Commercial pricing for beginners

[DannyB]

Hi everyone

Already next week I may start canvassing local retailers in my town for commercial W/C jobs.

As I am a beginner, I have only a foggy idea about how long would any high street shop, office, diner, pub or restaurant take me. Moreover, my speed will gradually build up, so I can't take it for a constant variable either.

Could anyone recommend me some system of storefront pricing that is NOT based on time assessment? Rather some way of pricing based on square feet, square yards or square meters, the height of storefront, number of window panes etc?

Or should I resign on seeking such sort of system, do few storefronts for free and measure the time needed with stop watch, and at the same time ask all retailers for revealing the prices my competitors charge them?

Any advice will be most appreciated.

 

[boarcity]

shopfronts are rock bottom prices . far below residential. it will only pay off if you do a string of them . by a string i mean at least 8 on the same day

i had a stab at shopfronts few yrs ago, i had 2 fullsize tesco , santander x3 a few cafes. i jacked up the prices from previous cleaners but it was still rubbish money,late payment ,made no sense !

 

[DannyB]

shopfronts are rock bottom prices . far below residential. it will only pay off if you do a string of them . by a string i mean at least 8 on the same day i had a stab at shopfronts few yrs ago, i had 2 fullsize tesco , santander x3 a few cafes. i jacked up the prices from previous cleaners but it was still rubbish money,late payment ,made no sense !

Thanks. How far below residential? If you get, as an experienced windie, say £8-9 for 10 minutes of intensive and focussed residential cleaning, how much will you get for 10 minutes of commercial cleaning in the same locality?

 

[Eclipse]

Depends on your pricing, I've got plenty of commercial work that pays as well as residential. One pays £85 for 2 hours work a month.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

I think Eclipse is pretty close on this one, £85 for two hours seems pretty spot on to me.

Lets say you make £30 per hour on residential doing 3 semis then I reckon a pub that will take an hour should be charged at £30 also and the benefit of just one customer to bill and only one premises to have to clean.

 

[boarcity]

Thanks. How far below residential? If you get, as an experienced windie, say £8-9 for 10 minutes of intensive and focussed residential cleaning, how much will you get for 10 minutes of commercial cleaning in the same locality?

i couldnt make it pay myself .thats not to say you wont

the thing is all the main stores are usually under a contract with a big boy national firm who bid and got the contract for a number of stores-he then subs the jobs out to local lads . now the national gets paid a decent rate but he then seeks out someone local at as low a price as possible to actually clean it . if you insist on a higher price he may take you on but only until he finds someone prepared to do it lower . thats how the big national make their money. they also drag out the paying as long as possible cos they make big money in interest holding onto funds

earlier this year i took on some Halfords stores against my gut feeling after i was promised immediate payment "we r not like the others" and i ended up waiting 70 days to get paid

 

[Eclipse]

Yeah I don't deal with nationals, only do them if the store is willing to pay cash on receipt of the invoice or a cheque

 

[DannyB]

I think Eclipse is pretty close on this one, £85 for two hours seems pretty spot on to me.
Lets say you make £30 per hour on residential doing 3 semis then I reckon a pub that will take an hour should be charged at £30 also and the benefit of just one customer to bill and only one premises to have to clean.

Thanks mate. Informative, no-nonsense reply as usual.

 

[DannyB]

i couldnt make it pay myself .thats not to say you wont
the thing is all the main stores are usually under a contract with a big boy national firm who bid and got the contract for a number of stores-he then subs the jobs out to local lads . now the national gets paid a decent rate but he then seeks out someone local at as low a price as possible to actually clean it . if you insist on a higher price he may take you on but only until he finds someone prepared to do it lower . thats how the big national make their money. they also drag out the paying as long as possible cos they make big money in interest holding onto funds

earlier this year i took on some Halfords stores against my gut feeling after i was promised immediate payment "we r not like the others" and i ended up waiting 70 days to get paid

Sure mate, it sounds absolutely real. But in my town, there are also local tattoo studios, ethnic groceries, takeaways, hairdressers and many other kinds of strictly local businesses...

 

[Eclipse]

They're the best ones, string 8 or 10 together at £4/5 a pop and you could probably knock them out in an hour

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

As you know we are completing the builders clean on the New Street station this past couple of weeks, have been approached by around 20 of the stores asking us to do the windows regularly yet surprisingly when I reply 'sure can, who's paying the bill?' they all look confused and then it becomes 'oh dont worry about it, it's dealt with by head office'

But do remember these are all major high street chains.

