What should I charge?

B

bcgreen

New member
Since this is a hobby with me, I have someone who wants their 3 series BMW, washed, wax and interior cleaned and treated. Interior is not super dirty.
 
Figure out how much per hour your time is worth and factor in how good of a friend they are, then guess how long the work will take. Time value x Hours to complete.

No one can tell you what you should charge cause there are so many factors involved.
1. Labor costs in your area
2. Skill level
3. Actual condition of the vehicle
4. Tools you have at your disposal to make the job quicker or take longer
etc
etc
etc
 
dcjredline said:
Figure out how much per hour your time is worth and factor in how good of a friend they are, then guess how long the work will take. Time value x Hours to complete.

No one can tell you what you should charge cause there are so many factors involved.
1. Labor costs in your area
2. Skill level
3. Actual condition of the vehicle
4. Tools you have at your disposal to make the job quicker or take longer
etc
etc
etc
Click to expand...

Northern Idaho
Skill level comparable to the professionals
Daily driver but well kept
Tools - don`t own a steamer, but do own Q tips. Doesn`t want a detailed job, so the interior would just need vacuum and treatment of the seats
I will have to do a AIO on the paint, obviously. Probably use my DA with M66.
 
bcgreen said:
Northern Idaho
Skill level comparable to the professionals
Daily driver but well kept
Tools - don`t own a steamer, but do own Q tips. Doesn`t want a detailed job, so the interior would just need vacuum and treatment of the seats
I will have to do a AIO on the paint, obviously. Probably use my DA with M66.
Click to expand...

Those weren`t questions buddy, they were a guide for you, to help you decide what you need to charge. No one else can tell you what to charge someone for your work.
 
Thanks Don. All things being equal, just wanted some guidelines and idea what other people are charging, then I make adjustments accordingly.
Nevertheless, the gentleman ended up wanting the same treatment I gave his girlfriend`s vehicle.
 
As much as you can, less the good frkend factor. I met a guy who wanted his car done by me after seeing my Infiniti and talking about my detailing philosophy. I did his car At my price and got it. You need to make enough money so you are happy not taking short cuts. Also get a 100 percent waiver of liability no matter what !
 
bcgreen said:
Since this is a hobby with me, I have someone who wants their 3 series BMW, washed, wax and interior cleaned and treated. Interior is not super dirty.
Click to expand...

Then double it. Doing a car for someone else (especially the first time someone is paying you for it) tends to take much longer because you want to impress them.
 
brownbob06 said:
Then double it. Doing a car for someone else (especially the first time someone is paying you for it) tends to take much longer because you want to impress them.
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Got a text from his girlfriend and she says he can`t stop talking about how great the car looks. I told them "this is friend price and if anyone wants to know how much, don`t tell them what I charged you."
 
I cant get excited for 100 an hour or less. At 100 an hour it should be an 8 hour job, for 2 or 3 hours, you should pencil in 150 an hour, or just work on other things that build your business.
 
JBM said:
I cant get excited for 100 an hour or less. At 100 an hour it should be an 8 hour job, for 2 or 3 hours, you should pencil in 150 an hour, or just work on other things that build your business.
Click to expand...
Holy cap I`m getting ripped off

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
 
JBM said:
I cant get excited for 100 an hour or less. At 100 an hour it should be an 8 hour job, for 2 or 3 hours, you should pencil in 150 an hour, or just work on other things that build your business.
Click to expand...
Jeez.....how do you manage to sell those prices!?
 
ViperGuy21 said:
Jeez.....how do you manage to sell those prices!?
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I dont sell detailing, I sell stone work and masonry work, but isnt it all relative? A guy who did my tattoos charges 150 an hour, my mechanic charges 80 an hour for a shop, plumbers charge 80-100 an hour.

A professional isnt a professional unless he makes somewhere around 80-100 an hour minimum.

For an example, sometimes people will call me for literally 1 lose brick on their steps, and I tell them 300 to fix it. 15 mins of work, but I have to drive there twice, match the brick, so on and so forth.

The best detailer is the one who makes the most money, everything else is b.s.

The only people who will demand you get more money, is you.
 
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