Prices

[Estiven Mendez]

How much do you charge? For an interior? Say a dirty one. For an okay interior? How about paint correction three step, two step? Wash and wax?

[JeffM]

How long do you estimate it will take you? How much an hour do you want to make? What are your daily overhead expenses? Add 20% for company profits.

[frankprozzoly]

I'd like to find out this info too. Just some general prices. I've been doing some friends cars and don't really know how much to charge. I'm also considering doing a car or two on my day off

[cardaddy]

Interiors can, and often DO take longer than a wash, clay/Nanoskin and spray wax on the exterior. I won't touch an interior for less than $195, (clean) $295 (normal), and $395 (dirty). Recently quoted that $395 for a Lincoln Navigator and that was a BARGAIN for the hunk-o-junk that vehicle was. ;)

Normal time considered for an interior is 4 hours. Although... we've spent over 7 (15 man hours) with two of us working at it on a particularly nasty SUV. :) Those however... I'll price high, as high as I can... and if they want it they'll pay. If not... I don't have crawl around in that filth. People shouldn't trash their vehicles like they do, then think that they'll throw $50 to someone and get THEM to spend half a day cleaning up their mess.

Gotta' pay to play they say. ;)

[RFrommann]

my exterior prices are:

125 for an AIO

180 for polish + sealant

225 with iron x, essence, reload

+25 for tire sealant
+40 for vacuum and interior wipe down
+70 for vacuum/wipe down/ leather conditioner/dash protectant


i have only done a small handful of AIO, and i've done 7 essence packages in the last month.

i also shoot for 850+ for a ceramic coating job, but have only done 1 so far.

i started gathering my own supplies end of july, and began doing side jobs while working fulltime for a mobile detailing company.
i moved into my shop the 2nd week of october.

so all things considered, i feel i'm doing well.

[Estiven Mendez]

I have $8500 invested with van, equipment, and chemicals. $6600 is overhead indirect cost and about $2100 is direct cost. Its confusing lol

[TroyScherer]

I change 1 million dollars per car.....






*The worlds most expensive detailer.

[GSKR]

Interiors can, and often DO take longer than a wash, clay/Nanoskin and spray wax on the exterior. I won't touch an interior for less than $195, (clean) $295 (normal), and $395 (dirty). Recently quoted that $395 for a Lincoln Navigator and that was a BARGAIN for the hunk-o-junk that vehicle was. ;)

Normal time considered for an interior is 4 hours. Although... we've spent over 7 (15 man hours) with two of us working at it on a particularly nasty SUV. :) Those however... I'll price high, as high as I can... and if they want it they'll pay. If not... I don't have crawl around in that filth. People shouldn't trash their vehicles like they do, then think that they'll throw $50 to someone and get THEM to spend half a day cleaning up their mess.

Gotta' pay to play they say. ;)Dang I'm moving to Atlanta !

[GSKR]

That's one thing I hate and drives me nuts being mobile,you get a lot of rift raft people who want you to do a full detail for 80.00 and have to stop production to answer stupid questions I'm like go away already.

[haris300]

I charge around 200 for the average interior detail on a sedan. I don't clean dirty interiors for cheap. 300 to 400 sounds about right if I have to break out the steamer/extractor and work out some real nasty filth.

[LSNAutoDetailing]

I have $8500 invested with van, equipment, and chemicals. $6600 is overhead indirect cost and about $2100 is direct cost. Its confusing lol

I think you'll find that this forum has members from all over the world, and US. I don't think you're going to get firm numbers because comparing pricing is going to vary from location to location. A full paint correction in Atlanta or Long Island NY is going to be different than rural America.

The best thing to do is once you've figured out what kind of services you are going to offer, look at what services and pricing other detailers in your local area charge for comparable services. Set your prices accordingly. Competition is good, but if you're to low, you undercut your economy (and fellow detailers, and that's not good). To high, and you spend most of your time trying to explain why your higher than the next guy, which isn't bad if you want that niche market and are getting the customers who are willing to pay.

It all comes down to what you want to do, and what the local economy is willing to pay.

[Bunky]

I change 1 million dollars per car.....






*The worlds most expensive detailer.




You just need 1 detail ever 3 years and you are set.

[Mike Phillips]

I think you'll find that this forum has members from all over the world, and US. I don't think you're going to get firm numbers because comparing pricing is going to vary from location to location. A full paint correction in Atlanta or Long Island NY is going to be different than rural America.

The best thing to do is once you've figured out what kind of services you are going to offer, look at what services and pricing other detailers in your local area charge for comparable services.

Set your prices accordingly. Competition is good, but if you're to low, you undercut your economy (and fellow detailers, and that's not good).

To high, and you spend most of your time trying to explain why your higher than the next guy, which isn't bad if you want that niche market and are getting the customers who are willing to pay.

It all comes down to what you want to do, and what the local economy is willing to pay.




That's a really good reply and explanation Paul.

What I teach in my classes is something very similar. First, in my opinion if a guy is going to get into detailing cars for a career then you really want to build a loyal high end customer base. You want educated people with nice cars that understand the value of quality work.

You don't want to go after price shoppers because they will leave you as soon as they find a lower price and you'll never get any worth while referrals from them, you will get good referrals from high end customers.


So target your market and you do that by


A: Being able to provide the best or at least real top notch quality work and service.

B: Being able to educate your customer why they should choose you and not your competitor.


Educating your customer takes time so you need to hone your skills and start by learning how to read your customers and don't waste time on someone that after all your effort is going to walk away anyways.

I'd recommend getting a copy of my VIF form because not only does it help you to protect yourself it also helps you to upsell some customers, it helps you to educate your customer and it shows you're more educated than your competitors.

I'm sending out a new batch today, just reply to the thread.

Mike Phillips VIF or Vehicle Inspection Form (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/62084-mike-phillips-vif-vehicle-inspection-form.html)



:xyxthumbs:

[StephenK]

Check out what local detail shops charge as well as what is done for those prices. Try to see a few examples of the quality of work they do. Compare the work you can and will do versus them then set your prices. If you are gonna do better quality work then charge more than they do. And as Mike always preaches EDUCATE your customers. Can't not remember who actually said this but seen this quote a few years ago on here. But when someone tells you that another guys can do it for a lower a price and ask if you can match the price just tell them no cause you do not price match cause the other guys does not match your quality of work

[RFrommann]

I educate people randomly on fb posts, and typically will get one or two inquiries for pricing based off such info. I get messages like: "you are very knowledgeable with what you do and clearly very professional"