[m.b.s.]

hi i got ask this morning to quote a bar for a cleaning company. not a window cleaning company just a cleaning company.
now its in the town center so went and had a quick look from van as parking is a nightmare but shouldent be first thing in the morning .
now it looks a big bar a couple of hours in and out all pole and blade work .
what i want to know if any one dose work for cleaning companys an do they want to pay .they told me that they were trying to incoperate windowcleaning in to there contracts so maybe more work any advise on how to price and if they are willing to pay a man £20 an hour???

[LSB]

i have been contacted numerous times over the years , from all sorts of cleaning co.s both large and small , normally during the early conversations it becomes apparent that they dont have much ( or any ) decent work , or are hoping to make a profit out of getting work done cheaper plus their extra on top !

i have been doing work for one particular c/co for approx 10 years on a sub - contract basis ,
it works because , we are both honest and trust each other !
i price up any work that needs doing , slightly less than if it was my direct customer , so that they can add on a small % for themselves within the entire qoute .

[m.b.s.]

i have been contacted numerous times over the years , from all sorts of cleaning co.s both large and small , normally during the early conversations it becomes apparent that they dont have much ( or any ) decent work , or are hoping to make a profit out of getting work done cheaper plus their extra on top !

i have been doing work for one particular c/co for approx 10 years on a sub - contract basis ,
it works because , we are both honest and trust each other !
i price up any work that needs doing , slightly less than if it was my direct customer , so that they can add on a small % for themselves within the entire qoute .

so basicly you are saying they are not afer making much proffit from me then but will they pay me what i ask per hour
so would you stay well clear or take it

[Mike_G]

Put in the price you want, if you get it great if you dont no problem. Also keep in mind that this job could lead to many others if they continue to get you to clean windows at their other jobs.

[m.b.s.]

Put in the price you want, if you get it great if you dont no problem. Also keep in mind that this job could lead to many others if they continue to get you to clean windows at their other jobs.

true but i dont want to under cut myself what would all you charge for aprox 2 hours work nothing difficuld all pole work trad straight forward big pains with small windows on top of them all

[Helen]

The only way you will find out if they will pay your rates are by quoting for them.
We have a couple of set ups similar to Lloyd and yes they work because honesty and trust are involved, but that can only build up over time. The best thing you can do here is arrange to go to quote with someone from the Cleaning Company. Do not give them an hourly rate, give them a set price as you would your own direct customers. IF you think there is a possibilty of more regular work, perhaps you can lower your price so they can have a good add on to make it worth while for everyone concerned.  

[m.b.s.]

The only way you will find out if they will pay your rates are by quoting for them.
We have a couple of set ups similar to Lloyd and yes they work because honesty and trust are involved, but that can only build up over time. The best thing you can do here is arrange to go to quote with someone from the Cleaning Company. Do not give them an hourly rate, give them a set price as you would your own direct customers. IF you think there is a possibilty of more regular work, perhaps you can lower your price so they can have a good add on to make it worth while for everyone concerned.  

thanks for advise

[Helen]

Put in the price you want, if you get it great if you dont no problem. Also keep in mind that this job could lead to many others if they continue to get you to clean windows at their other jobs.

true but i dont want to under cut myself what would all you charge for aprox 2 hours work nothing difficuld all pole work trad straight forward big pains with small windows on top of them all

Without seeing the work is like "how long is a piece of string"? You have already said parking is an issue, so this brings to mind early morning work. A bar willo be open later in the day so that is out of the question....is there pedestrian access around the bar, cos if there is, you may not be able to use WFP (slip hazzrds etc) does your town centre has the ame rulings as ours? Be finsihed by 08:00a.m or get chucked out. Do you have to be authorised by the town centre management to enter the precinct to clean.....you need to get all the info from this cleaning company before you even start thinking of pricing

[colley614]

m.b.s. Hi mate,

To be honest mate since starting out the most common type of work I've had is sub contracting and I would say the most important thing is to make sure that you price the work yourself.

The first company I cleaned for priced a job and then phoned me up to tell me they had priced a piece of cladding up for me and to told me it was half an hours work. At the same time they priced a strip and seal on a floor for themselves. They put £600 on the floor that they were doing and £30 on for the cladding. When I turned up it was 3 sides of a university at around 45-55 foot high and it was an all day job. So I phoned and explained and ended having to re price the job.

