Getting started - My Menu.

[veeko]

I'm looking to start detailing part-time and I've put some thought around the whole services and pricing structure. It would be greatly appreciated if you guys wouldn't mind taking the time to look over what I have put together and offer any feedback where necessary.

I've tried to keep it simple by creating 5 exterior packages and a number of exterior and interior add-ons. Pricing has been created based on the service provided and the size of the vehicle.

Let me know if these prices seem fair or are too high/low for someone that's just getting started. I'm sticking to friends and family cars for now. I am completely open to suggestions here and I will not be offering packages 4 and 5 until I have enough seat time with the PC 7424.

Detailing based on vehicle size SM, MED, LRG, XL

Small – Any 2 door hatch-back or motorcycle
Medium – Any 2 door coupe, 4 door compact sedan or compact truck
Large - Crossovers, Minivans, Full sized pickup trucks & large sedans
X-Large – Full sized SUV, Van, 4 door full sized pickup trucks

If a car is poorly maintained and needs an extreme amount of attention, vehicle will be evaluated. Packages and add-ons may not apply and charges will be an hourly rate instead ($??p/h)

Exterior packages

1. $25/30/35/40 - Wash

Hand wash
Wheel wash
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices


2. $50/60/70/80 - Wash/Wax

Hand wash
Wheel wash
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices
1 Layer of premium wax**


3. $80/90/100/110 - Wash/Clay/One-step Cleaner,Polish,Sealant

Hand wash
Wheel wash
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices
Claybar to remove contaminants on paint***
All-In-One cleaner/polish/sealant/wax*** (longer protection)


4. $110/120/130/140 - Wash/Clay/Polish/Wax

Hand wash
Wheel wash
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices
Claybar to remove contaminants on paint
Single-step Polish to bring out shine and upto 80% swirl removal
1 Layer of premium wax

Paint sealant can be applied prior to wax for an extra $25


5. $140/150/160/170 - Wash/Clay/Multi-Step Polish/Wax

Hand wash
Wheel wash
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices
Claybar to remove contaminants on paint
Multi-step corrective polishing (Swirl removal)*****
1 Layer of premium wax

Paint sealant can be applied prior to wax for an extra $25


Exterior Add-Ons


1. $10-20 - Rubber and plastic trim dressed with UV protectant

2. $40 - Door-jambs + dressing

3. $60 - Engine-bay cleaning + conditioning

4. $50 - Plastic Headlight restoration

5. $20-40 - Exterior metal polish + protectant (bumpers + sidesteps)

6. $10 - Wheel sealant



Interior Add-Ons


1. $10-15 - Vacuum, Wipe-down (dusting), windows

2. $20-25 - Vacuum, Wipe-down (dusting), Windows. Dash & Plastic cleaning and dressing**

3. $20-40 - Leather clean and condition

4. $40-50 - Carpet shampoo


Let me know what you guys think. I could use feedback on the packages I am thinking about offering as well as pricing.

:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I think most of your prices look pretty good or inline with the norm...

The engine compartment detail for $60.00 looks to be a little on the low side considering the time and work involved... maybe bump up to $75.00 to start with?

On a side note, you did a nice job of formatting your post to make it easy to read and understand.

:dblthumb2:

 

[agstacker]

Veeko, what type of products do you plan on using? Type of wash,wax,polish,etc. Just curious.

 

[BobbyG]

A pretty comprehensive list and decent prices too. :xyxthumbs:

 

[veeko]

I think most of your prices look pretty good or inline with the norm...

The engine compartment detail for $60.00 looks to be a little on the low side considering the time and work involved... maybe bump up to $75.00 to start with?

On a side note, you did a nice job of formatting your post to make it easy to read and understand.

:dblthumb2:

that's great and thanks Mike for the prompt response and kind words! i'll bump the price up on the engine bay to ensure i'm not cutting myself short as well as the community.

if you wouldn't mind when you have a moment could you please also review the thread i posted in the ask the experts forum. the link has been posted in the quote below.

Veeko, what type of products do you plan on using? Type of wash,wax,polish,etc. Just curious.

here are the products i am planning on using. some feedback would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...403-getting-started-need-some-assistance.html

A pretty comprehensive list and decent prices too. :xyxthumbs:

thanks man! :dblthumb2:

 

[TornadoRed]

I like the breakdown of the packages. I might take some of your ideas.
Now just my two cents...
If you are mobile, I don't like the idea of driving somewhere to do a car wash for $25. It hardly seems worth the time. However if it's just friends and family and they're bringing their car to you, it's a good deal.
Also, I think I'd add clay (if needed) to the second package with a 1 layer wax. I'd hate to move those contaminates around during the wax.

 

[veeko]

I like the breakdown of the packages. I might take some of your ideas.
Now just my two cents...
If you are mobile, I don't like the idea of driving somewhere to do a car wash for $25. It hardly seems worth the time. However if it's just friends and family and they're bringing their car to you, it's a good deal.
Also, I think I'd add clay (if needed) to the second package with a 1 layer wax. I'd hate to move those contaminates around during the wax.

thanks for your feedback. my jetta is tornado red

i am definitely not interested in providing mobile detailing services. the reason i didn't add clay to the second package is because i figured it would just be a quick liquid wax job applied by hand.

should i add clay to the second package and only offer it if it's necessary? and should the additional clay bar service be tagged with an additional fee or work it into the existing price?

thanks again.

