Teen seeking help in starting business

[Nicks GT]

Yes, pricing was a huge problem when I started out as well. I had absolutely no idea how much others charged and when I did, I nearly s*** myself. For everything I do (hand wash, wax and buff paint with a buffer, clean wheel wells, shine tires, clean windows, vaccumm and shampoo interior, armoral dashboard and door panels etc., and clean the door jams) "professionals" charge ATLEAST $120. To me thats just ridiculous...don't you think? But don't forget, most professionals have to pay for things that us teens don't. A morgage or rent, a car payment, car insurance, water and electric bills, credit car bills, sewer and garbage bills, telephone bills...It all adds up and thats why we are able to charge a heck of a lot less than others.

 

[MongooseGA]

i also an a bit afraid of chargin ~60 bucks because my parents look at me like im crazy if i say something about charging over $80 for a detail.



what i dont like is when people compare what i do to something like a 7-11 drive thru car wash. as long as they can say their car was washed (albeit badly) theyre happy. it takes a true enthusiast or someone who really like their cars to pay to do it right.

 

[ncal]

For everything I do (hand wash, wax and buff paint with a buffer, clean wheel wells, shine tires, clean windows, vaccumm and shampoo interior, armoral dashboard and door panels etc., and clean the door jams) "professionals" charge ATLEAST $120.

Well look at how it breaks down for you if you charge 60 dollars and do it in 6 hours.Figure in gas at say 2 bucks a gallon average (here its 2.50/gal) and you drove 20 miles there and back with your van that gets 22 mi/gal in the city. 1.8 gal or $4.50. You're not making $9.25 an hour plus materials (chemicals, towels, and overall machine wear). Plus if you work full time you have to report those taxes. It just isn't feasible to work for such a low profit. For kids you don't have to worry about being mobile much (small town or they drop off for instance). You don't have any bills or real expenses so to make a few bucks an hour doing what you enjoy is good enough .