What is a fair price to charge?

J

justinschmidt1

New member
Hey guys,



I was just wondering what you guys thought would be a good price to charge customers.



Im just detailing friends cars on the side with the PC to make some money/ pay off the 300 dollars worth of pads/products and the PC.



I was thinking 100 for a basic wash/polish/wax maybe clay if I feel it needs it.



and 150 for clay, swirl/scratch remover/polish/ wax



an extra 25 for interior if they want the interior done





What do you guys think?



Does this sound too cheap? too steep what?
 
its your time...you are not trying to make money as a business, so just charge what you and they want...



as a business....WAY TOO LOW...as a friend...ok
 
Personally, I wouldn't charge them anything.

Bringing into consideration that you just bought your first equipment.



If I was to take my car to a mechanic, I am not going to pay them to learn - that's when I find another mechanic. Let your friends know what you are doing, and they will be cool with it. If you don't know how much to charge, you're running into the line of fire, you'll understand how much as you become more familiar. Also, you'll run into problems if all you've got is $300 worth of products, including only a PC. Many jobs require more, even if it's just a single panel, you're toast.

It's how I learned, and I found that people pay for EXPERIENCE, not experimentation.



You are very smart to have bought a PC first. I applaud you genuinely for that move, as it was a very good call.

I'm not trying to be a bad, mean guy - it's the smart, and right thing to do. Ethical work can only grow. Take some for the team(yourself) to learn and gain experience, and you'll be able to make more in the long run.



Best of luck!
 
but after two cars he should know how to use the PC...heck after the hood of the first...



when i started out, it was 100 for friends and family...then it became 150...you have to take into consideration the time, the product, and the simple fact they wouldnt get it done elsewhere for as cheap...well except the car wash, but that is a whole different game..
 
toyotaguy said:
but after two cars he should know how to use the PC...heck after the hood of the first...



when i started out, it was 100 for friends and family...then it became 150...you have to take into consideration the time, the product, and the simple fact they wouldnt get it done elsewhere for as cheap...well except the car wash, but that is a whole different game..
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I agree with regards to products, but I'd say if they are gracious enough to let you use their cars, I wouldn't charge them. Especially since you've only done a few cars.



I really don't want to sound like some stuck up old fart and talk about when I started and how many cars. I'm only 21, and I started just as you did - although quite young.



We're all still learning and seeking new knowledge, but there really is a time to take in the basics, and then start charging for the labor after you gain some experience. You really won't know until you encounter situations that you think, "Oh $h17, I can't fix this, I guess the owner will have to live with it." or worse yet, "Oh $h17, I just burned a hole in this guys paint with my new rotary!"(Hence why you were right on when you made the decision to buy a PC, I couldn't imagine what I would have done to my practice panels and friends cars when I was younger if I used my dad's rotary, roflmao...



Work out a deal with them, and if you get 100, cool dude. Honestly it might actually be enough to just cover the product if you do a bit more work.

Still, I can't imagine how much you could do with only $300 worth, including your polisher. My Metabo rotary cost that much alone, let alone my $30-$50 each bottles of Menzerna.



You can charge whatever they accept, just take it to mind. :xyxthumbs
 
I've done 3 cars and I'm new to this too. All for friends and charged 120-175 for full "detail".



This included 2 step correction, LSP, wheels/tires, and interior.



Could they get better results looking elsewhere? sure they could for twice as much at least. My first use iver with a PC was with Menzerna IP and a white pad on my neighbors new truck. Week later, I'm going to town on my buddy's Mustang 5.0. It's a fair price for a friend IMO. It's a good deal for them and for you (I think).
 
I am running into the same situation. Rarely detailed for $$ before but starting to get interest from friends and neighbors on a pretty regular basis. Last summer too.



I am between $100 and $200. $600 for minivans (that way I don't get any).
 
well maybe I should have stated that I DO know what im doing.



Ive detailed a **** load of cars with a rotary at work...(detail, car dealerships detail departments are TERRIBLE, I quite) ...i just decided to go with a PC cause it was 100 bucks lol



I know what im doing with the PC and theyre getting Pro results from me.



I guess 150 sounds about right.
 
justinschmidt1 said:
well maybe I should have stated that I DO know what im doing.



Ive detailed a **** load of cars with a rotary at work...(detail, car dealerships detail departments are TERRIBLE, I quite) ...i just decided to go with a PC cause it was 100 bucks lol



I know what im doing with the PC and theyre getting Pro results from me.



I guess 150 sounds about right.
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Mmmmhmmm...

I stand by my statement, you'd know if it's enough. :grinno:

Defensiveness makes your credibility plummet, heh.
 
