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Putting prices up

Adam curtis

Active member
Messages
151
Location
Bicester
I've been cleaning windows for about 15 years a lot of my work I have done since I started but never really put prices up but now it's all getting to much gone fro 4 week to 6 as can't fit it all in so how would u go about putting prices up cause mine are rediculaly cheap doing 3 bed house 4 front 4 back for £6.50 but if new min charge is a £10 I live in Oxfordshire any ideas

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no wonder you are so busy at those prices... you will lose some customers when you try to lift the prices, its unavoidable, but usually works out that you are working less for the same money and you can then find more better priced work to fill your time again. i personally would go for £1 a year until the were at the right prices. but it all depends on your situation. only you know your customers.

 
Put all prices up to what you are happy with and if you loose a bit of work go back to every 4 weeks and you won't loose out on any ££

 
I would put them up 50p a year for the next few years. Explain in a letter to your customers, that your havn't raised your prices as often as you should have, and will be making gradual adjustments, to bring your pricing in-line with the rising cost of employment and increases running cost over the years.

Implement a new pricing structure which will reflect the hourly rate your hope to be achieving in the next 5 years, and impose your minimum charge only on new clients.

 
I'd go £2 rise this year, you'll probs lose 10% but you'll gain around 10% income, then another £1 after 18 months, the £1 a year until your at the going rate. Aim for a minimum of £1 a window, more if it French doors or bays. If anyone complains, just say its impossible to run the round with those prices, and if they don't like it they are not worth keeping. Also make sure you don't fold on prices otherwise you'll never get your prices up. Also consider binning your worst few customers when you get full, to replace with better payers. It'll take time but you'll be surprised at how few will leave.

 
Roll the dice, bang them all up to £10, if you lose a few then you can get back to 4 weekly.

Also if it calms the round down gives you time to look at better priced work.

If you had these clients 15 years none will begrudge the price rise and if they do they aren't worth keeping anyhow.

 
A rise from £6-50 to £10, is a big jump, be prepared to lose some, you will find it harder because of not putting your prices up for so long. People will moan. When you do raise the price do it straight away as you collect, don't say next month they will be going up, because the moaning will be too much. Like has been said, it will help cull your round. You will feel better that your not killing yourself for low money.

 
I was in a similar position last year. Hadn't increased since 2004 but bit the bullet and just went for £1 extra. No one battered an eyelid, some put it up £2 themselves because they didn't think it was enough. If you're good and your loyalty has been earned most will be happy to pay that as a minimum. £6.50 in 2016 is ridiculous, I wouldn't even do a front only for that. All your new work tag on 25-35% more than you used to charge - you'll still get the work 9/10 times and you'll bump your average hourly rate up in the process.

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I've put my prices up once in 7years 90% of which I put up a £1 extra per house the rest I put up 50p per house. Out of all my customers I lost Just the 1. She was an old dear and had the cheek to say I was taking the ****, I told her I haven't put my prices up in the 4 years I cleaned her windows. She said she had no more windows and couldn't understand why the price increase. Obviously everything goes up but you don't get extra in what you buy. so I just bit the bullet and did it. Gained more income from the increase of prices. Some customers now still say, is it still the same price. Made me think maybe it's time for another increase in the new year

 
I think everyone have tried it , the years fly by and suddenly you're behind price wise.. I've started to give it a small notch every year , otherwise it's a big jump up at once . But do raise, take the losses, who knows,you might need to do less for the same amount. It happened to me . Had 4 big houses, raised them ,1 jumped , 3 stayed, and I earned the exact same amount. /emoticons/biggrin.png

 
i had a call from a window cleaner yesterday offering some work for sale

180 houses roughly, all on one estate, had the round over 20 years...i rubbed my hands

Until i was told the turnover.. £750, prices were approx £4 per house, these are mainly 3 bed semis.

Raise your prices mate

 
Come on guys, why are you living in the past, it costs more for two cups of coffee in town. I will not touch anything for less than £12.00, for the record WFP.

I done 3 jobs @ £30 each today, and 2 at £25, all first cleans. We are glass technicians - not slaves!!!

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Until i was told the turnover.. £750, prices were approx £4 per house, these are mainly 3 bed semis.
its all relevant surely, if he knocks it out on the ladders in an easy 5 days whats there to complain about?

 
its all relevant surely, if he knocks it out on the ladders in an easy 5 days whats there to complain about?

Well he said he can do it in 5 with a lad helping him which suggests to me it would take him longer.

But nothing if that's what he's happy doing. no way I'd want to clean 25 houses a day for 100 quid then go back collecting. not bothered of someone else does just happy it's not me.

 
Hi Adam

I think part of the problem is you are stuck in a time zone, and I don't mean that with any disrespect, but look, I went for a coffee with my partner this morning, it cost £5.60 and took 2 mins to make and probably 5p of coffee beans. So why not explain to customers you need to get a living wage with sensible hours, so let's say next year go from £6.50 to £8.50 if your Trad, or go wfp cleaning frames sills etc at £10, without doing the sums you can see that you can loose some customers and still have the same income or more, for less stress. You will be surprised how many customers are okay with it. Not to mention I think you are in quite an affluent area in general.

Get a friend to get a quote for their Windows using wfp in your area, you may get a shock.

Good luck my friend.

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Hi AdamI think part of the problem is you are stuck in a time zone, and I don't mean that with any disrespect, but look, I went for a coffee with my partner this morning, it cost £5.60 and took 2 mins to make and probably 5p of coffee beans. So why not explain to customers you need to get a living wage with sensible hours, so let's say next year go from £6.50 to £8.50 if your Trad, or go wfp cleaning frames sills etc at £10, without doing the sums you can see that you can loose some customers and still have the same income or more, for less stress. You will be surprised how many customers are okay with it. Not to mention I think you are in quite an affluent area in general.

Get a friend to get a quote for their Windows using wfp in your area, you may get a shock.

Good luck my friend.

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You got the wrong end of the stick @Paul Gard , @adamangler is saying he cant work for that price, it's too low.

As for affluent area, have you ever been to Wakefield? :rofl::rofl::rofl:

 
I reckon that there's a big difference of being affluent and willing to spend.

There's many affluent areas around me here but none of them want to pay.

They are happy to spend £45,000 on a new car every other year but begrudge paying £15 for windows to be cleaned. Over all the years I've never worked that one out. /emoticons/unsure.png

 
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