[Sarah2005]

Hi

I planned to only clean in my area, well to begin with anyway, however after attending a networking meeting, I have a client I am cleaning for at the end of June who lives 30 miles away.  Long term, I may be able to cover his area, however for now it is not worth my while, which we have discussed, however I have said that I can clean for him at the moment whilst I am not so busy.  It is a pretty easy job as he cleans his skirtings etc regularly, so a very basic clean is needed. 

I just wondered how people charge for travelling to jobs as it is something I hadn't expected to be doing.  I have said I am happy to just cover my petrol with £5 on this occasion and have not taken into account the fact that travel time to and from the job is approx 1hr 15mins in total. 

He is a good contact to have, so happy to do this as he has loads of contacts in business that will be of use to me in the future.  Already he is putting me in touch with a member of 'Friends of The Earth' with a view to me going on their website. 

I also have my friends Sister's cottage to clean in the New Forest, it will be an all day job as I was there during half term and it needs a good spring clean, especially the kitchen (including the oven which needs a REAL good clean).  Bit of an awkward one as I am having the use of the cottage over a weekend, then probably cleaning on a Monday before I return.  It is 2 bedrooms and I was thinking around £120 including travel and petrol as a special deal as I am getting a weekend out of it and the cottage is very minimalistic, it is the kitchen that will take up most of the day.  My husband will be joining me, however this will mean us driving down seperately, hence me adding on travel costs as 135 miles away.  I wouldn't charge travel time as I am happy to get a weekend away in a fab little cottage.

Do you guys think this is a fair price under the circumstances?

Sarah 

[Mike_Boxall]

Seems very reasonable Sarah (if not too reasonable!)

Most chargeable mileage I see tends to be at 40p per mile. When you take into account fuel, tax, depreciation, servicing, tyres, insurance as well as your time it's a fair charge. In real terms it is probably costing you 25p per mile!

Start as you mean to go on! 

Regards

Mike

[Sarah2005]

Mike

Thanks for your reply, I suppose being so new to this business, I don't have the experience in knowing what I can and cannot charge, especially when getting a weekend away in a lovely cottage as part of the deal.   I haven't quoted yet so feedback is greatly appreciated as this Client is seriously loaded, however she has told her Sister, she would never pay £14 per hour for a weekly cleaner and she lives in a mansion on Blackheath in London, as she believes she would have to earn more than that per hour to make it worthwhile (she doesn't actually work, however her Hubby is working on the stock markets).  I can't see it as you would never have a cleaner cleaning for the number of hours you work anyway    I think it is still tough for potential clients to see the costs involved etc as there are so many cash in hand cleaners working for very low rates, well in my area anyway.  What makes it even harder for me to accept is that her Sister told me her current cleaner is useless......why can't so many potential clients not see that you get what you pay for?

I have decided to start out at £12.50 per hour for basic weekly cleaning, however this will not be long term and my aim is £14.00 per hour, once I have built up my reputation in the area.  This is based on my research and the fact I am prepared to start a little lower to build up my customer base.  I will charge more for spring cleans etc, this is just for basic cleaning.  My task over the next couple of weeks is to ring around my competitors, I already have prices on a franchise that seems to get a good rate, however I feel that can be a brand thing.  Doesn't matter that you may be as good or better, they are known etc.

Anyway thanks again, the focus is on for me now to get myself fully up and running by July, not much left to do so know I can do it.  Pricing has been my biggest concern if I am honest. 

Sarah 

[Jan K]

I charge 20p per mile travelling (for cleans outside Plymouth travel to work area) which is well under what I should be (35 to 40p would be more reasonable), but I only have one Client who I charge the mileage charge and I don't do the job myself, so my lady gets that!

Good luck Sarah, seems you are doing ok eh?   

[Sarah2005]

Jan

It was 20p I got from you    Like you it is a one off and so I can go with the flow on this occasion

I am getting there, however the Courier business is on the up again, so I do seem to be getting dragged into that quite a lot but then I am a Partner    Mark is going to advertise for some freelance drivers so I can focus on my business as I am driving quite a lot at the moment.  Can't complain though, just a shame I have had to put the cleaning business on the back burner a little lately.

Will get there in the end 

xx