How do these prices look

[iMuf]

Hey everyone, I need some help with pricing. I took this format from another post, I will be changing it to my own words and everything to make it mine. But this was quick and easy to take it and use it as a base just so I can get some ideas on if I'm on track with pricing or if you guys would recommend charging a little more or less and where I should charge more or less. Also am I missing anything as far as packages. I think this is a good base for what I will be doing to start off with.

However I know a couple places that house ferrari's and things like that and I know a guy who is friends with the people who own the garage. so I would like to eventually do some of this and I know I would need to have kind of a higher priced package for those. But I want to get used to having other people's cars in my care and make sure my skills are good enough before I go and try to get a job doing any of those cars.

Anyway, here is the pricing. Let me know what you guys think.

MAINTENANCE DETAIL
*BASIC EXTERIOR ONLY DETAIL (BASIC CLEANING OF EXTERIOR ONLY)
ONLY FOR CUSTOMERS WHOM HAD A PRIOR DETAIL
(PLATINUM, GOLD OR SILVER) BY ME WITHIN LAST 28 DAYS
*1 TO 1.5 HOUR - $50

BASIC DETAIL
A light detail to maintain the appearance and protection applied after a Level 2 detail, or on an already well taken care of car. This detail service is recommended 2-3 times a month or as needed. (1-2 hours). STARTING AT $125 FOR CARS.

*EXTERIOR HAND WASH/FOAM.
*MICROFIBER/AIR DRY. POLYMER SPRAY/WAX.
*GLASS CLEANING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR.
*DOOR JAMB WIPE DOWN.
*TIRE CLEANING WHEEL WELL (IF APPLICABLE).
*TIRE/WHEEL WELL DRESSING (IF APPLICABLE).
*WHEEL RIM CLEANED.
*STANDARD VACUUM OF SEATS, MATS & FLOORING.
*STANDARD INTERIOR WIPE DOWN/DUSTING.

*NOTE: Prices are estimates only and apply to cars. Additional fee’s will be charged for SUV’s, trucks, and vans.
STANDARD SIZE CARS & SMALL PICKUPS......................$75
SMALL SUV, MINI VANS & CROSS OVERS ......................$100
LARGE SUV & PICKUP......................................................$120
XL SUV DENALI, EXPEDITION, SUBURBAN ETC...........$150
FULL SIZE VAN & EXCURSION TYPE..............................$200

HORIZON DETAIL
This is a great winter preparation or spring clean-up detail! The next level detail services that will leave your vehicle looking great and provide good protection! This detail service is recommended every 6 months. (3-5 hours). STARTS AT $125 FOR CARS.

*INCLUDES ALL OF SILVER DETAIL WITH ADDED.
*EXPRESS CLAY BAR DECONTAMINATION (PAINT EXFOLIATION).
*QUALITY WAX (LIQUID OR PASTE)

*NOTE: Prices are estimates only and apply to cars. Additional fee’s will be charged for SUV’s, trucks, and vans.
STANDARD SIZE CARS & SMALL PICKUPS......................$125
SMALL SUV, MINI VANS & CROSS OVERS ...........................$150
LARGE SUV & PICKUP......................................................$175
XL SUV DENALI, EXPEDITION, SUBURBAN ETC...........$200
FULL SIZE VAN & EXCURSION TYPE..............................$250

SUPREME DETAIL
A premium level detail service that will greatly enhance your cars appearance. If your exterior is neglected, this detail is probably for you. Recommended as needed and upon vehicle inspection. (8-10 hours). STARTING AT $ FOR CARS.

