starting out [rates]

[ToddArms]

I have been cleaning part time for the last 12 years. I have been measurring and giving my price by the square foot. Is it the best way to price the job or is there a better way? I charge .05 cent a sq. ft. Any info on this would be appriciated. Thank you, TODD

 

[Larry L.]

Its easier to walk up and look at a job and price it by the hour.

 

[ToddArms]

How much per hour do you suggest to charge. One guy told me a long time ago that he would average his job out to $25-30 hr.

 

[Larry L.]

That will depend on how much you need a hour,some still 25-30 hour while others 55-85 or more.My cheapest rate with hotwater would be 55 a hour with chemicals,then again the same job may be 85 a hour depending if extra chemicals and more heat are needed.

You should know by now how much you need to make an hour to stay in business.Being part time and making a living full time makes a world of differents in pricing.

 

[Aplus]

Todd,
If you are part time, and do excellent work, your value is just as much as anyone elses. The idea is to leave leave money on the table.

When I started 9 years ago, I was a part timer. I know now that in my first year of business I was doing work way too cheap. At the time, I was happy to make whatever I could. I didn't realize it then, but I was low balling everything.

Of course back then, there were not bulletin boards like this one to access for advice.

Everything was pretty much learned as I went along. I did a lot of experimenting, and often worked much harder than I should have had to.

Now with all the information available, you should be able to jump in and do each job right, the first time.

In other words, if you're doing jobs and getting results "like a professional" would, charge accordingly.

 

[DanKes]

<http://www.powerwashnetwork.com/sea...id=70943&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending>

Here are a few hundred posts regarding pricing.

 

[Gwas]

Please do not lowball .... It hurts us all .... I get $125.00/hr with 2 men, 1 machine w/hot h2O and chems....

 

[Barry Loy]

I have been cleaning part time since 1997, still part time, full time job = main bread earner. I started off charging about $35 hourly and sometimes felt guilty for 'taking' someone else's money at that. I 'felt' that since I already had a full time income, anything else didn't matter that much. The truth of the matter is anything else I do 'on the side', 'part time' or whatever DOES MATTER. I'm not out there for my health or for charity work. I had to realize my cleaning was as good as anybody else could do and I should charge accordingly. I still make sure my customer's job is what I said it would be, or they dodn't pay until I make it right. I not top dollar, but I don't low ball anymore. I work as hard for my money and my jobs as anyone else should work for theirs. The knowledge found here on this board is the greatest.
Barry Loy

 

[Cody]

<font color=e87400>
$35 an hour is not enough in my area. Perhaps it is in yours but I doubt it, $25 and hour can't be good money anywhere in America for this business. $35 an hour for me in this biz would be more of a job, & a bad job at that, than a business when you consider everthing that goes into a biz & my personal overhead. Frankly if that was all I could get I'd go get a job! What you charge needs to be what you need to run a "Business" . It must cover cost for a hundred different cost of operating a business plus make you a tidy profit in the end.

Also saying that you charge $0.05 per square foot is out in left field. I say this because you don't specify what you charge it for. Do you charge $0.05 for Driveways or parking garages. IT's a BIG difference. If I charged $.05 for a Driveway I'd be robbing myself. Don't say what you charge it for because then everyone & there brother that doesn't understand pricing will charge it too, no matter where they are or what the market is. Disclosing prices online I personally feel is a disservice to the industry since what one person charges may be lowballing & what the other charges may be astrnomical for anothers area.

Go read my pricing defined thread in this section. This prompted me to post it up. It's not exactly finished but still covers alot.

GL
Cody
</font>

 

[007]

I make 40 hr washing windows . Pressure cleaning 75 hr and up. I'll wash windows with no overhead before I go lower than 75 an hour for pwashing.

 

[Bridget]

I think there is something to be said for location as well.
I'm sure Gwas and APlus will agree - it depends on your marketplace.

In Detroit we can charge anywhere from $75.00 to $125.00 per hour depending on the job, however in Toledo, just an hour's South they might shake in their shoes at that price.

Without knowing the area in which you do business it would be hard to advise you on what a good going rate would be.

The point has already been made...it boils down to what you need to make a profit.

A tip to those who don't offer their location...you will only get as much information as your willing to give.
GWas, APlus and I all play in the same backyard and not once has that caused a problem, in fact posting about jobs has helped all of us.

All the best to you "where ever you are"

Gordon & Bridget Mahrle
United Mobile Power Wash, Inc.
The beautiful little town of Berkley, Michigan

 

[onecallpowerw]

I dont know, but for going on 8 years we have always charged by linear or square foot. I can only think of one job where I chared the guy $45.00 for 15 minutes of work, but whos counting.

I believe that if you tell a customer I can do that job for 65.00 per hour and you tell them it will take you in your estimation 6 hours they look at these numbers as big.

If you tell em 1.55 per square foot, this is more managable for them in their eyes. I think it is all perception, but I could be wrong.

 

[coastie]

cleaning aids

Originally posted by Bridget
I think there is something to be said for location as well.
I'm sure Gwas and APlus will agree - it depends on your marketplace.

In Detroit we can charge anywhere from $75.00 to $125.00 per hour depending on the job, however in Toledo, just an hour's South they might shake in their shoes at that price.

Without knowing the area in which you do business it would be hard to advise you on what a good going rate would be.

The point has already been made...it boils down to what you need to make a profit.

A tip to those who don't offer their location...you will only get as much information as your willing to give.
GWas, APlus and I all play in the same backyard and not once has that caused a problem, in fact posting about jobs has helped all of us.

All the best to you "where ever you are"

Gordon & Bridget Mahrle
United Mobile Power Wash, Inc.
The beautiful little town of Berkley, Michigan

I will be starting a business in pressure washing when i return to the lower 48. i just purchased a 2700 psi unit for cold water only. Still being a full time military member for the next 2 years til retirement, can you advise me on what chemicals and or soaps that work the best for homes,docks,decks,and driveways. The people with the most experience are the ones who have attempted and succeded at their craft. So, i am asking for your help and need professional advice thank you.