costs done my way

[CarbonBlack]

Here's how I do it, comment/suggest changes

I charge the customer for all the materials (no markup)

I then charge $15 per hour.

a civic (approx 3 hrs work) (3*$15=$45) plus $10-$15 materials = $55-$60


I work in their driveway, and only need water and electricity.
I am a one man team, and don't pay for health insurance ETC.

thanks,
nick

[R Evolution1]

Re: costs done my way

Sounds reasonable to me.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: costs done my way

If it works for you, and you are happy then go for it. Sounds okay.

[yalerd]

Re: costs done my way

Agree with 23jam

[RaskyR1]

Re: costs done my way

It's different from what most members charge but I think it sounds good. It kind of makes it sound like the customer is getting a real good deal when they hear $15/hr. LOL, It's like going in for a $19.99 Oil change and then leaving with a $30+ bill.

[TKDDAD]

Re: costs done my way

what services are you performing for that $55-$60 ?. Seems kinda low to me when you include the cost of materials too.

[Superior Shine]

Re: costs done my way

How nice and simple.

How much do you take out if you damage the car? How much if there is property damage or personal injury.

Are you trained, formerly trained? If so that cost was omitted from your figure.

In your calculations there looks like your stiffing the government as well, license fees and taxes. Do pay taxes don't you?

Is your equipment stolen or was it all a gift?

If you can't get somebody to give it to you stolen equipment is much cheap than the good brand new stuff but your going to have to deduct that as well from your figures.

No health insurance? What about vacation pay? Money for purchase and service /repair of your equipment?

Are you collecting the waste water or bending the rules there as well?

I'd guess your worth every penny of that $15 an hour.

Get my point?

[dietoremain]

Re: costs done my way

Yes I think hes what you call a weekend detailer. (like me) if hes doin it all the time hes def. pushing it and uncle sam will find out.

[CarbonBlack]

Re: costs done my way

Superior Shine, I know you mean well, and you are a whole lot more experienced than myself, so the input is appreciated. my reply may seem defensive, and I suppose it may be a little. I realize you are a busy man (36 buses would take forever), so the time you spend on the forum with us newbies speaks highly of your character.

How much do you take out if you damage the car? How much if there is property damage or personal injury.

Great point, never thought of that, colorado is esp. sue happy!

Are you trained, formerly trained? If so that cost was omitted from your figure.

I am 19 years old, I have no desire to EVER grow to the point of training. I am going to be working up to a job as a medical professional. I want training, only for my own car care

In your calculations there looks like your stiffing the government as well, license fees and taxes. Do pay taxes don't you?

I don't care about license fees. are any (19 year old) baby sitters licensed? I make what she does +- a few bucks. I am also about as money orientated as your average neighborhood sitter. As far as taxes, they're illegal anyways.

Is your equipment stolen or was it all a gift?

I have paid for my stuff, with the $ i earn. I detailed my first car by hand, and went from there. my first post was entitled "financing my obsession through my obsession" . that sums up my overall detailing goals

If you can't get somebody to give it to you stolen equipment is much cheap than the good brand new stuff but your going to have to deduct that as well from your figures.

Not stolen

No health insurance? What about vacation pay? Money for purchase and service /repair of your equipment?

- I do a job a week, the rest of the time is vacation

Are you collecting the waste water or bending the rules there as well?

I don't care about collecting waste water. one car a week doesn't matter.


once again, thanks, and Superior shine is at the top of my bookmarks list

[cm2005300]

Re: costs done my way

Superior Shine, I know you mean well, and you are a whole lot more experienced than myself, so the input is appreciated. my reply may seem defensive, and I suppose it may be a little. I realize you are a busy man (36 buses would take forever), so the time you spend on the forum with us newbies speaks highly of your character.


Great point, never thought of that, colorado is esp. sue happy!

I am 19 years old, I have no desire to EVER grow to the point of training. I am going to be working up to a job as a medical professional. I want training, only for my own car care

I don't care about license fees. are any (19 year old) baby sitters licensed? I make what she does +- a few bucks. I am also about as money orientated as your average neighborhood sitter. As far as taxes, they're illegal anyways.


I have paid for my stuff, with the $ i earn. I detailed my first car by hand, and went from there. my first post was entitled "financing my obsession through my obsession" . that sums up my overall detailing goals

Not stolen

- I do a job a week, the rest of the time is vacation

I don't care about collecting waste water. one car a week doesn't matter.


once again, thanks, and Superior shine is at the top of my bookmarks list

well said buddy

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: costs done my way

As far as taxes, they're illegal anyways.

This made me crack up laughing! I couldn't agree more! Reminds me of someone whom I have great respect for, Ron Paul! R(EVOL)ation!

Back on topic, I think $15 is a little low. I know when I did detailing for the exact same reason you did, as simply experience for my own car and a few extra dollars, I charged $20/hr + ALL expenses (gas/supplies/type of car with suv vs car/food/laundry for equipment...you get the idea). Overall, I would charge probably $150 for a full 6 hour detail or $100 for 4 hours. It wasn't enough to make a living, but it was enough to pay for me being able to work on someone elses car and buy more equipment.

I now have a garage that is about as decked out as an apartment garage can be with enough tools, waxes and such to last a long, long time. I learned a lot about how to tackle random things that I might encounter on my cars as well. I hope your experience is as rewarding as mine was! I still have family members asking for their cars to be detailed which I will gladly do for them if I have time!

[CarbonBlack]

Re: costs done my way

This made me crack up laughing! I couldn't agree more! Reminds me of someone whom I have great respect for, Ron Paul! R(EVOL)ation!

this isn't a political site, but I feel like you do! I will have to shoot you a email come election time

[sneek]

Re: costs done my way

Are you just washing and waxing?

I think once you start doing correction things get complicated. Paints vary so much these days, and well I think most people paying for services want to know how much it will cost before they let you detail the car.

Defects vary so much, and so does the time it take to correct them.
Here is an example.
1.
Before:

After:

2.
Before:

After:

3.
Before:

After:


I find that the lower you charge the worse the condition of some of the cars that you get. Sometimes cars are beyond repairable, and people do expect you to fix it for $15 an hour. I will be honest with you, I have gotten in over my head a lot of times when I started out. I mean looking at my past details I thought from easiest to hardest it would be 321...but it was really 213. I am guessing you don't really care about making money yet, which is fine, you just want to learn, but $15 an hour just seems to low.

[Superior Shine]

Re: costs done my way

I understand. I am not busting your chops, just food for thought thats all.

Thank you for your being frank about your thoughts. .

[AeroCleanse]

Re: costs done my way

Where I'm from, you don't need a license to detail anything. You do need a sellers permit and collect sales tax. You should at least look into insurance, it only takes one annoyed person to ruin your finances for a long long time.