What about charging friends and family?

Billp

Billp

New member
I just started detailing my cars an they look great. Now all my friends and family want me to do thier cars, here is my problem. I buy really good products and they expect you to do things dirt cheap for them. Hell I'm using up product and not covering the cost of supplies not to mention my time. how did you guy get around this problem. What do you tell people with out offending them. I'm sure I'm not the first one to deal with this and I would appreciate some imput.:)
 
Billp said:
I just started detailing my cars an they look great. Now all my friends and family want me to do thier cars, here is my problem. I buy really good products and they expect you to do things dirt cheap for them. Hell I'm using up product and not covering the cost of supplies not to mention my time. how did you guy get around this problem. What do you tell people with out offending them. I'm sure I'm not the first one to deal with this and I would appreciate some imput.:)
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It's pretty easy, if they are ASKING you to do the work, then charge what you need to cover costs and make something for your time.

It would be different if you where volunteering to do it. I have family that look at my car care abilities as something that is easy or I enjoy doing it for free. That's not the case, I don't charge them as much but its not free!

You need to establish this up front or pass on the work.
 
My thought on the subject has always been.... If they are friends and good family they wouldn't expect you to work for free. If you don't feel comfortable charging them the normal rate explain to them that your product cost is high, you need to cover your costs plus the cost of shipping the chemicals to your house. Then simply suggest that they offer you a small rate to cover your time. If they have a problem with this, then they are the ones with the problem, not you!
 
"What's the use of family and friends if you can't take advantage of them"


If they ask for you to do the work then I don't see it being a problem asking for compensation for supplies used and time. If you want to give them the "friends and family" discount that's up to you… at the very least I would ask for something to cover the supplies used.
 
I would take it on a case by case basis. There are those who are generous in return and those who are not. Assuming you know these people well you will know who you need to charge and who you can do for free because it will be returned in some way.

Tell them you would rather help them detail their car as it would be some quality time spent together. They will either offer to pay you at that point, drop the subject all together, accept and have a good time, or accept and learn a new respect for what you do and become one of the first two categories in the future.
 
Jsmooth said:
Business is business, charge accordingly. You gotta eat!
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I totally agree. You gotta draw the line between family and business. They want business, so give it to them. And if you love them, there's nothing wrong with giving them a discount or adding a few bonuses.
 
A touchy subject indeed, if's it's my mom or one of my little sister's that a no charge, but someone else along the line then the cost will be for the supplies and a small fee for my time. But for really good friends I will help them and show them in the proper way in washing to polishing their car.
 
Todd Helme said:
My thought on the subject has always been.... If they are friends and good family they wouldn't expect you to work for free. If you don't feel comfortable charging them the normal rate explain to them that your product cost is high, you need to cover your costs plus the cost of shipping the chemicals to your house. Then simply suggest that they offer you a small rate to cover your time. If they have a problem with this, then they are the ones with the problem, not you!
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Totally agree. Friends should not take advantage of friends and the same goes for family members. Knowing that you care about your work product and use high quality products, as a friend, I'd be giving you a few bucks more knowing what I'm getting is first class! But that is just me.
 
i let them know what it costs normally and what i would charge them for the same job.... simply put this is the regular rate and this is the family rate.
 
I guess that I'm just an old softie. I do the daughter ,son and daudhter-in-laws rides for free.The son-in-law pays and so does my sister at a reduced rate. All of them help me with small favors now and then plus gift cards for detailing products.
 
Another thing that has happen to me before and the reason that I completely seperate the 2. So what if you discount a detail and damage the car some how? .... Think that friend or family is going to be ok with that happening? It happen to me once.... Even though I basicly gave my time away they still wanted it fixed and I still came out of pocket, just something else to think about.
 
Another way to look at this is. If your house or yard was always well kept. Would your family and friends expect you to come over and clean or do their yard work for free??

Really its the same thing.
 
I detail for gas usually since I borrow whatever friend's car I'm working on and they borrow mine. So far my car is always returned to me with a full tank! It's a great way to combat these gas prices LOL
 
mustangmikeFL said:
I detail for gas usually since I borrow whatever friend's car I'm working on and they borrow mine. So far my car is always returned to me with a full tank! It's a great way to combat these gas prices LOL
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Then they would be getting the Ram. Might as well give them the big tank!! :rofl
 
Seems the what do I charge topic has become quite popular lately. It can be a tuff one sometimes. Especially when it comes to family and co-workers. The thing that also complicates it is most people have no idea the work involved or the cost of the products and are under the assumption that everything comes from K-Mart and costs 8.99. Then you get the "well why did you charge me more than you did Bobby" line. The way I handle it is mom's get it for free or their money gets mailed back to them, end of story there. As far as co-workers go, I have a set price big or small they all pay the same. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose but in the end there is no squabbling over price. Either you want me to do your car or you don't, I don't really care if Acme detailing only charges....

Now if I were doing this for a living, then, if I don't call you mom expect to pay just like everyone else that walks through the door. Family should understand that this is how you make your living and respect that. Now to trade labor with family is fine or to do it as a way of saying thank you for something they have done for you in the past is ok too and a very nice gesture of your appreciation.
 
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