Squeezing Blood from a Turnip

[Nomad74]

My job minimum is $200. I had to do this to weed out the price shoppers. It's worked well, but I still get the people calling trying to squeeze every penny out of my minimum. Yesterday I got a call from a guy asking me all kinds of questions about my pricing. He wanted his Tile, granite/marble, hardwood, kitchen counters, and carpet cleaned. I gave him the pricing on each surface. He asked would that be more than the minimum and if I could do it all for $200. He said he really wanted his granite shiny again and asked if I could clean it. I told him that general cleaning of granite really won't help the shine and use of a crystallizer really isn't good for the long term health of the stone. He then went on and on trying to find out how many different surfaces and sqft I could clean for $200. At that point the guy had worn me out. The verbal price ping-pong had gotten to me. I finally told him since he was so fixated on price, he should call Stanley Steemer for his cleaning needs. He replied, "Oh, I understand". I wished him luck and hung up.

Good Grief!

 

[Mikey P]

 

[FB7777]

$200 minimum...

That’s baller territory

 

[Nomad74]

$200 minimum...

That’s baller territory

I lose some jobs to the lower priced guys. But I’m free to book the better jobs. I’m not competing to be the lowest priced cleaner in the business. Raising my minimum was probably the best decision I’ve made.

 

[FB7777]

Marrying my wife was mine...

Followed in close second was buying Apple in 2012

 

[Nomad74]

Marrying my wife was mine...

Followed in close second was buying Apple in 2012

Well. Now I feel like a jerk.

 

[hogjowl]

$200 translates to $120 in Bama.
I get hung up on and argued with all the time.

 

[Nomad74]

$200 translates to $120 in Bama.
I get hung up on and argued with all the time.

Maybe I’m a masochist, i live for the hang up.

 

[Papa John]

$200 minimum...

That’s baller territory

Not in California. Its expensive to live and operate a biz here. I hear minimums are even higher in NYC. Like $500!

 

[Nomad74]

Not in California. Its expensive to live and operate a biz here. I hear minimums are even higher in NYC. Like $500!

With gas approaching $4+ per gallon, I’m considering raising my sqft pricing. I already raised my commercial minimum by .01. Its made a difference. You wouldn’t think .01 would matter, but it really adds up.

 

[Cleanworks]

My minimum is $150. I get a lot of calls for 1 and 2 room condos. I book some and the ones I don't get keeps my competition from making any money.

 

[Papa John]

My minimum is $150. I get a lot of calls for 1 and 2 room condos. I book some and the ones I don't get keeps my competition from making any money.

If i have to use a portable, i add on $100 to my minimum of $195 +4% health care fee. So $306.80 even for just 2 rooms.

 

[Mikey P]

My job minimum is $200. I had to do this to weed out the price shoppers. It's worked well, but I still get the people calling trying to squeeze every penny out of my minimum. Yesterday I got a call from a guy asking me all kinds of questions about my pricing. He wanted his Tile, granite/marble, hardwood, kitchen counters, and carpet cleaned. I gave him the pricing on each surface. He asked would that be more than the minimum and if I could do it all for $200. He said he really wanted his granite shiny again and asked if I could clean it. I told him that general cleaning of granite really won't help the shine and use of a crystallizer really isn't good for the long term health of the stone. He then went on and on trying to find out how many different surfaces and sqft I could clean for $200. At that point the guy had worn me out. The verbal price ping-pong had gotten to me. I finally told him since he was so fixated on price, he should call Stanley Steemer for his cleaning needs. He replied, "Oh, I understand". I wished him luck and hung up.

Good Grief!

If he makes $10 an hour you're asking for 2/3rds of his weekly take home for 2 hours of maid work, show some pity..

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

My office had a lady call and ask if we would match the price for cleaning a couch, love seat, arm chair, and a 8 X 10 wool area rug, all for the low, low price of 185$....
Well, I probably could clean the couch for that....
There is obviously IDIOTS in this industry who have no clue what they are doing, or how to set pricing...

