Commercial bids - do you charge for them???

So I'm driving home today from a resi job, and was thinking about the commercial bids I've given over the past few years. Since I don't know the rules to that game, I haven't gotten many. Which whatever... I'd rather do resi jobs anyway.

So this one bid I did last summer was about 40 min from me... I went up.. talked to the store manager (who had nothing to do with the bid itself - just that they wanted the windows tinted and got the head office to do something about it) took measurements... which took time since it was an external application and I had to climb up on the roof. (And explain to the police what I was doing when they showed up. ) I spent a decent amount of time there.... The bid was for about $5k.

Did another one about a month or so ago... this was less then 10 min from me.. same deal. Talked to the manager about what the issues were... took measurements, faxed the bid. About $3k for the job.

Called each of them a couple times... nothing.

Now I'm thinking, since I'm not really into even going after commercial work, if I get a call to charge to go out and scope out jobs. If they decide to go with it, then take that amount off the final bill.


Is that how you all normally do commercial bids?? Or do you not charge??

I have NO problem doing that with resi jobs... and I don't pass up small jobs that are far away cause you never know how many people you might end up getting from the one person. But with commercial - I feel like it's just been a waste of my time, and with gas prices going up and up and up, what's the point of doing something for free and that offers the chances of no return??

more than 10 miles, I charge no matter what. Res, Com... whatever.

Some people scoff at the idea and I happily tell them that they are free to call someone else that enjoys working for free. No skin off my nose.

As far as large commercial jobs under construction, you have to go thru the construction company. They have an open bid policy but you have to fill out an application with them before they let you bid on open projects. They just want to make sure you have insurance and such. As far as older commercial work, its a crap shoot and they pretty much go on price. So maybe you are charging too much. Sometimes if its a bigger job you have to go below your normal per sqft price. And sometimes they get all the quotes and decide to do something cheaper. Go back to those places and see what happened. Talk to the managers again and see what he knows and why didnt they choose you. Seems like with commercial jobs the best way is to go thru blind companies or construction companies. Do some networking. Its all a racket in my opinion. Once a tinting company gets in good with a construction company all they gotta do is throw some money under the table at the construction super once and awhile and they get all the jobs even if they bid a little higher...

i do free estimates either way i try to close right then if i can like................. with a deposit i can go ahead and schedule
you in and on the reciept it states non refundable so if it was a waste of time i got some dough sometimes they figure i might as well
have it done i'm already in the pot follow up calls def why not and sell yourself your skills and the product you win some you lose some
but you gotta close

YES, GAS PRICES ARE RISING!!! CHARGING FOR AN ESTIMATE IS ESSENTIAL IN THE CONTRACTING BUSINESS. As professional window film installer/techs WE SHOULD BE PAID A CONSULTATION FEE that applies towards the contract, for any written estimate. It takes time and skill to measure out a job and put it on paper. The benefit for the prospect is that now if the prospect is just shopping everyone in the yellow pages, internet, city, county etc. he/she will have a written estimate ready to fax to any one else they have in mind, without having to waste more time out of their life on setting up appointments with contractors to measure their windows. I used to run into plenty of shoppers every year in my area. Lot's of them never gone forward with tinting their windows, even after shopping 2 or 3 companies. Basically, they just wasted peoples time. I especially charge when i get called for an estimate that is not in my advertising zone. The first feel I get for these prospects is that they already shopped everyone in their area. Perhaps they were not satisfied with the estimates they received. as a result, they are calling out of the area to get a contractor that will offer a better price. Face it, it isn't cheap to operate a business that can be cut throat by low quality, under-pricing companies. Charging a consultation fee gaurantees you won't be wasting your time, and money on gas. Therefore, it will also weed out the serious customers from the "well let me think about it, i need to talk it over with my wife/husban, i will call you" shopper.

amen

but sometimes you have bite the bullet and do a free estimate because if you dont, the customer has 40 other contractors wiling to give a "free" estimate and you end up sitting on your desk for the next call. you win some, you lose some, the ones you lose are probably not well paid in the first place

I provide 'free' estimates, however, Depending upon travel distance, I will figure in this to the price per square foot. On an average 500 sq ft job, I will charge $.10 - .25 more if the distance is long. This will cover fuel for both the quote and installation travel. Prices must reflect increased costs. The fool who does'nt, loses more in the end.

If one of the contractors I've done work for in the past calls, I'll go out and do an est. w/o charge... but otherwise... screw it. If they have 40 other contractors willing, then odds are I probably wouldn't end up with the job anyway. lol

What would be a reasonable amount to charge??

I'm thinking One million dollars!!

if its local then yea i see no wrong in not charging for a potential job (estimate)

but if its like a long distance travel you have to work something out with the customer, its a business, they have to pay for your services wether you do the work or not.

we don't charge for estimates but it would be nice if all tinters did have a service call/ charge like other trades

This might not be a valid comparison, but Body Shops charge for estimates, and you are going to them, because time is money.
When I was having trouble with the A/C in my house, I owed the A/C folks money just to walk up to the door.
How many Dentisits or Drs would not charge for you to get an estimate to get work done ?
If I did Commercial tinting, I would most certainly charge to give an estimate, and advise them based on where they are that there is a trip charge involved when giving an estimate.

