[RPCCS]

I just wondered if by not having a minimum charge people actually book more to be done.
Do people just ask for 1 chair or 1 room at say £50 a seat or £5 a sq my for 8 sq Mrs.
I haven't been doing it as long as you just thought it was an interesting idea for marketing.
Thanks anyway.

Do mean when people call and ask for one room you tell them that a livingRoom is £55 but you have Minimum  charge of £70 , if they had another room cleaned they would get better value for money......so they spend £90 having the hallway cleaned as well as it’s only another  £20

That's how I was trained, set a minimum charge , which I include up to 20 sq m . Then £x for every sq m above that.  If more than 1 room, discount the 2nd and 3rd rooms. Ie no min charge, just per sq m

[DB]

Along standing friend of mine calculated that the minimum cost for him to go out on a job was £127. 83p... that was several years ago. My minimum charge when I 'technically' retired was £85. 00....

Like Mike I always quoted my minimum charge then advised the customer what the 'actual' price would be calculated per square metre....I then said that the balance could be put towards another item that required cleaning.
It worked for me for many years....most people understood the logic but you would always get the odd ones who say its far too high....that was fine I could do without their business
If you take the time to calculate what some people charge (in many professions not just ours)  you will find that they are working for less than the minimum wage.

[Stoots]

This is why i dabbled in carpet cleaning for a couple of years then went back to window cleaning...

Having regular reliable work everyday without worrying where the next call is coming from...

plus all the faff of driving and setup and pack away all for a £40 single room....even if i could have got £80 a room (whos going to pay that round here btw you can get a new carpet fitted for less) its still going to be an hour and a half job by the toime youve got there, setup, moved stuff, agitated, extracted, maybe stain removal, put it all away...and be knackered sweating like a pig in the process... plus youve got to get to the next...thats if there is a next

sod that, glad im a window cleaner now

[Robin Ray]

This is why i dabbled in carpet cleaning for a couple of years then went back to window cleaning...

Having regular reliable work everyday without worrying where the next call is coming from...

plus all the faff of driving and setup and pack away all for a £40 single room....even if i could have got £80 a room (whos going to pay that round here btw you can get a new carpet fitted for less) its still going to be an hour and a half job by the toime youve got there, setup, moved stuff, agitated, extracted, maybe stain removal, put it all away...and be knackered sweating like a pig in the process... plus youve got to get to the next...thats if there is a next

sod that, glad im a window cleaner now

The person who will pay £80 + is the sort of person who is not interested in whether its £40, £80 or £100 they are interested in if its going to be done right, to their standard and by someone they trust.  That sort or person is everywhere they are at all levels of society and in every neighbourhood.  Many people don't get to work for them because they give them the wrong messages in their marketing.

[Mike Halliday]

This is why i dabbled in carpet cleaning for a couple of years then went back to window cleaning...

Having regular reliable work everyday without worrying where the next call is coming from...

plus all the faff of driving and setup and pack away all for a £40 single room....even if i could have got £80 a room (whos going to pay that round here btw you can get a new carpet fitted for less) its still going to be an hour and a half job by the toime youve got there, setup, moved stuff, agitated, extracted, maybe stain removal, put it all away...and be knackered sweating like a pig in the process... plus youve got to get to the next...thats if there is a next

sod that, glad im a window cleaner now

You made the sensible choice Gomo carpet cleaning was not the business for you.

[Mr Dvae]

I think we need to be careful here.  If a customer wants their bedroom carpet cleaned and we're cheaper than hiring a machine and doing it themselves,  our service is in question.  We are supposed to be a professional service with quality equipment and a high level of professional skills.  If we're not worth any more than a hire machine in the hands of a novice then why are we in business?

[John Kelly]

There is a market for every price regardless of where you live. Seen a good analogy on Facebook this morning. Go in a supermarket and look at the bread section. Dozens of options and dozens of prices. Why doesn't everyone buy the cheapest? because people don't. It's exactly the same with services.
I hear all the time, people round here won't pay that. Maybe a lot won't but a lot will. We have customers around here charging £10 a carpet, we have others who's minimum charge is £120. Guess who has a new van and truckmount.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Usually it’s a poorly explained costing that puts customers off booking, ‘how much fora carpet to be cleaned?’ Says enquiry, ‘we have a minimum charge of £80’ say cc so the customer thinks it’s £80 per carpet these figures can be changed so if it were £10 then the customer is going to lump big carpets with small ones think it’s all the same.