I do my in-laws cars for free and they pay/tip me for the cost of the products I use...typically they pay for new pads/etc. Plus they tell everyone they know that I detail cars and there car always looks good (free quick detail every Tuesday, when they feed me and my wifey)



however my friends pay $100, everyone else is priced when the car is seen; nothing worse than talking to someone on the phone and they say "oh it looks fine" but when you get it under halogens it looks like crap.



in-law/parents - free (free advertising from them and food...can't argue there)

friends - $100 for a 2 step polish and the works

everyone else - priced when seen and based on needs/wants
 
bwalker25 said:
I do my in-laws cars for free and they pay/tip me for the cost of the products I use...typically they pay for new pads/etc. Plus they tell everyone they know that I detail cars and there car always looks good (free quick detail every Tuesday, when they feed me and my wifey)



however my friends pay $100, everyone else is priced when the car is seen; nothing worse than talking to someone on the phone and they say "oh it looks fine" but when you get it under halogens it looks like crap.



in-law/parents - free (free advertising from them and food...can't argue there)

friends - $100 for a 2 step polish and the works

everyone else - priced when seen and based on needs/wants
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yea...thats basically what I told one of my friends.



He has light swirls.



I told him I could do a 2 step and the works for 100
 
charlesaferg said:
Mmmmhmmm...

I stand by my statement, you'd know if it's enough. :grinno:

Defensiveness makes your credibility plummet, heh.
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I don't know whats enough...thats why I made this thread.



I wanted to know what other people charged.



I figure 100-200 depending on what I have to do for now.
 
I don't know how many times I see this question. You have to know your MARKET. Take into consideration that the economy has taken a crap too. Don't swirl remove without insurance or your screwed. Always charge less for friends because they talk which could be free advertising. If your just starting out. I think 60 bucks for a wash , wax , interior would be fine (inside windows , dress all plastics and vinyl, vaccuum
 
BillyL207 said:
I don't know how many times I see this question. You have to know your MARKET. Take into consideration that the economy has taken a crap too. Don't swirl remove without insurance or your screwed. Always charge less for friends because they talk which could be free advertising. If your just starting out. I think 60 bucks for a wash , wax , interior would be fine (inside windows , dress all plastics and vinyl, vaccuum
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Well, I would be fine with that price but the thing is all the people want more than just a wash and wax



Im gonna be claying, swirls, scratches, polishing, waxing



Why cant I swirl remove without insurance?



Im doing the swirl removing with a PC that doesn't seem to take any clear coat off unless I work it into the same spot for 10 minutes.



The cars Im doing are generally newer/ better maintained cars
 
justinschmidt1 said:
Why cant I swirl remove without insurance?



The cars Im doing are generally newer/ better maintained cars
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All the more reason to have insurance. :) Your dealership has insurance.

We're just covering out butts as detailers, saving fellow detailers.



Sounds like you're just finding reasoning to charge as much as possible. As stated above, and he's right on when he said it. The market is a huge part of it. Unless you genuinely have somethine else to offer, and from what you personally own, without taking into account your experience, I wouldn't charge more than 100 - 150 to your close friends, and that's pushing it.
 
charlesaferg said:
All the more reason to have insurance. :) Your dealership has insurance.

We're just covering out butts as detailers, saving fellow detailers.



Sounds like you're just finding reasoning to charge as much as possible. As stated above, and he's right on when he said it. The market is a huge part of it. Unless you genuinely have somethine else to offer, and from what you personally own, without taking into account your experience, I wouldn't charge more than 100 - 150 to your close friends, and that's pushing it.
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I only charge my close friends like 100 bucks for the works, anything they need



These people arent friends...just people I know.



I dont really know what you mean by finding reasoning to charge as much as possible....Im just trying to make my time worth it.



I dont want to spend 6 hours detailing a car, working my butt off to make 80 bucks.
 
justinschmidt1 said:
I only charge my close friends like 100 bucks for the works, anything they need



These people arent friends...just people I know.



I dont really know what you mean by finding reasoning to charge as much as possible....Im just trying to make my time worth it.



I dont want to spend 6 hours detailing a car, working my butt off to make 80 bucks.
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You should not be asking others what 'you' should charge. As already stated, you should base your charges on how much your time is wort, and what the opportunity cost is. Other things to consider include your local market conditions, and your cost of doing business. I believe you stated that you are doing this as a side job, so your costs would be much lower than someone like me who has to pay for licenses, insurance, taxes etc.
 
Considering it usually takes me 12-14+ hours, and I'm young, in-shape, and fast - I'd go with no more than 100-150 like you stated, from my reasoning above. Your procedures and resources are very limited. That's not even including your experience level.



Obviously you're set on doing your own thing - so I won't stop you. I'm not here to argue with you about something you already know everything about.



If you screw up, you'd better be able to fess up and pay the consequences, otherwise you give us all a bad name.

:ignore
 
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