[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by mizzy25

By the way I am the cleaner, I work @ the moment for an agency but Im branching out with my sister and I have a quote on Tues. Help.

Do you drive mizzy? if so I say go for it branch out on your own. My niece has her own cleaning business, scout about for grant/advice/help with start up costs.
You could message some established business out of your area, if your not in competition they might give you a few pointers.
I will message my neice and ask how she quotes new clients, think it's minimum 10hrs £10ph no half hours but not sure...
Just keep everything! things you buy for the business, get and give reciepts for all transactions.
Good luck!

[smudgie]

I would pay a cleaner £20/£25 a week to come and do 3 hours.

My sister in law pays way more than that.

[mizzy25]

Originally Posted by smudgie

I would pay a cleaner £20/£25 a week to come and do 3 hours.

My sister in law pays way more than that.

Thanks smudgie that's very helpful. Do you know how much your sister in law pays?

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by mizzy25

Thanks smudgie that's very helpful. Do you know how much your sister in law pays?

She has rather a large house, has two ladies come in once a week through the agency and it is about £70 I think. They work 3/4 hours and do windows etc as well. This is in the North East and would probably cost way more down South.
You might be abler get some info on google.
Good luck with the business, I did the exact same thing when my kids were at school. I tended to clean for teachers and refused to work in the school holidays.

[mizzy25]

Originally Posted by smudgie

She has rather a large house, has two ladies come in once a week through the agency and it is about £70 I think. They work 3/4 hours and do windows etc as well. This is in the North East and would probably cost way more down South.
You might be abler get some info on google.
Good luck with the business, I did the exact same thing when my kids were at school. I tended to clean for teachers and refused to work in the school holidays.

Im in the north east, Newcastle. I know what the agency charges who I work for but then I also know what I do in the 2 hours Im given and its mainly just the basics without windows etc. Like I say it will be 2 of us so wont take as long. I guess Il have to see what the house is like, what she wants done and how often. it might be weekly which would be fab, fortnightly or monthly. Ive had a look online and the only agency that gives a price is the one I currently work for. I have a friend who does it herself she has done for 7 years now, but shes not much help to me, just says depends on the size the house etc

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by mizzy25

Im in the north east, Newcastle. I know what the agency charges who I work for but then I also know what I do in the 2 hours Im given and its mainly just the basics without windows etc. Like I say it will be 2 of us so wont take as long. I guess Il have to see what the house is like, what she wants done and how often. it might be weekly which would be fab, fortnightly or monthly. Ive had a look online and the only agency that gives a price is the one I currently work for. I have a friend who does it herself she has done for 7 years now, but shes not much help to me, just says depends on the size the house etc

I used to do either two hourly or three hourly stints. Set out from the start what you will or won't do. I refused point blank to do ouside windows or cookers.
Decide on your hourly rate, then work at a steady pace, do not work flat out. Some weeks may vary from others, washing down paintworks etc. I used to finish the work and then stand and Iron until my time was up. Had very happy customers and done it for about 8 years until I packed in through health issues.

People do tend to tidy up a bit beforehand so that the cleaner can actually clean.

[Ammi]

..I would just clean it myself..is this for you mizzy..?...you could probably look up what would be the right amount to pay..?...

[mizzy25]

So £30 to £40 depending in what needs done isn't unreasonable?

[Verbal]

Originally Posted by mizzy25

So £30 to £40 depending in what needs done isn't unreasonable?

Looking around after a quick google search £10 an hour seems to be the going rate. If you're charging per house I would do a flate rate of £40/50 per job. It would largely depend on where you live though, as others have said. Someone in London would probably pay 3 times more than someone in Wales or oop North without batting an eyelid.

[mizzy25]

thanks kizzy, yes I do drive, Im still working for the agency as well until I can get a few customers of my own, sadly I cant take theirs as I signed a contract saying I wouldn't lol

[Cherie]

If you charge by the house, then it is like asking how long is a piece of string really, as it may be minimilist or packed to the rafters with nick knacks, if they have dogs or children or dogs and children etc...at any rate it sounds like you are doing the right thing to branch out on your own good luck.

[Josy]

The agency you work for atm is probably charging around £10-£12 per hour for you and then paying you about £6 - £7.

Working for them saves you from having to pay your own insurance, buy your own cleaning products and tools etc.

So if you are doing it for yourself you need to pay your own public liability insurance (you can get this for less than £10 per month) and your own tools & cleaning products.

Work out how much you want to work for per hour, factor in the cost of your insurance and cleaning tools/products then figure out a realistic quote, don't cut yourself short just to get the contract or you will regret it in the long run.

You will also need to inform the tax office that you are self employed and keep all receipts, bank statements etc for when you fill in your self assessment.


I forgot to add - A lot of cleaning companies work out quotes by the size of the property.

