Is My Pricing on Point?

I think you should find out what your competition is doing for the similar quality of work. The price point will widely vary dramatically depending on location even within the same city. More affluent areas will allow higher prices while very competitive or less affluent may drive prices down. The problem is that anyone can call themselves a detailer so anyone can be a competitor so you are competing with guys who do it on the side (extra cash) to those trying to make a real living and paying taxes from it.

 

still some good information being posted up. I'm trying to revise my prices for my website and am almost wondering if i should just leave the prices blank LoL.

Although i'm sure people would like to know about how much they should plan to spend at a bare minimum.

 

The last two are fine.

All in all they look good. I would add one package between the basic wash/wax and the correction package.

Prewash foam
Detail all jambs
Hand wash
Detail tires, wheels and inner fenders
Clay paint and glass
Sealant on paint and jambs ( I usually do 2 coats.)
Vacuum interior
Wipe all interior surfaces
Clean all glass
Clean and condition leather seating surfaces
Seal wheels and exhaust tips
Dress tires

This is my most popular package. $295 for cars and $350 for SUVs. Easily doable in a day at a relaxed pace.

As mentioned, maybe add "from" in front of all pricing. I used to have a big disclaimer that read all prices referred to vehicles in average condition. As for running a detailing business on a fulltime basis charging by the hour, I wish you luck. Norcal Bob is the only guy I know that can pull it off. A lot of my clients let me do what I want as well, but only after years of service. You'll do fine, just get at it. You can change things as you go. Its easier to drop pricing if you have to then to raise it.

 

best thread ever. Thank you ken and all other contributors.

 

The only thing I would add is if you want to do any type of interior shampoo, Duragloss makes an aerosol one that is very good. It is best used with white Terry towels I find. Good luck with it.

 

Great point. I missed your post earlier. Price yourself similarly to what other good detailers are charging. Its not fair to undercut the guys that are trying to make a living at it.

 

Ken . . . . so what do you charge for something like the 1 step that "tire shredder" listed? $295 like you suggested?

Looking to rework my pricing. Still trying to find that sweet spot that will allow me to provide some results on customers vehicles yet make it cost effective so clients will want to get their vehicle corrected instead of just like a basic detail without correction.

still trying to introduce to people what paint correction is out here.

 

Getting pricing right can be tough.

 

There seems to be very little difference between a a wash/clay/wax and a correction. I would think that $180 for 10 hours of work is peanuts. That's only $18 an hour!

 

Setting a Price

Setting a price should be fairly simple, materials used plus, a percentage % of (b) items 1 -6, plus Labour costs, plus profit margin

Costs (any cost that is incurred by carrying out business)

a) Materials used (car care products) + expendables (i.e. micro fibre towels, latex gloves, etc)

b) Overhead Costs
1. Tools
2. Water
3. Electricity
4. Rent or Lease
5. Insurance, business licence, etc
6. Marketing

c) Labour
Estimated time x hourly rate

d) Profit Margin
Percentage profit that you expect to make



Detailing Pricing Guide

As with most other things, the price of automotive detailing varies by quite a wide margin. The cost of having a professional perform a detailing job on your vehicle will vary by geographical region, the experience and reputation of the detailer, and the condition of your vehicle, and your expectations of the finished detail, among other factors. Most detailers will offer a specified package of services that are included in their standard prices, and generally will provide additional services on request for an additional fee.

Many professionals will need 10+ hours of work to transform your vehicle back to ‘like-new condition’. A Professional using high quality products may spend over $100 in product use alone; so expect to pay a fair price for the amount of work involved.

Typical detailing and additional services charge as follows:
• Interior vacuum and hand wash $30 - $50
• Full detail, $350 - $550 (excluding major paint correction)
• Engine detail, $50- $75
• Windshield polishing $50-$75
• Paint Renovation 10 – 30 plus hours (is usually charged per hour)
• Paint touch-up, $50 minor - $200 major
• Headlight restoration $45- $85
• Paint overspray or cement splatter removal, $250
• Black trim restoration, $50 - $150
• AC system cleaning and cabin air filter replacement, $100-$125
• Carpet dyeing, $100 - $250
• Windshield repair, $50 - $100
• Paintless dent repair (PDR) $55 - $125 per dent/ding

The above (US $) figures are only estimated costs and should be used for guidance only as they will vary by location, experience level of detailer and size / condition of vehicle

 

Unless you are using Vintage or something similar for your LSP, product costs should not exceed 5-10% of the value of the package. Cleaners, dressings etc are pennies per application when used as directed. It takes mere ounces of polish to correct most cars ( per step, or unless you are using the Kevin Brown Method ). Even if you are using a $200 jar of wax, the cost of that product should not exceed $15 with two coats unless you are wasting it. If you are providing some of the services that John has listed above, then your costs could go up, but if you are doing nothing more than cleaning and some correction work, 5-10% should cover your costs.

 

I don't have set package prices. I charge by the hour and might give someone a rough quote like (2 hours for a wash/interior cleaning) but can be more/less based on the condition/size of the vehicle.

This works out pretty well for trucks too, since they take longer to clean up.. I'm still making 'extra' money because it's a larger vehicle.

 

Ken that is very true and that is also the way i have looked at things. It's better to make a little less money and be steady or have more business then it would be to charge a ton of cash and get a job here and there.

Problem with calling other detailers here to get pricing on similar packages is they don't do paint correction. Some people advertise $90 full detail and buff jobs but that isn't correction.

Not sure the market here would allow for me to charge $295 for just the exterior and a 1 step at that. What do you then charge for interior work?