Switched from hourly rates to flat fees for house washing jobs 8 months ago

Used to charge $50 an hour for pressure washing driveways and decks in my area. Clients always questioned why it took me 3 hours instead of 2. Then I talked to a guy at the supply shop who told me to price by the job not the hour. Tried it on a 2 car driveway for $150 flat and finished in 90 minutes. Now I make more money and clients don't watch the clock. Has anyone else made this switch and found it works better for certain types of jobs?

2 comments

2 Comments

hollym8213d ago

Man I heard a podcast where a guy was saying the exact same thing about switching from hourly to flat rates for exterior cleaning. He found that people stopped second-guessing his time and actually valued the work more because it was a set price. It makes sense when you think about it, hourly rates kinda make customers focus on how fast you work instead of the quality. A flat fee lets you hustle if you're having a good day and take your time if something needs extra attention. Have you noticed any jobs where the flat rate backfires? Like if you hit a really dirty driveway that takes way longer than usual?

adams.henry13d ago

My buddy tried flat rate for junk hauling and got burned bad on a hoarder house that took triple the time he guessed. He said customers started questioning his prices way more after that one because he had to raise his base rate to cover those freak jobs. It's a gamble for sure when you can't see the full picture until you're already there.