*INCLUDED ALL OF GOLD DETAIL WITH ADDED.
*DEEP PAINT DECONTAMINATION (CLAY BAR).
*ALL IN ONE (AIO) POLISHING TO CORRECT LIGHT PAINT DEFECTS AS WELL AS CLEAN & PROTECT.
*LEATHER SEAT CLEANING & CONDITIONING.
*CARGO/TRUNK LIGHT VACUUM (ONLY WHEN EMPTY)

*NOTE: Prices are estimates only and apply to cars. Additional fee’s will be charged for SUV’s, trucks, and vans.
STANDARD SIZE CARS & SMALL PICKUPS......................$300
SMALL SUV, MINI VANS & CROSS OVERS ......................$325
LARGE SUV & PICKUP......................................................$350
XL SUV DENALI, EXPEDITION, SUBURBAN ETC...........$375
FULL SIZE VAN & EXCURSION TYPE..............................$400

 

[miad]

first you have to tell us where you live, and do you have a shop or work at home.? these 2 things make a HUGE difference in pricing.

 

[Eandras]

The question is are you happy with the hourly rate you will be getting. Don't forget you need to pay for materials, insurance, building rent (automobile if mobile) and don't forget medical, and taxes.

You need to make a living so that your family can live above poverty level. In addition you need to be competitive.

Ed

 

[allenk4]

Confusing

 

[expdetailing]

Sorry, I can't offer more critique than this simple suggestion tha the suggestion of a $125 minumum service is recommended 2 or 3 times a month, or as needed, sounds too frequent. This would rival some people's car payment.

 

[miad]

totally agree. these prices seem way high unless you are cleaning very high end vehicles in a high cost of living area. where I live, I have a hard time convincing people to pay $125 for a full detail including full shampoo, wash/wax, etc, and that's after years in business and an album full of before and after shots that would blow your mind. I cant think of anywhere on the planet where you could get $125 for a quick detail almost every week. plus, the prices at the very bottom are really high too. an AIO with little correction for a small vehicle like cars for $300 seems really steep. but again, all this depends on where you live and the type of customer you are going after.

 

[refreshauto]

Confusing

Im in the same boat hear, this is all confusing between a horizon detail that reguire a silver detail, what is a silver detail? Need to clean this all up and start over

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[UglyBetty]

Sorry, I can't offer more critique than this simple suggestion tha the suggestion of a $125 minumum service is recommended 2 or 3 times a month, or as needed, sounds too frequent. This would rival some people's car payment.

You hit the nail on the head!

The prices seem high, and the layout of pricing structure is too confusing. I'm not a professional detailer, however, if I'm your client (with very little knowledge of, or time/equipment for detailing), I want something pretty concise and easy to understand before I give you my business. More than 3-4 pricing structures is too much mental candy, although they must be qualified by a few caveats (SUVs add $75, etc).

Just my two cents worth!

 

[UglyBetty]

Heres an example of concise:

EXTERIOR HAND WASH/FOAM.
*MICROFIBER/AIR DRY. POLYMER SPRAY/WAX.
*GLASS CLEANING INTERIOR & EXTERIOR.
*DOOR JAMB WIPE DOWN.
*TIRE CLEANING WHEEL WELL (IF APPLICABLE).
*TIRE/WHEEL WELL DRESSING (IF APPLICABLE).
*WHEEL RIM CLEANED.
*STANDARD VACUUM OF SEATS, MATS & FLOORING.
*STANDARD INTERIOR WIPE DOWN/DUSTING.

Change this to:
Exterior: Wash and wax/dress all exterior surfaces.
Interior: Vacuum, dust, clean glass and door jams

 

[wrb_subie]

Let's see some pics of some work. I can't judge until I see your capabilities.

 

[Pureshine]

The easiest way to do this is too look at other detail shops in your area and see what their charging and go from there. You need to decide what kind of detailing you want todo higher end work or production work. This will help you set your prices to. Do some research it will make your life much easier.

 

[rlc1044]

Those prices look great depending where your located.


RLC Mobile Auto Detailing - Augusta GA car wash and detail, car detail and auto detailing ,mobile detailing

Top Shelf Auto Detailing - Top Shelf Auto Detailing Columbia, SC-car wash in Columbia,SC that offers auto detailing and car detailing services at your location.

American Mobile Detailing - Home

 

[iMuf]

first you have to tell us where you live, and do you have a shop or work at home.? these 2 things make a HUGE difference in pricing.

I'm out of Raleigh, NC. and I plan to be mobile and work out of my home to start and then eventually I would like to open up a shop.

