pricing, detail...?

[Cosmin]

beginner here , and in plans to start on my own, so some of the packages will be adjust in time , but until i learn on my own , here is what i want to go so far, also do i have to go in more details explaining the package?


package 1
basic wash/wax 2h? 45$?
-exterior: hand wash / clean+dress tires /one coat wax or seal
-interior : vaccum inside / floor mats cleaned / clean+wipe down interior / clean windows

package 2
basic wash/wax plus 3h? 60?
is the package 1 plus clay bar treatment , hand wash (second) , 2 coats wax/seal

package 3
Hide Express package 4h? 70?
package 2 plus leather treatment , one step cleaner wax paint to hide imperfections.

package 4
remove express package 4h 100?
package 2 plus leather treatment , one step swirl remover

package 5
remove express plus package 6-10h 250
restore like new condition 1-3 steps paint correction plus package 2

package 6
Show Car Detail
car must be seen for estimate.

add ons
headlight restore 1pair 45
engine detail 25?
remove scratch 25$/body panel
paint touch-up chip estimate ?
paint touch-up deep scratch estimate?

wetsand estimate?

[Carfire]

Re: pricing, detail...?

Prices Sound Good!!
Good Luck with your business!!
It can get a little overwhelming sometimes, trust me I know.

[Cosmin]

Re: pricing, detail...?

Prices Sound Good!!
Good Luck with your business!!
It can get a little overwhelming sometimes, trust me I know.

the price has to be realistic and affordable / and time and dificulty make the difference . once i get started and get a little base customers , i will rise the bar and i should improve my service too.

[MrCLRider]

Re: pricing, detail...?

Do not sell yourself short. Look through Craigslist in your area, check out the competators. Put yourself just above their pricing. You are not trying to offer them a good deal, but the best service possible. I'm not suggesting putting yourself out there at 40 dollars an hour right now, but stay around the 20-25 dollar an hour range. You are very close to that, and with great results people will not mind paying it. I always go by the saying "you get what you pay for". If you are like me at all you will quote 3 hours and it will probably take 4.5. Good luck with it all though!

[TH0001]

Re: pricing, detail...?

I can tell you in Dallas there are several high level detailers who are making between $75 to $100 an hour and booked with work for weeks. These are very high level professionals who perfect cars, but even for a begineer I believe the market will bare more.

[tripwuzhere]

Re: pricing, detail...?

whoa those prices are good. how good is your work?

[Cosmin]

Re: pricing, detail...?

whoa those prices are good. how good is your work?

here are few :

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32664

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32443

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31916

i would say i am not that good but with good chances to rich a professional level . i know are good detailers in Dallas but they do a car/max 2-3 a day. so there are still a lot left. all i have to do is to get better and better in quality.

[DrdetailNashville]

Re: pricing, detail...?

I try pretty hard not to give prices before I see the vehicle. However, that's one of the first questions I'm usually asked. I have established some typical price ranges (i.e. complete detail on a normal sized sedan $120 - $180) then I do an inspection of the vehicle preferably with the customer and quote a final price. That way if I arrive at a customers house and the vehicle is totally trashed, which happens quite regularly to me, then I'm not working 5-6 hours for $100 because the customer told me over the phone it wasn't that dirty . Good luck with your business.

[Bounty]

Re: pricing, detail...?

I can tell you in Dallas there are several high level detailers who are making between $75 to $100 an hour and booked with work for weeks. These are very high level professionals who perfect cars, but even for a begineer I believe the market will bare more.

...here in South Florida as a modest part-time detailer I command $35 an hour and get it. Sure, there were those at first who balked at the price when they could get a "full detail" for $20 or $30 at the local corner car wash (read swirl installers), but this is what you want to weed out. I don't make a living from this so I don't need 20 car washes a week to survive. One of the MOST IMPORTANT things I learned early on was how to say no.

So many times customers want you to vary from your routine, do things their way, lower prices, rush the job, drive all over town, complain, gripe, and sometimes even try to defraud or cheat their way out of paying. Sometimes the job is just outside your skill level. Whatever the reason sometimes no is better than yes to a job.

That being said, I think $25 an hour for a professional full-time detailer is a little low. $60 for interior detail, clay bar, a wash and 2 coats of wax?! You should be starting that job at around $100 in my opinion. Even at your rate of $25 an hour this covers 4 hours. It should take you at least that long to properly complete the work described above. $60 is selling yourself way short.

