how much do detailers make a year?

Because I do this as a hobby, not a job, I let them pay me what it's worth to them. It doesn't matter to me really as long as I'm not doing it for free. In most cases, they pay pretty decently. It's always a bonus for me because they usually find me and ask me to do it for them, I don't search customers out and say "Hey man, I'm starving here". I do however approach friends that I think would appreciate having their car looked after properly and offer to spruce up their car for them. In the event of doing work for friends, it's either for beer, some cash, or for a favor in return.



So I guess that'd make me a hobby detailer, not a professional detailer eh?



Nah, my full time job is detailing low end stuff, but I enjoy doing the high end stuff on my own time and for people that I know will appreciate it.
 
I make a decent wage. I'm probably around 4 grand a month gross right now. Not bad for 18 and in university full time. lol
 
thank you for the last couple of posts. that is what i really wanted. i did not really request what if your year pay? as i did not really wanted a 118,977 or a 76,292 or a 58669 etc
 
Most of my business is repeat. During the spring and summer I average around 3-4k per month, and the winter is around 1.5-3k per month. I've been running this business for about four years now. I could make more, but I'm just taking my time trying to establish credibility and improve my image before I go all out marketing.
 
ajbarnes said:
Most of my business is repeat. During the spring and summer I average around 3-4k per month, and the winter is around 1.5-3k per month. I've been running this business for about four years now. I could make more, but I'm just taking my time trying to establish credibility and improve my image before I go all out marketing.
Click to expand...



Start raising your prices on new customers and phase the new prices in on your old customers in about 6 months. No one complained when I did that and it got me a nice raise for myself. ;)
 
Scottwax said:
Start raising your prices on new customers and phase the new prices in on your old customers in about 6 months. No one complained when I did that and it got me a nice raise for myself. ;)
Click to expand...



+1



That's what I'm going to be doing come this new year.:2thumbs:
 
Maybe this helps... I have a fixed location with 2-3 employees, and my "break-even" per month is $11,000. Anything I earn after that (less materials) is profit.



Now, you pick your own prices and volume, and what is left is your income.
 
First time poster, long time viewer. I think the original poster asked a great question. For someone who is considering Detailing as more than a hobby it would be great to know from current BUSINESS OWNERS about current market trends. Basically, what I've gathered from the comments that on average Mobile Detailers probably make >$50k/yr. and Fixed Operators probably make +/- $100k. And I am assuming most of that is not likely profit w/overhead. I don't know a lot of about each individual market but that doesn't seem to be a lot of money to "prosper" or grow your business on.



Outside of the usual answers of "I set my own schedule" "I'm my own boss", "I love what I do", and other general statements - can someone pass along a good business case for choosing Auto Detailing over other career options? And yes I have read Detailing for Profit. THANKS!
 
HiDef Detailer said:
Outside of the usual answers of "I set my own schedule" "I'm my own boss", "I love what I do", and other general statements - can someone pass along a good business case for choosing Auto Detailing over other career options? And yes I have read Detailing for Profit. THANKS!
Click to expand...



I'm going to chime in here with a view, although I have never received a $/£ for my detailing.... I think it is probably tough to make a great case for this industry above any other industry as the options are so vast.



For me the key to success, is to find a profession that isnt work, in other words where work = play. Many of the most successful people in all fields claim they never worked a day in their life as they simply enjoy/love/are passionate about what they do.



I work in a totally unrelated field and love what I do. It means I get up and have some great days, not every day, but many days. As a result of working in this area I also now earn a pretty big salary, but that comes from enjoying what i do, working hard at it as a result, and actually being pretty good at it - its tough to love doing something and be poor at doing it, for very long anyway.... My clients love what I do as a result and pay me to do more of it.....



I would guess you could look at detailing in the same way. Its going to be a poor choice for somebody that isnt interested in cars and making them look stunning, but is going to be a great choice if that is your passion. Frankly, I really enjoy doing it but if I had to do it for money and measure everything I did by other people's standards it probably wouldnt appeal to me as much.



Not sure if that helps, but I really wish people made more career choices because they really wanted to do something than because they thought they could earn a good $/£ - we'd probably all enjoy ourselves just a little bit more...



:)
 
HiDef Detailer said:
First time poster, long time viewer. I think the original poster asked a great question. For someone who is considering Detailing as more than a hobby it would be great to know from current BUSINESS OWNERS about current market trends. Basically, what I've gathered from the comments that on average Mobile Detailers probably make >$50k/yr. and Fixed Operators probably make +/- $100k. And I am assuming most of that is not likely profit w/overhead. I don't know a lot of about each individual market but that doesn't seem to be a lot of money to "prosper" or grow your business on.



