Pricing
- Thread starter BigCheese
- Start date
512detail
New member
check your competition
assess your ability vs theirs
adjust accordingly
pricing can be difficult when starting out, at least that is true from my experience
also you might consider setting a geographical radius if where you will go mobile without charging more for the distance
good luck
bottom line dont sell yourself short but make sure you can deliver quality work
assess your ability vs theirs
adjust accordingly
pricing can be difficult when starting out, at least that is true from my experience
also you might consider setting a geographical radius if where you will go mobile without charging more for the distance
good luck
bottom line dont sell yourself short but make sure you can deliver quality work
mrclean81
New member
+1 on everything stated above. Explore your local market. Find out what the local production shops are getting, find out what the Craigslist clowns are getting, then set your standards above all of them. Its hard to get established these days with so many guys doing it. I do suggest you look deep into the legal aspects of this as well. When you figure in your REAL overhead, you might realize its going to cost a lot more than you originally thought. Figure 20% of everything you make going straight to Uncle Sam. Then figure in liability insurance (yes you need it). Fuel and vehicle upkeep, more insurance, etc for the mobile unit, plus feeding your new addiction to detailing products and equipment. Figure all that in, now add your monthly living expenses. It sucks, but it can be done. You just have to run a very efficient and profitable business. If your serious about this, I suggest taking a couple business classes. Thats something I wish I had done differently and always suggest to people looking to get into this as a full time gig. Its a long uphill climb if you don't have your ducks in a row to begin with.
Stokdgs
dansautodetailing.com
These guys above are spot on !!!
Learn about Excel Spreadsheets...
Does your State charge State tax ? If so, you will have to also and probably report and pay Quarterly..
Good luck !
DanF
Learn about Excel Spreadsheets...
Does your State charge State tax ? If so, you will have to also and probably report and pay Quarterly..
Good luck !
DanF
0inDetail0
New member
Agreed with all of the above. Just remember don't sell yourself cheap. You need to build a business and that is developing relationships with repeat clients through exceptional work. Repeat clients come to you for an experience that they do not get anywhere else. Repeat clients are the one's that bring you more repeat clients. If someone tries to haggle over $100 let the sale walk.
When you figure in all your expenses you need to get paid for the job you do not just to break even so you can get the word out about your business. Yes people will discuss your pricing as well. Getting the word out about your business is important but you want to get the word out and into the ears of the clients you want.
I don't lift a finger for anything under $300 unless it's a repeat client (or my father-in-law, I hate seeing him drop $150 just to get his paint more hacked up then it was). I know the $50 keep up wash I am doing on a clients car is going to lead to another full detail in the summer then the fall and probably another couple keep up washes and then the possible oops can you help me out my kid barfed all over my leather and I can't get the smell out. Please help whatever you want to charge me for this.
You have to find the balance in educating clients about detailing what it can do for their cars besides look good, being competitive and being compensated fairly for your work.
If you sell yourself cheap or try to underbid everyone you will not make it. You will end up working your a** off just to break even. It's okay to say I'm sorry I can't beat that price but from the looks of that estimate I can sure beat the work.
When you figure in all your expenses you need to get paid for the job you do not just to break even so you can get the word out about your business. Yes people will discuss your pricing as well. Getting the word out about your business is important but you want to get the word out and into the ears of the clients you want.
I don't lift a finger for anything under $300 unless it's a repeat client (or my father-in-law, I hate seeing him drop $150 just to get his paint more hacked up then it was). I know the $50 keep up wash I am doing on a clients car is going to lead to another full detail in the summer then the fall and probably another couple keep up washes and then the possible oops can you help me out my kid barfed all over my leather and I can't get the smell out. Please help whatever you want to charge me for this.
You have to find the balance in educating clients about detailing what it can do for their cars besides look good, being competitive and being compensated fairly for your work.
If you sell yourself cheap or try to underbid everyone you will not make it. You will end up working your a** off just to break even. It's okay to say I'm sorry I can't beat that price but from the looks of that estimate I can sure beat the work.