[dustdees]

Hi everyone,

Hope you are having a good week?

I have been running a residential cleaning business for a while and I am now looking into commerical cleaning, but I am unsure how to price the jobs.

To fill you in on some of the information:

1. I will be using the clients own eqiupment and materials.
2. Should I price by the hour or by the job and how much should I charge?

I am totally new to commerical cleaning and really want to get my teeth into it.

Would be glad of some sound advice and suggestion.

Thanks all

Denise

[dustycorner]

Hi Denise,


Why don't you supply the cleaning materials and equipment, then price that factor into your price plan. At least you will have control over the quality of materials your staff use.

Cheers Mark

[dustdees]

hi Mark,

Thanks for your reply, I don't supply materials and stuff because of allergies and clients being enviromentally friendly.

However I am putting some thought into supplying materials for commericals cleans.

thanx

Denise

[Jan K]

Hi Denise!

I supply all cleaning materials for both domestic and commercial cleaning, but stipulate that if Clients require anything specific that they provide it and I will negotiate price then!!

Cheers!

Jan

[HolmansUKLTD]

dont forget your method statements and risk assesments, i did!!! but now im a dab hand at them

NIck

[Spiceman]

Hi Denise,
Nick is spot on .... if you are going into commercial cleaning then I take it you will be employing staff,
You have to have risk assessments, COSHH safety data sheets on the chemicals you use, pat testing on the electrical appliances employed (vacs etc) and these problems are best sorted out if you have control of the situation.
Commercial clients take on contract cleaners to relieve themselves of the responsibilty of managing their cleaning services ... a half way house  leaves both of you facing those problems so why pay you when they may as well advertise for a cleaner themselves?
I would say charge by the hour... either calculate the running costs of your firm, add wages, materials etc then a profit to determine an hourly rate or shoot from the hip and hope you win...there are a lot of ifs whys and wherefores. We don't try to be the cheapest, we sell the benefits to our clients, then we deliver a service that we agree meets their needs and then some... that way we are growing at a rate we can manage and are happy in what we do.
(Nick if you have any sample risk assessments you can let me have i'd be very grateful www.SpicandSpanQCS@aol.com thanks)
hope that helps a little,
John

[michelle warren]

Hi Denise,
I expanded from domestic work into the commercial sector after 2 years and although it was initially quite daunting, it was a worthwhile move. It's taken me a few months to feel comfortable, but the key was most definitely preparation. Risk assessment, method statements and site specific procedures are an important part, not only for the welfare of your staff and customers, but also to indicate your professionalism to potential customers. With regards to using customers products - you need to ensure electrical equipment is PAT tested and that you have COSHH statements for all cleaning products - this can be difficult if equipment and products are not under your control when replenished. I checked out the prices of local competitors before pricing new jobs (bear in mind individual local firms will charge differently to nationwide franchises). I also considered the frequency and duration of the clean, the level of difficulty, whether or not it involved unsociable hours/weekend work etc. It helped to have one person as a point of contact within the company to be cleaned. By tailoring a "cleaning package" to meet the company's needs i have found that customers will pay "a little extra" to get the service they want. I have not spent huge amounts advertising in the commercial sectors - work has come from attending local business forums, being listed in the local trading standards directory and sending out letters to estate agents and builders offering our services. One such letter has resulted in us getting a 5 year contract on a new build site with an established housing developer. It doesn't have to cost a fortune to move into commercial work.
Hope this helps.
Good luck, Michelle 

[dustdees]

Michelle,

Thanks for all you ideas and support.

After careful consideration, I feel that now is not the right time branch out into commercial, but I am putting more attention into End of Tenancy cleans.

I have decided to start supplying my own cleaning products, but also giving the clients a chance to use their own products at a lower rate per hour.

Any more advice would be gratefully received.

Happy cleaning, one and all
Denise xxxxx

[michelle warren]

Denise,
hope everything goes well with the end of tenancy cleans ... it's a great area to move into. As well as targeting letting agents for business, have you thought about contacting your local council for a list of private landlords. You can then contact them direct to promote your services. Many regions also have landlord forums, another great opportunity to promote your work. Finally, many local councils are putting the contracts for e.o.t cleaning out to tender. However, this is not for the faint hearted ... there is a reason why their own staff aren't doing the work and they are having to contract out.
Hope this helps, Michelle

[BSF]

Hi Michelle & all,

Michelle.... Your comment on the council house end of tenancy cleaning or void valets, your correct they are very hard work most of the time, my company does over 700 per annum, the main reason for them not using there own staff is that they are paid by the hour, any housing trust or council needs to know the cost for this service for their budget, I do them for a set price whether its an easy 1 bed bungalow or a minging 5 bed house, its a case of taking the rough with the smooth, you are right its not always for the faint hearted, but when there own staff do the work they take a very long time to complete the clean, its in my interest to complete as fast as possible, this is the main reason they sub contract the work.

The work is a very good earner!

Paul 

[michelle warren]

Hi Paul,
your points re e.o.t  were really interesting ... i'd never actually looked at it from that perspective. I think sometimes i'm put off from initial impressions and previous (bad) experiences. Maybe i ought to take a different approach!! With hindsight some of the e.o.t cleans we've done aren't as bad as some private one offcleans we've assessed ... i think a hot summers day just makes a closed up, festering house seem ten times worse!!
Michelle 

[henrya]

hi,
could you give me your idea regarding residential cleaning. I mean A to z of it.
Regards
Henrya