How would you charge for paint correction?

[lasers]

First off, I hope I never have to make another topic like this as I am sure that there are many of them posted all the time. However, I need advice on how to approach this. I have detailed my TBSS, Cobra and other family/ friends vehicles, but overall do not have a ton of experience. I had a friend (not a super close friend, but still I know the guy well enough) that just bought a Dodge Ram sport (single cab). It is the dark metallic green color, and is a 2011. He bought it from a used car place and they "buffed" it. There are swirls in the paint from this over the whole truck. As stated in my other thread, I have horrible water at my house and cannot wash anything. So he is going to wash the truck and I am going to clay/polish/seal it. I am guessing it's got about 8 hours worth of work with a PC to get it nice, so basically my entire saturday. Since I'm not washing it, I'm not going to use a horrible amount of product, just both polishes, sealant, VRT, and detail spray/clay. So, how should I charge him? I'd do it for free but it's my saturday and there are a lot of other things I'd rather be doing/need to do than detailing his truck. I'm thinking $150 is pretty fair for a correction, I KNOW I can get it looking nice though. What do you guys think I should do in this situation?

[CMDChase]

First, when you figure the cost of the products used, don't forget to include the cost of wear and tear and your pads and PC. Second, I charge $25 an hour plus expenses which will vary from vehicle to vehicle. If you want to cut this guy a break, I wouldn't go too much lower. After all, you are giving up an entire day and, regardless of the amount of experience you have, you are also charging him for your knowledge. Don't sell yourself short. You didn't mention the wheels. Are you going to do them too?

[BMWguy206]

If you're going to do a clay/one step polish/sealant on a pick-up truck, then I would charge a minimum of $200 but aim for $250

[Baron_Von_Awesome]

First, when you figure the cost of the products used, don't forget to include the cost of wear and tear and your pads and PC. Second, I charge $25 an hour plus expenses which will vary from vehicle to vehicle. If you want to cut this guy a break, I wouldn't go too much lower. After all, you are giving up an entire day and, regardless of the amount of experience you have, you are also charging him for your knowledge. Don't sell yourself short. You didn't mention the wheels. Are you going to do them too?

I'm curious - how are you amortizing foam pads and a polisher??

Edited September 4, 2013 by Baron_Von_Awesome

[lasers]

Thanks for the input guys. Sounds like I'll increase my first figure a little bit. Plus, I may get the word around that I am detailing and get a little side business going, charging more for people I don't know and as I get experience. I am not touching the wheels or wheel wells, even though they need it. I'll ask him, though. I can do those at the house. 

[dipolley]

Hourly rate. You can estimate how long it will take in your quote but a paint correction never goes as planned. Charge them by the hour.

[LFairbanks]

I copied and pasted this from another thread and this was my response.  (bottom paragraph) I might also add, I'am curious as to where the 25 an hour figure comes about?  I have seen it posted elsewhere, not just here.  Is it what your paid at your day job, what you feel it's worth, or do your skills really command that figure?  I know if I were to charge someone an hourly rate for what I'am paid at my day job they would tell me to forget it.  The problem I see with an hourly rate is that from a customers perspective they may think your slow and or milking it for all it's worth.  IMO, a by the job rate is probably the way to go.  

 

 

Your probably going to get a lot of different opinions on this.  My thought is do what makes you feel good and the person your doing it for feels good about.  Whether it be hourly rate or by the job.  I would suspect by the job in this instance would be the way to go.  If anything your just going to get more experience out of it.  And if it is something you enjoy doing don't look at as a money maker, but something you enjoy doing and gaining of experience.  As your experience dictates you can then expand on your prices.  The biggest key IMO is to do good work. 

 

http://www.adamsforums.com/topic/24780-detailing-costs-for-a-car/

Edited September 4, 2013 by LFairbanks