The second company I sub from get a job in and phone me straight away. I go on  to their site with one of their company t-shirts on and price the job up. Get in my car and then phone them with the price. They then set a quotation to the customer and that way everyone is happy.

A word from the wise if you start subbing from a big cleaning company be prepared to have a go at anything as these companies sub out a lot more than just window cleaning. I have been trained as a black belt in cleaning from these companies and can put my hand to almost anything and if these companies are worth their salt you can always give them a call if you get stuck. Plus you have all the guys on here to give advice to you.   

[m.b.s.]

Put in the price you want, if you get it great if you dont no problem. Also keep in mind that this job could lead to many others if they continue to get you to clean windows at their other jobs.

true but i dont want to under cut myself what would all you charge for aprox 2 hours work nothing difficuld all pole work trad straight forward big pains with small windows on top of them all

Without seeing the work is like "how long is a piece of string"? You have already said parking is an issue, so this brings to mind early morning work. A bar willo be open later in the day so that is out of the question....is there pedestrian access around the bar, cos if there is, you may not be able to use WFP (slip hazzrds etc) does your town centre has the ame rulings as ours? Be finsihed by 08:00a.m or get chucked out. Do you have to be authorised by the town centre management to enter the precinct to clean.....you need to get all the info from this cleaning company before you even start thinking of pricing

the bar opens at 10 in morning as its a cafateria/bar so cleaners must be in early surely
wfp is out of question could you tell me what ame ruling is never heard of it ?it is not a precinct as such as an  in door one its out side with other shops and such attached to it

[m.b.s.]

m.b.s. Hi mate,

To be honest mate since starting out the most common type of work I've had is sub contracting and I would say the most important thing is to make sure that you price the work yourself.

The first company I cleaned for priced a job and then phoned me up to tell me they had priced a piece of cladding up for me and to told me it was half an hours work. At the same time they priced a strip and seal on a floor for themselves. They put £600 on the floor that they were doing and £30 on for the cladding. When I turned up it was 3 sides of a university at around 45-55 foot high and it was an all day job. So I phoned and explained and ended having to re price the job.

The second company I sub from get a job in and phone me straight away. I go on  to their site with one of their company t-shirts on and price the job up. Get in my car and then phone them with the price. They then set a quotation to the customer and that way everyone is happy.

A word from the wise if you start subbing from a big cleaning company be prepared to have a go at anything as these companies sub out a lot more than just window cleaning. I have been trained as a black belt in cleaning from these companies and can put my hand to almost anything and if these companies are worth their salt you can always give them a call if you get stuck. Plus you have all the guys on here to give advice to you.   

thanks for advise the guy said can i do it i said that i woul have to have a look at it first price it up ring them with price if acceptedinvoices sent to them they pay direct so company not pricing i am 

[colley614]

Good to hear that mate. I've had domestic cleaners pricing 4 bed detached houses at £5 before today

[m.b.s.]

Good to hear that mate. I've had domestic cleaners pricing 4 bed detached houses at £5 before today

£5 are they mad think i will give my price if they like it or no theres two options for them dont realy want to loose it incase it is a good little number but thats life .hope you told them off for £5 do you know how much an hour you should realy charge for commercial

[colley614]

They said it was because I only took half an hour on the last house I did for them. They said £10 an hour is good by anyones standards. I had to reprice it.

[m.b.s.]

They said it was because I only took half an hour on the last house I did for them. They said £10 an hour is good by anyones standards. I had to reprice it.

  :-X are you commercial  or domestic

[colley614]

mainly commercial. I do a few large domestics. But mainly commercial and subbing.

[m.b.s.]

mainly commercial. I do a few large domestics. But mainly commercial and subbing.

the reason i ask is i am mostly domestic but trying to get in to commercial and slowly getting my foot in the door i was wondering what the average price per hour for commercial would be as i dont want to go in too steep and dont want to go in too low

[colley614]

I usually just go 50p ground £1 first and £1.50 second like I was advised on here. But if your not sure just put your photo's om here like the other guys and you'll get a good price from here.

[m.b.s.]

I usually just go 50p ground £1 first and £1.50 second like I was advised on here. But if your not sure just put your photo's om here like the other guys and you'll get a good price from here.

so 50p is that just out side on 1 window or 50p for in and out for 1 window

[NWH]

I would say £1 from the ground up minimum,most mean £1 for a basic window with 1 top opener.If your talking big bay windows or gergion town houses you can be talking £5 a window in some cases all depends where you are and how bad you need the work.