Never seen a body shop charge for an estimate, and I've damaged ALOT of cars!

I don't know about y'all yankees, but down here we can't get away with it either.

I don't know if I'll be able to get away with it either, but if they want a bid they'll have to buy it from me.

Almost everybody here seems to offer free quotes. I've been to body shops that do, even heating and cooling guys. However, if it was a large job, for example, not a small store front but a whole office building, several floors, and you're going to spend quite awhile there and then afterwards crunching numbers, you could probably let them know ahead of time that because of the scale of the quote, you have to charge a small fee. But then again... if you didn't, and got the job, would you really care about that little bit up front? IMO, it's one of those things you just have to choke up and offer for free... and make sure that all your other prices are where they should be to be profitable and make up for small losses like that

Ever figured up exactly how much you're spending per mile you drive. I haven't, but a geek friend of mine does this and I take his word for it. He figures gas mileage, insurance, payment, maintenance, depreciation, etc. all money spent on his truck over the month and miles driven. You spend more per mile you drive than you think. I'll give em my time. But, they're not getting my money. I'll feel most custys out, however, my rule of thumb will be a TRUCK ROLL fee. Used it daily in my satellite/security biz and is a standard for service companies. I plan to charge $49 for my truck to roll to their place regardless of anything. If I get the job, I will refund the Truck Roll fee to the customer. I plan to give them a $49 coupon saying so. Most companies don't. But, I figure to mention that makes them feel better about dealing with me and spending the $49 upfront. I'll be more careful residential. However, its a tax deduction for business. If they can't afford you, then you have no business being there. I learned that the hard way. I used to babysit every customer and cater to their every need unlike my competition. Never got me more business or referrals. One big account makes up for multiple puny accounts. Don't waste time, even if you need the business. Sometimes you gotta get back to fundamentals, and stick with them. They always work.

Well, I just called about two bids I gave recently. The one already got it done by another company. She didn't know why they picked who they picked - she was just getting various quotes.

The other place she said they never heard back from the head office... so she's not sure if it was done or what. It's not close to me, so I haven't been by to see if the windows are tinted. I'll definately check it out if I'm ever in the area again.

i hate when that happens hang in there you lose some you win some

I Think the free estimate may be going out the door with the lifetime warranty. The lifetime warranty is extremely misleading, especialy when you try and find a 15 year old invoice and can't. The free estimate thing always sounds nice but if you were one of the 5 companies that showed up at the same time to give film estimates (In Napperville on that rainyday) you can begin to realize how much money gets wasted on the free estimate (2 hrs/+$15 in gas on that one). Unfortunately if you charge may may loose an opportunity because there will always be a few that continue the free estimate.

Free estimates is part of the business...start charging for estimates and you will see more "no thanks" from potential customers.

It is your responsibility to be able to find a 15 year old invoice




I agree... By charging for estimates I would be losing 50% of the work I get.

I agree as well. I NEVER charge for an estimate, no matter how big or small, near or far. If you are worried about the distance, then don't go do the bid...refer someone closer, if you dare. I would think you would stand out in the crowd if you were one of the "no charge estimate" guys. I know there are those who charge for estimates in other lines of work, but it doesn't mean WE should follow their LEAD.

I think you need to prequalify more carefully. One of my trainers always said -- get the information and then you can make a business decision whether to participate or not. I try and ferret out the "my boss told me to get estimates" from "I want this job done". Try and ask questions only the buyer can answer. Things that cause the receptionist, who's making the calls, to get the person in charge to get involved and agree to meet with you. (well, she's going to have to look at the samples, when's a good time to stop by and meet with her?). If no one cares enough to meet you, they probably don't care enough to actually buy the product. Second, your job on the phone is to get as much information on their buying process as possible -- are they getting multiple bids, how are they going to distiguish between them, etc, etc. When you arrive and meet the person in charge, find out again about the buying process and get an agreement for how they are going to respond to your bid. Finally, I try and get more information on the nature of the project so I can see if I offer something unique. If the job is on the smaller size, I have them take measurements and I give a budget number over the phone. I certainly don't want to drive forty minutes just to find out the project is out of their budget.

Charging for estimates will come off as a big f**k you to your prospects.

If they don't want to play the game, stay home.

P.S. If you've really gone above and beyond and did all the leg work and then they say they need more bids, ask if you can have last look. Many building managers and some general contractors will do that for you.

these are the best answers I can give

on Comm work the guy in charge can get someone to give a general idea of the total square footage. unlike homeowners construction can work a tape measure, then you can give a ballpark estimate if the numbers sound good to the man in charge you go out, survey the job and give a price.

How much is bieng padded into the price of the job to get a "free" estimate ?
Would the business owner understand this concept that nothing is free, and your charge for an estimate is a cost of doing business.

He could with me. I DO NOT CHARGE FOR ESTIMATES!! I dont pad jobs for estimates. If I get the job, great...I'll make some money. If I don't get it, and didn't charge for an estimate...oh well, off to the next one. I strongly suggest not charging for estimates. When someone calls you and wants you to come give an estimate, they will give you their address. If its too far for you, refer it to another (your film here) dealer. I understand the whole "time is money" issue in this thread, so if its a problem for one to do a free estimate, then stick to automotive.