Hey guys and gals, I am trying to figure out how to factor in my minimum into my pricing and am not sure the best way to do so. Do you do 10 windows or less for say $99 and then add the regular price past 10 windows if there is say 12 windows? I am working an estimate right now that has 23 panes or 12 windows and they only want outsides done and am scratching my head about the best way to incorporate this… All the jobs I have done were either well over my minimum or under my 10 or less for $99. Thanks in advance and I hope ya’ll are doing ok during these weird times.
this is one reason i like pricing by square footage ( with extra charges for some circumstances: high windows, sunrooms etc)
to use a window count price you need some sort of sliding scale to take into account travel/set up.
it could be a minimum pane count
it could be a service fee plus cost per window
or a diiferent price per 1-10, 11-20, 21-30 etc
you can assign work units, travel to job 10 units, inside pane 1 unit, ouside pane 1 unit sreen1 unit track 1 unit highreach pane 3units. total the units and mutliply by your unit price (this a cool method described in other posts here. once you have your unit count for house you can easily adjust your price next year by changing the unit price.
there are many ways to skin cats
my price per pane varies dramatically
If your minimum is $100 (Okay, $99), or whatever you decide your minimum needs to be - then just do up your estimate for the window cleaning price, if the estimate lands over $100 (or whatever your minimum is) you are good, if it lands under your minimum of $100, or whatever it is for you, then just present it at your minimum. No need to bounce all over the price scale, the price is the price starting at your minimum.
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$149, with all costs associated it doesn’t make sense to show up for anything less.
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Thanks for the reply, I am pretty sure I would end up screwing myself or the customer if I tried that method but thanks for explaining your process. Perhaps I will try it see how it lines up with my normal pricing.
$199 service minimum for window cleaning
$249 for all pressure / soft / roof washing
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We have a minimum of $150. Goes a long way towards avoiding tire kickers. Like @Garry said, if it falls beneath your min, stick to your minimum.
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That’s what I have been doing but someone recently told me I was doing it the wrong way and I should be adding after the minimum window count and I guess it just threw me off on this bid and made me second guess myself. Thanks for clarifying
$225/$250 here.
I’ll occasionally wash a single wide mobile home for $175 if I can do it as the last job of the day in 45 minutes or less. Mostly as a way to help out my neighbors. I’ll also make exceptions for the little old lady on a fixed income, if she can get a neighbor to book for the same time.
How much is included in my minimum will vary based on distance and type of windows. I actually lean more towards a time-based estimating process for those really small jobs, now. I don’t really like to do more than 90 minutes of window cleaning or 45 minutes of power washing for my minimum prices.
And on the flip side, if I crank out the agreed amount of work in a short period, I’ll usually tell the customer, “This went faster than expected. I have a few more minutes to clean something extra for free, if you like?” Or if they’re not right there, I’ll take it upon myself to do a little extra in 5-10 minutes. People really appreciate that gesture.
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I don’t use a minimum. I just charge by the window / pane, which always includes screens and tracks. Small windows or large, all the same price, it averages out in the long run. I don’t charge extra for second story unless there is some PITA ladder work involved, mostly it’s wfp.
5 windows or 50 it’s the same price per window. If it’s outside only I generally charge 60% of full clean unless screens are on inside.
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Sounds like you’ve dialed it in good, perhaps I’ll work my way up to that method. Thanks for sharing
Yes, you add after your minimum has been reached. I think that is what you are saying?
Example:
- Your pricing comes out to $80.00 but your minimum is no less than $100, charge $100.
- Your pricing comes out to $130, obviously charge $130.
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Welp I’ve learned my $125 minimum I just raised (from $100 last year) should be more then $125. 
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Yes that’s what I typically do. The guy I was taking about said to have a minimum window count, say 10 for $100 so on your 11th window you start charging by the pane 
Haha me too 
same here. I do have a $65 minimum but it’s all by the pane after the minimum. I’m at 65% outside to inside, the screens bring the average up a hair more. I’m seriously considering going to a higher minimum. I’m thinking closer to $90-100 min as I am driving significantly more due to the Co-vid 19 issues and may adjust after the pandemic ends…maybe NOT!
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Make enough to be able to service your next customers and prospects. Knowing your numbers is what is needed, to make only the expense amount will not get the home life bills paid. Add up all of your expenses for home life and business and divide it with the customer base you service monthly, this will give you a minimum based on existing customers, knowing the numbers and monthly expenses to remain in business is a must. Hope this helps.
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Thanks man, I’m building back up after a few years down from a medical issue but it growing at a good rate where I can figure those numbers in probably about a month 
Minimums to me are all about supply and demand, an distance. You don’t want to be driving an hour for $90.00 .
If your in the middle of your busy season , an not much room for clients , you don’t want to waste your time with small jobs.
JMO .
My minimums are different for someone an hour away , them Some one 20 minutes away.
When things are slow like they are now I’ll do a 100 dollar job as long as it’s close.
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Yep, and as @Majestic Mike alluded to, it’s also about eliminating opportunity cost. You’ll get an idea of how much you could be making on a larger job that day, and so you decide based on that how much your minimum needs to be to make a similar profit margin no matter how small the job.
Hope that makes sense, @Spitshinerconor
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