Business owners, what is the minimum you would charge on a vehicles in your area?

[oboroballa03]

Thats why i put AIO i mean it is a pc but just one step that corrects and seals....or do most of you also top hd speed (what i have) with a lsp. If you dont wax after then thats saving you the waxing step on the other detail price so i figured it was fair. I have only done pc on my vehicles and a few family and friends never a true customer. A lot of people around here think i am super expensive because those $99 shops but you get what you pay for. There are maybe 2 true detail shops here and i am in line with their prices but i can take more time if need be because i have no overhead to pay really. The maintenance detail price is the one i was unsure of

 

[Cruzscarwash]

Here is a new price list i am working on maybe it will help you out but i dont know what people charge around there so its all different but you know what you are worth just set a price maybe $10 to $20 higher that way you have room to "help" people out and they think they are getting it cheaper. I think my prices are fair i have never had a list and its hard to remember what you charged for this and that or what someone may have told someone else. So to make it easier i figured i needed one

Maintenance Detail

•High pressure rinse and presoak with foam cannon
•Hand wash then dry exterior (includes door and trunk jambs wiped down)
•Clean wheels, wheel wells and tires
•Apply tire shine
•Interior vacuum and wipe down
•Spray wax applied to boost shine and help protect the paint between details

Cars and Trucks - $40
SUVs and Vans - $50

* Heavy mud, tar, bugs, pet hair and etc. will acquire an additional charge *

Interior Detail

•Thoroughly vacuum seats, carpets and trunk
•Steam clean cloth seats and hot water extract if needed
•Clean and condition leather seats and trim
•Clean door panels, center console and dashboard
•Apply UV protection to all interior panels
•Clean windows

Cars and Trucks - $100
SUVs and Vans - $125

Exterior Detail

•High pressure rinse and presoak with foam cannon
•Clean around logos, emblems and cracks using high quality brushes
•Hand wash dry exterior (includes door and trunk jambs)
•Remove all bugs, tar and road grime
•Clean wheels, wheel wells and tires
•Apply tire shine
•Clay bar treatment (removes surfaces contaminants that normal washing won't)
•Apply wax using dual action polisher
•Final wipe down

Cars and Trucks - $100
SUVs and Vans - $125

Ultimate Detail

•Thoroughly vacuum seats, carpets and trunk
•Steam clean cloth seats and hot water extract if needed
•Clean and condition leather seats and trim
•Clean door panels, center console and dashboard
•Apply UV protection to all interior panels
•Clean windows
•High pressure rinse and presoak with foam cannon
•Clean around logos, emblems and cracks using high quality brushes
•Hand wash dry exterior (includes door and trunk jambs)
•Remove all bugs, tar and road grime
•Clean wheels, wheel wells and tires
•Apply tire shine
•Clay bar treatment (removes surfaces contaminants that normal washing won't)
•Apply wax using dual action polisher
•Final wipe down

Cars and Trucks - $150
SUVs and Vans - $200

Buffing / Polishing AIO (Requires Exterior or Ultimate Detail)

•Remove light swirls, scratches and oxidation bringing depth, gloss and clarity back to your paint

Cars and Trucks - Exterior or Ultimate + $75
SUVs and Vans - Exterior or Ultimate + $100



Not responsible for personal belongings so please take all personal belongings out prior to services thanks.

Ok so it makes more sense now, I charge much less but also don't do as much in what most are calling a full detail. It's also based off of my location but I do "$90 details" but don't clay, no engine cleaning. It's a hand exterior wash, rims/wheels cleaned and dressed, jams wiped, windows. For the other stuff I have as "add one" this seems to have worked out much better for my area and in more demand has not all wanted the clay or engine cleaning just more through washes

 

[Mike@ShineStruck]

Right now I'm charging 125+ for wash, wax, clean outside windows , dress all plastic, clean wheels/wells, dress tires, sealant on head/tail lights, and waterless wash door/trunk jambs , no interior

200-250 for an AIO polish ..

Paint correction starts at 400-450
40-50 bucks for cosmetic engine detail
50-100 for headlight restorations

I'm all machine wax/polish, don't bother with hand application, more so since I have nano

I'm just part time mobile

 

[Cruzscarwash]

I think I'm undercutting myself on the AIO most everyone I see is at least 150 and up starting

 

[GSKR]

Here is a new price list i am working on maybe it will help you out but i dont know what people charge around there so its all different but you know what you are worth just set a price maybe $10 to $20 higher that way you have room to "help" people out and they think they are getting it cheaper. I think my prices are fair i have never had a list and its hard to remember what you charged for this and that or what someone may have told someone else. So to make it easier i figured i needed one

Maintenance Detail

• High pressure rinse and presoak with foam cannon
• Hand wash then dry exterior (includes door and trunk jambs wiped down)
• Clean wheels, wheel wells and tires
• Apply tire shine
• Interior vacuum and wipe down
• Spray wax applied to boost shine and help protect the paint between details

