Interior only? Exterior only?

[35th Anniversary SS]

Ive recently been asked to do an interior only detail... I wasnt sure what to charge but after a little research I decided to go with $35/hr and banking on 3hrs tops. Ill be using my Bissell LGM for the first time as the customer wants the carpets deep cleaned, itll be my first time using more then APC+ and a brush.

Ive also recently been asked to do a exterior only... now this one Im stumped on. Polishing and claying is the longest part of my inside and out detail jobs.... honestly Im having a hard time justifying knocking more then $30-40 off the regular price. How do you guys do it?

The majority of cars I do are late model Camaros, Trans Ams, and Corvettes. My going rate for a inside (no machine carpet cleaning) and out with polishing by PC is $185, the rate is low because this is my first few months of actual customer work. Im planning on upping that rate next summer to over $200.

Anyways.. what would you quote for a exterior only if your rate was $185 for inside and out? Once again.. the interior at that rate isnt cleaned by machine, just spot removal by hand.

Im finding that I dont want to settle for less then $150. Does that sound ok?

Thanks in advance!

[N.E.W.car]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

I usually won't do an exterior (wash/clay/polish/wax) for less than $200.

I normally charge around $200 for an int/ext detail - but that only includes a wash and wax on the ext. Polishing and claying is extra.

Just for example: Next week I am polishing a black Mercedes S500. Whoever used a rotary on this thing was either on medication or had no clue what they were doing...lol. Anyway, a wash and #83 topped with #21 is costing them $300. It's probably going to take about 6 hours, so I figure $50/hour is decent enough - and this guy is going to sign a contract for a bi-weekly wash program AND throw me a few clients.

Anyway, I digress....

I would charge somewhere between $80 and $100 for an interior.

Exteriors are a bit different - I pretty much tell my customers I will only quote them after seeing the car. What people say over the phone and what I see when I get there is sometimes COMPLETELY different. One man's swirls are another man's rotary trails - if you know what I mean.

Here is my little bottom line: I won't work for friends for less than $30/hour. I won't work for general clients for less than $45/hour UNLESS I am going to be making money on the back end...ie, bi-weekly washes or they are sending me a few more jobs.

Also, I do my best to stay away from interior-only jobs. I usually only do those for friends, as I just don't find interiors enjoyable.

Hope that helps bud.

[35th Anniversary SS]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

Thanks for the advice... I appreciate it. Hopefully when I get a year or two under my belt Ill be able to complete a job a little faster and make a little more money. Sounds to me you have a really nice thing going, I hope to be there someday.

I wasnt too sure about doing this guys interior only until he also asked me to do his buddies Mustang GT exterior only. Hes having the GT done as a b-day present for his friend. I just secured a date to do both the same day.

[N.E.W.car]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

Mustangs are nice - nice flat panels and from what I have experienced they have "workable" clear coats.

I have only been detailing as a profession for about 8 months - it's all in how you market yourself and building up a client base.

ALWAYS ask for referrals, and NEVER leave a customer unless they are 100% satisfied with what they have paid you their hard-earned money to do.

Give the bi-weekly wash and vac programs a try. I am mobile, and believe me - the more I am out on the streets doing a car the more people stop by and ask about prices. I would say 80% of my business is referrals and people stopping when I am in the middle of a detail.

I would actually say it's a rare occurance when I DON'T have at least one person stop by when I am doing a car in a neighborhood.

As for doing work faster, don't worry about that end of it right now - you will get better at what you do, it's just a natural progression. By "'better" I mean more efficient. Detailing is somewhat of an artform - I believe you have to enjoy it to be really good at it. There are WAY too many ways to cut corners if you are just doing it to make money. I am in no way saying that about you, it's just an observation and something to think about.

Good luck!

[karazyman]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

Now, i'm curious... so what kind of contract do you make them sign?

[N.E.W.car]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

It's just a basic contract, written up for either 6 months or 12 months - saying that I will perform a wash and vacuum every two weeks (and usually a wax every two months) for a set monthly rate.

The rate depends on the client and the car - but it's usually between $60 and $100 a month.

[mshu7]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

How do you hold them to that contract? I mean, that's awesome that they agree to that but say they don't have time or aren't ready for your service, I assume you don't get paid?!?! Or are they paying up front?

I don't mean to sound negative, I think it's a great idea so I'm just trying to figure out how you hold them to all of it.

[SL1CK]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

How do you hold them to that contract? I mean, that's awesome that they agree to that but say they don't have time or aren't ready for your service, I assume you don't get paid?!?! Or are they paying up front?

I don't mean to sound negative, I think it's a great idea so I'm just trying to figure out how you hold them to all of it.

Thats what I was thinking!

[N.E.W.car]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

They sign and pay on a monthly basis - either a 6- or 12-month contract is signed. It's not too easy to get them to sign, but once they do there is a good chance they are the kind of client that will make a couple hours every couple weeks. I have not had any issues thus far.

I usually just say something like "would it be worth $XX a month for you to NEVER have to worry about washing or vacuuming your car?" It takes a certain kind of person to agree to this. Most of my monthly clients are Realtors or Insurance Salesmen - people who value self-image and first impressions.

Basically, the contract says I get paid - if they don't have time or can't make it the contract SAYS I get paid. Am I going to charge them, if they honestly can't make time? Probably not...it's in place more as a reminder to them - and it has been working.

Hopefully Joe, from Superior Shine, will chime in on this, he might have some more info to add - I think he has something close to what I am describing here as well.

[SL1CK]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

But do they just pay you all of it, or say, 60$ every month?

Sounds cool.

[N.E.W.car]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

They pay the $XX every month - it's not payed yearly.

I can see what your concerns are, but you have to understand that the people who are willing to sign a contract like this are the kind of people that WANT their car done every couple weeks. They appreciate the service and are glad to pay.

[mshu7]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

I understand what you're saying now. That's awesome that you have clients that will do that. I'll definitely keep that in mind!

[AdrianStewart]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

I personally pay a lawn service every 4-6 weeks ...

I also pay for bug treatments every 4-6 weeks ...

easy to understand a basic contract!

[rascal]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

They pay the $XX every month - it's not payed yearly.

I can see what your concerns are, but you have to understand that the people who are willing to sign a contract like this are the kind of people that WANT their car done every couple weeks. They appreciate the service and are glad to pay.

Anybody willing to sign a contract are 99% serious about their car and will make the time to keep that contract. Things happen so sometimes they won't make it once or twice in a month or two, but "upper class" folks who don't want to fool with their own car cleaning will make sure they pay somebody for it. That is especially true for Realtors and lawyers. Most of my clients are both and they are always concerned about the exterior and interior. N.E.W.car, any chance we can see an example of one of your contracts? If I start doing contracts, I would like an example to go by, not copy.

[mirrorfinishman]

Re: Interior only? Exterior only?

They sign and pay on a monthly basis - either a 6- or 12-month contract is signed.

Do they pay you at the end of the month, after you do the work? or do they pay you at the beginning of the month, before you do the work?