Priceing

Dominic A

New Member
Hi,
I have just started doing hoods a nd vent systems for around a month and I love it. I have only one problem in the area I live in most restuarants are getting done by this other guy which is fine. He does not have any under contract. So I am able to go bid on this jods. The problem I am running it to is this other guy is low balling these jobs to where it seems to me it would be almost immpossile to make any sort of profit. So when I give the restuarnts my bid they look at me and tell me know way not all but some. My quetion is how in the world do I combat with this other guy? I can't go as low as he is going If I did I would make little profit if any at all. Any advise in marketing this business would help. I love doing this line of work and would love to stay in it also. Please help I am calling out to all you exhaust cleaners out there
 

David Saulque

<b>PWN TEAM - Hood Moderator</b><br<b><font color=
Give us a idea of what you are asking and what his charges are. This would give us a better idea so that we can help.

A rule of thumb is $20 per foot and $65 per fan. This rule is taken out of Phil Aklands book.

David
 

Dominic A

New Member
The other day I went to a DQ which had two small systems. one hood was 4ft the other hood was 5ft each had its own fan. There were a total of 5 filters. They wanted it done every four months so three times a year. I bid $245. They showed me his invocie for $150. I could not see how he is makeing money maybe I am wrong.

As an other example I went to a local oriental restuarant They we totally gross. They had a 20ft hood with 2 fans and they wanted it clean every four months also. But had not been cleaned in 5 The build up was horrible every bit for the system was black with grease. It was so bad they had removed the filters because all the somke was was not going up the vent. I bid $425 thinking it would take 5-6 hours to clean and that price was if he signed a contract to have it cleaned every 3 months. He showed me invoices where he was only paying $200. I was in total awe! How could someone charge that?

Now I come to find out he is chargeing most restaurants in my area $145-$165. Most systems are small but not that small.
What can I do to combat this. I even checked out a Burgur King he had just cleaned a week before I went to give them a bid. There was still a substaintial amount of black grease left on the system. I told the manager and she did not seem to care. The other cleaner has been in business for years with out much compition. But how can you have compition when he charges peanuts? [getout] :confused: I can see he is not doing that great of a job but all that matters to the store owners is the $$price$$
 

David Saulque

<b>PWN TEAM - Hood Moderator</b><br<b><font color=
Nothing is wrong with your pricing(low side), sounds like he is charging for not doing the complete job. All you can do is point out the areas that he has not cleaned. The account is being charged for something that has not been done-take pictures and lay out your story so that the customer understand. Make sure when you tell your story it is to the owner or the person who pays the bills.

Don't reduce your price whatever you do. Hang tight-you can't give your work away. Just keep pointing out the issue and things will turn for you.

David
 

Richard

New Member
I agree with David....this guy is not doing a complete job he's probally in and out in no time...I'll bet all he's doing is the inside of the canopy, the plenum maybe and maybe the inside of the turbine.
Next time you bid a store that he's done take a look to see if he's tipped the turbines and see if he's done the fan and the duct, then take the manager up to the roof and show him/her exactly what there getting....let them know that it doesnt meet the standards set by the nfpa...like Ive told my clients let us do the store for our price (we always charge a "first in charge" but thats your option) and if its not done properly then dont use us, then get them to sign a service agreement, we usally try to lock them in for 2 yrs thats only 8- 16 cleanings we have alot of 8 week and 12 week stores and just a very few of 16 or 26 week stores, as far as priceing that depends on what your area can handle, 18 to 20 $$ a linear ft for hoods and 65 to 75 per fan is fair, remember your a specialist, a professional charge accordingly
this is what I tell potential customers."some people sell hugo's and some people sell bentley's...I dont sell hugo's"
remember "if you play long enough you'll win" just be and do your best..........as far as oriental store I have one chain with 75 stores and we do them every 8 weeks
 

jschessler

New Member
low

Yes is very low what he is charging, He probably is a scrapper only. What I mean by this is that some cleaners only scrape the grease and pass a rag with degreaser on the crown for cosmetic purposes if he does this you cannot compete if you do it properly. How long have you been doing it also,. Just a few times doesn't really open your eyes to the ugly. But if you really want it call the firemarshall .....he he...
 

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