As for the paint correction passes I like to do a test spot and evaluate what my process will need to be. For example if I can finish with one pass of a product then I consider it a one-step job. Two passes equals a two-step job and so on. I usually charge/estimate it will cost $200 to $250 or so per pass on most vehicles. So if I can take a polishing pad and M205 and one pass does it you're looking at $250. If I need to hit it with a cutting pad and M105 followed by polishing pad and M205 you're at $500. Should a wool pad/heavy compound followed by two additional steps be needed you're at $750. Sound crazy? Hardly....three steps on a vehicle will be two days for me and 20 hours. So at my $35 an hour rate that is right on.

There are more than a few professional detailers in my area charging $75 to $125 an hour...or in other words, approaching the cost of a repaint for a full-scale paint correction. Really get a feel for what high-end detailers not the local corner wash guys on the low end and gauge yourself accordingly...

[john m.]

Re: pricing, detail...?

I have to agree that your prices are a little low and I would suggest to bump them up a little. Maybe not up to the price of the really good people in dallas like Nick but I still think your prices are a tad low. I understand you want to get things rolling but think of it like this. If you know the cars you are targeting and find a group of those people and get to do a couple of cars, they will be sending work your way and it will be a continous cycle. Then if you need to weed out some bumb up the price and quality!

[Cosmin]

Re: pricing, detail...?

well , it will be better if on my website i will not post any prices, just the packages, or just a note that it will be an estimate after seeing the car? or just add the packages in the service section and give prices but with a tolerance of 20-30 $ example: 60-85 depends of the vehicle , and vehicle condition.
also i know are low , but i was think to go for a month or two until i get more experience, a routine , customers . and after that adjust the prices and of course the quality will be improved too. i plan start in jan , so this summer i will get some more equipment and more friends car projects.

[Bounty]

Re: pricing, detail...?

well , it will be better if on my website i will not post any prices, just the packages, or just a note that it will be an estimate after seeing the car? or just add the packages in the service section and give prices but with a tolerance of 20-30 $ example: 60-85 depends of the vehicle , and vehicle condition.

I would always add some form of disclaimer for pricing based on vehicle size and condition. A new Honda is not going to be the same as a conversion van from '85. Different jobs require different pricing. I would also consider separating pricing into basic packages (interior, wash, wash/wax, etc) and then deluxe packages (interior detail w/ carpet extraction and leather conditioning, exterior wash/clay/sealant, paint correction and maybe a "total vehicle restoration" package).

also i know are low , but i was think to go for a month or two until i get more experience, a routine , customers . and after that adjust the prices and of course the quality will be improved too. i plan start in jan , so this summer i will get some more equipment and more friends car projects.

Not a bad idea to get off the ground but remember customers don't like paying $60 for a wash/wax and then a month later $100. It's a big jump for them and sometimes hard for you to explain away. Remember to consider your fuel, travel time, materials, etc. I would start off figuring how long you would take timewise on each package and factor your $25 hourly rate into the price. For example, a 4-hour wash/clay/wax with interior wipedown and vacuum should be at least $100 to really be worth your while.

If you don't want to start off that high, you can set the price at $100 for that package and offer like a 20% discount or something for the first month or on their first detail with you. After that it's regular price. That way your price point is established and it won't seem like a price hike later on...

[Cosmin]

Re: pricing, detail...?

let`s try gain , i may give some discount for first time customer with multiple car owner 2+, also at package 4 not sure... how to deal with. also i don`t have an extractor , and don`t have my own power and water....


package 1
basic wash/wax 2h?
50$ all cars
70$ small trucks/suv/minivan
90$ large trucks/suv/minivan
-exterior: hand wash / clean+dress tires /one coat wax or seal
-interior : vaccum inside / floor mats cleaned / clean+wipe down interior / clean windows in /out


package 2
basic plus wash/clay/wax plus 4h?
110$ all cars
130$ small suv/truck/minivan
150$ large suv/truck/minivan
-exterior: 2 hand wash/clay bar treatment/clean+dress tires/2 coats wax or seal
-interior: vaccum inside /floor mats cleaned/ clean +wipe down interior/clean windows in/out

package 3
express package 6h-7h 180-250?
180$ all cars
200$ small suv/truck/minivan
220$ large suv/truck/minivan
-exterior: 2 hand wash/clay bar/clean +dress tires/one step swirl remover with DA /2 coats wax or seal
-interior: vaccum inside/floor mats cleaned/clean +wipe down interior/clean windows in/ out

package 4
delux package 6-10h+ 250 up
restore like new condition 1-3 steps paint correction (80-95% correction)plus package 2 , leather treatment, engine detail .

package 5
Show Car Detail
car must be seen for estimate.

add ons

50$ headlight restore 1pair
30$ engine detail
250$ leather color restoration (2seats)
20$-40$ leather treatment
additional 20 for dirty interiors
10$ for extra coat wax/seal
20$ for all windows treatment (rainx)
an estimatewill be made after seeing the car for :
- remove minor scratch
- paint touch-up chip
- paint touch-up deep scratch (key-mark)
- Tree Sap / Heavy Road Tar,
- Hard Water Spots/ Swirl marks, overspray removal.

