How much should I bid to power wash a large restaurant wood smoker? (pic included)?

Torque454

New Member
I know we dont like to talk about pricing because there are so many variables, but I dont even know what to think about charging for this. Cost is a concern, if i want this job I have to underbid the guy doing it now. I dont know who the guy is or what he is charging, they wont tell me. But he said theyre charging "too much".

I need just a ball part figure, and ill probably cut your figure in half or so because cost of living here is quite low compared to alot of guy

The smoker is about 20 ft long, 8 ft tall and 4 ft deep. It needs to be sprayed out from the inside, including all the racks, and has a pipe running down the middle at the bottom with a bunch of holes in it that needs to be rinsed out. I am a power washing contractor thats had many years in the business with another company, but never took care of the pricing. Now that I'm on my own I am not sure what to change.

Here is a picture of the smoker in question. http://xcpw417.sytes.net/washpix/smoker.…

Please give me some ideas.
 

Torque454

New Member
I dislike the fact that you cant edit posts here. Anyways. The cat stepped on my keyboard and somehow managed to send this message before I was done typing it. I went up to the middle and started typing so I will start that paragraph over again. Here goes.


I need just a ball part figure, and ill probably cut your figure in half or so if youre not near me, because cost of living here is quite low compared to alot of you guys' areas. Still yet, id like some kind of idea what to charge. There are TWO of the smokers mentioned above, one in one restaurant and one in another. Both in the same city just on opposite ends of town.

Can anyone give any suggestions?

I am located in southwest Missouri.
 

archie_MN

Moderator
Pic didn't load, so I'm calling it blind.
When I low-ball just to get the project, I cover my materials and my helper's pay for the day of half day or whatever I figure it'll take. If you're going to low-ball, make sure the customer knows that you are. Tell them something like, "I'm so excited for your project that I'm willing to take a loss on it this 1 time." I like to emphasize that, "I'm bidding this low because I want you to see the quality of my work, and I want your return business."

As for cold hard $$$....I figure $40/hr for overhead and my helper plus materials.

Hope I helped.
 

Torque454

New Member
Also I typically work alone so my overhead cost should be pretty low. I basically need to cover fuel, my time, a few dollars for insurance, and tax. I dont know that there will even been a need for chemicals but I dont know. Where its a food surface I may not even want to mess with chemicals. Worst case scenario, probably use caustic soda which is used in the food industry some anyways. Just will make sure to rinse real good. Caustic soda cost me 60 cents a pound for beads.

I was guessing 2 hours for the job for each store. (probably will end up taking more time, knowing me. Although as time goes on i know ill get better and faster with the job).

I would really LIKE to get $150 on each smoker a week, but I dont know if that is realistic for my area or not. That's $1200 a month to clean the smokers. And like I said cost is a concern for these guys. I need the work so I'd really like to get the job but I want to be fair to myself and the restaurant owner.
 

Torque454

New Member
I was thinking around 300. So 300 to 350 sounds about right. IS that for each smoker or for both? There are two, one in each restaurant. Also they are done weekly.

Would any of this change your bid amount any?
 

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