Who details for a side gig?

[Bdubbs]

So as I've been doing more and more paint corrections and posting some pictures on Facebook, I've had a few friends already ask if I'd possibly work on their cars.

It makes me feel good, but also I get leary working on other people's stuff. I worry about them not being happy or potentially screwing something up on their cars. It's totally different if it's mine, but someone else's...

I really do enjoy doing it and what does a person charge? Is 50/hr too much? Not enough?

For instance, I just put in roughly 15-16 hours on my 2019 Shelby GT 350. At 50 dollars an hour that's that's 750-800 dollars.

I have plenty of my own cars to detail, so not sure how many I would do. I live in a smaller town in the Midwest of about 13,000 people, so word of mouth goes a long way.

Thanks for any insight you can provide!

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[opie2]

First off check your local area legit detailers and see what they charge for services. That gives you an idea as a baseline. But just starting oit id go a tad cheaper until ya get your feet wet and more comfortable.

Personally i think your price is fair, thats about what i aim to make an hour lol. BUT, only if your are going to do upgrade your tools to forced rotation. Its faster, while also still putting out high quaility results. That would be a good starting point.

I guess im a little bias though cuz when i went forced rotation, i never looked back. It cut my correction time in half. I did my first job years ago with a free spinning da...right after i got my flex supa beast. It has paid for itself many many times


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[Bdubbs]

First off check your local area legit detailers and see what they charge for services. That gives you an idea as a baseline. But just starting oit id go a tad cheaper until ya get your feet wet and more comfortable.

Personally i think your price is fair, thats about what i aim to make an hour lol. BUT, only if your are going to do upgrade your tools to forced rotation. Its faster, while also still putting out high quaility results. That would be a good starting point.

I guess im a little bias though cuz when i went forced rotation, i never looked back. It cut my correction time in half. I did my first job years ago with a free spinning da...right after i got my flex supa beast. It has paid for itself many many times


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Is this the Flex that you're referring to? The main reason I bought the Porter Cable was because it's suppose to be very forgiving by the user.

I appreciate the help.

Flex XC 3401, FLEX Orbital Polisher,flex XC 3401 VRG dual-action polisher,flex XC3401VRG,Dual Action polisher,FLEX buffer

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[opie2]

Is this the Flex that you're referring to? The main reason I bought the Porter Cable was because it's suppose to be very forgiving by the user.

I appreciate the help.

Flex XC 3401, FLEX Orbital Polisher,flex XC 3401 VRG dual-action polisher,flex XC3401VRG,Dual Action polisher,FLEX buffer

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No, that is the old original beast. They are or will be discontinued.

i have read those porter cables are solid machines. Still used by many today no doubt.

Im just one guy, and no expert so take my words for whatever their worth. I have done alot of reading and video watching b4 making the purchase...and alot came from mike phillips. I found my buffing style to be more like his. Im not all about having to pay attention to weather my pad is stalling or not. I dont want to spend all day buffing lol. I like that i can run the flex up on edge and still be able to remove defects easily.

Forced rotation is not hard and its pretty fool proof unless ya go bouncing it off the paint lol.
If you ever go that route, get the 6 inch backing plate and start with minimum 6 white and 6 orange lake country force pads 6.5 inch.

Hope i helped ya in some way atleast

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[Rsurfer]

IMO charging by the hour will turn off most customers. They want to know how much it's going to cost them. Living in a small town and you doing this PT I think $50 bucks an hour is fair.

So look at the job and if you feel you can complete the job in 8 hours, you should quote them $400.00 rather than $50.00 an hour.

 

[Bdubbs]

IMO charging by the hour will turn off most customers. They want to know how much it's going to cost them. Living in a small town and you doing this PT I think $50 bucks an hour is fair.

So look at the job and if you feel you can complete the job in 8 hours, you should quote them $400.00 rather than $50.00 an hour.

I like that idea. I'd obviously ask them questions like . "Do you want just a wash, clay bar, and a wax? "Or do you want me to do a paint correction and remove scratches and blemishes"?


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[Tasmania]

I "clean car's with a eye for detail but NO WAY a detailer i wouldn't label myself that"

I do the family car's for free because...Family but other's pay.

