Part Time Income Idea

[Alkeys]

I need some feedback on an idea I have. I do housecleaning and I'm presently fully booked. Customers have referred me to friends and family but I am unable to take anymore customers.

I was thinking due to my limitations I could probably instead hold Private Demos in homes for Free using the products. The demonstrations can be done with friends as well in order to book more home demos. This would enable the person to get a free clean see how the products work and make a purchase at the end of the demo.

Would this be of interest to anyone?

[Gmeow]

People who pay for house cleaning want someone else to do it. I don't think they are interested which products are used as long as their house is cleaned and sorted at an acceptable price.

 

Maybe better to consider setting up an agency ....but is there a margin between what the customer will pay and what you pay the cleaner after your running costs??? And the hassle that comes with it if you end up with unreliable people who then tarnish your reputation

[sharpend]

Just put your prices up and get rid of the customers you don't want.

 

You have something that works - don't tinker with the formula.

[Chez2]

Just put your prices up and get rid of the customers you don't want.

 

You have something that works - don't tinker with the formula.

 

This isn't a bad idea.

 

I have had various cleaners since the late 1980s. The ones that set up their own business usually do a good job but as soon as they set on else (in my experience) the service becomes unsatisfactory, even if the business owner cleans with a second person. There have been the odd exception to this. This is the reason I gave up having cleaners a few years ago.

 

The only thing I can suggest is make sure you aren't spending a lot of time travelling ie not doing two hour jobs the same hourly rate as longer jobs. You may already be taking travelling into consideration.

 

You would have to add product liability insurance if you started selling products as well as cleaning. Unless you were to sell a lot it might not be worth it.

[Gmeow]

Just put your prices up and get rid of the customers you don't want.

 

You have something that works - don't tinker with the formula.

 

Totally agree with this....if you are good and reliable....people would rather pay you £x+5 an hour than get someone unknown possibly useles for £x an hour

 

Also as suggested remove travel time as much as poss by working certain areas on certain days....cuts costs...creates time and more time means more working hours

[Alkeys]

Thank you so much for your input I appreciate it so much.

"Maybe better to consider setting up an agency". My customers like the personalized service I offer. I do not necessarily want to set up an agency due to the headache that goes with it, but good suggestion however.

"Just put your prices up.....You have something that works - don't tinker with the formula".

Thank you for that suggestion. At what point do you think it would be ideal to increase the price?

Chez2. Thank you for your input, this is the reason I shy away from the idea of setting up an agency, as I would like to maintain consistency. Thank you also for the information about product liability insurance and traveling cost.

Gmeow Thank you also for the endorsement of price increase and the consideration of traveling time and working certain areas certain days. Makes sense.

[Richie56]

Around about now would be the right time to put up prices. New year, new prices.

[sharpend]

"Just put your prices up.....You have something that works - don't tinker with the formula".

Thank you for that suggestion. At what point do you think it would be ideal to increase the price?

 

Existing customers (at least those you want to keep) are locked in.

 

As soon as they cancel and want to rebook or mess you about at all, they get bounced to the next rate.

 

All other new customers get the new rate from today.

 

[Alkeys]

Thank you Richie56 and sharpend, very sound advice.

[Chez2]

Thank you so much for your input I appreciate it so much.

"Maybe better to consider setting up an agency". My customers like the personalized service I offer. I do not necessarily want to set up an agency due to the headache that goes with it, but good suggestion however.

"Just put your prices up.....You have something that works - don't tinker with the formula".

Thank you for that suggestion. At what point do you think it would be ideal to increase the price?

Chez2. Thank you for your input, this is the reason I shy away from the idea of setting up an agency, as I would like to maintain consistency. Thank you also for the information about product liability insurance and traveling cost.

Gmeow Thank you also for the endorsement of price increase and the consideration of traveling time and working certain areas certain days. Makes sense.

 

Its a real headache being an employer; think carefully how much time and money it will eat up. Get advice on employment law, pensions, holiday cover, etc, etc.

 

Do you know how much your competitors charge? Are you charging enough? Approximately six years ago I was paying £13 per hour for a five hour clean. The hourly rate was more expensive if you had less hours in one visit. I have no idea what the hourly rate is now.

 

The best cleaners I have had usually ended up doing more lucrative cleaning for businesses rather than domestic cleaning. Perhaps try fitting a few commercial jobs as well as domestic? In my experience, a lot of these like early morning or late cleans so it could help you fit in more hours if you so wish.