How much to charge

[BrianMcLeod]

I have a job where I am going to clay, get the swirls out of the paint, oxidation, and wax it. it is a 1970 Gran Torino how much should I charge? I am 14 by the way and I did one spot and it looks good. I am going to let him decide how much to pay but I am wondering for later on?

[Vegas Transplant]

I have a job where I am going to clay, get the swirls out of the paint, oxidation, and wax it. it is a 1970 Gran Torino how much should I charge? I am 14 by the way and I did one spot and it looks good. I am going to let him decide how much to pay but I am wondering for later on?

Which products/process used on your test spot?
SS paint?

[FASTFATBOY]

Be careful, if that's single stage paint you can get your azz in a sling really quick.

[BrianMcLeod]

I did not do the test because I was just going to clay it. What I did to the test spot I washed it, Clayed it and used meguiar's compound with a da no paint transferred so I am guessing it is not ss paint but I am going to use m105 and m205

[BrianMcLeod]

The test spot to see if it is ss. I did do to remove the swirls

[Pureshine]

Always start off with less aggressive first and work your way up.

[zmcgovern45]

Decide on an hourly rate for your services and then charge according to how much time you will spend working on the vehicle. That is the only fair way to price your services IMO - that way your pricing is consistent for the amount of work you are doing and you do not get suckered into spending 30 hours on a car for only $300.

[BrianMcLeod]

Another question I am using m105 and m205 with the flex 3401 what pad would you use to remove swirls?

[HateSwirls]

That was my very first car I ever owned.
All I had back then was Turtle Wax Hardshell.
Oh how I loved that car, had a 351 Cleveland:)

Dad didn't understand why I couldn't keep a tranny, but I did. Lol

[BrianMcLeod]

Yea it is a nice car!

[Meticulous-Detail]

Decide on an hourly rate for your services and then charge according to how much time you will spend working on the vehicle. That is the only fair way to price your services IMO - that way your pricing is consistent for the amount of work you are doing and you do not get suckered into spending 30 hours on a car for only $300.

+100

I no longer have set prices, switched to hourly rate. My very first detail was a trashed Ford Expedition, quoted my set price for a large SUV basic detail. I killed myself on this vehicle and it took forever.

[CriticalDetails]

I charge $300+ for a Minor Paint Correction and $500+ for a Major Paint Correction. Since you will be using both M105 and M205 you are performing a two step/ major paint correction. Expect to spend 12+ hours detailing the exterior of the vehicle alone.

I look forward to seeing your before and after pictures.

[inDetail]

I have set packages starting at this much $. You need to estimate how much time you are going to spend. I'm not doing $50 wash and spray wax job on a trashed hummer that is going to take me 3+ hours to do and run up my water bill like crazy.

[lunchboxmunchy]

With all of this being said, what kinda hourly rate do y'all charge?

Keep Calm & Chive On

[zmcgovern45]

$40/hr is my current rate.

I have customers come over for an inspection/quote when they express interest in having their car detailed. After looking at the car and discussing the customer's desired results and expectations, I estimate how long it will take to complete the job and then I will multiply that by my hourly rate to get the final cost. I always make then aware that it is strictly an estimate and that due to the fact that all cars behave differently in terms of cc harnesses, it is possible it may take more or less time - but I always call and ask before I spend an excessive amount of extra time on a vehicle.