 

[TornadoRed]

should i add clay to the second package and only offer it if it's necessary? and should the additional clay bar service be tagged with an additional fee or work it into the existing price?

thanks again.

Hopefully someone with experience will chime in, but here's what I'd do...

Add it to the package and work it into the price. Here's my way of thinking. If the car has been neglected and you give the customer an option to add clay for $10, they may say, "No thanks," when you know it really needs it. If you work it into the price of the package, then you can clay, even if it's just the horizontal parts of the car.

Maybe if you have a repeat customer and you know the paint is clean because you've been taking care of it, give them a discount.

 

[rwright]

Your whole package that includes a multi-step polish on a large SUV for $170? :wow: You really need to raise that. Don't sell yourself short man, it's a lot of work.

 

[veeko]

Your whole package that includes a multi-step polish on a large SUV for $170? :wow: You really need to raise that. Don't sell yourself short man, it's a lot of work.

what would suggest keeping in mind the size of each vehicle? do all of the other prices look okay to you? completely open to suggestions.

 

[rwright]

what would you have in mind keeping the size of each vehicle in consideration? completely open to suggestions.

I'm talking specifically about package #5 on a large SUV. That is going to be a lot of work. I would start that at $300-$350. Every market is different and I understand that.

 

[veeko]

I'm talking specifically about package #5 on a large SUV. That is going to be a lot of work. I would start that at $300-$350. Every market is different and I understand that.

that's understandable. say i were to raise the price to $300 on a large SUV, do you feel i should raise the price on all of the others in package #5? thanks.

 

[rwright]

5. Wash/Clay/Multi-Step Polish/Wax

Hand wash
Wheel wash
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices
Claybar to remove contaminants on paint
Multi-step corrective polishing (Swirl removal)*****
1 Layer of premium wax
Rubber and plastic trim dressed with UV protectant
Vacuum, Wipe-down (dusting), Windows. Dash & Plastic cleaning and dressing
Door-jambs + dressing

Paint sealant can be applied prior to wax for an extra $25

Just a suggestion: $300-$350 / Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade

 

[veeko]

I'm starting to think package #5 might be better priced like so,

5. $140/175/225/300 - Wash/Clay/Multi-Step Polish/Wax

Hand wash
Wheel wash
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices
Claybar to remove contaminants on paint
Multi-step corrective polishing (Swirl removal)*****
1 Layer of premium wax

Paint sealant can be applied prior to wax for an extra $25

better?

 

[rwright]

that's understandable. say i were to raise the price to $300 on a large SUV, do you feel i should raise the price on all of the others in package #5? thanks.

In my opinion, yes. I would set my prices at $150, $250, $300-$350. It's a lot of work. Every market is different, you have to keep that in mind. There are people who will do all of that work for your original price listed and there are people who won't even look at something for less than $1,000. Call around your area and check prices. Also keep in mind that if you have high prices that people will expect a near perfect job. So it's all about the kind of work you do and want to be known for.

 

[rwright]

I'm starting to think package #5 might be better priced like so,



better?

Haha! You posted while I was typing! That price list looks a lot better in my opinion. But please keep in mind that it's only my opinion. First account for material, then figure out what you want to pay yourself to be fair.

 

[veeko]

I was reviewing my menu again and found that package #2 seems to bother me.

2. $50/60/70/80 - Wash/Wax

Hand wash (2 bucket method)
Wheel wash (2 bucket method)
Tires dressed
Exterior window wipe
Water blown out from exterior trims & crevices

1 Layer of premium wax (2+ months of protection)**
or
Paint sealant for an extra $25 (4-6 month of protection)

Add an additional $10/15/20/25 to clay-bar in order remove contaminants on paint if necessary

Let's say a customer wants to go with this package and their vehicle requires clay.

Wouldn't clay barring the vehicle add the potential of adding fine micro scratches which would then require a follow up polish to get rid of them?

For this very reason is why I decided to not include clay-barring at first. I figured for those individuals that just want a quick wash and hand wax regardless of their paints condition, this may be the package for them. Keep in mind I do have a package that includes an AIO and even one for polishing and would try to persuade them to take advantage of those.

I understand that it may defeat the purpose a quality detail however some customers want they want and that's what they'll get. It just doesn't seem worth it to do a full clay job and not follow it up with polish. Am I wrong?

Any feedback or suggestions?

 

[TornadoRed]

I was reviewing my menu again and found that package #2 seems to bother me.

Let's say a customer wants to go with this package and their vehicle requires clay.

Wouldn't clay barring the vehicle add the potential of adding fine micro scratches which would then require a follow up polish to get rid of them?

For this very reason is why I decided to not include clay-barring at first. I figured for those individuals that just want a quick wash and hand wax regardless of their paints condition, this may be the package for them. Keep in mind I do have a package that includes an AIO and even one for polishing and would try to persuade them to take advantage of those.

I understand that it may defeat the purpose a quality detail however some customers want they want and that's what they'll get. It just doesn't seem worth it to do a full clay job and not follow it up with polish. Am I wrong?

Any feedback or suggestions?

Good point. If their paint is in really bad shape, then #2 wouldn't be an option and they'd have to get #3. Adding wax to paint that needs clay would have just as much or more potential to scratch than clay would.

 

[08stang]

something that sold my aunt is the mention of the two bucket wash with grid in them ( in a small foot note maybe) sorry I am kinda new at this but thats my 2 cents.