Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

[ViperSRT]

Hi all,

Just to earn some extra cash on the side, starting this spring I will be offering basic automotive detailing services in my area. However, I've been trying to figure out what to charge. Now at this point in time, I do NOT know how to operate any proffessional buffer wheels or anything so this work will be done by hand.

What do you think of these packages and their prices?

Gold Package □
Clean out all garbage/ debris (extra price will be added if there is excessive trash!)
Clean mats/ carpets
Clean all glass/mirrors
Interior Detailing
Wash vehicle
Polish/ wax
Clean tires/ rims (tire shine)
CAR: $55.00
SUV/TRUCK: $75.00

Silver Package □
Clean out all garbage/ debris (extra price will be added if there is excessive trash!)
Clean mats/ carpets
Clean all glass/mirrors
Wash vehicle
Wax Vehicle
Interior Detailing
Clean Rims
CAR: $40.00
TRUCK: $55.00

Bronze Package □
Clean out all garbage/ debris (extra price will be added if there is excessive trash!)
Clean mats/ carpets
Clean all glass/mirrors
Interior Detailing
Wash Vehicle
CAR: $30.00
TRUCK: $40.00

Any and ALL suggestions or comments welcome. Thank you in advance,

Viper

[Superior Shine]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

Will those prices cover your business license, insurance fees, equipment cost (waste water reclaim included) and material cost??

If so, those prices are OK.

[Tillmanator]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

I am not a professional detailer, nor have I detailed that much at all. Only my own car. When I have done to it what you call your Gold Package with the polish, wax, interior, and tires and all that I would GLADLY pay someone $55 for all that. (That is assuming that they at least would do as good a job as me and use Meg's products.)

I actually thought about what I would have to charge someone (time, effort, products and all that) if they wanted me to do to their car what I do for mine. And to do that much work I would have to have at least $100. But I"m slow and most likely inefficient. So perhaps you work faster than me. I don't know.

But if you do at least as well as I do (I'm probably only slightly better than average), I would take my car to you as often as I could for only $55. For sure.

I also live in Miami where things like that are more expensive. Also think about the kind of folks living in your area and what they drive etc....

So, I don't know how high you can go, but in my opinion, you have not posted outrageous prices that I think are through the roof.

But again, this is just one humble opinion.

[TH0001]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

I think your prices are super low.

Example, a wash and wax with tire/wheel cleaning dressing I charge 85.00 to begin.

If I have to polish the paint, its 150.00 to start.

A full detail including washing/waxing, interior with shampooing and stain removal, polishing, and sealing would run about 250 to start.

I set my minimum at 50/hr. If you charge to low (which it sounds like you are) you only will back yourself into a corner when you take on customer referals. Also, you are hurting fellow detailers by lowering the market value, IMO.

[TH0001]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

Also, if by polishing you mean "swirl removal" as commenly dictated, you are going to run into a heap load of problems with your pricing as every car is different.

Are you only going to charge 75 dollars to do a C6 Vette that looks like this...



When it takes 7 hours of polishing to get the paint to look like this...





With your other steps your down for 9 hours which is means your only charging 8 bucks an hour. Minus travel time and supply cost and you could easily be as low as 6/hr.

My advice is to figure out the hourly rate you want (40-60/hr) and charge it. Explain to your customers that a doctor doesn't tell you how much your treatement will cost until he examines you and you have to examine and "test" the paint before you can give an accurate quote.

Sometimes it takes 15 hours to get the job right, such as the Corvette that is on the show circut and has won at almost every car show. I did nothing but the steps you outlined, but because I charged by the hour, I was able to make 10x's what you would charge.

[Superior Shine]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

I think your prices are super low.

Example, a wash and wax with tire/wheel cleaning dressing I charge 85.00 to begin.

And we (cali) get $140-$160 for that.

[gorin002]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

i am either professional am amteur do mi own car
than you have to do a perfect job other you get problems with paying
and start smal very smal grow very slow.
i can wish you mazeltof thats it

[ViperSRT]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

I had a feeling considering the man power and work involved the prices were too low.