I’d love to be privy to a cleaners private message conversation with a customer it would be a real education in a positive way.

[Simon Gerrard]

The trick is to market your services in such a way that when people call you they expect to hear the price you state.
 That pretty much covers it, no matter where you are in the market. This is a very simple truth about marketing, that you get the kind of customers your marketing appeals to.

Simon

[John Kelly]

Shaun, I hear them all the time. I am still shocked at how many still just reply with the price without even asking where they are, why they want items cleaned etc etc.

[DB]

Many of the people I come into contact  with these days  can't or don't want to understand that they are not going to be just working for a living but running a business.

[Glynn]

Many of the people I come into contact  with these days  can't or don't want to understand that they are not going to be just working for a living but running a business.

And very few derek actually run as a "business" let alone even understand what a business is.

[Mr Dvae]

Glynn
I like your logo.  And I think you're spot on with the last comment..

[Ned Kelly]

I've been in business just under a year now and have tried different things in regards to pricing (including three rooms for £55!!... a busy fool!! lol). But by far the best thing I've done is set a minimum price of £80 ( going up to £90 in the New year) for the first area to be cleaned.  How can i justify this price?  I have invested heavily on training which included the Cleansmart course with Derek Bolton, the Restormate training with John Kelly and the NCCA course with Paul Pearce. These are all legends within the cleaning industry and the knowledge they have given me on carpet cleaning and how to succeed I believe sets me apart from 90% of the cleaners in my area. I have also invested heavily on equipment like the Airflex pro, vac booster pod, Magma heaters, air movers, wand glides, Floormacs, two inch vac hoses, professional website, marketing etc. I also visit customers homes prior to cleaning, performing burn tests, ph tests (if it has been cleaned before) and then explain to the customer my ten step process in carpet cleaning. I am always immaculately dressed on the first visit with clothing which bears my company logo on one side and the NCCA logo on the other plus a shirt and tie. I always leave my quotation form in a glossy folder with my logo and contact info on it ( tip from John Kelly). In the folder is info on how I'll clean your carpets and upholstery plus tips on stain removal and also a sheet on why you should choose a NCCA member. I also leave a free spotter bottle with my logo and contact info on it. This is given to the customer regardless if I get the job or not. I am polite and respectful and often  engage the customers in other topics apart from carpet cleaning which helps gain their trust and 90% of the time I walk out from the customers home with at least £100 worth of work ( lounge and a hall).  I ooze professionalism lol. I have just finished my first Christmas period and made more money in a week than my last job paid in a month. I think it was John Kelly who said to me ( I may be wrong) "it's up to you which car you want to drive a Ford or a Mercedes". 
Sorry about the long ( first) post but what I'm trying to say is I provide a top professional service and my prices must reflect this or I'm selling myself and my family short.

ps my next door neighbour is a dog trainer who has a minimum charge of £80 for one hours training

[Robin Ray]

I've been in business just under a year now and have tried different things in regards to pricing (including three rooms for £55!!... a busy fool!! lol). But by far the best thing I've done is set a minimum price of £80 ( going up to £90 in the New year) for the first area to be cleaned.  How can i justify this price?  I have invested heavily on training which included the Cleansmart course with Derek Bolton, the Restormate training with John Kelly and the NCCA course with Paul Pearce. These are all legends within the cleaning industry and the knowledge they have given me on carpet cleaning and how to succeed I believe sets me apart from 90% of the cleaners in my area. I have also invested heavily on equipment like the Airflex pro, vac booster pod, Magma heaters, air movers, wand glides, Floormacs, two inch vac hoses, professional website, marketing etc. I also visit customers homes prior to cleaning, performing burn tests, ph tests (if it has been cleaned before) and then explain to the customer my ten step process in carpet cleaning. I am always immaculately dressed on the first visit with clothing which bears my company logo on one side and the NCCA logo on the other plus a shirt and tie. I always leave my quotation form in a glossy folder with my logo and contact info on it ( tip from John Kelly). In the folder is info on how I'll clean your carpets and upholstery plus tips on stain removal and also a sheet on why you should choose a NCCA member. I also leave a free spotter bottle with my logo and contact info on it. This is given to the customer regardless if I get the job or not. I am polite and respectful and often  engage the customers in other topics apart from carpet cleaning which helps gain their trust and 90% of the time I walk out from the customers home with at least £100 worth of work ( lounge and a hall).  I ooze professionalism lol. I have just finished my first Christmas period and made more money in a week than my last job paid in a month. I think it was John Kelly who said to me ( I may be wrong) "it's up to you which car you want to drive a Ford or a Mercedes". 
Sorry about the long ( first) post but what I'm trying to say is I provide a top professional service and my prices must reflect this or I'm selling myself and my family short.