[Bounty]

Re: pricing, detail...?

let`s try gain , i may give some discount for first time customer with multiple car owner 2+, also at package 4 not sure... how to deal with.

Like the initial discount idea (maybe because I suggested it....lol).

package 1
basic wash/wax 2h?
50$ all cars
70$ small trucks/suv/minivan
90$ large trucks/suv/minivan
-exterior: hand wash / clean+dress tires /one coat wax or seal
-interior : vaccum inside / floor mats cleaned / clean+wipe down interior / clean windows in /out

Looks good and at your $25 hourly rate this appears right on...

package 2
basic plus wash/clay/wax plus 4h?
110$ all cars
130$ small suv/truck/minivan
150$ large suv/truck/minivan
-exterior: 2 hand wash/clay bar treatment/clean+dress tires/2 coats wax or seal
-interior: vaccum inside /floor mats cleaned/ clean +wipe down interior/clean windows in/out

Again, pricing looks good and more representative of your time than before...

package 3
express package 6h-7h 180-250?
180$ all cars
200$ small suv/truck/minivan
220$ large suv/truck/minivan
-exterior: 2 hand wash/clay bar/clean +dress tires/one step swirl remover with DA /2 coats wax or seal
-interior: vaccum inside/floor mats cleaned/clean +wipe down interior/clean windows in/ out

Still looks fair to me...

package 4
delux package 6-10h+ 250 up
restore like new condition 1-3 steps paint correction (80-95% correction)plus package 2 , leather treatment, engine detail .

I'd still work the basic $250 per pass rule of thumb here....one step process is $250, two steps is $500, three steps is $750. This is the only real way to accurately quote your time, materials, and restoration efforts.

package 5
Show Car Detail
car must be seen for estimate.

Obviously use your discretion here...

add ons

50$ headlight restore 1pair
30$ engine detail
250$ leather color restoration (2seats)
20$-40$ leather treatment
additional 20 for dirty interiors
10$ for extra coat wax/seal
20$ for all windows treatment (rainx)
an estimatewill be made after seeing the car for :
- remove minor scratch
- paint touch-up chip
- paint touch-up deep scratch (key-mark)
- Tree Sap / Heavy Road Tar,
- Hard Water Spots/ Swirl marks, overspray removal.

What is included in the leather restoration that makes it $250? That's equivalent to 10 hours labor or a complete pass around the car with a buffer...is it that labor intensive especially when a "leather treatment" is $20? Rest of it seems ok with minor tweaking here and there. I would add a disclaimer somewhere that indicates assessment needed prior to final agreement which includes vehicle interior/exterior condition, age, and size.

[Cosmin]

Re: pricing, detail...?

250$ to restore leather with leatherique , a whole kit runs up to 200 with color match included , and u can do 1 or 2 cars , is for repair cracks , u refinish with paint the seats. at first project i may go minus in time put into , but when i have a second job of seats restore i will have a 200 extra all i have to buy second time is match paint. what this system does is repair and bring the leather to brand new condition, and is kind of time investment, a min 1-2 hours , but the car has to stay in your garage for 5 hours or one day , i plan use heat gun to speed the process. not sure if i wanna go with this add ons to my list but i keep it like an option.it may require to remove seats , and that`s not fun, not sure if is worth it.
i did a search to the detailers in my area and i readjust the price acordigly , i may have to explain the steps better.

package 1 is the same.
package 2
basic plus wash/clay/wax plus 4h?
150$ all cars
170$ small suv/truck/minivan
190$ large suv/truck/minivan
-exterior: 2 hand wash/clay bar treatment/clean+dress tires/2 coats wax or seal
-interior: vaccum inside /floor mats cleaned/ clean +wipe down interior/clean windows in/out

package 3
express package 6h-7h 180-250?
200$ all cars
220$ small suv/truck/minivan
240$ large suv/truck/minivan
-exterior: 2 hand wash/clay bar/clean +dress tires/one step swirl remover with machine polisher /2 coats wax or seal
-interior: vaccum inside/floor mats cleaned/clean +wipe down interior/clean windows in/ out

package 4
delux package 6-10h+ 300 up
restore like new condition 1-3 steps paint correction (80-95% correction)plus package 2 , leather treatment, engine detail .