The hourly rate makes sence to me considering the work involved on more difficult jobs.

I've never tried to start anything like this so I wasn't sure how to set it up. I figured start lower and work my way up.

I take it you are a pro detailer TH0001?

[ViperSRT]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

I couldn't get the post to edit, but any more input is welcomed and appreciated.

[Tillmanator]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

I'm not even a pro and have no skills with any power tools but I wouldn't do all that for $55... slaving over a car for at least 6 hours.. no way!

From a consumer's point of view and getting what I pay for... if you made my car look fantastic I would glady pay up to $200 for your gold package. It takes me an entire day to do it myself, and a whole day of time for me (and many other busy people who want a nice looking car) is worth somewhere between $100 and $200 depending on what you do to it and how good it looks.

Keep in mind the income/demographics of your customers and the kinds of cars they drive. Folks who drive brand new Corvettes and Lexus etc.. are more likely to pay the $$ than someone who drives a '92 Honda.

[ViperSRT]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

I've been thinking about what you have been saying and changed the prices. How are these prices? Also, do you beleive an hourly is better?

Gold Package □
Clean out all garbage/ debris (extra price will be added if there is excessive trash!)
Clean mats/ carpets
Clean all glass/mirrors
Interior Detailing
Wash vehicle
Polish/ wax
Clean tires/ rims (tire shine)
CAR: $145.00+
SUV/TRUCK: $165.00+

Silver Package □
Clean out all garbage/ debris (extra price will be added if there is excessive trash!)
Clean mats/ carpets
Clean all glass/mirrors
Wash vehicle
Wax Vehicle
Interior Detailing
Clean Rims
CAR: $95.00+
TRUCK: $120.00+

Bronze Package □
Clean out all garbage/ debris (extra price will be added if there is excessive trash!)
Clean mats/ carpets
Clean all glass/mirrors
Wash Vehicle
CAR: $40.00+
TRUCK: $50.00+

+ obviously means depending on the size and condition of the vehicle, but the price listed is the base.

Again, I want to thank you guys for the help.

[gorin002]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

i was working for the dealer opel dealer
befor they moved.where this cosy old dealer
and in backyard had 100 or 200 second hands cars.mi job was to
take a hose water soap wash the cars
was one car VW jetta that have never ben washed or ones a century and
if you want good preperations mean need wash the car properly
cause not evry one do that.
also i seen american hot rod on discovery chanel
i notice evrything take time if you wanna do right things.
so take in bear in mind wanna do right things need to take time
time and love and expertise
need to start smal

[fishbonezken]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

...

I set my minimum at 50/hr. If you charge to low (which it sounds like you are) you only will back yourself into a corner when you take on customer referals. ...

I agree with TH0001 on this,
I have started my own part time detailing job to earn some extra cash.
Never charge too low just because you want to earn some customers.
As TH0001 said, once you start with low prices, it would be difficult to increase again as your referral would want the same price that you charged the person whom is reffering you to, and the person before, and so on.

Charge a decent price, and of course with a decent price, you have to produce more than decent results as well.

I've started with charging very low prices, almost half of what detailers with shops outside charge.

I charged a M83,M80,NXT and leather cleaning job for RM180(about $50!). Just because I didn't want to scare my customers away with any price higher than that.
I soon have a car to be done with the same treatment, and for about the same price, because this is a referral, I cannot increase the price, everytime I think of doing it, I want to back out because it is not worth my time and energy spent.
So try not to make the same mistake. If your customers are unhappy with the price, then let them be and find another detailer. Don't charge low prices and bust yourself out for so little.

[Five Star]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

Just offer 1 wash package with or without wax.
vacuum the interior, do the glass, and dress the tires and dash.
charge a few bucks more larger vehicles.

Go to a full service wash, see what they offer, how they do it, and the prices they charge.

[cmd]

Re: Starting my own detailing business (Advice needed)

even your new prices are too low. call around to other detailers and see what they charge. this will keep pricing up and everyone makes money. dont cut-throat the competition, everybody loses then. dont ever be afraid to charge for a detail.