Actually charging customers more $$$$

I have been giving this a lot of thought lately. Someone posted awhile back about charging $10.00 an oz. for Joedorcide or whatever odorcide. I thought this was perfect. I admit I charged little for odor removal. I actually am making money now for this service. I have also been charging $10.00 an oz. for 27% peroxide for yellow pet removal. I pulled this number out of my assss. Customers seem to have no problem with this. I will usually charge at most 10 oz. each and then if I go over that I put on invoice extra for free. This way I am performing a great service and also giving the customer a break. Wondering what your thoughts are and what do you do?

Charging extra for urine removal and deodorizing is sound practice. I don't charge by the ounce of a product, but if your customers are happy with the results, you must be in the ball-park with you pricing method.

I am certain that they would tell you if they objected to that policy.

guess you learned this from the airlines.

At $10 an ounce that's 1,000% return which is great.
And you're solving problems nondestructively. In & out with a thorough clean & deodorzation.
They gotta love it as much as you.

Great work Gerry.

I think I had mentioned the pricing about Joedorcide. I LOVE the product, and it works BETTER than any other cide I have tried.

I charge by the spot for claw work, and the cost of Joedorcide is figured into it, at 10 bucks an ounce.

Yes. I charge $10 which includes Water Claw work. It's a win win situation.

Joedorcide is the best odor removal product that I have used. I buy 100% and dilute to 25%.

Cleaning by the ounce seems pretty simplified and is easily explainable to the customer.

Lotsa guys should read these posts,
buy 100% Joedorcide by the gallon and S/O by the drum then make your own SOO25%.

are you putting those charges on the invoice?

or just adding on?

I live in a small market I can remember many years ago a big Kanadian franchise came down here to make their mark. 79 dollars for three rooms or something like that.

What got people from calling them back was the nickel and dime the customers to death.

Then what really got people was the 5 dollar environmental charge for dumping the waste water.

They did not last long.

Yes I put on invoice. Actually, In pre- evaluation with customer over the phone or in person, I figure out their areas of concern and then discuss how to correct. Customer knows up front. If I find any problem areas while cleaning, I show them. If their not home I call them. NEVER just do it and throw on invoice. They would sheet. They know I am not b/s er. I used to charge very little for urine removal. Also in a small market and have been in business 17 years here.

just did one yesterday, charged 400 for 2 rooms.. I posted a video, probably should have posted it here since its on topic

I tried to play video but said private. A little off topic. I use 27%, but am thinking on buying a drum of 35%. Only problem is I want to store in my garage but probably not a stabil environment. Drum would need to go into basement of house. Not practical. Any thoughts?

I don't think adding a pile of "surcharges" for goofy stuff is the right way to act. However, if something calls for a treatment or service "above and beyond" the normal I see nothing wrong with getting paid for it, and providing it as another line item on the invoice.

If you are not charging extra for pet/kid damage jobs, you are shorting yourself. I feel the same way about kool aide stains. Why do it for free?

I don't think another line item is a deal killer. But surcharging gas or waste disposal fees are.
Line items just help validate all the work you did. They wanted "extra" and they can see what they paid for the extra.

( miller ) gerry wrote:I tried to play video but said private.  A little off topic.    I use 27%, but am thinking on buying a drum of 35%.  Only problem is I want to store in my garage but probably not a stabil environment.   Drum would need to go into basement of house. Not practical. Any thoughts?

I wouldnt buy a drum of peroxide, just goes flat too easy and if one thing went wrong youll have a drum full of water.

I always notice a fresh case of 4 1 gallon jugs works so good when its brand new, I can imagine once your halfway down in a drum it could get weaker and weaker

I agree, never add for shop materials, fuel etc.. Built into sq ft charge. I was just tired of shorting myself. Customers most of the time when their home said " that is it ". I think with urine concerns (a specialty), they mostly likely expect to pay for it.

Good point AC.  But I have been using more and more peroxide.  Just seemed more cost effective.  I am using 8 oz straight 27% per gallon of pre-spray in a battery sprayer.  Almost each jobs uses 4 gallons of pre-spray. Of course each job is different  So it has 32 oz's of peroxide.  With all jobs averaged, I have been using about 4-5 gallons a week during busy times.   Maybe overkill, but carpets lookin good.  Any other thoughts about the drum shelf life. Thanks

wow I havent ran that much yet, so would that be equal to about 32oz of 27% in a hydroforce with no tip?

I usually go about 8oz in a 2 gallon electric, or 10-12 in a hydoforce but was nervous to go much higher

Did a grayish berber today that was heavily soiled in traffic areas. All lightened up great. I was surprised. Sorry, no pics. Have not attempted to figure out how to post pictures. Practice on trashed apartments. Dwell time was also about half an hour. Cleaned some furniture first.