AIBU to put my prices up?

[PoshHorseyBird]

So I work for myself as a cleaner. I started in 2019 at £10 per hour. Last September I put the prices up to £12 per hour. Now i think i need to put the prices up to £15 per hour or is this too much?? I provide cleaning materials and I'm fully insured. Obviously petrol is costing me a fortune every week now driving to all my clients. However I am aware that a cleaner is more of a luxury than a necessity so I don't want to lose clients by putting my prices up too much. Can I ask what my fellow cleaners charge?? Thanks in advance!

no i think that's fairly standard for cleaners. not yanbu

My cleaner's just done the same. Seems to be the going rate.

If your customers value you, they'll accept it (probably)

If you do a good no it's a decent rate for a decent service good luck

I think it’s fine for new customers but I wouldn’t raise it so drastically with existing customers. I would wait til September so it’s been a full year and probably shoot for more like a 15% raise. But if you have enough new customers willing to pay £15 then you might as well try it and replace those who won’t pay.

I would increase for new customers and as a PP said increase for existing customers when it’s been a year. I know everything’s gone up but a sudden increase like that may mean some people have to reconsider whether they still need to employ a cleaner, good way to get rid of ones you don’t like though.

50% increase over 3 years is a lot and far more than just covering costs. I guess it depends what the going rate is in your area is and your effectiveness and efficiency as a cleaner. Most people haven’t had a wage increase of 25% in the last year and everyone has increased costs, are your clientele sufficiently wealthy that the increased cost will be insignificant?

I pay a little more than that (south east), my cleaner is worth every penny!

My cleaner charges £14 an hour

i would give your current clients notice that from September 1st prices are increasing to £15. This gives them the chance to decide what to do. If they decides to let you go I’m sure you will be able to fill the spaces as cleaners are in high demand in most areas.

cleaners going rate here is £15+ per hour.

Been £15 an hour for several years now. You are undercharging

Just give a few weeks notice.

It's your clients who'll decide if you're new prices are acceptable or not.

Go for it 👍 pasta has gone from 39p to £1.05 in co-op in the same timeframe. £15 p/h is the bare minimum anyone should be charging for their time imho and you have additional costs!

Forget what the government and think tanks say what the national living wage is! They live in a fantasy land that ignores real inflation and uses their stupid manipulated baskets of goods.

My DP is self employed and while not a cleaner it’s something people pay him to do multiple times a week and considered a luxury.
He agonised over putting up his prices as he felt so guilty and was convinced he’d lose all his clients. Eventually someone he’s friends with in the industry told him he was charging far too little and so he put them up slightly. No one even batted an eyelid and he’s not lost any clients because of it. He was so shocked at the response that he’s decided to put them up even more for anyone new and so far at least 3 people have paid it without query.

I think £15ph is a fair rate. I currently pay more than that. But I am fed up of people putting prices up and blaming the cost of living, when their price increases far outstrip inflation. 50% increase over three years is quite steep and hard to justify but I think you probably weren't charging enough before, making £15ph reasonable.

I'd tell them prices are going up in six weeks or something. So give them notice.

But YANBU at all. I don't know where you are but you're charging below market rate here

Not answering the question you asked, but would it be worth looking at how your appointments are arranged and see if you can order them in a way that saves you petrol?

So say, Monday you just do area A, Tuesday area B, Weds area C etc. Obviously it would mean asking pple to change their cleaning days but if they can, it could make a difference to your profits

I pay £13 an hour (north east) and expecting it to increase soon as it’s been that rate for a few years. I agree with giving a bit of notice but it’s not unreasonable to increase your prices to meet rising costs, it’s inevitable!

I think £10 was too inexpensive - £12 per hour I think is reasonable and I think £15 is also reasonable - I do agree with a pp as to whether you can shuffle things round to save on petrol. If you provide the cleaning products then I am sure people will know your costs have gone up. I would discuss with your best clients and then just start at £15 for new ones. I hope it goes well for you

I pay £15 an hour already. Only recently started having her and she lives a 1 minute drive so I hope she doesn’t put her prices up yet. I supply the products as it was £17 an hour with products and I need to have them in anyway as I have to clean inbetween so £15 is the max I think I’d want to pay. As you say it’s a luxury, I have a health issue and work full time and my children’s father is working overseas so just me to do everything. It does feel like I’m splashing the cash when everyone’s tightening their belts but I can fortunately afford it at the moment. Also I don’t smoke or drink, this is my luxury!