Making a Pricing Schedule / List of Services

T

TheJakeR

New member
Hey guys!



Do you have any recommendations where I should look for other detailers' pricing schedules that include the kind of services we do? I know there are a great deal of them online, but it seems like all I am finding are your regular, run of the mill detailers with simple packages, and nowhere near the complex polishing/swirl removal correction we do.



Things like headlight restoration and wheel care are easy to price, based on certain factors, but how do you definitively price swirl removal, paint correction, and paint cleansing? These services vary so much with different vehicles finish and condition of clearcoat... what to do? How do you list different prices for different vehicles who require different care? some of which can't even be determined until you see the paint in person...



I don't know if you guys would be willing, but if you have a pricing schedule (or know someone similar who does), could you forward me a copy / post up here?



I feel that I am at the point where I really need a solid pricing point. Lots of weird requests for certain details have come up and I'd feel a LOT more comfortable with a solid schedule.



Thanks! Best,

Jake
 
Jakerooni said:
Most will price by the hour.. So you're covered no matter how long it takes.
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Okay, so this has got me thinking.... smart idea. This would cover the possibility of being paid correctly for a really difficult job. But what happens when a customer doubts you when you take a longer time to finish a job? I'd love to institute this system, but you might get customers iffy about how long it takes you to finish a job. I do a lot of estimates over the phone after seeing only pictures of the car for a ballpark estimate. I'd feel bad if it takes me significantly longer than what I had quoted...



Also, how do you factor in premium products? Such as using a higher quality wax or polishing compound versus a lower grade product?



Got Wax said:
The battle of The Jake's!:bolt
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hehe
 
As Jake said, we go into a job with an estimated price - that's ESTIMATED! We bill by the hour and our pricing indicates that the service "Starts" at X $ amount. If your actual time is more, you bill accordingly. As you become more proficient, you will become better at providing a more accurate estimate. Charge what your service is worth. If a potential customer is "Iffy" on your pricing, they may just be kicking tires. And, what I have found is that the most price sensitive customer is the most demanding. Up front, we spell out EXACTLY what we are going to do - not what we will do, but what we are going to do ("But, you said you will do this for X amount!!"). Yeah, we will do this for that amount but, that's not we agreed to do. Some people want to negotiate AFTER the service.



The bottom line is: both you and your customer will be satisifed if, after your service, you have provided what you contracted to provide at the price contracted. I've never subscribed to charging wwhat the market bears or what others charge.Charge for your service what your service is worth...to you and your customers!



Andy
 
I tend to ask the question.. Just how good do you want it to look? A DD can look good from a few feet away and 99% of the people out there are perfectly fine with that. (usually a 1-3 step polish and on your way ya go) Some want it to look good when you're nose touches the paint (many more steps of correction required)



Knowing your own process and how long it takes you on average is the key to pricing by the hour. And let the customer know full well estimates are estimates and things may change pending on how the correction process goes. I list a starting price on my website. To me it's the minimum I'm willing to do what's listed for regardless if things go quickly or take a little extra time. I will go up from there pending on correction needed/wanted. and condition of the vechile to start with. But if you don't know how long it takes you on average to do a 1 step polish on a soft clear coat you're going to find it difficult to price it out right. This is where experience comes into play. You may burn yourself on the first one or two but you'll learn very quickly your timing for things and what it takes... Don't be to afraid to price things wrong at first... It just keeps you from working... Price it as you think it fits. And tweak it when you figure it out.
 
Jakerooni said:
I tend to ask the question.. Just how good do you want it to look? A DD can look good from a few feet away and 99% of the people out there are perfectly fine with that. (usually a 1-3 step polish and on your way ya go) Some want it to look good when you're nose touches the paint (many more steps of correction required)



Knowing your own process and how long it takes you on average is the key to pricing by the hour. And let the customer know full well estimates are estimates and things may change pending on how the correction process goes. I list a starting price on my website. To me it's the minimum I'm willing to do what's listed for regardless if things go quickly or take a little extra time. I will go up from there pending on correction needed/wanted. and condition of the vechile to start with. But if you don't know how long it takes you on average to do a 1 step polish on a soft clear coat you're going to find it difficult to price it out right. This is where experience comes into play. You may burn yourself on the first one or two but you'll learn very quickly your timing for things and what it takes... Don't be to afraid to price things wrong at first... It just keeps you from working... Price it as you think it fits. And tweak it when you figure it out.
Click to expand...



That was VERY well put, thats jakerooni and got wax! I was too focused on setting prices for every service and product I used... didn't think to factor in the price by hour method into my scheme. Just for the hell of it a few details ago I started keeping a log on how long it took me to do some various things; I'll try and use that to build a price model.



Jakerooni, I went to your website and I was amazed at all I learned from looking at your pricing and website layout. I haven't looked at a detailer's website who pays attention to the paint correction step of detailing, and it taught me a lot about how I might lay out my pricing.



Jake, you have a PM :]



Thanks a lot!

-Jake (#2?)
 
TheJakeR said:
That was VERY well put, thats jakerooni and got wax! I was too focused on setting prices for every service and product I used... didn't think to factor in the price by hour method into my scheme. Just for the hell of it a few details ago I started keeping a log on how long it took me to do some various things; I'll try and use that to build a price model.



Jakerooni, I went to your website and I was amazed at all I learned from looking at your pricing and website layout. I haven't looked at a detailer's website who pays attention to the paint correction step of detailing, and it taught me a lot about how I might lay out my pricing.



Jake, you have a PM :]



Thanks a lot!

-Jake (#2?)
Click to expand...

Keeping a log is a great method to scale your pricing for not only future rates in general but, for any future repeats you might encounter with the same type of car you have already detailed.
 
Got Wax said:
Keeping a log is a great method to scale your pricing for not only future rates in general but, for any future repeats you might encounter with the same type of car you have already detailed.
Click to expand...



I feel like this business thing is actually starting to come together. Wow this is a lot of work.... :ignore
 
LOl I've been at it for years and I still learn new stuff all the time. Once you think you have it all down someone comes in and changes the rules so it's all back to the drawing board....
 
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