[mizzy25]

Originally Posted by Josy

The agency you work for atm is probably charging around £10-£12 per hour for you and then paying you about £6 - £7.

Working for them saves you from having to pay your own insurance, buy your own cleaning products and tools etc.

So if you are doing it for yourself you need to pay your own public liability insurance (you can get this for less than £10 per month) and your own tools & cleaning products.

Work out how much you want to work for per hour, factor in the cost of your insurance and cleaning tools/products then figure out a realistic quote, don't cut yourself short just to get the contract or you will regret it in the long run.

You will also need to inform the tax office that you are self employed and keep all receipts, bank statements etc for when you fill in your self assessment.


I forgot to add - A lot of cleaning companies work out quotes by the size of the property.

Although I work for an agency I am classed as self employed so the tax office already know this. Thanks for the advice Il bear all this in mind when I do the quote.

[anne666]

Hope you don't mind me joining in. The main thing is to undercut the opposition in business. If you know the hourly rate the agency charges that's your guide.

[mizzy25]

Originally Posted by Cherie

If you charge by the house, then it is like asking how long is a piece of string really, as it may be minimilist or packed to the rafters with nick knacks, if they have dogs or children or dogs and children etc...at any rate it sounds like you are doing the right thing to branch out on your own good luck.

aha I never thought of that. I have 3 dogs that live in the house so I see where you are coming from. Thanks.

[michael21]

Originally Posted by mizzy25

Serious question.
If you were working full time and didn't have time to clean your house. How much would you be prepared to pay a cleaner (or 2 cleaners) to come and do the hard work for you?

£30 per week

[mizzy25]

thanks michael

[Kizzy]

Excellent advice from josy about the insurance, thats a must.
I would look around the property too first, you don't wat to be blamed for any breakages/stains that were there before you started, make a note of any.
Vistaprint do cards cheap too I think

[mizzy25]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Excellent advice from josy about the insurance, thats a must.
I would look around the property too first, you don't wat to be blamed for any breakages/stains that were there before you started, make a note of any.
Vistaprint do cards cheap too I think

thanks kizzy I never thought of looking for breakages etc. I know vista print do cards but I did my own flyers and I think my brother in law can do credit card size cards as well. I really don't want to be working for the agency anymore now. Ive been to work today for a pittance and I know I can get more, I just need some customers now. Theres 2 big newish estates not far from where I live so I think Il target them next. Don't really want to do my own estate as what would happen if I threw a sickie? lol not that I do very often like.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by mizzy25

thanks kizzy I never thought of looking for breakages etc. I know vista print do cards but I did my own flyers and I think my brother in law can do credit card size cards as well. I really don't want to be working for the agency anymore now. Ive been to work today for a pittance and I know I can get more, I just need some customers now. Theres 2 big newish estates not far from where I live so I think Il target them next. Don't really want to do my own estate as what would happen if I threw a sickie? lol not that I do very often like.

Looks like your off!
Theres shops that embroider poloshirts and tabbards have you thought of a name?
'whippet cleaners'?
You could offer 10% off the first clean, chemical free cleans, cleans as presents for new mums in your adverts, thought about a website you can start one of them free they're very basic but it's a start?

[mizzy25]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Looks like your off!
Theres shops that embroider poloshirts and tabbards have you thought of a name?
'whippet cleaners'?
You could offer 10% off the first clean, chemical free cleans, cleans as presents for new mums in your adverts, thought about a website you can start one of them free they're very basic but it's a start?

hi kizzy on my leaflets I just put C & S house cleaning services as Im Carole and my sister is Susan my initials are CC and hers are SS, never thought about whippet cleaners pmsl. That's a great idea about 10% off 1st clean or something like £5.00 off 1st clean. Thankyou.

[mizzy25]

Well went to give the customer a quote today and she would like us to do it once a fortnight on a thurs. So hopefully she will be the start of a few. Going to do another leaflet drop next mon. Im wondering if I should maybe do a badge of some sort to prove who I am, for those who wish to give me a key or anything.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by mizzy25

Well went to give the customer a quote today and she would like us to do it once a fortnight on a thurs. So hopefully she will be the start of a few. Going to do another leaflet drop next mon. Im wondering if I should maybe do a badge of some sort to prove who I am, for those who wish to give me a key or anything.

Have you got your insurance sorted? Did you think about the embroidered tabards, that would look professional.
Signage for your car might be an idea too, cut the letters yourself from a stencil to cut costs.
Who is responsible for finance, can you do spreadsheets or are you logging things on paper?
Well done on your first contract!

[mizzy25]

Logging things on paper for the time being, looking into insurance now, Il be in charge of money lol

[mizzy25]

Have got another quote to do on sunday @ 4pm the 1st place we delivered flyers too. wish me luck.