 

[iMuf]

Sorry, I can't offer more critique than this simple suggestion tha the suggestion of a $125 minumum service is recommended 2 or 3 times a month, or as needed, sounds too frequent. This would rival some people's car payment.

What would you recommend? Like I said I pulled this from another post and just put in my price. Once I get pricing dialed in then I will make up my own "flyer". This was just easy enough to do so that I could get some prices out there and give everyone a decent idea of the services I would do. But I'm completely open to any critiquing. I've only done like 4 cars so far so I'm still trying to learn.

 

[iMuf]

Let's see some pics of some work. I can't judge until I see your capabilities.

Here are some pics of the cars that I have done so far.

This first one is a 2012 challenger. I don't have any before pics, it had minor swirls and a small scratch on the driver side door. Other than that it was in great shape. All I did was the exterior polish to remove the swirls and get rid of the scratch as best as I could and then put a coat of wax on. And of course I washed it and clayed it as well.

 

[iMuf]

This was another car, this was my first car. The car was pretty much in perfect condition. All I did was wash, clay, and wax. I also vacuumed and wiped down the inside.

Before

After

 

[iMuf]

This was my most recent detail job. The guy wanted it to look better so he could flip it. The car was in pretty bad shape. Someone tried to do a rattle can paint job from about the rear quarter panels back along with the front bumper. So it was dull and nothing that I could really do with that. I did a 3 step detail on the exterior along with a vacuum and wipe down of the interior.

Before

After

 

[scrubs147]

From what I can see, you do exceptional work and your prices are good. I charge a few dollars more for about the same packages.

$80 for a wash and vacuum or wash and wax, but I throw in a lot of extra goodies and go the extra mile which ends up wowing the customer.

 

[miad]

Honestly, your prices are for someone who is VERY experienced and plans to find the very small catagory of people who can afford to, and desire to spend nearly $100 a week for maintenance washes. And there are lots of guys on this site that are in North Carolina, so you're already at a huge disadvantage there because they have done hundreds of cars, maybe thousands compared to your 4, and have likely already gobbled up most of this tiny market. My theory....you have to keep prices low when starting out in order to create an incentive for a perspective client to choose you over the other 5 experienced guys in your area. If I guy wants a car detailed, is willing to spend anywhere near $300+ for it, checks online for a shop, he is going to find the guy with the fancy shop, the hundreds of before/after pictures, the nice website, the good references, and most importantly, the experience. Building a business having nearly no experience is most certainly a "start at the bottom" venture. If you wanted to start a top of the line construction business, you wouldn't just go Lowes and buy some tools and build 4 small tool sheds in your backyard then expect to convince someone to let you build their $300,000 home. You start small/cheap, get experience, build a clientele, prove yourself by taking good pictures, then slowly raise your prices because at that point your customers know you are worth it. Of course, all of this is just my opinion.

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[iMuf]

Honestly, your prices are for someone who is VERY experienced and plans to find the very small catagory of people who can afford to, and desire to spend nearly $100 a week for maintenance washes. And there are lots of guys on this site that are in North Carolina, so you're already at a huge disadvantage there because they have done hundreds of cars, maybe thousands compared to your 4, and have likely already gobbled up most of this tiny market. My theory....you have to keep prices low when starting out in order to create an incentive for a perspective client to choose you over the other 5 experienced guys in your area. If I guy wants a car detailed, is willing to spend anywhere near $300+ for it, checks online for a shop, he is going to find the guy with the fancy shop, the hundreds of before/after pictures, the nice website, the good references, and most importantly, the experience. Building a business having nearly no experience is most certainly a "start at the bottom" venture. If you wanted to start a top of the line construction business, you wouldn't just go Lowes and buy some tools and build 4 small tool sheds in your backyard then expect to convince someone to let you build their $300,000 home. You start small/cheap, get experience, build a clientele, prove yourself by taking good pictures, then slowly raise your prices because at that point your customers know you are worth it. Of course, all of this is just my opinion.

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Thanks man, that makes complete sense.