When I worked for a large facilities firm they had the nationwide contract for all Toby Carveries, Crown Carveries, Premier Inn Hotels etc so all of those are pretty much a no no for an independent.

However do not be put off, the worst you can do is spend a day talking to the high street, you will either find a load of new customers or find out it's already sewn up. At least you will stop driving past and wondering about it.

 

[boarcity]

Sure mate, it sounds absolutely real. But in my town, there are also local tattoo studios, ethnic groceries, takeaways, hairdressers and many other kinds of strictly local businesses...

iv still got a few of these onboard , in my area its £5 outs and £5 ins for typical small shop. takaways,tread warily,you will need to get inside but the trouble is often its 4 or 5pm before they open up and if youre not on time the grills blazing when you start on the insides

in my area injun takeaways are about 5 /6 quid inside n out. if your lucky!

chinese even lower, i once was desperate and offered in n out for 4 quid, no no, 3 quid was the reply.that included the blinds too!! daft days!

 

[boarcity]

i landed a small KFC recently after a chance conver . the deal is , bargain bucket in return for each clean.

 

[CMRwindowcleaning]

One big window and a door (usual shop front) 2 mins work £5.00. In and out is double. Double shopfront windows and small window above door and front door is usually £10.00ish. Some are £8.00. Shops are my Favourate I do mine every Friday. Always done by 12 with nice bit of cash always paid straight to me after i provide hand written duplicate receipt. No ladder no pole no gates no bushes just bucket squeegee and trad pole.

 

[DannyB]

And what's the typical frequency for commercial jobs? Once per month? Once per two weeks?

 

[DannyB]

One big window and a door (usual shop front) 2 mins work £5.00. In and out is double. Double shopfront windows and small window above door and front door is usually £10.00ish. Some are £8.00. Shops are my Favourate I do mine every Friday. Always done by 12 with nice bit of cash always paid straight to me after i provide hand written duplicate receipt. No ladder no pole no gates no bushes just bucket squeegee and trad pole.

Fabulous!

 

[CMRwindowcleaning]

Shop fronts on the high street. KFC foot locker subway that kind of **** is weekly. Some are two weekly. Offices gyms big chain pubs usually monthly and some places especially large properties and council run buildings usually quarterly. Well that's how all mine works anyway.

 

[TolishAPurd]

Hi everyone
Already next week I may start canvassing local retailers in my town for commercial W/C jobs.

As I am a beginner, I have only a foggy idea about how long would any high street shop, office, diner, pub or restaurant take me. Moreover, my speed will gradually build up, so I can't take it for a constant variable either.

Could anyone recommend me some system of storefront pricing that is NOT based on time assessment? Rather some way of pricing based on square feet, square yards or square meters, the height of storefront, number of window panes etc?

Or should I resign on seeking such sort of system, do few storefronts for free and measure the time needed with stop watch, and at the same time ask all retailers for revealing the prices my competitors charge them?

Any advice will be most appreciated.

The easiest way to price something up is to say; Whats it worth to you? I have walked in to shops and they are so used to stupid cheap prices, that I just decided that it wasnt worth it for me- not even worth stopping the van. So just quote what its worth to you, and if it aint worth it- pick up your bucket and move on.

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

CMR. Did these come to you as calls or did you go actively canvass them?

 

[DannyB]

The easiest way to price something up is to say; Whats it worth to you? I have walked in to shops and they are so used to stupid cheap prices, that I just decided that it wasnt worth it for me- not even worth stopping the van. So just quote what its worth to you, and if it aint worth it- pick up your bucket and move on.

Sure mate. But to be able to assess worthiness of any (not only a commercial) job, you need at least minimal business experience with such sort of jobs. Someone who is just beginning won't have it

 

[TolishAPurd]

Sure mate. But to be able to assess worthiness of any (not only a commercial) job, you need at least minimal business experience with such sort of jobs. Someone who is just beginning won't have it

Don't be afraid to price cheap/expensive, just price what you think. You'll only ever learn by your mistakes and achievements. As you get better your boundries will change too- what seemed like an underpriced job may soon become a gem when you speed up and get better. The underpriced job may just give you exposure that brings in more customers then you could wish for. The only way you'll find out is by trying.