[Jason Hedges]

Hi all,

1st post!!

I'm a newbee to carpet & upholstery cleaning & have read posts of quoting £0.25 per square foot for carpet cleaning.

Is this the same for commercial or do we charge more? I understand commercial carpets (pubs, shops etc.) require more work with chewing gum etc.

Is there a standard rate for commercial carpet cleaning or does it depend on your're area?

Any help would be appreciated.......

[Ken Wainwright]

Jason

Commercial and domestic markets are very different. Pricing not only varies from cleaner to cleaner, but by localities too. But you probably already know that.

Looking at your website shows you with a reasonably professional set up, and that you are not totally new to our industry, but on the road to becoming established.  It makes me suspicious about your motive to raise this question. I suspect you know the answers before you raised the question.

Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken

[Mark Betts]

"We wil not be beaten on price"

Ok I charge .10p a sq ft  beat that !!!!  

Seriously,

What do you do if you quote a job and the client says "Joe Bloggs down the road said he can do it for xyz" ?

Thanks


Mark

[neil 47]

I have done carpets for a low price but haven,t put the effort in that I should result poorly cleaned carpets and a bad feeling of self worth so I now quote what I know will make me happy.
Then I put the effort in and the customers are happy RESULT

            Neil

[John_Flynn]

0.25p sq Ft ?

Has everybody put their prices down

[Musicman]

£2.70 per square metre for commercial work is a pretty good rate. I'd be happy with half that.

Funnily enough we quoted a job today, £65 more than the local Dirt Busters and still got it. Must be my endearing personality.

[Jason Hedges]

Hi again and thanks for the replies,

ken: I have only been set up for about 6 months after coming into some money. I got out of my dead end job and fancied the challenge of being my own boss. I was always interested in carpet cleaning and the prospect of making a half decent living was also an obvious incentive.

The reason i raised the question is because when i've quoted domestic prices going on the 25p per square foot i haven't got the job! This has happened more times than i care to remember. I have been tending to quote cheaper prices to get the work and hopefully bring in more work which has happened.

I've only done a couple of commercial quotes (both highstreet shops) and again quoted using the same 25p price guide. I didn't get these jobs either! Perhaps its not the price thats putting them off (or could it be that they thought it was too cheap!), i'm a new business and there are of course bigger long established businesses in my area.

I was just hoping to get a rough idea on what other people charge comparing domestic and commercial rates?

Mark: I havent had that scenario yet  , all the work i've done has come from local press and i don't quote that in those ads, in fact i will remove it from my website when i've finished doing this, thanks.

Neil: I know what youre saying, i've done the same. Started a job then regretted the low price. I am learning by my mistakes though.

John:  

I know this post is too long! Sorry  

Thanks for your comments.

[Jason Hedges]

Hi Musicman,

I know how you come across and selling yourself and your service is as important as the quality of your work itself. I've never been in sales so am finding it quite dificult, hopefully it will come in time.

So 25p per sq foot / £2.75 sq. meter (forgot were metric now) is too expensive even for commercial. I think it all comes down to location, competition and how badly we want the work!

[mark_roberts]

Someday when youve plenty of work youll not get so upset about loosing quotes.

Try package pricing.  I quoted yesterday for a big house in a good area and they choose my basic package (customer pre-vacs, I clean traffic areas only).

You also have to target the right market and for me its not shops, pubs or hotels.

Mark

[conallon]

niel 47
          couldnt have put it better myself