Outside of the usual answers of "I set my own schedule" "I'm my own boss", "I love what I do", and other general statements - can someone pass along a good business case for choosing Auto Detailing over other career options? And yes I have read Detailing for Profit. THANKS!
Click to expand...

I think only you should decide if auto detailing is a good business decision for yourself. You should never be in any business just for the money, however, I understand perfectly that the point of being in business is to make a profit. As you are already aware, there is benefits of being in business for yourself other than the money. One monetary benefit is that once you have established a successful detailing company, it can be sold at later date for a decent sum of money; how much depends on many things. For me getting into this business is a building block for future expansion into other things auto related, such as accessories, tuning, stereos, etc.
 
Another point is that as far as business goes detailing does have a fairly low sustained overhead. I would say about 90% of your product (thats probably a little low) is labor. So As far as how much $$ you put into each car you are billing is small. If I charge $150 for a basic detail it cost me very little as far as materials (chemicals,soap. clay etc..) theoretically there is a huge profit margin.



What I have found is that this is the double edged curse of great detailing. While my clients are willing to pay me good money for what i do, It is almost impossible to hire or keep good help. Traditionally you would hire workers and pay them a wage that allows for some ammount of profit after they are done on each unit. when you get to high end detailing this theory goes out the window. Every car is different and each job takes as long as it takes. If you dont love what you are doing you wont put in the effort it takes to make the car truly spectacularly clean. So I have found it is a difficult business to grow past one or two members (while keeping your reputation intact)
 
PROServices said:
What I have found is that this is the double edged curse of great detailing. While my clients are willing to pay me good money for what i do, It is almost impossible to hire or keep good help. Traditionally you would hire workers and pay them a wage that allows for some ammount of profit after they are done on each unit. when you get to high end detailing this theory goes out the window. Every car is different and each job takes as long as it takes. If you dont love what you are doing you wont put in the effort it takes to make the car truly spectacularly clean. So I have found it is a difficult business to grow past one or two members (while keeping your reputation intact)
Click to expand...



I've had the same problem. This is a very tough business to find quality help. Too many people out there just want a paycheck and will only do the bare minimum needed to keep getting paid. Both my kids helped me in the summer from 8th grade (and occasionally, even earlier) through high school, plus my older son helped me for nearly a year when he took a year off from college. They both do excellent work even though neither really has a passion for detailing. I also had a girl work for me through the holiday season about 8 years ago who did a great job but that's been about it as far as quality help goes.



Plus, you have to deal with poor weather that can make it so you don't even have enough work for yourself, let alone keep paying an employee or two. We had a horrible late spring/early summer here in the Dallas area with nearly daily rain during that time. There is no way with what I was making I could have paid anyone. The long range forecast is for a warmer and drier winter so I am looking for some help-hopefully the forecast is right and I can find someone good and be able to keep that person for a while.
 
I put all of the inventory from the car including change in a baggie marked as such. This goes a long way especially when the owner sees $1, $5, or $10's in the bag that have been lost under the seat.



Jeff
 
mhschiefs806 said:
i'm curious to see what some detailers make a year
Click to expand...



HOW CAN THIS BE A RUDE QUESTION? :wall

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!! IT'S 2009!

People wanting to get into this industry would like to know how much they could make. You can find out what the averages are for all kinds of business people, why not be able to find out for Detailers, stone masons, brick layers, painters, etc...



That is like saying it is rude to ask what your salary will be for a new job. If the employer is not willing to inform you about that until after you are hired, then what is he trying to hide? I myself employ over 18 people and I have never once been asked this question because I make it common knowledge of what you should expect to be paid. What if you were expecting more and you find out it is $10,000+ less than what you were expecting? Would you want to waste your own time and the employers time? I WOULD HOPE NOT!



In an era where personal pricacy is a click away, you are concerned about someone knowing what your industry average pay is? NOT EVEN YOU SPECIFFICALLY!



I say grow up to those people in industries where you hide your salaries! Don't be bitter b/c someone is asking for advice, be bitter b/c YOU ARE NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO TELL THEM THE RIGHT INFORMATION!
 
It is 2009 now but was not when the thread was started. So you signed up to lecture ppl for not telling what they make? Revived a 2 yr old thread, hmmm
 
Well, since this thread has been bumped up, I'm curious what some charge for the typical 15-20hr correction, 2day on-site details. I'm just curious if it's, say, closer to $300-400 per car, or $700-800 per car.
 
The amount you make is very broad, but this give you an idea.



Per hour charge ranges from $25-$50 per hour in Socal area. The hourly rate depends on if you are detailing high end car or common daily driver cars. It also depends on how many cars you detail a day, overhead cost, etc, etc.



I know a detailer that does specialty cars for rate of $45 per hour and can spend up to 14 hours. In addition, he sell detail supplies to add to his salary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top