[Lesley J]

When we started our cleaning business in Hampshire, we charged £9.50 per hour, we thought we would not get many take us up, but we do a good job
and we have gradually increased the prices and now charge £12-15  per hour
the average wage here is £6.50 per hour which is what we pay our cleaners we also supply our cleaners with their own cleaning equipment and cloths.
all cleaning products are supplied by the client,unless one off or builders cleans, we do not use any bleaches and the clients seem happy with this arrangement. 

[Clean 'n' Tidy]

Lesley,

just out of interest where are you based in Hampshire.

Rgds
kim

[Judy Crease Lightn]

Really enjoying all of these comments and priceless info - just starting my 2nd cleaning business - first one was a partnership say no more! I already have an ironing business Crease Lightning which is getting busier and ive now decided to combine it with a home cleaning service The Pink Ladies
I charge per home but generally works out at 10 - 12 per hour .. i supply all materials and equipment. I just find all the paperwork that comes with a business a nightmare!!!!
Thought:
Be passionate and excited about what you can offer and what you believe you can do - others will then be drawn to you.

[Ian Gourlay]

Pamo,

Im just down the road from you and I know where you are coming from on Price.

I know some people are advertising about £8.50

Which is one reason why i would not enter Domestic Cleaning Market.

However if you want a real business you would need to charge a higher figure.

Martin says higher prices are being achieved in Peterborough. I  bet higher prices are also being acheived in Wisbech.

Your friends are they the type of people who normally pay for help. Our they Soliciturs, Doctors Bank Managers Property Developers etc or do they jist want a cleaner on The Cheap.

[Pamo]

Hi all.
Well I am still reading and still learning I have started to put flyers in shops etc, I cannot afford to advertise in the local press yet, no response so far but fingers crossed. I have just seen a local ad in a shop offering cleaning at £5 per hour!
I have settled on £9 per hour and will supply all equipment and materials, with a 2 hour minimum on weekly cleans and a 3 hour minimum on fortnightly cleans.
Ian, the friends I have asked about the price do not employ cleaners, that was just their opinion on the prices I was trying out on them
Pam O

[martin19842]

hi there,

pamo

what price are you then charging out ie the wage per hour? either to yourself or your employee?

re advertising, pop down the local print shop we got last year 4000 A5 one colour flyers, for a totally different business, and then leafleted on area, we are going to do the same area this year, and hey we got enough response and business in.

i am very concerned, that at £9.00 per hour, less the materials, less the wage cost theres not much left in the pot.  unless you scale the operation up to a largeer number of clients to achieve the economoies of scale.
you need to make profit, to expand, and to replace kit etc.  and lets be honest the only reason we work for ourselves is to make money, for oursleves and not someone else.

if you are cleaning a clients house what are they doing, they could be working for themselves earning £100 an hour as a solicitor.  as an example. 

just an opinion

regards

martin

[Pamo]

Hi Martin.
Thanks for the advice.
This is what I have worked out....(probably seriously flawed maths was never my thing )
It will cost me £3.87 to do 1 cleaning job 10 miles from my home base.
That includes a days biz insurance, car tax, car insurance, petrol and equipment.
I will charge £18 for my 2 hours minimum clean.
I will be paying myself £6.00 per hour.
If I have only one job in a day 10 miles from home I would make a profit of £2.13.

Compared to my pet sitting...
Same distance costs me £3.30, I charge about 7.20 per visit (45 mins) I earn £3.90 per visit :

[martin19842]

hi there,

Pamo,

what can i say, brutally honest,  from my point of view it just doesnt make economical sense. 

i refer to several of my previous posts on here, we must really be driving prices up, value the service that you deliver and then value yourself.

you risk falling into a trap, where you will get recommendations, but all will be looking at the price you charge Mr or Mrs 1st customer.  you will then quickly hit that dilemma, of having too much work, for the amount of time that you have, and then the decision of whether to employ cleaners.  I seriously cant see you being able to employ cleaners or the figures you are quoting, and ex's etc

i would seriously be recommending charging premium prices, yes some customers will not ride it, but you will create better and more viable ecomomies of scale.

as it is we are having to delay our domestic service purely because, we have an expansion programme in place for our commercial work of  a new vehicle on the road every month till June. a rapid increase in business and profit.

regards

martin

[Ian Gourlay]

Pamo Ive only looked at you costing quickly but it apears you are one major cost missing Your Car

20 Miles needs to be costed at a min of £5.00 as this is what a good employer would pay staff.

If you want to replace vehicle in two years time you need to be looking at £16.

Oh dear I think it mean you and many others are running your business at a loss.


What does the team think.


Not trying to put you off Pamo as we want to see you succeed. Obviously as time goes on Clients will be closer together. 

[martin19842]

hi there,

Ian ,

Pamo and i have exchanged a couple of pm's it appears that she is facing some local opposition, in the ventures that she is currently pursuing, and therefore she is finding it hard.

i agree with you however.

regard

martin

[Ian Gourlay]

Pamo , Martin.

I think in an earlier post I did say that I understood where £8.50 an hour comes from.

I personally feel it is harder to start any enterprise in a small market town as you will always find someone notices what you are doing and takes defensive action even if you are not hurting their businerss.

Also this part of the World has a high proportion of people trying  to earn a living on a self employed basis which drives down prices.

Altough good Salesmanship can achieve higher prices and a wow service I think is the jargon it is difficult.

Everest Home Improvements have found that out,in this Area. The majority of Window installations are by smaLL family companies.

I would just like to reasure Pamo apart from Cleaning Carpets I am not a rival business.

[BeeClean]

Pam ive been around for a little while and have learnt most of what i know by doing things the hard way. try and forget about how much youre charging by the hour and concentrate on the total bill. for every person that wants something for nothing there is another one who is prepared to pay a good price for a good service. my advice is to drop some leaflets through the letterboxes of the most expensive houses in your area and see what happens.

Good luck anyway