Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

[Total Care Detailing]

Hello, I'm new to this site and had a question for you guys. I'm hand washing 4 Kenworth straight trucks weekly for a customer of mine. The wash includes vacuume, wipe down dash and door panels, clean windows inside and out, clean wheels (6), scrub tires and dress them, wash showing undercarriage, clean chrome and amuminum, and dry door jams. Its a top quality premium wash. I'm going to be charging him $80.00 per vehicle. Does that sound like a fair price? I think I may be undercutting myself, but I will be washing them weekly. Plus I will be doing his personal vehicle too which is a F-350 that I will be charging $40.00 I washed the first one today, and it took me about 2.5 hours to get it done. Let me know what you guys think. Also here is a pic of the truck for a better idea....Thanks!

[DogParkGuy]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

I would suggest keeping track of your time washing the trucks once you become efficient (after 3-4 washes). If the time spent is under 4 hours or less (equals $20/hour to wash), then stick with your price. If not, talk to your customer about adjusting either your price or the work done so you can reach a target of $20/hour for washing.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

$80 sounds too low. It really breaks down to twhat the 2nd poster says: How much does $80 translate into per hour? And what is your time worth after deducting for travel, gas, and cleaning materials. Don't forget to include how long it takes you to pack up all of your cleaning equipment after you're done. That could add another 30 minutes to an hour. Personally, I wouldn't charge less than $40 for a car wash, and a full sized sedan usually takes 90 minutes (for me) to wash properly. And that doesn't even include Last Touch or Quik Wax applications.

In fact, I often encourage friends to have their cars washed the day prior to performing a full correction so I only have to quick detail and clay their vehicles. Saves them money since I charge by the hour, and I give friends a discounted rate of $20 per hour. For someone I don't know who is not a veteran or elderly, I would charge $30 per hour.

[Total Care Detailing]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

I did the wash with my business partner. With the two of us washing the truck, it took about 2 1/2 hours. And like I said, its going to be a weekly account. So they should get some kind of discount for that...Correct, or am I wrong on that?

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

I did the wash with my business partner. With the two of us washing the truck, it took about 2 1/2 hours. And like I said, its going to be a weekly account. So they should get some kind of discount for that...Correct, or am I wrong on that?

2.5 hours between the two of you comes out to 5 man hours of labor, divided by $80 equals $16 per hour. I would imagine this doesn't include cleanup time, travel time, or cost of materials expended? Even so, it's not a bad amount and if the price was fair for you, your partner, and competitive for your area, then there is no need to second guess yourselves.

This is the price you contracted for, and you have a professional obligation to honor that commitment. Since you have indicated that your business is new, view this client as a gateway account and hope that your favorable rates, excellent service, and superior results will lead to something more valuable than just this account: Referrals to other clients.

But consider your costs, expenditures, and valuation of your time and services. Based upon those hard numbers, establish what you should charge on a go-forward basis. Too many new businesses fail because owners try to over-deliver and undercut their competition on price. Don't let this happen to you.

[Total Care Detailing]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

2.5 hours between the two of you comes out to 5 man hours of labor, divided by $80 equals $16 per hour. I would imagine this doesn't include cleanup time, travel time, or cost of materials expended? Even so, it's not a bad amount and if the price was fair for you, your partner, and competitive for your area, then there is no need to second guess yourselves.

This is the price you contracted for, and you have a professional obligation to honor that commitment. Since you have indicated that your business is new, view this client as a gateway account and hope that your favorable rates, excellent service, and superior results will lead to something more valuable than just this account: Referrals to other clients.

But consider your costs, expenditures, and valuation of your time and services. Based upon those hard numbers, establish what you should charge on a go-forward basis. Too many new businesses fail because owners try to over-deliver and undercut their competition on price. Don't let this happen to you.

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words.

[William_F]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

You may find that since you will be doing these vehicles on a weekly basis that the amount of time it takes to keep them up is going to be far less than what cleaning them up the first couple of times will be.

As a result, the jobs will get faster and easier as you go along.

The bottom line is what YOU feel comfortable bringing home at the end of the day. If you're happy with the split, then you're doing it right.

[Total Care Detailing]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

You may find that since you will be doing these vehicles on a weekly basis that the amount of time it takes to keep them up is going to be far less than what cleaning them up the first couple of times will be.

As a result, the jobs will get faster and easier as you go along.

The bottom line is what YOU feel comfortable bringing home at the end of the day. If you're happy with the split, then you're doing it right.

Yeah, just like you said. Its going to get easier to get them done once we get used to it. I'm hoping to get one truck done in about 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours at the longest!

[Tuck91]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

I wash/detail an F-650 about twice a month and I charge about $100 each time.

[Justin Murphy]

Re: Hand Washing Large Vehicle Pricing??

100.00 per big rig but........

If there are more than 3 at a time and they are together on the lot aka side by side, I would knock off 15.00 per vehicle. You have to take care of those who send you volume and keep you from running all over.

I work my prices so that I'm getting 45.00 per hour. That's factoring in my taxes, accountant, truck, advertising, supplies...blah blah.......not just an hourly figure as if I was working in a factory.