How to Estimate a Window Washing Job

Window washing can provide a nice income if you price your service right, establish long-term customers and concentrate your business in a small geographic area. The key is to identify the factors that influence the amount of time you have to spend on a particular type of window washing job and price your service accordingly.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Calculator
• Stopwatch
• Microsoft Excel

Gathering Data

1. Use a stopwatch to record the amount of time you spend on each phase of a window washing job. You want to collect separate data on the amount of time it takes you to set up, wash all the windows, and pack up your equipment. Also record the number of windows washed.

2. Type the collected data into Microsoft Excel. Divide the data into columns based on the type of building serviced. For example, have one group of data for multi-story office buildings, one group for skyscrapers, and one group for single story buildings.

3. Divide the total window washing time by the number of windows washed to get the average time per window, then calculate the average time for each group of data using the functions of Excel. Consult Excel's built-in "Help" feature or a manual if you are not familiar with these functions.

Estimating a Job

4. Determine how much you want to make per hour. If someone else is washing windows with you, include how much she will need to be paid as well. Be realistic in your expectations.

5. Locate the building you are creating the estimate for on a map and determine how long it will take to get there and back. Alternatively, figure out how long it will take to get to the building from the prior job and how it will take to get to the next job. Multiply the amount of time needed for travel by your hourly wage. Additionally, multiply the miles traveled by the IRS allowed deduction. This number will give you a good estimate on the cost of operating your vehicle.

6. Determine the building type and number of windows. Multiply the number of windows by the average time it takes to wash one window for that type of building. Add to that the average set up and take down time for that type of building. Multiply this number by your hourly wage.

7. Calculate the amount of time you have to spend during the year doing bookkeeping, prospecting and customer service. Figure out what percentage of your time will be spent on the window washing job you are currently estimating, and then prorate the time spent doing administrative work for that job.

8. Add together the dollar amounts calculated for traveling, setting up, packing up, washing, and the prorated amount for administrative work. This sum represents the pre-tax estimate for a window washing job.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to look at market rates when doing your calculations. You don't want to significantly over- or under-price your service relative to the market.
• Try to concentrate your customers in as small a geographic area as possible. This will cut down your travel time and reduce the amount you have to charge to hit your target income.
• Focus on the type of buildings where you are the most efficient. If you don't have the skill or equipment to wash skyscrapers, then avoid them and focus on the type of buildings you can do faster and better than your local competition.

References

• Pricing a Service