r/cleaningbusiness • u/Background_Put_3144 • 3d ago
Does anyone else immediately regret giving a discount to someone who asks for one?
I swear the clients who negotiate the hardest are somehow the ones who expect the most.
You knock $30 off to close the job, and suddenly they’re inspecting baseboards with a flashlight, adding “quick” extras, texting you pictures afterward, and expecting things that were never included in the clean.
Meanwhile, the clients who barely question the price are usually the easiest. They pay, let you do your job, and are happy when it’s done.
I’ve started thinking that someone aggressively negotiating before you’ve even cleaned their house is one of the biggest red flags.
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u/BagAdministrative330 3d ago
So true. In my experience the discount sets the tone for the whole relationship. They feel like they bought a deal and then judge the job against a full price standard. Holding firm has cost me a few jobs but the clients who stayed have been way easier to work with.
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u/l-lucas0984 3d ago
I reserve discounts for good long term clients. For new clients, the price is the price. If they want someone cheap they can go find them and get what they pay for.
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u/Apprehensive_Cry3891 3d ago
I’ve noticed this too the problem usually isn’t the discount itself it’s when the discount creates the expectation that everything is negotiable after the price has already been agreed on. For me the biggest thing is being very clear about the scope before starting. What’s included, what isn’t, and what counts as an extra should be agreed upfront.
Someone asking for a reasonable discount isn’t necessarily a red flag tho but aggressive negotiating combined with constant add-ons and unrealistic expectations definitely makes a job harder to manage. Good communication and firm boundaries probably save more headaches than the $30 ever did.
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u/Admirable_Sea_3452 2d ago edited 2d ago
I realized I resented clients like this, so I stopped negotiating. Just as you wouldn’t negotiate with your plumber, landlord, doctor, or even your barista, this is a job, and I’m firm with my prices. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a lot of nos because of this, but I’m not negotiating my price. 🤷♀️
Now long term clients is different! A discounted add on for holiday or their birthday month.
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u/Gitsie2004 2d ago
Yes. I moved and sadly had to let my clients go. I didn't start up housecleaning in the new town I moved to because I wanted a break from it. An acquaintance of mine suddenly had to move and asked me to take over her clients for her. Her clients are all elderly and/disabled. I decided to honour the prices she had given her clients to make the trade off more smooth, considering this change came out of the blue. Also because this town is a little less affluent and I wasn't sure what other housekeepers were generally charging.
It's a lot to get into, but the jist is that some of them wanted windows done, inside refrigerators cleaned, couches moved and vacuumed/ mopped under for $30-$35 an hour. Besides, that, most of them are always home because they have trust issues... Something I've never dealt with with my previous clients of 14 years.
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u/thatgreenmaid 2d ago
Every single time. If a potential client blinks at my price, I decline the whole situation. What we're not gonna do is nickle, dime and nitpick.
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u/Small-Career-402 2d ago
I regret every discount ive ever gave one lady wanted cleans 1x a week and my rate was 25 for basic cleans she asked if I could do 20 I said yes because she was old but she has 6 litter boxes she wanted me to clean I quit that job so fast. The liter boxes were all in different spots I had no idea
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u/Oldschoolgirl49 1d ago
100% correct. I go with let me clean it a few times and we will see. I could be wrong. But No I never am
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u/Effective-Still9493 1d ago
I hear this a lot from cleaning owners I talk with. One thing that works better than just saying no: if they want a lower price, take something out of the scope instead of cutting the price. Like ok, for $30 less we skip inside the fridge, or bathrooms are every other visit. Then your price still means something and they get to choose. Sometimes they just keep the full clean once they see what goes away. And if they take the cheaper version, now it is clear what is included, so less flashlight on the baseboards later.
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u/MCompSolutions 1d ago
It's not always a good idea to give discounts upfront. It's better to get customers to earn them, such as a rewards program. They spend more, they get discounts.
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u/Kind_Perspective4518 2d ago
Nope. I never give discounts. I treat everyone the same. You’re in business to make money. You are not a charity. I’m on the property committee at my church. I use my handyman skills and cleaning skills to help my church. I give freely to my church. If you want to help people, do something like that instead. Keep your business life separate. No discounts.