Great job man! $700 a day solo is really good. Over $700 an hour is amazing!
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last year we targeted middle class homes and this year higher end homes. The difference for us is that last year we did lets say 3 homes a day and , made a certain amount and this year we do 3 homes a day and make more money. Or if we do 2 we still make more money.
Here in Montreal our middle class customers always bargain to lower the price while the richer ones just pay what you ask them, thats our experience.
We targeted richer homes with a real simple flier…just a nice pic of a higher end home with the words " ECO FRIENDLY WINDOW WASHING", no rebates on the card and no specials. It has worked wonderfully so far…They really like the Eco friendly part…we ve gotten a bunch of contracts with that line…We then show up with a eco friendly soap and people really appreciate it.
We prefer higher end but are greatfu;l with any class customer.
Prices definitely vary from place to place. My hourly rate goes up depending on how much of a pain the job looks like it might turn out to be.
I always thought it was great just to focus on those big houses like $600-$1200 range so it would fill up an entire day. In the past few years I started picking up more houses in the $250 range that might take 2.5 or 3 hours which are obviously better margins, less exhausting, much easier for one of my guys to handle on their own, and nice when I want to cut the day short. Now that I have started advertising a $275 minimum maybe I will pick up some more of these jobs as I can fit them in my schedule later in the summer and fall.
These 2 quotes/posts are puzzling.
No one before them stated they specifically targetted rich neighbourhoods.
What gives?
Oh and this quote/post
Where has anyone said they “up the price”, based on how apparently wealthy someone is?
[I]“quote” function not working so I copied/paste
[COLOR=#ff0000]So I wanna start pushing the envelope … to start building some higher paying customers. Where should I attempt this lower income homes. If I do you consider this scamming.
Or should I raise my prices all together an slow the work load down a little an that would not be scamming
So let me clarify cause I didn’t explain well. If I decide to push the envelope it’s going to be in higher end homes. Have you ever bought a ham sandwhich at a deli in a lower income town an them go buy that same ham sandwhich In a higher income neighborhood . I’m sure you have. So go back there to the higher neighborhood deli an tell them there scammers [/COLOR]
[COLOR=#ff0000]I call it business [/COLOR][/I]
If you charge $5/window on any given day, then get asked to bid on a “rich” persons home and decide to raise your prices because you think they can afford it, that is scamming.
To your sandwich example, the deli in the higher income neighborhood will be nicer, cleaner, fresher food and have better service, ALL those things turn the higher price into a much greater value for me. They are not scammers, they are charging more for a better food, service and experience while most likely (not all the time) they have slightly higher margins
I prefer low income and blighted neighborhoods as then I can be considered a non-profit business or volunteer service.
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Ok I guess , I don’t consider it scamming if you decide to start raising your prices , an you choose a certain demo-graph were to start.
I guess your right about the deli anology. , but when it happens in a stop an shop Ya have to wonder
Oh an btw you were asked about your 700 an hour quote. Was that one hour ? why did you raise your rate? And if this is true 700 an hour isn’t scamming someone
To me I don’t think everything should be so black an white its business you charge what you want. I never put on my estimate. 10 Double hungs. $10 each. Never. 2500’square feet 15cents per never.
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it was ~24hrs (4 day week) and a little over $700/hr with both residential and multi-family dwellings.
My pricing is fixed and will be adjusted according to difficulty of the job, residential or multi-family and distance to the work-site. If I dont want a job, I will bid it high and surprisingly I close many more than I want, but I am well compensated 
You need to stop selling your time and start selling the cleanest windows by the most professional service provider in your area.
In other words, stop selling McD’s dollar meals and start selling Red Robin $15 burgers with bottomless fries - presentation, quality of service, quality of employees, etc… all add up to happier customers and a bigger payday.
THe first five years we were in business we were chasing giant, complex, high dollar jobs. We live in an old, rich area, so this demographic basically fell in our lap.
This year we have made a purposeful turn towards smaller, easier homes. 20-30 windows with reasonable pricing on upsells. We’re finding its much easier to sell a $300 window cleaning job and a $300 power washing job and be done in a few hours than it is to sell a $1500 WC and $1000 PW.
Not to mention, we’re done in a few hours rather than multiple days, and that is nice for many reasons.
That’s great Chris! Short days are a beautiful thing
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Yeah it seems like a target market can change over time. At least mine has and I think you’re saying yours has to. Once you hone in on exactly the kind of jobs you want it makes it easier to go after them instead of sifting through all the potential jobs. This year I’m primarily focusing on gobbling up all the commercial work I can. Anybody targeting banks?
I hear ya !.. But these are scams http://youtu.be/mEvol7-dmrg
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"Great point Chrissy"
“And my grandma works at home and bought a BMW”
“Here’s where he started vvv. scamyoueasy .(om”
“Just take away the ( and add a C”
Oh, and 'Pyramid Schemes aren’t scams… they are making me a legitimate “business owner.” 
Long history reading forum posts.
For the record, I’m not saying we need to start seeking broke dick dog customers.
But to proclaim that “I ONLY” or “I WONT WORK FOR” can be doing ourselves a dis-service.
My example still stands…
I had a new street put in, along with sewers and other utilities, a couple summers ago.
And our entire subdivision was overrun with dirt/dust.
I was rinsing my house down on a weekly basis.
And eventually my neighbors were taking interest.
That lit the lightbulb in my head.
And yes, it’s turned into a decent little opportunity for us.
Quick. Easy. Inexpensive (for them) rinsedowns.
- all on the same street.
I don’t look at the size of the homes, or calculate the annual income of the owner…
I simply see the opportunity, offer a needed service, and “go to town.”
I guess that’s what a good business owner does, capitalize on the opportunities that arise. When you focus on a certain demographic for a while and you start landing the jobs, then for the most part their locked in and say, next year you can focus on a new demographic. It’s definitely a very methodical way to accumulate a LOT of accounts and be diversified at the same time. I bet the next time your neighbors houses need a rinse down they’ll call you.
I’m getting sidetracked here, but that’s alright…
The thing is, it’s not 'getting my neighbors house.'
It’s more about seeing an entire neighborhood, literally coughing on dust/dirt.
- begging you to come and save them (take their money.)
I liken it to those guys (@lsmain ?) who went around and hustled driveways a couple winters ago with household snowblowers.
The snow was just so overwhelming, that even those who were all eager to do their own driveways, finally said “F-it” and paid the $30 bucks (or whatever)
It was worth it, just to not have to deal with it anymore.
We perform a service(s) and to decide we’re too good for a customer who’s ASKING FOR that service?
Yes, I realize:
[I]“ooh, but the book says…”
“Yeah, but Kevin says…”
“Did you read 600/hr? Because it says…”[/I]
I followed Kevin for about, jeez, ten years now.
Back when he was the “[U]Window Cleaning[/U] Business Coach.”
But he stopped publishing “600 bucks” for a reason.
(the same reason he was teaching, “credit where credit’s due.”)
Why?!?
- [B]because you guys are NOT the “high end residential.”[/B]
We/you are that little house that’s only $300 buck inside and out.
The one that some of us have decided “[B]is simply not worth our time, anymore[/B].”
It kinda reminds me of these guys that sell their story of making tons of money. Yeah, I can teach you how to make tons of money for three easy payments of $99.99. All the while taking everyone’s money. Yeah you can make tons of money if you sign on and tell people they can make tons of money too. Don’t forget your down payment…
