dnull Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Hey guys, Ive been doing side detail jobs for friends and family for along time. Ive decided to get serious about doing this as a side business now that I have the garage and time to get more serious about it. Question is what are you guys charging? can someone give me a run down of what you offer and what you charge per service. I am also thinking of offering a referral punch card type deal that if a customer refers 5 new customers they receive a free detail. any input is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirahnah3 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Honestly it will make a difference as to your location as well some other things In the city vs the country are you a mobil detailer, or do they need to come to you. What are the local places charging? have you decided on what you want to really do for detailing are you offering multiple service levels or just the one? Doing interiors? Those are just off the top of my head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnull Posted January 28, 2016 Author Share Posted January 28, 2016 I guess you could say we live in the suburbs, not mobile but plan to offer pickup and delivery, most of the local places Ive seen are very expensive for the service they provide, I am capable of complete paint correction as well as equipped with a steam cleaner and extractor, I would like to offer packages, and yes capable of doing interiors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James__ Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 The other detailing services around will really drive the prices. Also, pickup and delivery poses a serious liability issue and would have to be covered by your automotive insurance company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill-V8V Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) Insurance insurance insurance. Did I mention insurance ??? Edited January 28, 2016 by Bill-V8V Steve_S 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirahnah3 Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I would really use their pricing to help drive yours, dont undercut it a ton, you will get the work sure, but you will become over burdened with work and also tick off all the locals who will in turn attempt to trash your business to regain theirs. Insurance is huge too! cant forget that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMDChase Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 I give an estimate of $25 an hour. I base the estimate on how long I feel It will take me based on what the customer wants done and the condition of the vehicle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Performance Auto Detailing Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 (edited) I would majorly pass on pick up/delivery, way too much liability. Make sure you have insurance that covers it if you decide to do it though. I'm usually in the $50-100 range per hour - sometimes more, sometimes less because it depends entirely on the particular job. I don't charge by the hour but rather base the cost of my packages around how many hours it will take and what I want to make. So if a Wash/Clay/Seal + Basic Interior Detail will take you 3 hours just multiply that by what you feel like your hourly rate should be. I only charge by the hour for multi-step paint corrections where the exact time for service is unknown. I know from experience how long each non-polishing job will take so that's where my prices come from. Just a suggestion but for the referral program, I'd make it 5 (or whatever number you feel necessary) referrals (who purchase details) gets them a maintenance wash. Don't give too much away for free. Also look around at your competition and see what they're charging. Chances are they know the prices that your particular area is willing to pay. Feel free to check out my website if you want to see my prices, send me a PM for the link if you want it. Edited January 29, 2016 by Performance Auto Detailing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnull Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 I would majorly pass on pick up/delivery, way too much liability. Make sure you have insurance that covers it if you decide to do it though. I'm usually in the $50-100 range per hour - sometimes more, sometimes less because it depends entirely on the particular job. I don't charge by the hour but rather base the cost of my packages around how many hours it will take and what I want to make. So if a Wash/Clay/Seal + Basic Interior Detail will take you 3 hours just multiply that by what you feel like your hourly rate should be. I only charge by the hour for multi-step paint corrections where the exact time for service is unknown. I know from experience how long each non-polishing job will take so that's where my prices come from. Just a suggestion but for the referral program, I'd make it 5 (or whatever number you feel necessary) referrals (who purchase details) gets them a maintenance wash. Don't give too much away for free. Also look around at your competition and see what they're charging. Chances are they know the prices that your particular area is willing to pay. Feel free to check out my website if you want to see my prices, send me a PM for the link if you want it. just googled the site, damn nice I must say. This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. Performance Auto Detailing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripesace Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 I would majorly pass on pick up/delivery, way too much liability. Make sure you have insurance that covers it if you decide to do it though. I'm usually in the $50-100 range per hour - sometimes more, sometimes less because it depends entirely on the particular job. I don't charge by the hour but rather base the cost of my packages around how many hours it will take and what I want to make. So if a Wash/Clay/Seal + Basic Interior Detail will take you 3 hours just multiply that by what you feel like your hourly rate should be. I only charge by the hour for multi-step paint corrections where the exact time for service is unknown. I know from experience how long each non-polishing job will take so that's where my prices come from. Just a suggestion but for the referral program, I'd make it 5 (or whatever number you feel necessary) referrals (who purchase details) gets them a maintenance wash. Don't give too much away for free. Also look around at your competition and see what they're charging. Chances are they know the prices that your particular area is willing to pay. Feel free to check out my website if you want to see my prices, send me a PM for the link if you want it. How do you factor in your supplies cost, depreciation of things like towels and equipment, etc into that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audog Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I was wondering, how many forum members are professional detailers, and how many are "amateur hobbiests" like me? Mikedakin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James__ Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I am definitely not a professional and do not wish to become one, but would love to provide detail services here and there via word-of-mouth recommendations. I have no intention of making it a primary source of income but would love to make a few extra bucks here and there and get to have fun doing it on my own terms and not dealing with the liability of it being my actual job. Audog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vobro Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 (edited) If your are going to offer pick up and delivery you should check with your insurance company. Having the car in your possession (garage keeper)is one thing and driving it is another, maybe that's why the detailers in your area are expensive. Do right by all involved and check with your state laws Edited January 30, 2016 by vobro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill-V8V Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 If you are going to be accepting money for detailing you really need to have insurance and it has nothing to do with pickup and drop off. What happens if you burn through on an edge or your light stand falls and scratches down through the base. You will be responsible for a respray and that can get really expensive really fast. That is only one reason why a professional needs to charge more, they need to protect themselves and their customers in the event that something goes wrong. And we all know eventually something will go wrong. I've fixed things for friends and a few times a friend of a friend but I have made it extremely clear that I am not a professional and I am only doing it as a favor. It may seem like an easy way to make some extra money but it is also an easy way to end up in small claims court. Mikedakin and Texas Moe 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Performance Auto Detailing Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 My supplies, equipment, insurance, marketing costs, etc are all factored into my prices. Like said above for those reasons, professionals need to charge more. I am also factoring in the fact that I am driving to the car owner's house for the details. This is a side business for me (while I'm in college) but I take it very seriously - as you can tell from my website. I've got a ton of money tied up in towels, chemicals and equipment but they are all necessary expenses. Some months I have to spend a few hundred dollars for new products or towels and some months I have to spend none. And of course random things break or need to be replaced like vacuum cleaners, blowers, pressure washers etc. For all those reasons $50-100 per hour is what I shoot for. Bill-V8V 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Performance Auto Detailing Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 just googled the site, damn nice I must say. This is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. Thank you, I appreciate it! dnull 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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