What is your detailing Budget?

I started up towards the end of Summer and have spent a tad over $500, so far I've made back (just by doing friends/family) vehicles about $315.
 
:o Whatever I have immediate access to...



I'd say in the past year, I've spent about $4-500 on supplies. I haven't even bought my 'good' towels yet, and the rotary/pads will add a good $300 to it.



I spent all of my money for Christmas gifts on my detailing supplies. Does this make me a bad person? :lol
 
I was probably spending about $200/month over the past year but I have so much inventory I am cutting back.



I am getting smarter about finding good deals.



I would like to get some gear like a Cyclo and a MetroVac.
 
ive spent around 1200 since the summer (the pc, and makita were a big hit), and now that i plan on getting a carpet extractor, things are going to get worse

:sosad
 
I know I've made more money with the supplies than I spent on them, so I don't really care for exact numbers :xyxthumbs
 
If you buy in bulk then it can really go a long way. I can get about $300 worht of bulk products at the beginning of the year and coast on that all year. I probably spend another $200 experimenting on products that I won't buy again. Then its just a matter of keeping stocked with the necessary cleaners and tools that wear out. I'm probably in the $1200 to $1500 range as well. Considering that the $1200 to $1500 that I spend detailing will generate several times that in profit, I'd say its a worthwhile investment that the wife will continue to let me make. :)
 
pigeonbus said:
Cool! A rotary is an investment.....are you a mobile detailer or just for personal use?



Carl
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When I get my driver's license I will go mobile out of the back of my Jeep. For now, I still work outta my Jeep, but I need someone to drive me. The rotary isn't necessary for my paint because I don't have defects or problems big enough to justify it. It will be for customer cars. If I get it, I'll need fingure out my limits on whether I should use the PC or rotary.



BTW, my parents/ other family members will probably be putting $2-$300 on supplies for me for Christmas (including my towles!!!)
 
Scormunch said:
I know I've made more money with the supplies than I spent on them, so I don't really care for exact numbers :xyxthumbs
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same here.. thats the only way i can justify it.. as well as the fact that now i have everything, and i wont be spending as much now
 
I feel your pain. I spent $400 this month and I keep saying, "I got all I need". Then I spend $40. I did two bike and a car and it's payed for, so the rest is profit.
 
JDookie said:
"Budget? We don't need no stinkin budget!".........What movie?
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Treasure of the Sierra Madre...



I've spent about $350 in the last month but Wifey and I have been spending about $30 a week at the car wash for years now. And no matter how "high-class" a car wash I went to, they still couldn't clean a car very well.



Anyway, I was getting sick and tired of paying for swirl marks.



Now, with the proper tools and products, I can wash and dry a car in 30-45 minutes which is less time than driving over to the car wash and waiting around. And my cars look better.



So I will pay for my stuff in 3 months simply by avoiding the car wash.



I can completely wash, clay, polish, glaze and wax my Jag in about 4 1/2 hours which it should only need 2 or three times a year. With 2 other cars and a Harley, I'll probably be fully detailing one a month plus weekly washes and booster waxes.



Money well spent and it gets me off my butt and out doing something to stave off my heart attack for a few more years.
 
It gets expensive importing stuff to Australia, so I'd say ~US$1500 purely on products, shipping would be close to US$750. And then add about US$250 on locally bought stuff - so total of say $2.5k and thats just for personal car, gf and friends. I swear thats about it for a looooooong while now :)
 
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