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**Mike Phillips** · Jan 31, 2007, 08:21 AM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Hi Jarred,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Some of your packages and prices look like their in-line with what a lot of detailers are charging, you can always call around to other shops and ask them what they're charging to check, prices can vary by region.

You can always adjust your package or your prices as you find out what works best for you and what your customers want.

Are you mobile or do you have a shop?

Here's a tip, when you create a flyer, or a reader board with with your packages and prices, use a bulleted list to make it easier for your customer to read through and make their decision. People like bulleted lists with a headline as they are easy to read. Like this,

Full Detail- Starting at $145 - Approximately 4+ hours

Hand wash and dry
Clean door and trunk jams
Dress tires
Detail rims
Machine wax and buff (using a Dual Action Polishers and only premium Meguiar's product)
Vacuum and shampoo carpets, seats, mats, and trunk
Clean and protect vinyl or leather seats
clean interior and exterior windows
Detail interior from top to bottom
Clean and protect dash and instrument panel

That's a lot of work to do in just 4 hours, you're either very fast, you have a helper or I'm just really slow and the latter is true.

Things like shampooing carpets, seats, mats and trunk take time and require more time for these items to dry after shampooing. You might want to make shampooing a "Dedicated" or stand alone service with it's own charge and just offer the vacuuming portion in your packages.

You don't want to spend time shampooing things that don't need it because you claimed you would do it and in most cases if someone specifically wants this service it's because their car needs it in a bad way and that means time and extra effort.

Before spending any money on advertising, printing flyers, or creating anything with your prices and listed things you'll do, you might want to do some of the above packages and time yourself to see how long it's taking you from start to end.

**TrufflePig** · Jan 31, 2007, 10:04 AM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

hi Jarred,

and WELCOME. yes follow Mike's tips.

but i just have a couple things to say.

you have all your prices and hours listed to do SUVS and trucks.

but my MINI, has taken me 6 hours and sometimes longer depending how much i wanna get down and dirty. if i do the wheel wells, entire wheel and tire, that could be an hour depending on the rim of choice.

know what i mean. i understand you can't just say, price depends on vechile when you're starting out in your flyer, but just see how it goes first doing a variety of cars and how fast you actually are.

but for myself, if i'm paying for someone to do it, i'd rather them take their time and me pay a little extra then rush through it.

BEST OF LUCK!

**jarred767** · Jan 31, 2007, 11:22 AM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Thanks, for the input.

First off, I guess when I had copy and pasted my price packages I missed the last part of the last line, it was supposed to say that Trucks, vans and suvs are anywhere from $10-$50 more depending on the package and condition on the car. The prices listed are actually starting prices for sedans.

I am mobile, right now, but hopefully someday would be able to have my own shop.

I agree with the bulleted form. I think that would help a lot, and I never thought of it. I'll definitely change it to that.

As far as the shampooing the carpets, I had never thought of making that a separate add on price, is it really something that people don't really care for unless they really want it, I'm not much of a fan of doing that part of the detail either so I guess that might work out both ways.

I have done about twenty to thirty cars so far (still in the beginning stages) but I feel like my times are generally in line with how long it takes me. I did just get a Dual Action Polisher though, is this generally going to increase my time or should it decrease it a little. I definitely spend more time when doing my own car, should I be spending this much time on each car I detail as well.

One other quick question I had. I am currently in the process of changing all or most of my products over to Meguiars because when I started I just used individual bottles I could buy at retail stores. Any word out there on what is some of the best stuff that Meguiars carries that is really ideal for a detailer. I've seen the detailer line of products, but mostly curious what you've all found to be the best.
Thanks again.

**Sydster** · Jan 31, 2007, 04:46 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Welcome to MOL jarred767! Seems like you are starting on the right foot there hope you do good on your business.

**TrufflePig** · Jan 31, 2007, 05:48 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Originally posted by jarred767 View Post

Thanks, for the input.

I have done about twenty to thirty cars so far (still in the beginning stages) but I feel like my times are generally in line with how long it takes me. I did just get a Dual Action Polisher though, is this generally going to increase my time or should it decrease it a little. I definitely spend more time when doing my own car, should I be spending this much time on each car I detail as well.

One other quick question I had. I am currently in the process of changing all or most of my products over to Meguiars because when I started I just used individual bottles I could buy at retail stores. Any word out there on what is some of the best stuff that Meguiars carries that is really ideal for a detailer. I've seen the detailer line of products, but mostly curious what you've all found to be the best.
Thanks again.