Cars and Trucks - $40
SUVs and Vans - $50

* Heavy mud, tar, bugs, pet hair and etc. will acquire an additional charge *

Interior Detail

• Thoroughly vacuum seats, carpets and trunk
• Steam clean cloth seats and hot water extract if needed
• Clean and condition leather seats and trim
• Clean door panels, center console and dashboard
• Apply UV protection to all interior panels
• Clean windows

Cars and Trucks - $100
SUVs and Vans - $125

Exterior Detail

• High pressure rinse and presoak with foam cannon
• Clean around logos, emblems and cracks using high quality brushes
• Hand wash dry exterior (includes door and trunk jambs)
• Remove all bugs, tar and road grime
• Clean wheels, wheel wells and tires
• Apply tire shine
• Clay bar treatment (removes surfaces contaminants that normal washing won't)
• Apply wax using dual action polisher
• Final wipe down

Cars and Trucks - $100
SUVs and Vans - $125

Ultimate Detail

• Thoroughly vacuum seats, carpets and trunk
• Steam clean cloth seats and hot water extract if needed
• Clean and condition leather seats and trim
• Clean door panels, center console and dashboard
• Apply UV protection to all interior panels
• Clean windows
• High pressure rinse and presoak with foam cannon
• Clean around logos, emblems and cracks using high quality brushes
• Hand wash dry exterior (includes door and trunk jambs)
• Remove all bugs, tar and road grime
• Clean wheels, wheel wells and tires
• Apply tire shine
• Clay bar treatment (removes surfaces contaminants that normal washing won't)
• Apply wax using dual action polisher
• Final wipe down

Cars and Trucks - $150
SUVs and Vans - $200

Buffing / Polishing AIO (Requires Exterior or Ultimate Detail)

• Remove light swirls, scratches and oxidation bringing depth, gloss and clarity back to your paint

Cars and Trucks - Exterior or Ultimate + $75
SUVs and Vans - Exterior or Ultimate + $100



Not responsible for personal belongings so please take all personal belongings out prior to services thanks.

My prices here in south fla are a little bit more than yours for the average joe.I have no promblem getting it.Suv and trucks I rarely do cause a majority of them are trashed and to time consuming.I make up loose ends on classic cars planes and promblematic cars such as severe overspray.Stay with reasonable prices and do a good job is a recipe for instant business.Different parts of the country are different,I went to ny in 2010 and was bombarded with work with ny prices.But being mobile was so helpful for the customer as there are not enough mobile services there.westchester Greenwich ct Danbury ct mahopac are all hot spots in ny.

 

[Mike lambert]

Experience, training and the labor involved is what we price our service on. I have 6 shops in my area that are way cheaper but we stay busy.

 

[Cruzscarwash]

Full exterior without pc such as engine bay-wheels-paint-decontamination and wax-then interior cleaning and protecting

So when I first started I had the "full detail" but it confused the majority of my customer base. Also my main client is a "soccer mom type" mini van or suv used to haul the kids to some type of practice. They don't really care for paint correction more just a clean interior. So when they saw the priced and I would breakdown the work they agreed the price fit the work required but they didn't want all of that done. So what I ended up doing is breaking down the components if the detail and offering it in a more of build your own package way. I still make no less then $30 an hr but average 50-60 an hr when the package is finalized. Keep in mind this is 100% due to my area which is in the middle of the Mojave desert where some things are pointless because the result will last all of 30 secs after its done. Like wheel wells. I just wipe them down, nothing more. Many of my clients live on or off dirt roads so 10 mins after they leave all the dirt is kicked back up on the wheel well, I don't spend alot of time on it as it won't last long. Now after reading through your post and others responses I was thinking that im horribly ripping myself off but as I said when I add up all the services I charge and thier set prices with what everyone seems to be offering in thier $250 package I'm right on target as everyone else just broken down differently.

 

[kevincwelch]

Not responsible for personal belongings so please take all personal belongings out prior to services thanks.

As an aside...


This is something that a lot of businesses have as disclaimers. But, if something was left in your possession and you or your employees were the only ones to have access to them, you would be liable for any loss or damage.

This is different from a situation during which an individual left his backpack on a bench in a locker room of a gym and the contents were stolen by another customer. However, if an individual let this backpack there and an employee stole the contents, then the individual and business could be held liable.

Sent via my mobile device...

 

[Bill1234]

I personally feel after seeing prices in my area that 250-300 without pc is fair-idk could be wrong. However,im just saying that I dont think you could go any lower unless the vehicle was in fact very clean

 

[ronkh57]

Full exterior without pc such as engine bay-wheels-paint-decontamination and wax-then interior cleaning and protecting

So basically........ A wash & wax. Which is fine, but in this case how are you "better"?

 

[Kenny94]

I charged $250 to detail this 03 Nissan Quest.eyecandyautodetail and the customer was so happy with the outcome, they threw in a $50 dollar tip. I had no more than $35 dollars in chemicals and buffing pads and 7 total hours of labor in it.
I do not really do not advertise, strictly by word of mouth, and my work speaks pretty well about the work I do. I would say, charge what you think is a fair price, and the customer either takes it, or leaves it.

