Detailed a Ford Excursion

[m2mazda6]

"O" my thats a BIG truck and it is black
It turned out looking great it was my brother's so he got a good deal and since I'm still learning

I did leard on thing you start on top and wax down, I did sides and all and saved top for last I wontdo that again when you hot and sweaty and leaning on it
O by the way I did it by hand !!!!!

Here is the steps

Body scrub
mg 1
mg 2
mg 3
last NXT
didn't have to do much to the entior for it was in great shape



Now what would you charge for this ?

also if you charge for the service say a set price a detail wash/ Wax...
so if you do a VW verce a Excursion !!!!!!!
how do you charge

My thinking is to charge by HR no matter what you do
Larry

[tdekany]

Around here I charge $200 for a full detail for Suvs like that. $150 for a passanger car, but tomorrow I will do a 1988 white saab that needs some paint cleaning while the interior is in good shape. $200

If you are fast, charge around $40/hour

hope this helps.

[Mike Phillips]

Anywhere from a low of $15.00 dollars per hour to a high of $60.00 dollars per hour depending on your customer, the work to be done and your reputation.

I only detail special interest cars, and I only do paint. I charge a flat out $300 to $500.00 per day, and I like to have the car for two days depending on the car, the condition of the paint and the expectations.

One thing I know for sure, it's always easier to lower our prices if you start out too high, than it is to raise them.

There are a few Pro Detailers that hang out on this forum, hopefully they'll chime in and give you their recommendations.

Mike

[DETLMAN]

Re: Detailed a Ford Excursion

Originally posted by m2mazda6
"O" my thats a BIG truck and it is black
It turned out looking great it was my brother's so he got a good deal and since I'm still learning

I did leard on thing you start on top and wax down, I did sides and all and saved top for last I wontdo that again when you hot and sweaty and leaning on it
O by the way I did it by hand !!!!!

Here is the steps

Body scrub
mg 1
mg 2
mg 3
last NXT
didn't have to do much to the entior for it was in great shape



Now what would you charge for this ?

also if you charge for the service say a set price a detail wash/ Wax...
so if you do a VW verce a Excursion !!!!!!!
how do you charge

My thinking is to charge by HR no matter what you do
Larry

WOW 5 trips around a Black excursion... Somewhere in the range of $220 - $250

My prices keep me around $60 per hour and sometimes more. I 100% feel our work is woth that price.

Starting out what you need to do is find out what yours costs are and how much you need to make to be happy and turn a profit and base your price on that. You also have to consider what your market will bare. Its going to be hard starting out charging $250 for an exterior only when the established shop down the road is only charging $175 ( considering they have a good reputation. ) And on the other hand you dont wantt o be charging $90 for that same job, under pricing makes it harder for everyone else to make what we are worth. But never overcharge or deliver less than expected, always be fair and give a little more that expected in one way or another, weather is in the form of ultimate customer service on top of a great detail or it could be in your follow up, thank you card, mints on the seat...

Good luck

[m2mazda6]

Thanks for input, as I stated it was my brothers truck so I charged only $120. But out of this my neighbor across the street wants me to do his Honda CRX that I'll start out with $15.00 hr and as I do more get more experience will charge more

Also I live in a condo so I need to be careful doing cars n my garage, so not to get in trouble
Hopefully next spring I'll find a place to rent to start a business

Larry

[manueljlg]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Anywhere from a low of $15.00 dollars per hour to a high of $60.00 dollars per hour depending on your customer, the work to be done and your reputation.

I only detail special interest cars, and I only do paint. I charge a flat out $300 to $500.00 per day, and I like to have the car for two days depending on the car, the condition of the paint and the expectations.

One thing I know for sure, it's always easier to lower our prices if you start out too high, than it is to raise them.

There are a few Pro Detailers that hang out on this forum, hopefully they'll chime in and give you their recommendations.

Mike

WOW! I´m thinking about quiting my Family Practice Doctor job in Mexico and going Pro in the detailing business in California!

[HotRodGuy]

Originally posted by m2mazda6
Thanks for input, as I stated it was my brothers truck so I charged only $120. But out of this my neighbor across the street wants me to do his Honda CRX that I'll start out with $15.00 hr and as I do more get more experience will charge more

Also I live in a condo so I need to be careful doing cars n my garage, so not to get in trouble
Hopefully next spring I'll find a place to rent to start a business

Larry

I'd say charge the neighbor atleast $25 an hour. I just started doing mobile on the side to put some extra change in my pocket. For friends and family I charge anywhere from 25-30$ an hour and for the people the reference $40.


Family and friends are more willing to help you out also

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by manueljlg


WOW! I´m thinking about quiting my Family Practice Doctor job in Mexico and going Pro in the detailing business in California!

I don't want to take this off topic, but what kind of money does a Family Practice Doctor get in Mexico?




Mike

[tdekany]

Mike, I am sure he was just kidding, although Peso maybe the reason why he would want to change professions

[scrub]

I've been working at detailing on the side a few months now and still have difficulty charging the right prices. Just keep at it. The way I see it I can charge too much and make $0 or cut back my price at first and make $200-250 over my normal 3 day weekend. Its tough work though. If it weren't then we wouldn't have businesses or side businesses.

[manueljlg]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
I don't want to take this off topic, but what kind of money does a Family Practice Doctor get in Mexico?




Mike

Mike:

I live in a small town that triples its population from November to February ( Mexican workers coming back from the fields in California ), so in those months I make $400-450 a day 6 days a week, the rest of the year my earnings are reduced to a half.

Thank god I make enough to buy Meguiars supplys.
Each Ultimate Wipe costs me $20, a bottle of MPPP costed me $40
and the last NXT Tech Wax I bought was $35.
I think price is the main reason why Meguiars products aren´t selling that well here, because of the greedy Megs dealer that has the monopoly in Mexico.

BUT, a man has to have his priorities

[orange monkeyee]

I've done a few detailing jobs on the weekends as I am only a High School senior. I spend somewhere between 3-6 hours on sedans ( depending on it's condition). And i usually charge somewhere from 50-60 dollars. I apply all my products by hand ( although i just ordered a PC 7424) and have great results. I've only done friends and family members cars although I am looking to do weekend detailing in my town with some small advertisements.

My question to those more knowledgable than myself: Do you think it is more economical to charge a client by the time spent detailing or set up a package price ?
Your help is greatly appreciated.

[tdekany]

by set up price

you don't want to sell yourself short.

[Lt1Corvette]

Sorry to throw this a little off topic, but having been in your shoes before. Get a pc or g100! I used to do car detailing by hand and would charge between 125 and 150. Though I made a little money, it wasn't worth the pain and suffering. It used to take me around 6 or even 7 hours to complete an entire detail. Just by adding the pc and a few attachments I am able to cut it down to four. It will cost you an entire detail to buy one, however you make the money back faster than you can believe. Plus that is the first step to polishing work and that is where the fun begins.

[benhui86]

vans and SUVs and trucks w/ camper shells are ***** to clean..... cant get to the top of the car easily..... and so much paint surface