Struggling w pricing

[showroom]

Ive always been passionate about my cars. Ive recently started a mobile service. On average I do a REAL thorough clean, basic shampoo, clayed exterior, sealant, and rims. It takes me 4 hours and I charge 100-130. I get a lot of people saying I should be 3 stepping paint and dying carpets for that price am I way off base or wouldn't it be really hard to make money that way?

[Logan Powers]

I would say price what your time is worth. There will always be people saying that you are too high.

100$ for a basic wash wax interior is what you would pay at a "express" car wash location. And they take your car through a auto car wash.

So 100$ for a mobile wash...I can't imagine that being a bad price.

What kind of area do you detail in?

[zmcgovern45]

I charge hourly... $40/hr no matter the job. Makes it fair for each customer and makes sure I don't get screwed by charging a set price when every car is different and takes a different amount of time to complete.

[jbjwallace]

Hi My family runs a stove (wood, gas and pellet stoves and fireplaces) We do service as part of our business, I was told by a friend that if at least 10% of the people don't complain about price, we aren't charging enough.

Less work more profit

[Evan.J]

Thats about right but you also have to take a look at you target customers and your area.

Do you want the daily drivers? If so build your menu/services for them and what you find seem to be common needs.

Who says you should be doing a 3 step paint correction for that price?
They certainly don't understand how to make money when it comes to detailing.

If your talking about shampooing carpets make that an add-on item to up sell to your customers. I find that people like the idea of having carpets shampooed and extracted but i do that as an add on to make more money if they don't want to go with the higher end interior services that I offer.

[MajinAl]

personally that is a bit high for the services your offering and 3 stepping for 100-130 is extremely low.
1 step polish starts at 180+

[CCC4me]

personally that is a bit high for the services your offering and 3 stepping for 100-130 is extremely low.
1 step polish starts at 180+

I don't find $130 high at all for a clay/sealant. Even low....

[BlackHawk]

Wow I would love charging that much for that work. I say if the pricing works and you're in business, then why change pricing? I could understand if you got no business, but I know that's not the case so I say you're doin fine

[MajinAl]

I don't find $130 high at all for a clay/sealant. Even low....

People dont like to hear hourly rate, cause then there gonna think your gonna milk them. Even at 40-45 hour rate 4 hours is 160-180. Which is prob the minimum I would take. I use clay towel and 6inch pads so its no big deal to clay.
And I apply sealants with a DA ad well.
After a while you'll get your system and procedures down.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using AG Online

[BradsDetailing]

Depends on the area and what others are charging.

I get a car or two a week from a local small dealership and I basiclly clean, shampoo and dress the interior, wheels, tires and just wash the exterior for $80. So $50 for a clay and seal isn't bad for regular customers.

The first thing I do is look at what local detailers are charging.

There's really only 2 places that do this near me and one guy does a crap job and uses amrour all or something similiar. But the other guy charges $100 just for the interior and $110 for wash, clay, 1 step, wax, wheels an tires. For both he charges $190. Trucks are $15 more and vans/suv's are $55 more. So he's more expensive.

So I base my prices around him. What he charges fro $190 I'll charge $150-$175. To me that is fair and cheaper. I aim more so to be fair to the customer. I don't want to charge too little and be cheap. I'd rather charge more and give better service. Although being perfect at it is what I want to always do.

But for what you charge for what you do is about what I would charge for the same work. But we live in different areas, I'm assuming, so compare, feel out your customers and what they think. That's what matters.