Pros & Cons - 4 weekly vs 8 weekly

[Leeds]

The majority of our domestic work is 4 weekly, however I'm aware of the 50% extra you can charge for an 8 weekly clean for really not that much more work.

However this does mean twice the customers if you want to fill 4 weeks of the month (roughly). Which isn't a problem, though it may take longer to fill to capacity.

Now I'm considering 8 weekly. My question is, Needing double the customers would lead to potentially covering double the area than previously done so.

Would the extra time spent travelling, fuel costs etc, bring the hourly rate down by much? Enough to make 4 or 8 weekly not that much better than the other?

 

[Dave B]

The majority of our domestic work is 4 weekly, however I'm aware of the 50% extra you can charge for an 8 weekly clean for really not that much more work.
However this does mean twice the customers if you want to fill 4 weeks of the month (roughly). Which isn't a problem, though it may take longer to fill to capacity.

Now I'm considering 8 weekly. My question is, Needing double the customers would lead to potentially covering double the area than previously done so.

Would the extra time spent travelling, fuel costs etc, bring the hourly rate down by much? Enough to make 4 or 8 weekly not that much better than the other?

What 50% extra?

Sometimes i may charge an extra couple of quid but 50% more for no extra effort on an 8 weekly????

It takes maybe an extra swipe up and down per window which is nothing

I have monthly and 2 monthly customers and most are equally priced

 

[Markyboy 50]

I charge the same for 4 weekly and 8 weekly. Takes no longer unless they're on a main road.

 

[Leeds]

Ah I see... I normally charge 25-50% extra for bi-monthly houses. I know that theyre not significantly dirtier, but they technically get dirtier, so it's a plausible reason to charge more, and I believe many window cleaners do.

It's the only reason I'd consider 8 weekly anyway, there is no other benefit to it from the window cleaners side.

 

[Dave B]

I see a big benefit in 8 weekly..or 2 monthly in my case as i work 1 or 2 monthly

Twice as many customers on a twice as long frequency means less chance of being dropped in times of recession or job loss etc as less money for any 1 customer to have to find

It safeguards your customer base a bit more

I would love all mine to be 2 monthly

 

[Leeds]

That's true davey! Didn't think of that. Less risk.

 

[windowsurfer]

I prefer 2 monthly, as get bored easily going back to same jobs each month, I barely ever get to a job on time. I try and charge a bit more for 8 weekly and say that if they go 8 weekly they save more money over a year. So if its a £15 house charge £20 for two monthly. They save £60 over the year, but you get an extra £5 for the clean, all good.

 

[Dave B]

I usually charge a couple of quid extra but not 50% and it makes everyone happy

£12 monthly..£15 2 monthly etc

Makes a difference over a days work but customers still feel they have a good deal

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

If say £14 on a 4 weekly I go £18 dor the 8 week or say £15 on a 4 becomes £20 on an 8 and so on.

The only reason you need to double the area is cause you hit saturation where you are. If you recanvass all the roads where you have work you should easily double up without having to go further afield geographaically so to speak.

 

[Solarpanelcleanington]

All mine bi monthly, customer is happy to see me.

 

[Taxlossloz]

All my work is 8 weeks apart from one OCD lady with a big house

I would have to charge MORE for 4 weekly as its a pain fitting it in

 

[Duncs]

i think the perfect cycle is 6 weekly

every 4 weeks in my opinion is to quick the customers are sick of seeing you

charging more for 8 weekly i just dont do it. But first clean depending on the clip of the windows could charge double

 

[CHWS]

I've a bit that is 5 weeks and it seems a perfect time as 4 seems to come in no time and 8 seems forever

 

[Williams Jet Wash]

I dont have a hard and fast rule but as above 15 4 weekly might become 20 8 weekly and they are then not sick of seeing you i do 4 weekly and 8 weekly cleans and i am signing everyone up to 4 weekly right now and when they become sick of seeing me and get to point of dropping me i then suggest why not go everyother they are happy then with this etc

 

[Williams Jet Wash]

@meridion off point but are you a 1st cousin to this chappy from the drake and josh show?? :laugh::laugh:View attachment 8532

 

[David K]

Must admit i charge the same 4-8 Weekly .

 

[Leeds]

@meridion off point but are you a 1st cousin to this chappy from the drake and josh show?? :laugh::laugh:View attachment 12025

Haha! The jigs up! My acting career wasn't as good as his, so went on the windows! :rofl:

 

[Leeds]

The only reason you need to double the area is cause you hit saturation where you are. If you recanvass all the roads where you have work you should easily double up without having to go further afield geographaically so to speak.

That's a good point! I take it if you're all 4 weekly, you'd have to balance the switching of customers to 8 weekly with extra canvassing, so you don't all of a sudden cut your round to half in value and then lag behind till you fill the gap.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

What I did was sold my entire round.

Then when i started to rebuild i gave the option of 4 weeks or 8 weeks. 80% took 8 weekly at the higher margins.

 

[Leeds]

What I did was sold my entire round.
Then when i started to rebuild i gave the option of 4 weeks or 8 weeks. 80% took 8 weekly at the higher margins.

I mean if you have someone with you relying on a wage. They'll still have to be paid during the change.

 

[adamangler]

8 weekly pros

1. You can charge more, whether it's a couple of quid or 50% you still can. This means you earn more money.

2. More customers means less loss of income when you lose one.

Cons

1. Takes longer to build a round.

2. Takes longer to admin and get paid. More customers mean more to chase up and manage.

3. You have to be carefull to spread the load evenly over your weeks. No point having a days work in one area then next time round having a day and a half.

I started off 4 weekly only ro buold quicker but now I'm happy to take both but always charge a bit more for 8 weekly sometimes it's just a couple of quid sometimes more depends what I think I can get away with.