Question about the cashola

[TSR6]

Howdy,

I'm sure questions like this are asked on here all the time... but mine might be slightly more towards the oddball side of it. I'll do a long version top...and a reader's digest version below:

I get paid around $10/hr (sometimes more - but never less) to detail business vehicles for my parent's company (and other tasks - but detailing hours are billed out at 10/hr ). It's only intended on being my summer job, to hold me over before I get back to college. I'm 21, and it's my first summer home in over 2 years, I'd have to take off to much time for a "real" job for all the things I have and/or want to do this summer.. bla bla bla... and this lets me work whenever I need to. Meaning that I really don't have a deadline other than all the trucks need to be detailed and lettered within a month - no problem. I can work litterally anytime ( 4am to whenever. Noon to whenever, ect )

Question is... every time I read threads like this on here, all the posts are "I would never work for less than $30/hr, 40/hr detailing, ect..."

I'm just curious how you all think I am making out in this - ALL my materials are purchased by the business for my own use anytime. G-100, all my polishes & waxes, pads, ect. So I don't have any actual expense in this other than the lunch I buy to hold me over while I'm working.

This is all new to me, being paid to do all this stuff.... I just want to make sure that I'm not totally getting ripped here, because I DO bust my *** doing this outdoors in the heat. I generally drink 4-6 full bottles of water each "Shift" so it's not like im taking my time and being lazy. At the same time, If I should go for more...which I feel I should - I really don't know where to aim?

So the reader's digest version:
Parents business hired me to detail for their construction business, expense account to buy equipment & materials ( g-100, waxes, polishes, towels, ect ), pay @$10/hr. What do you think is a fair shake for this?

[Mike Phillips]

Factor in you're getting paid to learn a craft you can turn around and start your own business if you ever had to. If you're making $10.00 an hour and there are not taxes or other deductions because it's family and they're taking care of all these things, then that's not to bad. You are you're own boss to correct? No one's watching over you?

You could always try to negotiate for more, say $15.00 an hour, which in your circumstances as described above that would be doing pretty good to. I know I've worked for a lot less in my life...

[TSR6]

Oh, I know I've worked for a lot less too! I worked for Disney for a while for an Internship. Definately a fantastic experiance, but the pay was ...well... a lot less.

There are taxes and all that jazz, as I am payrolled like any employee working on company time. My only "boss" is my dad, so yes, I am basically my own boss. I work on my own terms and time clock, which is HUGE with all that I have going on this summer with commitments and such. Nobody is watching over me as far as supervising goes - however, the guy that rents space from my dad's shop tends to watch over my shoulder just because he's a "oh, I just use that green wax twice a year." type of guy, and he's amazed at all the work im putting into these trucks.

The big thing for me is that I am making enough to cover my truck payments over the summer. Like I said, I'm just more looking for input on how well im making out on the deal.

[Mobilejoe]

I will hear something about this one !

Let's see, parent's raised you for 21 yrs, sending you to college, like Mike said you are learning a trade you can use later that is not costing a dime in materials and you can set your own hours.

No, I think you are getting paid enough.

I will give you credit as it sounds like you are giving him the best job possible as alot of people cut corners. Keep up the good work and finish school, you will look back on this time and think "you know my parents were good to me and I should try and look out for them".

[TSR6]

Yeah.. and thats part of the reason why I'm on the fence about even bringing it up. I feel as if I really could charge more, but I just didn't know if I felt like it was right. I was pretty sure I'd get some good opinions on here from those who have maybe "Been there...done that."

I do all of my parent's personal vehicles off the clock quite often too. I ended up doing my dad's car for him as a birthday surprise recently. It had never been fully waxed - just spray waxes and quick detailers. It's a garage queen sometimes... but it was still in need! Hearing what my dad has said to others about my work definately makes me feel good though.

[AMDin93103]

I suggest sticking with the ten bones per hour as you are very fortunate to have such flexible hours, low stress and a generous supervisor. Coming home from school and finding a job that will compensate you decently without taking a lot of flack from the general populous is invaluable.

If you would really like to go back to school in the fall with some extra dough; I suggest soliciting a few clay/polish/wax jobs to some of the other tenants where you are completing the work for your Parents company. Their vehicles are there already, no inconvenience. It seems you may have a captive audience and could possibly be able to educate some of them on proper vehicle maintenance while capitalizing on procedures that they are effectively unable to accomplish. One such job per week at $15 an hour could mean another $250 in your pocket a month? I'd be cool with that. . . you have NO overhead . . . anywhere!

Reimburse your pops for the polish used too.

HTH.