In your area does it seem like everyone is trying to start a cleaning service? when people lose their job and can not find a new one, they try to make money anyway they can. so starting a cleaning service looks like a great idea. but a lot of them think the pay they made per hour at their old job is how much they should charge per hour of work done for their clients. they do not know how much to charge when they bid on a job. has a new service came in to one of your clients and tried to under cut you? did they get your client from you? did their low bid make you lower your fee? if not how did you keep your client?
Hello-
I think your questions are good ones. I own a small cleaning company we do residential and light commercial cleaning. I have been in business for over 10 years now and I have noticed a lot more people getting into the business. I think that it is important to have a reasonable price for your services but there will always be someone new trying to get into the business. Trying to find ways to set yourself apart from others is key. By providing a qualtiy service you can charge a bit more. Knowing what type of customer you are tageting is also important. Those customers who base their decisions strictly off of price will always do that. Finding customers who value quality are the ones to look for. You can make a descent wage and be able to pay your employees a descent wage as well. The other thing is that those who get into who charge far less have to take on a lot of customers to make ends meet and even then it is hard. Those who charge so little for their services will in time phase themselves out. I think it is important to have a focus and get in the trenches and do what you do best.