Price Question...

[spotdog14]

Hello, i am somewhat new to the pro detailing. As a summer job i joined up with one of my friends that owns a detailing business. But i do things on the side as well because i dont like to deal with dealerships (which is our main customers) Anyways everytime i wax my truck or my dads lincoln at home people stop and ask how much i charge! Well the only person i charge on the side is an old family friend that i do wax and interior cleaning on his car for $40. I know that is cheap but hes old! haha i have heard some people say $150 for just wax and so on. What would be a resonable charge, i was actually thinking some where around $20 an hour for what ever they want, it would cover costs, and since i like to do most things by hand it would take a little while longer too....


So what do you guys think i should charge starting out??


THANKS!!

[seandoleer]

I guess you would have to figure out how valuable is your time.
20,30,40 or 50 bucks an hour.

My wholesale price to dealers is about 175.00 I factor in aprox 1-1.5 hrs on the interior and about 1-1.5 on the paint (again approx). out of that I give my interior girl 50 bucks cash for every interior and I retain the rest for my labor and other costs.

[Jimmy Buffit]

Detailing is such a subjective term...

We spend 5-8 hours on vehicles. Doing everything we can to improve the vehicle.
I can't imagine completing a full detail in 2-3 hours!

Not meant to be a flame... we just see it differently.

Jim

[4.6GT]

Tough question -- are you just wash/wax or do you do a 3-step detail, with cleaner-polish-wax, interior, tires/wheels. Call around your area and ask what the others charge so you don't overchage or sell yourself short.

[seandoleer]

The price I mentioned in my previous post was for dealerships. They aren't interested in an 8 hour detail they want it on the lot and down the road as soon as possible.

Now on the other hand my clients that hire me to to their toys, ah yes that is the 8 hour plus and some big cash. Last week I did a ferrari 355 and charged out 599.95 and my client didn't even flinch when he got the invoice.

[mirrorfinishman]

Re: Price Question...

Originally posted by spotdog14
What would be a resonable charge, i was actually thinking some where around $20 an hour for what ever they want, it would cover costs

Since $20 an hour would cover your costs, it sounds like a good starting point. However, keep in mind that the profit you intend to make would be above and beyond just covering your costs.

[spotdog14]

alrighty then, thanks guys i may have to bump it up a little bit because i do do the three step process, but i dont like to do interios that much because well i just dont! haha i hate to do mine, but it has to be done, so i guess i would do it if they wanted me to....haha....but thank you very much for your opinons guys!

[xjdmb16a2six]

Originally posted by seandoleer
I did a ferrari 355 and charged out 599.95 and my client didn't even flinch when he got the invoice.

WOW ....... forget college im should learn how to be a pro detailer.

[mirrorfinishman]

Not so fast. Why settle for being a pro detailer, when you can go to college and learn everything you need to know about owning and operating your own detailing business? Now that sounds like a plan.

[xjdmb16a2six]

^^^ yeah that sounds like plan. im acutally majoring in business rite now. just dont know what kind of business should i start.

[mirrorfinishman]

Sometimes it's good to just take a hobby that you like and somehow figure out how to turn that hobby into a business. That way you can spend your time really doing want you like to do and make money at the same time.

[scrub]

Originally posted by xjdmb16a2six
^^^ yeah that sounds like plan. im acutally majoring in business rite now. just dont know what kind of business should i start.

My .02 start a business doing something you love and will make money at too.

Good luck!