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I have recently started restoring headlights for some people I know. As of right now I'm only charging $20 per car and thats for sanding down and polishing, plus using a eurathane sealant so the lights don't just cloud back up in a couple of months. I know a lot of guys are charging $50-$75 for this service on top of their other detail package. I'm only doing the headlight resto's for right now until I learn more about polishing paint. Does anyone think I should charge more? What I was thinking was go , for now, $20 for a basic sand and polish and then add say $5 to $10 more for the sealing step. looking for opinions right now. Let's hear what the experts have to say.
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
At $20, after you considering your materials, travel and/or setup and clean-up time, the time doing the work, the time arranging the appointment, etc, how can you possibly make any money?
At best you might have time for 6-8 of those a day, if you magically found that many customers - which would be unlikely to expect on an on-going basis.
Most people charge more than $20 for a basic exterior hand car wash where I live. I think you should figure out what your time is worth, what the materials cost, and compare it o the market pricing and what customers are willing to pay, and price accordingly.
It's one thing to try and be the "value" guy, but $20 for what SHOULD take at least an hour to do start to finish is really getting a bit ridiculous. Now, if this is purely a hobby and you are looking for nothing but experience, then I guess have at it... but you are hurting the local detailing economy and the people that rely on this for a living as they will not be able to match or beat those prices and pay the bills.
I say look around and price accordingly, somewhere in the $75 realm - especially with an added protective coating. -
Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
Your price does seem low.
Have you called around your area to see what others charge?
That would be my next step.quality creates its own demandComment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
Well I do realize that $20 is a real low price. But here in Michigan, at least in my area, there really aren't any detail shops to contend with. Plus, I'm just starting this whole thing and am looking to get my foot in the door. once business picks up and more customers are coming in, I planned on upping the price to be more competitive. I'm not looking to lowball anyone else as I'm the only person in my area that does this sort of thing. The protective coating will be an additional $10 per set of lights. The thing I didn't want to do is start off charging $50 to $75 and not have any business coming in and not making any money at all VS making a little to start and see how this kind of service is looked at in my area. Thanks for all the opinions and Mark, Maybe its just me but I think your whole tone in your post was a bit harsh especially as I'm a new guy in the game of detailing. I've got to get my name out there and see what happens. But thanks for the opinions and I hope to hear more from others.
Chad.Comment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
$20.00 is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy to low. Are you a "official business" or just doing this on the side??...........If you were in my area you could charge around $75.00-100 for this service..being that you say their is not to many shops to contend with...you should be charging more for this service since it is not avail in your area. (demand drives price)
Sometimes being to low makes your reputation questionable as well....start making phone calls even out of your area and see what the area average is and go from there!!Comment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
Originally posted by Jumper09 View Post
Having low prices at first then jacking them up after will hurt you. One thing i can tell you since i own my own bussiness (restaruant) people aren't going to pay $20 at first and then $75 later.
I detail cars and trucks on the side when i'm not working at the restaruant and my prices are the same as the other detail shops around my area..I might not be that busy but at least every time i detail a car or truck i make money.Comment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
Exactly.Originally posted by aris View Post
It's one thing to start 15% lower or so to get some referrals, but going THAT low you will hurt yourself long term because people will expect the same price.
They will think, "If their friend paid $20, why should they pay $75?"
I say try something around $50. I think you will find it is still a great bargain, but also closer to a sustainable price.Comment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
The only other person around me is doing headlights for $40.00 per car. And I don't think that he is offering any type of UV sealer as an add on. So my thought was go $40 for the standard sand and polish and an extra $10 for the sealing step.that brings the total up to $50 and I'm worried about little to no business and I'm trying to make a little money while doing something I like.Comment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
That sounds like a good startOriginally posted by Jumper09 View Post
Maybe also think about doing a bundle price for a full detail?Comment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
Now Mark, when you say "full detail", I'm assuming you mean maybe a full wash, paint correction, polish, wax, interior clean and the like. I would love absolutly nothing more than to start doing that, but money's tight and I haven't gotton into all of that yet. As my skills improve in other areas and the money starts to come in, a full detail will be next on the list of services that are available. I also want to thank you ans the other board members for all the opinions and advice. It really helps a lot in deciding what I should do.Comment
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
Many detailers offer what they call a "full" detail for about $125-175, which would include a wash, wax, clean wheels, dress tires, clean windows, vacuum interior and do an interior wipe down.Originally posted by Jumper09 View Post
A job like that will take anywhere from 1.5-4 hours depending on the vehicle and how fast you work.
To do work like that you would need fairly limited supplies:
Car wash soap (Meguiar's offers many bulk and concentrated solutions)
A few wash mitts
Drying towels
2 wash buckets, 2 grit guards (now available from Meguiar's)
Window cleaner (can be had in concentrate or spray bottle)
All-purpose Cleaner Plus for interior cleaning
Interior Quik Detailer is a good idea for dash wipe downs and such
I would recommend M66 Quik Detailer for the wax, it has cleaners and polish built-in, goes on SUPER easy and fast, and wipes off with ease. GREAT product for volume details and personal details alike.
Microfiber towels, supreme shine if you can afford them, the Premium bulk towels from AutoDetailingSolutions.net if you are tight on money.
For the tires you have several options, bulk available as well.
Honestly, for around $200 you would have enough supplies to do basic full details and it should last you for dozens of jobs. You should make the money back in two jobs.
Something to consider
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Re: Lets Hear What The Experts Have to say!
Lucky me!!! As of today, I was looking on craigslist and found a local car dealership that is looking to hire and train another detailer. I think all the knowledge that I have aquired from the Meguiars, Mothers and Autogeek.net sites, I should be able to be a very good detailer. The only thing I lack is experience, and thats mostly because of monetary issues with not being able to buy even some of the things that I would need to start detailing. Looking to talk to them maybe early saturday morning and see what happens from there. Hoping everyone wishes me luck.Comment
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