Corporate "cleaning" account

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fourcorners

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Jun 13, 2002
Posts
311
Location
Sacramento, California
We have a large local business that is interested in having us do some ongoing framing projects for them. They would also like to have us come in quarterly to clean the glass and dust the frames. Does anyone have clients that they provide this service for and how much do you charge? By the hour? The place is huge so we're probably looking at 2-3 hours. Any suggestions?
 
Your post begs the question, what do the regular cleaning people dust and clean?? Aren't they skilled in the practice of cleaning archival glass or dusting compo??

I would gladly take the account for $60/hr, my normal shop rate, plus supplies. That would average out to be between $50 - $100/month which isn't bad at all.

You could do it for so much per framed item but it takes almost the same time to clean an 11x14 glass as it does a 16x20 (push the rag 1/3 faster on each swipe on the 16x20!).
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But the time/material billing allows for being paid for the actual work done until you get an idea of how long the cleaning would take.

Framerguy
 
Aren't they skilled in the practice of cleaning archival glass or dusting compo??
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Sadly, the answer is often 'no.'

For a while I was doing a lively, though mind-numbingly boring, business in repairing room art for a local hotel. Apparently, the cleaning staff would spray the glass with Windex, which would run down the frame, creep under the glass, and stain the mats.

After I'd fixed about 50-60 of these (they were all identical) I asked if it wouldn't be cheaper to replace the cleaning staff instead of all those mats.

I work cheaper than FramerGuy. If they had offered me $45/hour to come out and clean the glass regularly, I probably would have done it.

They would have saved money, I think.

I think you need to charge your regular shop rate plus travel time. It doesn't matter what the job is worth - only what YOU are worth.
 
… what do the regular cleaning people dust and clean?? Aren't they skilled in the practice of cleaning archival glass or dusting compo??
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Most aren’t!

My wife has a cleaning service come in every other week. It drives me nuts when they attempt to clean our pictures with the same dirty rag they use to wipe the kitchen counter. The glass is usually streaked when they leave.
 
That just illustrates how blessed I really am! I do my own cleaning every month or 2 (whether it needs it or not!) and all my stuff comes out squeaky clean and shiny all over!

I have found that all these fancy cleaning products on the market today are just a scam to get you to spend much more money than you have to for overall cleanliness in the home.

I use a solution of Joy and water to clean windows, floors, the shower, tub, toilet, sinks, and the porch out back.

When confronted with really tough stains, I use Joy full strength and let it set on the stain for maybe up to a week sometimes.

(There are few stains that won't succumb to that powerful stuff!)
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I do have to buy laundry detergent occasionally but I HAVE found that Joy works in a pinch when you happen to run out of the regular stuff.

My car gets the same tender loving care as mentioned for the home and I usually use a solution of Joy and water to slosh the heavy stuff off the finish and follow up with a wash mitt and some Joy to add that sparkle to the finish.

I didn't know this but, if you shower with a small amount of Joy on your wash cloth, your skin is nice and soft and smooth for days!!

(I stumbled onto this gem when I ran out of bath soap one month and had to substitute.)

What about your faithful "vicious guard" dog, you ask?? Well, he gets nothing but the best of treatment for all his needs ............. including bathing! I usually take him to the bay and do what I call a "4 stick bath".

First stick thrown to get him soaking wet. Upon returning the stick, he gets a thorough rubdown with, yup you guessed it, .............. Johnson's Baby Shampoo!! Biogradable, gentle to sensitive skin, and has a mild fresh aroma that reminds one of a baby's bottom after a bath!! After lathering him to the consistency of a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream, it usually takes a full 3 stick retrieval to get all of that foamy stuff out of his double coat. But you talk about a clean dog!! He glows!!

(Well, until he finds a dead fish to roll in.)

Let's see now, what was the topic of discussion??

Oh, cleaning framed art, ......... yeah. I think that it's a good thing.
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FGII
 
Framerguy, a word of caution ... don't put Joy in the dish washer! Been there; cleaned the floor REAL well! Of course, I had to move appliances, etc.
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At first my wife wasn't too happy, but then she realized she was getting the floor cleaned too!


Oh yeah, fourcorners, your shop rate sounds right. Don't forget travel time.
 
Thanks for your input! Now a 2nd question: If my business partner and I go together, I still think it will take at least 2 hours to knock everything out. Like I said, this place is HUGE. So I'm thinking $75/hr. (our shop rate is $50 so both of us for $75 seems like a good deal, right?) Since we're not paying employees to do it (we have none!
) our expenses are obviously down. Does this price sound reasonable? I have no idea how much cleaning services run and I want to make $$$ yet I want it to be reasonable so they will go with us. There is a lot of potential framing at this place.
 
Framerguy: You obviously derive a great amount of JOY from doing your household chores. You are wise indeed to appreciate the pleasure in the little things in life.
:cool: Rick

P.S.: When you need to pull out the big guns for that truly greasy mess, may I respectfully suggest Dawn. Local workers here used a combination of Dawn and Tide to clean the road after a tanker truck wrecked, spilling a load of industrial fats. Fortunately the supplies were donated by locally-headquartered manufacturer Procter & Gamble.
 
And FramerGuy, why don't you tell these nice folks what happens when you regularly use Joy to wash your hair?
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I do a hotel--river boat to clean and dust the glass and frames. I all so move and hang and evaluate pieces that have been damaged.Repairs done at the shop are billed seperately.I give them 4 hours on the 2nd monday of the month. Maintainance and housekeeping have a list ready. The cost is 275 a month on a 1 year agreeement. Put in writing what you will do and what the client is expected to do.The work is sort of boring but a study 275 every month is nice.
 
Four corners, welcome to The Grumble. Give them a tentative quote only. Tell them that you have not done this type of service before and that you will have to do it a few times before you can give them a firm quote.

You have no clue what may be involved in this project. Seventy five dollars an hour may sound good now, but how will it sound at Christmas time when you are swamped?

How much can you produce in an hour custom framing? This method of pricing holds true on any large, unfamiliar projects you may have to bid on. Sometimes you just have to do a practice run to find out your actual time and expenses.

Your customer will appreciate your honesty, and the fact that you will not be giving them a quote that you will not be able to live up to.

John
 
Originally posted by Rick Granick:
Framerguy: P.S.: When you need to pull out the big guns for that truly greasy mess, may I respectfully suggest Dawn. Local workers here used a combination of Dawn and Tide to clean the road after a tanker truck wrecked, spilling a load of industrial fats. Fortunately the supplies were donated by locally-headquartered manufacturer Procter & Gamble.
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I watched a news special recently on replacing the bridge spans that were picked up and thrown into Escambia Bay by Ivan (over by Pensacola) and one of the products that they mentioned in lining up these huge reinforced concrete spans was "Dawn"! Seems they place a sheet of teflon on each bridge pier and coat them with Dawn before sliding the bridge spans in place with huge hydraulic jacks!

That impressed me.

FGII
 
Sorry, dennis, but shaving the pate doesn't qualify you as a bonafide "cue ball"!
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Don't push your luck now, you know the old saying, "Hair today, gone tomorrow"!
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Ron said that because he really doesn't know HOW I lost my hair. Ya see, back when I was young, single, and horny, I drove these little Triumph TR-3's and ................ well, email me and I'll 'splain in more detail.
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FGII
 
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