 

[Papa John]

If he makes $10 an hour you're asking for 2/3rds of his weekly take home for 2 hours of maid work, show some pity..

If people are willing to work for that low of a wage than time isn't valuable to them-- so they should just be a DIYer.

 

[Mikey P]

That's very Republican of you

 

[Cleanworks]

If i have to use a portable, i add on $100 to my minimum of $195 +4% health care fee. So $306.80 even for just 2 rooms.

I really don't get that. Using a portable is so easy on these jobs, saving you money.

 

[hogjowl]

Just when I start thinking you may be an ok dude ...

 

[Jimmy L]

$125 min here

 

[Cleanworks]

Bunch of porty racists. The other day I made $710 in 3 1/2 hours with a porty. That's a good as what I make with the truck mount but it cost me less so I made even more.

 

[Mikey P]

$125 min here

Per park?

 

[Kenny Hayes]

Not me, I’m a janitor!

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

Bunch of porty racists. The other day I made $710 in 3 1/2 hours with a porty. That's a good as what I make with the truck mount but it cost me less so I made even more.

Ron, pay no attention to these guys who have NO CLUE what it’s like to operate in a city full of high rises, and underground parking.
Heck, where I live, they are developing it to be just like a mini Vancouver....
Hence the reason why I’m looking for a great porty....

 

[Jimmy L]

I upsell them on protector in the mobile home parks to make my min.

 

[DAT]

He then went on and on trying to find out how many different surfaces and sqft I could clean for $200

I dont do mix and match. Its all separate work because I have to break out different tools and set up. That what i told people before...that put that calculation crap to stop..

 

[Papa John]

I really don't get that. Using a portable is so easy on these jobs, saving you money.

For some reason-its more expensive and difficult to get WC and PLPD insurance if you use a portable. we also have to feed a parking meter and sometimes we get expensive parking tickets. When I explain this, Customers understand why I need to charge extra. Also we may have to park far away and push the 300 lbs of equipment several blocks.
Since many companies or their employees hate to use a portable- there isn't that much decent competition. I suspect some employees of other companies sabotage the portable so that it wont work.
I started at a $50 up charge years ago. You should try it.

 

[FB7777]

I think I’d rather fall into a puddle of AIDS than have to work in San Francisco on a daily basis

 

[Mikey P]

I think I’d rather fall into a puddle of AIDS than have to work in San Francisco on a daily basis

I'll let Greta hit that softball out of Giants stadium

 

[Cleanworks]

For some reason-its more expensive and difficult to get WC and PLPD insurance if you use a portable. we also have to feed a parking meter and sometimes we get expensive parking tickets. When I explain this, Customers understand why I need to charge extra. Also we may have to park far away and push the 300 lbs of equipment several blocks.
Since many companies or their employees hate to use a portable- there isn't that much decent competition. I suspect some employees of other companies sabotage the portable so that it wont work.
I started at a $50 up charge years ago. You should try it.

Here it's the opposite. WC and liability insurance is more for a truck mount. I add parking and any other expenses to the job. If there is no legal parking we turn down the job. I normally use my little astro van for portable work. It fits into underground parkades easy. All of my equipment fits in or on the portable with the exception of a vacuum or crb. Probably 50% of my work is portable or encap work. I've developed systems that are easy and efficient as well as profitable for portable work. Even though the amount of carpet is dropping in condos they still have upholstery and vertical blinds that need cleaning. I have quite a few luxury condo buildings where not only do I serve the residents but clean all the hallway and common area carpets as well. I have one coming up in November that will take 4 days. Usually from 9-2 at $1000 per day. Parking is right beside the elevators and I have a dedicated washroom to fill and empty in.

 

[Small town janitorial]

I think I’d rather fall into a puddle of AIDS than have to work in San Francisco on a daily basis

They are one and the same aren't they?