[chloejayne]

Hi all

Just quoted for an office clean, they wanted 2 cleaners, 2 hours each, 3 times a week, i quoted £150 per week, i lost the contract cause someone quoted £90! am i over charging?

[The Great One]

Hi

Actually you were very close.

i would have quoted the same as you paying the staff £6 per hour. The other company will have about £18 profit before any materials, petrol, etc.

Call the company and just say that if it goes pear shaped, they are more than welcome to call you

Leave the door open.

Regards

Martin

[Jonny jones]

hi dont know if this is any help,
i charge 105 per week for 1 cleaner 1.5 hours per day 7 days week
and they supply everything

thanx jonny

[Pristine Clean]

I wouldn't say you were wrong.

I dont know which part of the uk you are in but I am in the south east, Kent.

Although we are getting enquiries we have had to lower our prices to gain new work in this econoic down turn.

We have found companies are now looking for the lowest price possible these days, and it does not seem to be how posh or good your presentation is when you meet the new prospect. At present all about price.

Dave

 

[garyj]

Don't forget you are also competing with national contractors who have contracts worth millions. I have seen quotes go in for as little as 3% gross profit. You cannot compete with them on price but you can beat them hands down on quality of service and customer contact.

[letzclean]

I have a contract to clean a small office 10 hours per week I charge £15 ph. Things have got tight now though I used to charge £12 ph for doemestic cleaning but now charge £10 to all new customers as it is so slow- leaflets are also not getting the same response as before! But it varies the amount of business you get and can charge depending on where you are in the uk? I am in Central London

[Paul Kettless]

I would have quoted £120, and also would have payed staff £6ph.

Cannot win them all, stick to your prices, and sell your quality of service.

First thing I learnt in business is that if you get 100% of the jobs that you quote you are not charging enough.  You should be aiming for 60-70%.

Best regards
Paul

[darrenbale]

We would have charged about that. I don't think you were wrong. We recently missed out on a contract as someone quoted almost £100 a week less than us, however two weeks later the client called us up very apologetic. Turns out the other guy couldn't actually afford to do it so cheap after all.

[pdl]

Paying our Staff £6.25 per hour we would have charged £10.50 per hour, but this is for labour only (£126) after costs at least 30% clear profit.  The company that quoted £90 would have only made 7% profit BEFORE COSTS!!!!!!!!!!, if they were paying the National Minimum wage and PAYE etc;  Cash in Hand though and we are talking a different story.