You did a fantastic job!! I would've tipped you too! And I love your presentation on your site! Just out of curiosity on the interior what products/ chemicals did you use and of the 7 hours total how much time you spend on the interior?

 

[Bill1234]

So basically........ A wash & wax. Which is fine, but in this case how are you "better"?

I am more skilled in my mind than most of the places in my town that offer the 99 dollar full detail. I am also covering more areas

 

[ronkh57]

I am more skilled in my mind than most of the places in my town that offer the 99 dollar full detail. I am also covering more areas

It's not what you think, it's perceived value to the customer. And honestly what more or better are you doing ?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[srpurdy]

I am more skilled in my mind than most of the places in my town that offer the 99 dollar full detail. I am also covering more areas

Sounds like you need to be humbled. Thinking your great, and being great are two different things. Maybe you are, but that reality has to be the customers reality. Otherwise it is pointless to say you are better than $99 shops, because in the end it is value for dollars. The customer decides this not you. Some people can't afford to even go to a $10 car wash. So value for dollar for them is using dawn soap on the entire car LOL People like this will laugh at $99 "car wash" because that is all it will be to them a "car wash" I am just starting up a part time run. My goal is to make my customers smile. How I do that will be by producing the results I would want. No idea if I will be able to do that or not! But if you don't try you don't succeed. However I have done enough detailing to know I can produce great results. So I will be using that confidence to bring people to me, and get them a sexy looking car.

 

[ronkh57]

I am more skilled in my mind than most of the places in my town that offer the 99 dollar full detail. I am also covering more areas

How are you more skilled ??? You may cover more area, but what does that translate as value to someone?

You're local car wash has a place, a sign... Percieved credibility.

What do you have to offer besides" I think I am worth more"......? Why?

That's like looking at a house on one side of the street for 100k, and one on the other side same condition, same model etc, etc and they want 200k....

Why is it more? "Well, it's mine"......

 

[Bill1234]

How are you more skilled ??? You may cover more area, but what does that translate as value to someone?

You're local car wash has a place, a sign... Percieved credibility.

What do you have to offer besides" I think I am worth more"......? Why?

That's like looking at a house on one side of the street for 100k, and one on the other side same condition, same model etc, etc and they want 200k....

Why is it more? "Well, it's mine"......

What do I need to do in your mind then? I believe that I can produce better results at my price than all the others out there. A lot of People already know my work and believe that I can do a good job.

 

[Bill1234]

Sounds like you need to be humbled. Thinking your great, and being great are two different things. Maybe you are, but that reality has to be the customers reality. Otherwise it is pointless to say you are better than $99 shops, because in the end it is value for dollars. The customer decides this not you. Some people can't afford to even go to a $10 car wash. So value for dollar for them is using dawn soap on the entire car LOL People like this will laugh at $99 "car wash" because that is all it will be to them a "car wash" I am just starting up a part time run. My goal is to make my customers smile. How I do that will be by producing the results I would want. No idea if I will be able to do that or not! But if you don't try you don't succeed. However I have done enough detailing to know I can produce great results. So I will be using that confidence to bring people to me, and get them a sexy looking car.

It is going to be very hard to make money doing 99 dollar details on every car that comes in. When you factor in everything from supplies to equipment and labor you are left with very little profit.

 

[ronkh57]

A lot of People already know my work and believe that I can do a good job.

How many of those people have paid you $250. to detail their car??

It's not what you believe, it's what customers believe.

I actually believe the post of mine that you quoted gives the best example.

 

[Cruzscarwash]

It is going to be very hard to make money doing 99 dollar details on every car that comes in. When you factor in everything from supplies to equipment and labor you are left with very little profit.

so IDK if you are doing this for your main source of income or if you are doing this on the side and I don't want to go back to check the history atm. after I broke down my prices I was thinking the same thing, how am I going to turn a profit? I track everything, all money going out and all money coming in as everyone who runs a business does. after my price break down I noticed that while my prices were cheaper my inflow of customers increased dramatically. so I might not be getting 1 $600 job a day but instead ill get 3 $200 dollar jobs a day. there is no perfect number or method or time frame. sometimes I get lucky and ill get a car that takes 3 hrs and then the next takes 1.5 and the next 3.5 or whatever but in the end my clients have always been happy. ive actually only had 1 car come back/call back with a complaint out of the last 100 cars and the issue was minor which I corrected very quickly. ( somehow forget to open one of the little somewhat hidden cubbies inside one of the floor board panels). I still made a 81% profit margin for last month, so it was in my best interest to market the "$99" detail but the work is adjust to that as well and its explained that way as well. the quality of work is not compromised but more that less things are completed in the detail then would be with the more expensive ones and the client understands it and is happy with it which is what matters in the end.

 

[Bill1234]

How many of those people have paid you $250. to detail their car??

It's not what you believe, it's what customers believe.

I actually believe the post of mine that you quoted gives the best example.

This is my first time being asked to work on a car but be compensated fairly. I have had instances where I was doing work for 3/4s the price or 1/2 the price but never full