ps my next door neighbour is a dog trainer who has a minimum charge of £80 for one hours training

Well said, Ned.

[neil 47]

I tend to just get someone else to price , turn up and do the job and take the money and go home .

I’ve done it the way Ned does it and found I got fed up of going to the same property twice .

When I figured it out I was better off for my temperament to go just once as I then had more time to do Nothing.

If Money was my main aim I would do things very differently .

Which would have to include a scalable bussiness model .

I do however have a min price which is £50 should be £60 really as 90% of my work is within 5 miles distance traveled is by far the best saving as a tank of fuel lasts me a month .

[Ned Kelly]

Doing it the way I do it takes time and sacrifice Neil and is not easy. I sacrifice three nights of my week visiting customers homes to engage and provide quotations. I am by no means an expert on carpet cleaning but believe until you get "eyes on" there is no way you can quote a job properly. I tried the easy option and quoted over the phone or by Facebook or email but a conversation over the phone or by social media is completely different from meeting a customer face to face and inspecting their carpets/upholstery and my success rate was only 50-50 .  Also,a lot of of the time over the phone the customer would tell you a load of porkies and I lost count how many times I was told there are no spots and stains or the landing is small only to be confronted by a kids slime mess or six square meters of landing. Now, if a customer calls and insists on a quote their and then instead of a home visit, then I politely refuse their request and wish them good luck.
When your self employed and running your own business you take on much more responsibility than a 9-5 job and you MUST be fully prepared for this and expect long hours and loads of stress and anxiety but the rewards MUST reflect these sacrifices or what's the point? I see myself now as a business man, salesman and then a professional carpet cleaner with the carpet cleaning being the easier part.

[neil 47]

I know , it takes time ,sacrifice and responsibility that’s why I don’t do it 😂

[RPCCS]

Ned, I too was trained by John and Derek, have been trading 4 months, but have only had a handful of jobs. Advertised in local church and community magazines, and a local paper, as well as dropping flyers, but still slow on the uptake.
Im lucky that I still have my window cleaning business for income. Like you I don't quote on the phone,  go and survey first and do the burn test.

[Ned Kelly]

Rome wasn't built in a day Rich!! Like you I panicked the first few months after I started with the lack of sales.It takes time pal and my development as a small business has come in fits's and start's. The one thing I would do if I was you was to approach your local government endorsed small business enterprise group as soon as possible. They will give you fantastic advice and offer free courses on how to develop a small business and in the best marketing ideas and also give you grants to bring your website up to scratch. The WORST thing I done was offer the first room cleaned for £30 or three rooms for £55 or three rooms plus stairs,hall and landing for £65 as a Super Summer Saver and I'm actually embarrassed I did this after all the great advice I had. A busy feckin fool!!!! I once did three lounges in one day and got paid £90. How can you run a business on £90 a day when you have to pay for insurance,equipment repairs,van MOT,service,insurance,chemicals etc.? Impossible!!  I was providing a first-class service but was charging LESS than the "bait and switch" companies or the guys with the Rug Doctors lol. Most customers don't know the difference between the true professionals and the charlatans and I use the first inspection to educate the customer on this and by the time I'm finished the customer most of the time will be prepared to pay more for the job getting done properly. 
ps one of the best things I did with regards to marketing was to get my family car ( a white Kia Sportage) adorned with my company logo and contact details along with NCCA/TACCA stickers. This cost me £130 from Signs Express and has got me at least £1500 of sales in the last three months from customers from the church I attend,sons football and daughters gymnastics classes. Great piece of business.