[Rayleigh Window Cleaning Services]

How often do we increase our prices?
Are some doing it annually, every other year or so?
I tend to have taken people on and left the price alone, suppose I should think about an increase for those who have been with me for three or more years.
I just seem to think the jobs i do are fair priced so I leave it at that.

[Blackbushe Windows]

Fair comments.

18 mths or so for me from now on.

Peter

[windowwashers]

How often do we increase our prices?
Are some doing it annually, every other year or so?
I tend to have taken people on and left the price alone, suppose I should think about an increase for those who have been with me for three or more years.
I just seem to think the jobs i do are fair priced so I leave it at that.

I have to admit i should do it 2 yearly I havent been on alot as I think prices are good, but have stopped it now, prices are good yes but if you carry on thinking like that in 5 years you will be making less money as everything else goes up, my new customers stopped me from seeing it as I always get more each year, did time managment last year and showed my I was doing wrong

[Feen]

I'm thinking about this too. Trouble is January. Xmas visa bill etc. Also how much do you put them up by? 50p on a £5 job is probably manageable, but it's still 10%. Do you go 10% across the board and then leave it for 2 years? Alternatively put prices up by 5% and only increase those that round to a 50p. E.g. £5 becomes £5.25 so stays at £5. Next year it goes from £5.25 to £5.51 so is charged £5.50. £20 goes up to £21 straight away. If I do put prices up (and it will be selective) I'll do it in April, not now.

[Jago]

There have been a few posts asking this before
Seems that April is a good time
I am not putting mine up this time but next April as my customers are relitivly new
my £8 will go to £9 and £10 to £11 it is my £12 - £15 pound houses I do not want to mess with but I think I would have changed my mind by then

As I found out the trad guy was Quoting £20 for an easy 3 storey 3 bed house with good access

so £1 on all over my round

[Ian Rochester]

We tend to review on a 2 yearly basis, mimimum rise is £1.00, stopped dealing with loose change a couple of years ago.

Do it around April time, people are in a better mood, you're giving them a better service as the weather is better, they therefore take it better.

We always give them a letter the month before telling them of the price increase, reasons why, etc and allow them to call us to cancel or discuss if necessary, very few do.

[Jago]

Ian have you got a template for that letter?
can I be cheeky and ask you to mail it me
Cheers If so
J

[windowwashers]

Ian have you got a template for that letter?
can I be cheeky and ask you to mail it me
Cheers If so
J

if you are talking to me  what letter do you mean ?

[LWC]

i have never increased my prices, bar rounds that i have been given, thats easy to do

i am planning on putting them all up now though

[Jago]

No sorry Ian Lionheart Ian Rochester
as he says he sends letters to his customers about price increases every couple of years

[Dean Aspects]

I do mine in April usually £1 a time and every 2 years but some of mine are abit underpriced so are going up again this year and probably again next year so they will be nearer my minimum price hope i lose a few too

Dean

[Jago]

Aspect how many customers would you say you have and what would your min charge be now as I am trying to guage If I am doing ok
also how many would you say you lose when you put the prices up?
J

[Dean Aspects]

I have over 350 customers divided between 1/2/4/6/8/12 weeks and some even less often
My average is about £10 but have far too many under this price my minimum since last year has been £10 but still do take on some below this if it makes the round more compact I need to be more ruthless and this is my biggest downfall i am a soft touch then spend the whole time cursing myself for not sticking to my guns its something i am working on and i have started working completely new areas to help myself get out of the rut and doing this slowly is helping my own self value

Dean

[windowwashers]

No sorry Ian Lionheart Ian Rochester
as he says he sends letters to his customers about price increases every couple of years

I too would be interested to readf this letter..

Lionheart, or Ian you want to share this letter please.

Ian

[Jago]

Cheers Dean
I also have customers on 4-6-8 but I have a lot of custies on £8 as this was there old window cleaners price but these houses are all within walking distance and I can do them in 15 mins per house with wfp top and trad bottoms there are 30 houses in total
but the average is 9 that day or two in winter
I will get them to 9 next year and my aim is £10 for 2010

ALL new customers are £10 no matter what they say like it or leave it as that is why they aint got a window cleaner

Cheers J

[cvdewsbury]

FIRST OF ALL GET YR PRICES RIGHT

Then each year put your prices up say 4%   so a £5.00 job would go up 20p,this way the customer hardly notices
Start banging this job up 50p or £1.00 per year yr taking the mick out of the customer!!

[twt]

put prices up by 20p is it really worth it ? imo it is better to put up by at least 1pound every 2 years. some moan but i never lose any .

[john tomkins]

FIRST OF ALL GET YR PRICES RIGHT

Then each year put your prices up say 4%   so a £5.00 job would go up 20p,this way the customer hardly notices
Start banging this job up 50p or £1.00 per year yr taking the mick out of the customer!!

I do the fronts of one house (3 windows) and charge £4, doing what you say will definately be taking the mick, I can see it now, "sorry I'm gonna have to put the prices up, from next month it's gonna be £4.16"  :

[NWH]

You should increase your prices at the minimum every 2 years in my opinion,any longer than that you start getting behind and then to bring your prices up to date it can become tricky as a big jump in price is obviously more noticable.

[dai]

Wages have increased by around 40% over the last 10 years for police officers. Going on that information my prices have held up pretty well, but my costs have increased by a lot more than 40%. Due to WFP my productivity has increased, and offset the increased costs, and then some to spare.
As others have said, all new work is priced higher, and that's the way forward. Dai