Work You Quote vs. Work You Get

YUKON 659 · Sep 19, 2003

Roughly what percentage of the work are you guys getting that you quote? Just curious. We've been getting about 3 out of 4 jobs we look at....does this mean we're working too cheap?

Jeff

Matt Follett · Sep 19, 2003

Yukon

In the first year on our own, I got 90% of the jobs I quoted, and things have steadily declined. Here's my thoughts on reasons

In your first year or so, most of your work comes from people you know, or direct references... so fewer people are quoting against you, Have you asked your clients (in a oppertune situation) how many other companys quoted, or what there prices were.

In my first year I did this when ever I felt I could. It help to set my pricing on the market

Now as we grow our referrals are often second and third hand so we don't know the client as well and there may be many more bids on the job This year I think we might be luck to get 40-50%
I think that's progress though on th per job income, I know I'm not low balling all the time anyway.

ORclimber · Sep 19, 2003

I get 3/4 too, but most calls are word of mouth so they are more likely to buy. Get maybe half of the bids from people who call from advertising.

NeTree · Sep 19, 2003

Roughly 7 out of 10.

Stumper · Sep 21, 2003

Also about 70%-80%. There are weeks when I get 100% but there are other times when it is only half. Lots of my biz is repeat and references-those are the times that start working toward 100%. I need to raise my prices but it is hard-I like these people and tend to think in terms of "what could I do it for?" instead of "what could I get?".

preach it · Sep 21, 2003

I too find that I get 75 to 80 percent of the jobs that I bid/quote. I do give bare minimum quotes for widows on limited incomes, and have done some for free. I am usually booked ahead about 4 weeks. If someone has to have it done "right now" because of their own foolishness, the price tends to be alot higher. Emergencies because of storms of course are done right away and the prices stay about the same. I get a lot of call backs every year, alot of them trust me enough that they don't need a bid/quote. I also found that it takes a few years of doing business to find the system that works for you in bid/quotes. Often some trial and error are involved, just don't go broke in the process.