[Richy L]

Hi guys,

If I advertise for contract cleaning, what does it involve?
I only do, and want, exterior cleaning, but i would like to advertise to get some regular contact work.

Can anyone clear things up for me please?

cheers

[Richy L]

some one must do contract cleaning

[allyoops]

 basically It means that you enter into a contract with your customer to carry out cleaning at regular intervals for a fixed price and you usually have to wait 28 days for your money,cheers Neil

[drive surgeon]

one - richy are you after pressure washing contracts?

two- the other guy- do you have to wait 28 days for payment from when you start work or after you end work?  whats the 28 day script?

[garyj]

It is usual in contract cleaning to work a month and then invoice for that work.

If you are lucky you get paid 28 days later, so you will need 2 months wages and all the cleaning equipment before you even see a penny!

Some invoice every 2 weeks and have 14 day terms but they are rare and also likely to lose you some work.

[drive surgeon]

do you have to send them an invoice for work even tho they no how much they are due to pay you as it was originaly agreed.   i suppose it would be well better to not need contracts and just get paid right away after doing a job. and you would get your real rate of pay.  how much do you knock a contract down too off your real rate of pay to secure it?  10%?  20%?  i have no idea.

[garyj]

Yep, without an invoice each month they will not pay, it is hard enough getting the money sometimes WITH an invoice, without one you have no chance!

Rates vary wildly, anywhere from £8 to £20 +, being realistic on an ongoing contract you are looking at between £10-14 an hour, size of contract will also have a bearing on your charge.

[Richy L]

Cheers guys

one - richy are you after pressure washing contracts?

Yeah, ideally.
Any type of exterior cleaning really

[Richy L]

are cleaning contracts usually for all cleaning, both interior and exterior? - just one contract - one company?

[garyj]

Yes and no, it just seems to be a term that is used now for outside contractors. Most cleaning companies will have a contract for a minimum amount of time with their terms and conditions on it, some dont and just go month to month.

[Richy L]

Yes and no, it just seems to be a term that is used now for outside contractors. Most cleaning companies will have a contract for a minimum amount of time with their terms and conditions on it, some dont and just go month to month.

How much would you say is a normal amount af hours to spend for a contract? I suppose it depends on the type of property and size eh?

It seems a bit complicated to get into without any experience

[garyj]

Pricing is the hardest part, 2 companies can be thousands of pounds per year different on big contracts.

I went to quote for one a few weeks ago where the customer was cheesed off with his current cleaners. He told me that it was 2 hours a day! It should have been double that so no matter what company is in there if you dont have the time you cannot do the job.

Some companies price by the sq foot, some by how many desks etc. Very difficult to price if you dont know what you are doing and how long each job should take.

[Richy L]

well i would only be interested in exterior cleaning anyway.
I guess that would have to be per job instead of hours