Gas Prices Cutting Into Profit

[Pages Personal Cleaning]

With gas being over 3.00 per gallon I am now spending 90.00 per week on gas (360.00 per month). I finally left a letter with some clients stating that we were going to have to raise the rates because of high gas prices (I used your letter Kevin, thank you). Not one person complained of the raise. They all understood. I actually had one client leave me a note before I passed out the price increase letters and told me to let her know if I needed to add some to her rate because she knew we were pretty far from her home. I have also raised the rates on the new homes we have been getting. No one complains.
If you need to raise your rates because of the high gas prices, don't be afraid to. Most people understand.
Patti

[Housework Maid Easy]

Not far behind you Patti. We going to increase our prices next week. I can't believe to cost of gas. Definitely taking a bite out of profit. Is it possible to go up much more? I'm going to check out Kevin's letter. Marsha

[FreedomClean]

I'm reluctant to raise prices so far. I feel that most of my clients are too new and a raise would be not well received. But I stumbled on a price break the other day and was thrilled! I had purchased a membership with Costco when I first started up the business thinking it might be a good way to save some money on cleaning supplies. Unfortunately, our local Costco does not carry a very big selection. The other day, though, as I was driving home from a job that was way out and the van was running on fumes, I noticed the gas prices had magically jumped from 2.89 a gallon to 3.19!! I almost ran off the road. On a whim, I stopped at Costco and their price was still at 2.89. I saved .30/gallon!!

[Kathleen]

Anyone have Giant Eagle grocery stores where they live? They have a discount for every $50 you spend on grocerys you save 10cents on gas at their Geto-Go Gas Stations. So here is what I have been doing lately....

I buy a gift card for the store in the about of $100 on a bi weekly basis...so i get 40 cents off gas from that and just use the gift card on myself to buy the gas or groceries. I think what I might do next is hand some cards out as a perk to the customers that keep giving me referrals. They also offer a whole bunch of other cards in which help me with adding up the discount to save on gas. I loved it about 2 months ago in which I saved $1.30 off a gallon of gas. i am only wonder when it is when they will catch on to people doing this..lol

[FreedomClean]

LOL! Us little people got to have SOME way of keeping our heads above water! Good thinking, Kathleen. Unfortunately, we don't have one of those grocery stores around here.

[earthlydream]

What are some of the raised rates you're now charging?

[Linda]

I started adding the .40 cents per mile for new clients. I didn't raise the price for my existing clients, because they are only 20 minutes from me and they are bi-weekly.

Linda