There’s a drug store chain in my area that has the dirtiest windows with cobwebs to match. They look like they have never been cleaned. I counted about 40 windows. I’m very new to this. How should I approach them? What would be a likely amount that a store like this would pay in your opinion?
You need to develop a bidding system that works for you.
Could bid this in two ways.
Estimate the time you think this will take you, then multiply by the desired hourly rate.
Set a price per window, for example $3 per side. Then evaluate after what you made, alter the price per window until you get results that work for you.
Evaluate the award ratio of bids submitted too. If you are awarded high percentage of bids, increase you price structure.
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Approach store manager, introduce yourself and your local company. Tell them your interested in submitting a free bid for window cleaning services. Ask if they have used a window cleaning company and what frequencies they have serviced. Make a recommendation " we could start with a monthly service and adjust as you see fit" Always leave a business card or information with them.
If this store is as dirty as you say and is a big chain they likely don’t care. Even if they clean once, chances are it won’t be reoccurring but never know.
When windows are that dirty the results when cleaned are very noticeable. Some say you could offer to clean a very small noticeable area like entry doors at no charge. Gives them an idea of how dirty their windows are. I’d use the free cleaning of doors only if they dont seem to be too interested.
For storefront give them price if cleaned at different frequencies, monthly, quarterly or whatever for them to see the differences in cost.
Understand too that many drugstore chains are under very tight margins. If they haven’t approached you, then likely they are not terribly interested in paying the money to stay clean. I have a CVS in my area that is disgusting, but the general manager has no freedom/desire to address it.
Bid it high with the idea that it is a one shot deal.
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this is not a good way to bid when you are a beginner unless you start with an hourly wage that is lower and then increase it as you get faster.
if we both bid it at $60 an hour and it takes you, as a new guy, 3 hours you’ll charge them $180, but it takes me 1 hour so i charge $60. that’s not an equitable way to bid in the beginning. better to do it by the window and that will give you motivation to get faster to up your hourly rate.
we have Jobs that i made $20 an hour when i first started but now make $60 an hour with the job being at the same price.
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If new, who cares what others are doing. Price as you think and generate a method that works for you. Adjust as needed.
40 windows for some here would charge $40 as they claim they can live on $1 a window storefront, a new guy can’t be at that price.
By trying bids two ways at first give the business owner options as we all know we all have different preferences. You learn by making choices for yourself and adapting.
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great advice ! and watching your won/declined estimate percentage is so important. when i started i just wanted to win all of my quotes, felt like i was screwing up if i lost bids. We try to stay in a 70% of won quotes for res/com. now storefronts is a different story, ive found you lose a lot more due to cheap bucket bobs and over saturation. but man golden advice. New guys can learn so much about pricing if you really watch those numbers .
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Wow, thanks guys this is great info. I’m taking this in like a sponge. I really appreciate all the honesty.
Yeah I’ll bite… $1 a pane is for maintenance cleans. 2 years ago, when I started, to “get the work” I’d have bid a dollar a pane thinking it was going to be a monthly account. The next month I show up and they “are still clean” Now I bid it what it’s worth because if the windows are that dirty they can’t or won’t get them maintenance cleaned.
If it’s a chain line CVS or Walgreens, good luck getting the contract. The managers are, for the most part, not interested in cleaning their windows.
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Funny, but when I read the thread title my mind went immediately to CVS. The one in my town is like most I see in my travels- horrible. I did up to 7 of them monthly, but that was over 10 years ago and they simply cut it out of their budget.
I would say before taking any numbers you see from anyone else. Get to know your numbers. Where do you need to be hourly to break even and then find what profit margin you want. For us, we shoot for $60 per man hour. I will say this, don’t go in cheap and leave money on the table.
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Andrew thats solid advice! ^^^
For current and future readers of this thread Andrews is spot on!
That’s right, if you get every job you bid, your prices are loo low! Look me a while to get it:slight_smile:
