Does my price seem reasonable?

[invertalon]

I am starting to do detailing for friends and family, and need to make extra money doing this, but I need to be fair as well.

For my "service", I plan to:

1.) Wash
2.) Clay
3.) Rinse & Dry
4.) Paint Cleaner
5.) Scratch X areas that need it
6.) Polish
7.) Wax
8.) PlastX headlights, Rain X windows
8.) Vacuum interior, interior detail with spray and such, not too much here.
9.) Tire Gel and Wheel Cleaning

I plan to charge about $125 for it, and expect it to be around 6hrs of work, with my PC 7424.

What you think?

[AjNavo61490]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

seems low for all the work done.. i would charge 150 for a car and 180 for a SUV/Truck

[Murr1525]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

Might be a hair low... You might want to look at a product like #66 Quick Detailer instead of doing all the seperate steps.

[invertalon]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

Sounds good... I will probably try out my price first and see what results I get and change it from there. My first cars will be my dad and brothers and depending how well they turn out I will justify the price based on that. But $150 sounds good for everybody else, depending on size.

[Lt1Corvette]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

Price seems reasonable. I'll second #66, it'll save you a lot of time. Doing that on the avg. car, I would estimate less than four hours.

[mirrorfinishman]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

Steve,

Sounds like you are willing to make around $20 per hour. Not a bad part time job for someone just starting out. With low overhead expenses you should be able to make a little profit.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

If you're doing this, as you say, for friends and family then your price is probably OK. I would recommend that you ask them to not reveal your "Friends & Family Discount" to others though. If, for example, a coworker of one of your relatives comments on how great a job you did and is interested in having you do their car, you need to then discuss what their expectations are, evaluate the condition of the car and then charge accordingly. Depending on your geographic area, client demographics and your abilities, a similar full process could easily fetch double what you are charging friends and family.

Never sell yourself short.

[invertalon]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

Sounds great man, thanks for the heads up.

As I am just starting my first cars will be my dad and brothers car, which are in both in need of a bad detailing. If all goes well there and I really see how long it takes me and how well I can detail them, I will probably re-do my price lists and adjust and all that for future cars. But its nice to know that depending on the work I could raise it without overcharging.

Thanks!

[TKDDAD]

Re: Does my price seem reasonable?

Sounds great man, thanks for the heads up.

As I am just starting my first cars will be my dad and brothers car, which are in both in need of a bad detailing. If all goes well there and I really see how long it takes me and how well I can detail them, I will probably re-do my price lists and adjust and all that for future cars. But its nice to know that depending on the work I could raise it without overcharging.

Thanks!

The one thing I have learned that is very important is SEE the car before you quote a price. Early on, I got stung a couple of times and quoted a price for a complete detail including interior....big, big mistake...dog hair, french fries, stains...ugh..

also, the condition of the paint will require different approaches depending on severity of the swirls etc. And the darker the color, the more time you'll spend because you'll see everything. On white, silver cars, it's easier in my opinion. That's my experience anyway. Good luck and if people like your work, be proud of what you can do and charge what you're worth.