Rates for Commercial Windows

I did some marketing this pass weekend, passing out business flyers and cards for my window cleaning business. I got to one business, who asked me to give them an estimate right then and there. This was my first estimate, so I went out to check out the windows. There were approximately 6 6x9 windows, 1 glass door, and 2 3x4 windows for this store location. I gave an estimate of $30.00, and the store owner was livid and stated I was extremely high. I was fustrated, this was my first estimate. Is there some kind of ratio you could give me to assit me in this matter. I would appreciate any help, thanks.

Crystal Williams of Crystal Clean (NJ)
 

Chris Mc 3

New Member
The first thing you need to do is find out what the market is in your area. I live in Sacramento Ca, where the rates start out at $25 per hr. BUT...Further south from here, down in in San Diago, you are lucky to get $15, for various reasons I wont get into right now.
Anyway....
I use 3 combined methods.....

(1) $25 pr. hr.
(2) $1 pr. window per side
(3) Risk,Step, Pain in the....factors.

Bottom line, I want / need to make at LEAST $25 per hour (you dont tell / volunteer your customers this info) and I have no problem asking this much because I am already "established", and not going to starve to death anyway. Then I count the windows. It would seem that 25 windows would run about $50.00 right ? Not always. Next I consider "risk" factor. I.E. Do I have to climb up anything or use a ladder ? Is there possible "breakage" involved ? (meaning, you will have to move MUCH slower to avoid breaking things) How many steps are involved ? Do you have to get the tops of the windows with a pole, and then go back and hit the bottoms, or can you do each window in one fell swoop ?
Okay, now the pain in the.....factor.

Can you do these windows anytime, or must you show up ONLY at a certain time / day etc ?
Are all the windows easily accessible, or do you have to move displays, take down signs, scrape tape etc ?
Is this likely to be a steady / regular customer or just a one time "service call" job ?
In conclusion.....
Count the windows at X-$ amount per window, per side.
Figure in all the afore mentioned "factors."
Keep in mind you need to make X-$ amount per hour.
Now add $$$'s onto, -OR- Take $$$'s off the final bid, accordingly.
That should do it !
One word of caution...It is SOooo easy to be tempted to "under-bid" when first starting out, but dont, I repeat, DONT do it or you WILL be sorry, and very soon !
Trust me on this, I have been doing this over 15 years. I'll help you out anyway I can. I know what its like. Feel free to e-mail me anytime, although it sometimes takes me awhile (a day or two) to get back to people.
Hope this helps.
Chris / Shiner Co.

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Chris-Shiner Window Co. Sacto Ca.
 

Chris Mc 3

New Member
PS : My e-mail address is mmcewen@webtv.net
-OR-
windowshinerco@webtv.net
Have a great week everyone...Lets get out there and make some $$$'s !!!!! :)

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Chris-Shiner Window Co. Sacto Ca.
 

Chris Mc 3

New Member
One thing more.....
Make sure you make your bid / estimate according to the amount of time it should "realistically" take you, NOT based on the time it is taking you now, as I assume you will not be very fast, by a long shot (but ya never know) untill you have more experience cleaning many types of windows.

Based on the info about the job you bid on, if all I have to do is wash (not move anything etc) I could do all those windows, inside & out in 15-30 minutes tops, and thats NOT bragging, you will get that fast too, eventually, if you do enough of them, for a period of time. (or find another line of work)

You'll figure it out as you go along, you will HAVE to ! (unless you just like "making love" to windows all day <g> )

You will come accross jobs that you get involved in that you curse the day you made the bid. You'll either (A) "dump" that job or (B) find a quicker / easier way to do it.

I have made this my "niche" in my window cleaning business. Since I have done just about EVERY type of job imaginable, and learned all the little "tricks-o-the-trade" etc, I can take on jobs that others dont even want to look at, at a substantial profit, I might ad, as the others before me had to charge twice as much because it took them twice as long to do it.

Keep in mind I am not talking about speed alone. I am A shop-front specialist, meaning I work around signs & displays without disruption. (or "breakage"<g> )

Once I learned how to work "around" things, instead of pulling EVERYTHING out,THEN putting it all back, it was a SPLENDID day indeed !

Anyway.....

My point is this.....

When you hit a "snag" (and we ALL do) if you can figure out another way to do it, and still make a profit, you have your cometition beat, hands down, matter of fact, at this pont you ARE the competition ! Why ? Cuz all the other window cleaners the place hired,didnt know how to do it and gave up in frustration, or had to charge too much to make a profit.

One final thought.....

I NEVER ask what price the other guy is charging. I.E.

You : How much is the other guy charging to clean your windows ?

Customer : $15.00, inside & out.

You : Tell you what, I'll do them for $14.00 !

I base my prices on how much of a deal I can give my customer and still make a substantial profit. Period !

By the same token, if I am cleaning some-ones windows for $15.00 and some putz is able to come along and yank my account out from under me by charging a buck less, I say Good Ridance ! You dont need / want those kind of accounts. Matter of fact, I actually encourage my customers to get estimates from other window cleaners, it only makes me look good when they do.

The point to this is, BE the competition and you wont have to worry about it !

It will take you awhile to learn how to make effective bids, you'll get "burned" on some jobs (we ALL do) but hang in there. The rewards are well worth it. Its almost 3PM and I have yet to work today, and I'm still going to make $75.00.

Oh yes... life IS sweet !!!!!

Good Luck......

Chris :)

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Chris-Shiner Window Co. Sacto Ca.
 

Pocketarnie

New Member
Hi Chris
We have been window cleaning for just over 6 months as we started up business as pressure washers but the economy the way it is you have to be flexible.
We are very particular anyway so our customers love what we do but we need more customers.
How do you advertise? is is online, papers, or do you go out and knock on people's door's?
With us being new to the area, nobody knows we are here or who we are.
HELP
 

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