Are my prices too low? Please read and help.

Eric7810

Eric7810

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I am a part time detailer, I do it on Fridays and Saturdays. I deliver Pepsi as my full time job, a very physical job.

My weekends are precious, as I have a wife and three young kids, but detailing has allowed us to improve our home, pay off debt, etc.

I have never had anybody turn away from me after quoting them. Nobody has ever told me I’m too expensive. I am creeping my prices upward but still nobody seems phased.

I just did a gloss black GMC suburban AIO, interior, and engine bay. Cleaned wheel barrels, boars hair brushed all the emblems clean, polished it swirl free and charged him $780. He didn’t hesitate to pay me.

Should I keep increasing my prices until I start having folks occasionally turning away? Please share your thoughts.


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Find a bit of resistance. When they are taken back by price but they end up doing it anyway, that is a happy zone to be in. It means you are getting your worth and it also allows you to deliver a better experience for them. If you raise your prices and you still have about 7/10 people paying for your services, you are doing above average than most.
 
How many hours did that take you?

Is that $780 going to be taxed?

What was a rough estimate in materials cost?
 
12 man hours

Yes

I really don’t know, maybe 25 bucks? Half of that is probably electricity. Steamer, vac, running a flex 3401, charging a 60v battery, head lamp, and scangrip lighting.

Also 30 mins will be spent this week cleaning the twenty pads I used.


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I don't think your prices are to far off....

$780 - 20% (taxes) = $624

$624 - materials = $600

$600 ÷ 12hrs = $50/hr
 
I'm not a professional but i remember Mike Philips say you should shot for $100/hr in one of his many videos. Going by that you have some room to increase profits.

Good luck.
 
98CayenneTA said:
I don't think your prices are to far off....

$780 - 20% (taxes) = $624

$624 - materials = $600

$600 ÷ 12hrs = $50/hr
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In your materials calculation, are you also including the cost of towels, polishers, lights, etc?
 
dgage said:
In your materials calculation, are you also including the cost of towels, polishers, lights, etc?
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I was just going off the numbers he gave me in the previous post.

I would have to guess materials cost would be higher when you consider pad wear, machine cost, microfiber wear ect.
 
I’ve got probably $4,000 invested into my detailing setup.

That includes all detailing equipment and also garage upgrades. Beefing up my electrical circuitry, spot free plumbing, etc:

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It really depends on where you live. Like they say in real estate, location, location, location.
 
Find out what your competitors are charging and go from there. As Rsurfer mentioned, it depends on the location. I could get away with charging more for a paint enhancement in california than in somewhere like arkansas.
 
Rsurfer said:
It really depends on where you live. Like they say in real estate, location, location, location.
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SNP209 said:
Find out what your competitors are charging and go from there. As Rsurfer mentioned, it depends on the location. I could get away with charging more for a paint enhancement in california than in somewhere like arkansas.
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^^^ Very true. ^^^

Charging $100 an hour in a place where apartments rent for $350 a month is not going to fly, usually.

But $100 an hour in a place where an apartment goes for $2,500 a month would not be a huge ask.

Where do you live, Eric?
 
Being that you do this on the side, price each job according to the amount of time you think it will take instead of a one single price structure.
 
^^^^ 100 percent agree with this. Give a price that you feel good about. If you move into doing this more regularly or full time, then it’s a new ball game.
 
2wookies said:
Lol why would you claim taxes?
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Lol. Cheers.

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PaulMys said:
Where do you live, Eric?
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Thanks everyone.

I live in rural west Michigan. Lots of farmers and blue collar tradesmen so I do a lot of AIO’s on newer pickups.

I just did that engine bay, interior, and AIO on a GMC Sierra for 780. I often do sale prep jobs for $250. I make the most on those, as I can finish those in about three hours and customers are always thrilled.

I’d like to be in that $80/hr range consistently. I’ve been doing this for four years and have my town pretty well locked up, everyone knows I’m the one to come to. I work out of my garage and people who are interested just pull in and ask to schedule with me.


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Eric7810 said:
Thanks everyone.

I live in rural west Michigan. Lots of farmers and blue collar tradesmen so I do a lot of AIO’s on newer pickups.

I just did that engine bay, interior, and AIO on a GMC Sierra for 780. I often do sale prep jobs for $250. I make the most on those, as I can finish those in about three hours and customers are always thrilled.

I’d like to be in that $80/hr range consistently. I’ve been doing this for four years and have my town pretty well locked up, everyone knows I’m the one to come to. I work out of my garage and people who are interested just pull in and ask to schedule with me.


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Click to expand...

That is really great to hear, Eric.

From all of your posts, I have gathered that you are a pretty honest and straightforward guy.

I'm not surprised in the least that people know to come to you for the best work possible.

That being said, you should be honest with them about what you are now worth. Good, experienced work also comes with the appropriate price tag.......... :)
 
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