Help me Decide Prices for Exterior Detail!

M0nk3y

M0nk3y

New member
Ok, well I am starting to get customers for detailing. The problem is I don't have any clue what I should charge people!!! :confused:



I am only doing exterior details, here is the products I am using..........



Wash:

Meguiars Gold Class Wash

Turtule Wax F21 Degressor

2800 PSI pressure washer



Clay:

Majic Clay



Correction:

M105

SIP

106FF

Chicago Rotary



Protection:

CG Ez-Creme Glaze

Klasse HGS

Poorboys Red Paste Wax



Wheels/Tire:

Poorboys Wheel Sealant

Meguiars Quick Wheel Wax

Meguiars High Endurance Tire Shine



Any help is appreciated. I'm just figuring out what I should be charging for this type of details :thx
 
Many variables come into play and one of the biggest is your location.

A price you could get in one area people will laugh at in another so make sure you price it right for the area you are targeting



Another is the process you plan on doing is it a full correction detail or just a polish and wax?



Then finally its the condition and type of car. Each paint has its own pros and cons some are very soft some are very hard and will require extra time.



Basically for full correction i would charge hourly anywhere from 25-65 an hour is about right (depending on location of course)



For a one step exterior your prob looking at 85-200.



Hope this helps im sure othters will chime in!
 
well prices for full detail range anywhere from $150 to $10,000 (paul!!!)

but I believe it all depends on your niche. for me the number of polishing step is a main factor one step polish $200 three step polish $500 or you can do per hour
 
elitemobile said:
Many variables come into play and one of the biggest is your location.

A price you could get in one area people will laugh at in another so make sure you price it right for the area you are targeting



Another is the process you plan on doing is it a full correction detail or just a polish and wax?



Then finally its the condition and type of car. Each paint has its own pros and cons some are very soft some are very hard and will require extra time.



Basically for full correction i would charge hourly anywhere from 25-65 an hour is about right (depending on location of course)



For a one step exterior your prob looking at 85-200.



Hope this helps im sure othters will chime in!
Click to expand...



I am doing full correction details.......



The car I am planning on doing is a Acura TL-S



I was figuring around $100-$150 for a full correction detail. Maybe thats on the cheaper end. I dunno.



Hopefully some other people chime in.



Thanks for the comments so far!
 
M0nK3y said:
I am doing full correction details.......



The car I am planning on doing is a Acura TL-S



I was figuring around $100-$150 for a full correction detail. Maybe thats on the cheaper end. I dunno.



Hopefully some other people chime in.



Thanks for the comments so far!
Click to expand...



so your gonna do a three step(give or take a few) correction?
 
Yes, 3 step if it needs it.



If not, I will just do SIP and 106FF.



I haven't had a chance to see his car under high-powered halogen lighting
 
Acura has a pretty soft clear so how long do you anticipate the correction taken based on previous experience?



I would figure a full size sedan with soft clear to take at least 6-8 hours to correct close to perfection with no buffer trails.



Figure what you feel your services are worth per hour and charge accordingly.



$50 per hour x 6 hours is $300. Just make sure it's worth $300 when you're finished. :hifive:



Josh
 
a two step with clay exterior only on a car starts at 200 for me...takes about 4 hours from start to finish, but that is not shooting for perfection, just a lot more shine and 80%+ defect removal, without leaving a hazy finish, but rather some slight swirling...



people have to remember, its a detail, not a new paint job...if they wanted perfected paint, it will run more obviously
 
JoshVette said:
Acura has a pretty soft clear so how long do you anticipate the correction taken based on previous experience?



I would figure a full size sedan with soft clear to take at least 6-8 hours to correct close to perfection with no buffer trails.



Figure what you feel your services are worth per hour and charge accordingly.



$50 per hour x 6 hours is $300. Just make sure it's worth $300 when you're finished. :hifive:



Josh
Click to expand...



On my car, BMW 325xi Sedan. With SIP and 106FF, it taken me close to 7-8 hours to complete the wash, correction, and protection...........



