I’ve gathered from multiple threads that most of you charge anywhere from $0.50 to $4 or so per pane, usually double the price to do both sides, and add on for factors like needing to move things, etc.
I can’t seem to find a lot of information on how or if you change the price for various frequencies of service. What I’m wondering is if you have a base price for say 1-week service. Maybe 2-week is the same, but 4-week is 20% more. Perhaps 8-week is the same as a one-time/first clean, which is say double the cost of a weekly.
Also, do you discount a bit for more panes at a single location? It seems sensible to me to perhaps charge a bit less per pane when there’s 30 compared to just 5, for example, since that’s more glass I’m cleaning without the additional overhead of time/gas to multiple smaller locations. Is this reasonable thinking?
I’m trying to come up with a reliable and consistent pricing scale that is simple, sensible, and sellable. As always, your thoughts are much appreciated!
Keep it simple. You can start at 1.50 per pane inside and out and see what the response is. If you’re getting a ton of yeses then move it up to $2.00 per pane.
Storefront is the cheapest service there is. Not many people can get more than $2-2.50 per pane inside and out.
When I started out I was at $1.50 per pane, once I came up to speed I was at about $35-40 per hour. I’m at $2 per now and average around $60-75. It’s all about speed and good routes.
First thing to do though: determine your minimum. When I was doing $1.50 per I had a $12 minimum which was basically 8 panes. Now I’m doing $2 per with a $20 minimum. A $15 minimum is a good starting point.
Second thing to do: eat, sleep, and work with a pole. If you have to use a ladder/stepladder during route work, you will HATE route work. Your pole is your best friend and tool. It usually took a new employee about 30-45 days to get really comfortable with a pole.
There are occasions where you need a ladder but charge accordingly. If I have to break out a ladder, I’ll probably add $5-10 to the bid per ladder set. Ladders are slow.
If you need to you can sell an outside only service and charge 50-60% of what you would in/out. But never ever go below your minimum.
The more I think about it, the more this makes sense to me. I really like the simplicity you are suggesting… much better than what I was planning.
Do you include sales tax in the price on your bid sheet or list the price “+ tax”? (I’ve been doing the latter for resi so the price feels cheaper, but perhaps for storefront the bottom line is all the decision maker wants to see.)
Do you guys have taxes on services? I thought there were only a couple of states that did that and I’m lucky to be in one of those states - yay gross receipts.
Never charge less for more work.[quote=“JaredAI, post:2, topic:37940”]
Second thing to do: eat, sleep, and work with a pole. If you have to use a ladder/stepladder during route work, you will HATE route work. Your pole is your best friend and tool.
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^^^ This soooo true learn to use a pole, ladders are a huge time waster when it comes to store fronts.
Weird, and it’s funny people around here ask me all the time “What if I pay cash?” Seriously? It’s 7 bucks on $100 and if $7 is going to bust your budget, you probably shouldn’t have called me.
For sure… What i meant was more along the lines of do I quote them $20 on the bid sheet and then charge them $21.20, or do I right away say $21.20 for the job, price includes tax? I’m probably making too much out of a minor detail, but was interested in what would be more normal for a customer to see.
Sales tax is 7.5% in city limits but only 3% outside city limits in the borough. I always say “this will cost X and there will be several bucks extra for sales tax.” Nobody is interested in the nth degree of detail, we are all used to sales tax as an additional expense.
When I started a few months ago, I had sooo many of these same questions, speculations, and ideas. But I got impatient and just jumped out there and walked around and starting giving bids at $2 per pane with a $15 min. I realized I was over thinking it. And I also realized it was good that I jumped in! Cause my area will stand a higher price than most places!
Point is I think most people just kinda go with what they feel a job is worth based on all the gazillion variables you see when you get there. And everyone kinda figures out their own system through trial and error. I don’t think it’ll take you long to figure out what works best for you.
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