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

[ronkh57]

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

So to those people, you were only worth 1/2 or 3/4 of what you think you were.

Charge what you like, but be ready for a very lean schedule. At least till you gain a "portfolio" of happy customers. Or give them something more than others do. Not just "I think I'm worth more than the other guy".

Look at the people here, they have something to offer. They are craftsmen. YEARS of experience. Years of customer building. Most will have tiered pricing for what they do.

This is business. Business = trading something of value for dollars. The consumer will decide the value.

 

[srpurdy]

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.

Oh I know most of these places are cutting corners. That's not the point my post. You have to think like a customer not like a detailer. That's what I am getting at. A Customer looks at price, and many will not be educated. So if Banana Detail does a $99 job and uses $10 spray wax, and calls it a wax job, and your using a high quality $40 wax, and call it a wax job. The customer doesn't see a difference. They don't know a difference. So if you charge way more the value for the work seems lower. That is all I am saying. The customer has to see value in your work to justify paying more. Wither you think your work is better or not doesn't necessarily mean it will be considered better in the customers eyes. Maybe they are half blind and can't tell a difference between a spray wax or a nice wax job. They see a shiny car, and wonder why they pay you so much more.... get my drift? Of course there will be customers that understand and appreciate your work. I'm talking about the ones that can't or won't. Some never will.

 

[Bill1234]

So to those people, you were only worth 1/2 or 3/4 of what you think you were.

Charge what you like, but be ready for a very lean schedule. At least till you gain a "portfolio" of happy customers. Or give them something more than others do. Not just "I think I'm worth more than the other guy".

Look at the people here, they have something to offer. They are craftsmen. YEARS of experience. Years of customer building. Most will have tiered pricing for what they do.

This is business. Business = trading something of value for dollars. The consumer will decide the value.

Does not mean im worth half or 3/4s of what I am-just that others would not let me charge full price. Im giving them quality work which people in my area dont offer

 

[ronkh57]

It seems to me that you want validation, not guidance, or advice.

Good luck.

 

[Bill1234]

Oh I know most of these places are cutting corners. That's not the point my post. You have to think like a customer not like a detailer. That's what I am getting at. A Customer looks at price, and many will not be educated. So if Banana Detail does a $99 job and uses $10 spray wax, and calls it a wax job, and your using a high quality $40 wax, and call it a wax job. The customer doesn't see a difference. They don't know a difference. So if you charge way more the value for the work seems lower. That is all I am saying. The customer has to see value in your work to justify paying more. Wither you think your work is better or not doesn't necessarily mean it will be considered better in the customers eyes. Maybe they are half blind and can't tell a difference between a spray wax or a nice wax job. They see a shiny car, and wonder why they pay you so much more.... get my drift? Of course there will be customers that understand and appreciate your work. I'm talking about the ones that can't or won't. Some never will.

In that case if they were to price shop I would tell them the difference. IE spray wax will last about a week while paste about 2 months etc etc. Its what I can do better than they can. While yes most want shiny paint and do not know the process, that is where I decide on what to offer.