 

[DFB]

During the height of the pandemic, I was sent on paid leave during the frequent and extensive lockdown periods, so I had a fair amount of spare time on my hands.

Up until that point, I had cleaned a car here and there for other people, but it started to pick up during the pandemic, taking on work mates and customers of my gardening business. So, in other words, a very small side gig that at the very least paid for a few more detailing products to play with.

I have more people asking me to detail their cars than I have time for without working for 7 days a week. In this case, it allows me to pick and choose what cars I want to do, when time allows.

For you, if you enjoy it and have the time for it, then take on a few and see where it leads. Also, price these details in a way to make it worthwhile for YOU and not what everyone else says you should charge. I would also say that making the car 100% is not often noticed by the customer, so think about ways that can improve your efficiency, balancing your time and effort with the finished result your customer will actually notice.

I'm at a point where I would love to be doing more detailing, but I'm not prepared to ruin the joy I get from it. So any additional detailing I do for others is simply a bonus, in terms of both the experience and the additional cash it brings in.

 

[Honda Fan]

I've played around with the idea of doing maybe 1 or 2 cars on the side every week. I wasn't going to offer a lot of "detailing" services, I was looking for people who basically neglect their cars and offering them what would basically be a thorough cleaning. Nothing that would take more than 2 hours. I don't want to scare them away with high prices. My theory is the same as how I dress, I usually dress in tennis shoes and shorts with a t-shirt. All I have to do is put on a pair of pants, a button down shirt and I get all sorts of compliments on how nice I look. Basically the same guy, just a little attention to detail.

 

[pdl2mtl90]

I've done detailing on the weekends for years. I work full-time as a HR Specialist and average 2-3 cars a month. It gets me out in my garage more often and helps pay for upgrades to the garage or my Mustang. Just a way for me to unwind.

 

[Bdubbs]

During the height of the pandemic, I was sent on paid leave during the frequent and extensive lockdown periods, so I had a fair amount of spare time on my hands.

Up until that point, I had cleaned a car here and there for other people, but it started to pick up during the pandemic, taking on work mates and customers of my gardening business. So, in other words, a very small side gig that at the very least paid for a few more detailing products to play with.

I have more people asking me to detail their cars than I have time for without working for 7 days a week. In this case, it allows me to pick and choose what cars I want to do, when time allows.

For you, if you enjoy it and have the time for it, then take on a few and see where it leads. Also, price these details in a way to make it worthwhile for YOU and not what everyone else says you should charge. I would also say that making the car 100% is not often noticed by the customer, so think about ways that can improve your efficiency, balancing your time and effort with the finished result your customer will actually notice.

I'm at a point where I would love to be doing more detailing, but I'm not prepared to ruin the joy I get from it. So any additional detailing I do for others is simply a bonus, in terms of both the experience and the additional cash it brings in.

Very well said.

Another reason why I would never go into wrenching on cars for a living. I already enjoy that as a hobby. Doing it everyday would ruin it.

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[PouncingPanzer]

For any sorta side work, polishing, wrenching, yard work. $50 and hour. That's what I value my time. At the end of the day I am sacrificing MY free time and if they can't understand that, tough. That said always make sure you give them realistic expectations so, as you said, they aren't disappointed in results. No one has ever bit on the paint correction due to cost but simply have them get a quote elsewhere guarantee you'll still be cheaper. Also, "paint correction" can be a dangerous word to use with some as it implies perfection. I like to say paint improvement, cause that's what it really is.

But honestly having a kid now my free time isn't so, well, free. So likely going forward I will turn most stuff down. Let my neighbor borrow mu pressure washer yesterday as she off-roads her Jeep on weekends a lot but I didn't lift a finger.

 

[PaulMys]

I have done a few (very few) jobs for money.

I worked 2-3 jobs all through my late teens & 20's, and worked 60+ hours through my 30's & 40's at a ball-busting job.

My free time is for me now, and I have earned that.

If I scheduled a detail for next Saturday, and it turned out to be a gorgeous day and I missed a fishing trip, I'd be pissed-off. Lol

But....... If I were in my 20's again, I'd work all day and detail cars with a flashlight in my mouth at night if I had to. Anything for a buck back then.

 

[Bdubbs]

I have done a few (very few) jobs for money.