That was with a PC, and hard clear coat.....though



So in your opinion, $150 is too cheap to be charging?
 
another thing you can do for customers who have a set budget is price it hourly, then ask what areas they are most concerned with, then tell them what you are going to do to meet their needs, and then EXCEED them so that they tell their friends...
 
M0nK3y said:
On my car, BMW 325xi Sedan. With SIP and 106FF, it taken me close to 7-8 hours to complete the wash, correction, and protection...........



That was with a PC, and hard clear coat.....though



So in your opinion, $150 is too cheap to be charging?
Click to expand...



As mentioned, decide what you want to make per hour and charge by the hour on a full correction job.



I don't know what you're market is like in your area, but for that kind of work, I'd go no less then $300.



Also I don't know how experienced you are, when I first started out I was only charging like $30-$40 per hour, now I'm charging $75 and very glad I am too.



Josh
 
Thanks for all your suggestion guys. Ill adjust my prices accordingly



Also, another question.



Would it be a good idea to try to work for a BMW dealership, detailing cars that is?
 
M0nK3y said:
Thanks for all your suggestion guys. Ill adjust my prices accordingly



Also, another question.



Would it be a good idea to try to work for a BMW dealership, detailing cars that is?
Click to expand...



Don't waste your time working for dealerships of any sort, they will pay the minimum and expect the maximum.



You'll never get paid $30-$40 per hour at any dealership.
 
JoshVette said:
Don't waste your time working for dealerships of any sort, they will pay the minimum and expect the maximum.



You'll never get paid $30-$40 per hour at any dealership.
Click to expand...



That is what I figured.......I'll still ask just to see what they give.....



I'm always there, I know the head of BMW service, so I could most likely get the job. Its just the matter of money........
 
where are you located?? i know here in so cal there are detailers on every corner but few that have the skills to do it right. you have to also take in to account your competitors pricing, just make sure your/their work is on the same level. i turn people away that reply to my price with "but the guy on the corner can do it for..."
 
Just south of Cleveland, Ohio.........Broadview Hts



There is two communities that are right next to each other. We both go to the same school. And the both communities has some money............just by the houses they have....



There isn't much of a business around here. So far I've never heard of another detailer around my area
 
M0nK3y said:
Any help is appreciated. I'm just figuring out what I should be charging for this type of details :thx
Click to expand...

If you wash, clay do a 3 step machine polish, 3 step LSP, seal the wheels and protect the trim thats at least 10 hours work right there. I'd be asking $300-400 for such a high end detail.



Very few people are willing to pay over $200 for a detail. If your happy spending over 10 hours possibly spread over two days all for a measly $200 then good luck to you. You are much better off concentrating your packages around the $150-250 price range. Say a $100, $200 and $300 detail package.



Personally you going to have to offer reduced quality packages.



1) Wash

2) Clay the top half of the car only

3) 2 stage machine polish on the top half of the car

4) 1 stage machine polish on the lower half of the car

5) Single LSP, no double or triple layers.

6) No wheel sealant just gloss the tyres.



That will take 5-6 hours and you can charge an acceptable $200.
 
JoshVette said:
Also I don't know how experienced you are, when I first started out I was only charging like $30-$40 per hour, now I'm charging $75 and very glad I am too.



Josh
Click to expand...



Dissamn! Time to re-examine my business goals.
 
backwoods_lex said:
Dissamn! Time to re-examine my business goals.
Click to expand...



You may think I charge a lot, but I still don't think I charge enough.



Is the quality of your work worth the price you charge? I have to continually ask that question to myself as well as answer that question to new clients.



Think if I can take a swirled up, oxidized, faded and scratches up paint and literally make it look better then new then that would typically cost the client a good $7500 for the respray and about 4-6 weeks without there car. I can do the same thing for $600-$1200 is about 3 days time. The key is to educating my clients to the point where they understand this and want it.



My focus is on quality and perfection as well as exceeding the clients expectations.



Josh
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top