1. Will it speed up your time? Who knows. Depends how good you are with it, organized with the extension cord, product etc...my first time took me a long time. now i got some technique and understanding of where my product should be when i'm applying it (the bottle stuff) and the cord and better organization.

2. In terms of products that also depends. I mean, for me to sit here and say you should go out and just buy M21 or M16, I think would be wrong, IMO. You are going to need a whole arsenal of weaponary for your mobile shop. You never know what the condition of the car/truck/van/school bus might be in. Know what I mean.

Some cars might only need say Clay Bar, A12, NXT, M21. While others will need, Clay, DC1, DC2, NXT, or maybe #6 or #7. Or maybe even one car you'll have to Clay, Scratch X, #83, #80, NXT or #6 or #7. So you see, i don't think you can just rely on a set limited amount of product in your line of business.

And that's only for the body.

What about Interior? Wheels and tyres? Some rims will be chrome while others won't. so your best bet is to either just use soap and water or All Wheel Cleaner or Hot Rims Multi Piece Wheel Wash.

I guess you gotta see what works for you and stick with it.

There is a motto around here and it goes something like.

Find something that works, and stick with it.

[b][I]

**GTBrad** · Jan 31, 2007, 06:46 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Originally posted by jarred767 View Post

I definitely spend more time when doing my own car, should I be spending this much time on each car I detail as well.

Yes!
When you're working on a client's vehicle, don't you want to give them the same quality of work that you would give to your own vehicle?
My average detail spans around 10-12 hours working by myself. I treat my Mustang the same way.

As for the best products, that's really based on personal preference. Some use Endurance High Gloss on tires, while some use Hyper Dressing.

However as for polishes, I usually tend to stick to #80 when working by G100

**J. A. Michaels** · Jan 31, 2007, 06:58 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Good luck Jared767 in your mobile business. Follow what Mike and the others have to say and you will have a good foundation for your business.

**jarred767** · Feb 1, 2007, 07:12 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Thanks for the opinions and suggestions, and trufflepig I really like the idea of having a large arsenal of things to choose depending on the car that I'm detailing and its paint condition, and I hope to have a lot to choose from in the future. I was more looking to see what would be good a couple of the best products that I could get right now, since it's not exactly in my budget to get them all right now. I do appreciate all the help and I'm really starting to like that motto you were talking about. Hopefully I can find what I like and then stick with it.

**TrufflePig** · Feb 2, 2007, 10:20 AM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

well then for right now.

DC1 and DC2 for slightly swirled cars
M80 and M83 for more swirled cars
NXT WAX
#6 or #7 depending on choice
M21 if you want a nice polymer sealant

I use only Natural Shine Interior for my interior. works AWESOME. i really like this stuff.

Natural Shine Vinyl / Rubber Protectant

Endurance High Gloss Tire Protectant
Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner or soap and water works really well. a trick here is to apply a quick coat of NXT and it helps keep the rims clean between washes and makes it easier to clean.

NXT Generation Tire Cleaner

that i think covers everything.

and of course your arsenal of towels, cloths, pads etc...

this should go you a few hundred bucks and you could be set for some detailing jobs for a while depending on size of vechiles.

best of luck.

**jarred767** · Feb 2, 2007, 06:49 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

So after what everyone said I kind of went baack to the drawing board and re-did some stuff with my pricing menu and what I was offereing, I wanted to offer a little bit more in the line better paint protection than I had before so here it goes.

#1 Basic Exterior Detail- Starting at $60 - Approx. 2+ hours
[FONT=Arial Rounded MT Bold]Hand wash and dry
Clean door and trunk jams
Dress tires, detail rims
Vacuum carpets, seats, mats and trunk
Detail interior from top to bottom
Clean interior and exterior windows
Clean and protect dash and instrument panel

#2 Full Exterior Detail- Starting at $115 - Approx 4+ hours
Everything included in #1 PLUS
Machine wax and buff (using a Dual Action Polishers and only premium Meguiars product)
Protecting and Conditioning of leather seats
This would be a one step wax using #66

#3 Full Detail with 3-step Paint Restoration Process - Starting at $165
Everything included in #1 and #2 PLUS
Meguiars 3-step paint restorer
3-step process of
clay bar
80
21 or 26

#4 Full Detail with 4-step Paint Restoration Process

**TrufflePig** · Feb 2, 2007, 08:27 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

i guess that doesn't sound so bad.

but i still think you'll have to readjust once you get going.

best of luck.

**jarred767** · Feb 2, 2007, 08:37 PM

Re: New Detailer with a few pricing questions

Thanks a lot , i agree readjusting is probably constant in this business. Thanks again for all your help.

Jarred

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