and act as though people are stupid to charge, and get out of bed for that amount??  Work 30+ hours a week charging that and it's a very good wage for cleaning.

[Exeter Carpet Cleaning Pro]

That £70 was from the £84 after expenses, ok that's without advert expense but still it's far from shelf stacker money so I still don't see how people can scoff at it and act as though people are stupid to charge, and get out of bed for that amount??  Work 30+ hours a week charging that and it's a very good wage for cleaning.

Well at least somebody else gets it now aswell

[Warren Aldridge]

70 per day for 23 days, £1610  

Probably the varied lifestyles people have on here

For some its good money, for others, it doesn't even touch household expenses, never mind business expense.

Like others have said, its silly to compare charges because we all have different costs of living and working.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Imagine £1610 after tax! Bob diamond would like that lol

Tbh you price to get the customer the more calls you get the more customers or you can afford to lose some as there's only enough hours in the day if you can talk a good clean then the customer will potentially pay more as you should have added value as well as feeling confident in your ability on the other hand desperation in your voice can put people off its a tough nut to crack but forget the price per job would you rather work 40 hours for £1000 or 40 hours for £2000?

Shaun

[Exeter Carpet Cleaning Pro]

Swings and roundabouts

At the end of the day, if you are not confident with the results you produce how can you expect the customer to be pleased.

Happy customers produce more recommendations, hence you cut down on your advertising costs etc etc etc and you can afford to up your prices - its a no brainer really and you get to keep the customer(s)

The other thing that people need to beare in mind is their previous "professional" carpet cleaning experience.

[Neil Williams]

Trust me, I get it too.
Obviously £10 in the pocket is better than zero, but for too many reasons to list it just doesn't fit with the image portrayed

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Wonder how many jobs a day Paul king puts on one of his vans he starts his pricing at £80, price can be a mind set until you keep getting told 'no'

Shaun

[james roffey]

In my previous job i sat on my bum in a stationary car, listening to the radio most of the time, got paid £13 per hour to do this and my boss was earning anywhere between £35 and £50 per hour for me to do this, and your are suggesting that the service i provide i should feel guilty for expecting £35/60 per hour.
We are not ripping off an old lady by fixing a roof tile and charging £1500 i did a job today a lady had a awful spillage on her beautiful pure wool bedroom carpet managed to get it out eventually and she was delighted she was happy so was i, my hourly rate in no way reflects what profit i make the overheads of running the business are considerable.

[wynne jones]

Just out of interest does anyone say to a customer that is 2hrs work and it's £X/hour?

[Emil Dinev]

If I had the guts to say to a client that I charge them £50 per hour I would have got more no's than I wished, however working out hourly rate once the job's done isn't too difficult.

[The Carpet Cleaning Pro]

Just out of interest does anyone say to a customer that is 2hrs work and it's £X/hour?

I tried this many years ago in Chesterfield. I used to charge £25 per hour. Back then I ran a portable  (Prochem Steameasy 400) Most appointments were 2 hours and 3 piece suite was 3 hours. I did this for about 6 months and then decided to price up each room seperatly as I could make more money and get more appointments in. This was back in the early 1990's and jobs were easy to get. My main competitor back then was CD and they were charging through the roof so once I sussed out what they were charging I went in just below. I earnt a mint. I wish It was as easy as that now but there is just to many at this game now.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Although I agree that there is more competition I also think that there wasn't as many advertising streams there was only yellow pages and leaflets and the trusty local rag and they all cost money so many cleaners just didn't advertise or were part time, the good old Internet google in mind saw cheap websites come to the fore front where for little or no outlay a constant advert is born and just think of the cleaners who have found these boards and have gleaned information and started up it's easy if you have half a brain yes competition was less but it could also be said that it's now cheaper to become a carpet cleaner.

Shaun

[Helen]

 It takes self discipline to consistently market, even when your busy, tired and fed up. 

One of the best quotes on here to date
although I would say "be self employed" not just "marketing"