I worked 2-3 jobs all through my late teens & 20's, and worked 60+ hours through my 30's & 40's at a ball-busting job.

My free time is for me now, and I have earned that.

If I scheduled a detail for next Saturday, and it turned out to be a gorgeous day and I missed a fishing trip, I'd be pissed-off. Lol

But....... If I were in my 20's again, I'd work all day and detail cars with a flashlight in my mouth at night if I had to. Anything for a buck back then.

That's the other hard part for me. I hate committing to a lot of things because I love my free time.

I have a lot of free time while still working a full time job. My main summer hobbies are golf and car stuff.

Only working 14 days a month and I already want to work even less.

I don't think I'd detail too many cars if I did it. And it's not like I need the money. I value my free time, even if it's just sitting in the recliner with the dogs.

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[PaulMys]

That's the other hard part for me. I hate committing to a lot of things because I love my free time.

I have a lot of free time while still working a full time job. My main summer hobbies are golf and car stuff.

Only working 14 days a month and I already want to work even less.

I don't think I'd detail too many cars if I did it. And it's not like I need the money. I value my free time, even if it's just sitting in the recliner with the dogs.

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You have to do you, Bdubbski.

Whatever feels like the right thing for you is the thing you should be doing.

 

[Rsurfer]

That's the other hard part for me. I hate committing to a lot of things because I love my free time.

I have a lot of free time while still working a full time job. My main summer hobbies are golf and car stuff.

Only working 14 days a month and I already want to work even less.

I don't think I'd detail too many cars if I did it. And it's not like I need the money. I value my free time, even if it's just sitting in the recliner with the dogs.

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If you love your free time (fishing) and you don't need the money..why are we discussing this?:wowwow:

 

[PaulMys]

If you love your free time (fishing) and you don't need the money..why are we discussing this?:wowwow:

Because he's a Ford guy.

They get a little misdirected at times.

Know why Ford guys drink warm water?

Because they lost the recipe for ice cubes.....


:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[98CayenneTA]

Because he's a Ford guy.

They get a little misdirected at times.

Know why Ford guys drink warm water?

Because they lost the recipe for ice cubes.....


:laughing::laughing::laughing:

Very true, Ford guys are definitely odd lol

 

[opie2]

That's the other hard part for me. I hate committing to a lot of things because I love my free time.

I have a lot of free time while still working a full time job. My main summer hobbies are golf and car stuff.

Only working 14 days a month and I already want to work even less.

I don't think I'd detail too many cars if I did it. And it's not like I need the money. I value my free time, even if it's just sitting in the recliner with the dogs.

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In that case, id say just test the waters wiith a vehicle or two with the setup ya have. See if its something you want to do more of.

Ya may just say F it..and load up the shelby and go golfing lol

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[Optimus Grime]

I would also say that making the car 100% is not often noticed by the customer, so think about ways that can improve your efficiency, balancing your time and effort with the finished result your customer will actually notice.

I'm at a point where I would love to be doing more detailing, but I'm not prepared to ruin the joy I get from it. So any additional detailing I do for others is simply a bonus, in terms of both the experience and the additional cash it brings in.

I used to go for 100% perfection on vehicles but I was doing far more work than the client was paying for. I asked my mentor to what level of polishing he did his coating jobs and he told me to make it shiny. At first I thought he was half assing jobs but he explained that the average customer looks at their car and never sees the defects we see. They just want it shiny. Of course he does two and three step polishing for those discerning customers that want that level of service but those are few and far between. I thought about my customers and only one had ever asked for paint correction and he scratched his bumper on his garage door. Every other customer wanted their car ceramic coated and wanted it shiny. They pull up, see the car, thank me, pay and go on their way. You’ll drive yourself crazy going for perfection. Do what you are getting paid to do.

I feel the same way as you about your last point. I’m a teacher by day but I detail on weekends. I officially opened my detailing business last June and I went pretty hard from August to November. It was great money and got me enough to upgrade all of my equipment to more professional grade stuff but I was burned out. I now only allow myself to work only two weekends a month. The money is nice but I’m not willing to sacrifice my family time or personal time for money. I don’t even post what I do on my social media because I’ve already got as much work as I would like.