In my opinion.. if you're an o/o..and charging psf.. STUPID.
Thats right.. I said STUPID.. and heres why.
If you're out bidding.. you're actually cleaning "less jobs'' per week. If they are the same rate in the end.... and they ARE ,, then at the end of the week.. you've done lessjobs.. which equates to less money. Right or wrong. So you're losing money.. and thats STUPID.
Re read that until you get IT...
Every psf guy.. has a room rate.. and every room rate guy like myself also has a PSF rate.. (its all a little division and multiplication)..
Well, I guess that I am one of those stupid cleaners and furthermore I DO NOT have a "room rate", and I never will.
You have obviously decided, in advance, that you way is the only way, so it would be totally pointless to attempt to convince YOU otherwise.
That is all I have to say to YOU.
For everyone else:
Bottom line, Are you profitable and are your customers happy? That's all that matters. There is no single pricing formula that is right or wrong, it's about what WORKS FOR YOU.
I currently charge .35 - .45 cents. A l-o-n-g time ago I charged by the room. When I switched to s/f pricing I started being a LOT more profitable. That's MY experience.
I like doing in-home estimates, but some guy's don't. Just because you charge by the s/f, does not mean that you CANNOT quote over the phone and close the sale, either. I do it all the time and I am usually within $20 either way after I get there and measure.
The key is to qualify customers on the phone, ask the right questions, and get as much info as possible. Then you want to answer as many of THEIR questions as you can and be very forthcoming about your policies, procedures, etc. I am very clear about the fact that an over-the-phone price is a "guesstimate", not an estimate, and my price could be a little more after I get there and measure, or it could be a little less. Most everyone I talk with feels that this is fair and reasonable.
The fact is that price-only shoppers will NOT spend more than 5 minutes on the phone with you anyway. When I get that impatient vibe I just ask them "Are you looking for the cheapest deal you can get?" If they say "yes", I say "I can't help you there, but let me give you the names of some companies that can meet that goal for you."
What matters in business is happy customers and profit, but don't listen to me, I've only been doing it for 27 years. What the heck would I know!
MIKE