Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
How much to charge for 2 BIG Ford Transit Vans?
Anytime I get questions via e-mail, a PM or a FB message I prefer to invest my typing time where
A: It's easier for me to share links, pictures and videos.
B: More people can read and thus benefit from the information. (no just one set of eyeballs)
The reality is, most people that contact me found me via an article I've written or a reply I've written on this forum. The thing is, instead of figuring out that the whole reason they are contacting me is because they found me via an article or answer I wrote on the forum that they to should bring their question to the forum because not only will that help them.... but it will help a future "them". If I answer everything in a private e-mail or other touch point, no one would find and contact me. It's a cycle or pattern that repeats as long as everything is shared in the public domain.
The above is kind of wordy but re-read it slowly and it will make sense.
So I get an e-mail asking,
Hey mike
Big fan! I have a question im just starting out doing mobile detailing. A friend of mine wants me to do a basic exterior wash and interior vacuum and wipe down on his company vehicles. They are 2 of the big ford transits and one small. How much would you charge for that?
Sent from my iPhone
-Michael
Great question Michael.
Figure out how many hours it's going to take you to do just one of these large Ford Transit Vans.
To just wash and dry the outside is going to take you a minimum of 2 hours and probably close to 3 hours unless you really have a "Washing System" for vehicles like these that enable you to work and break-neck speed. (that's what I do).
To vacuum and wipe down the inside is going to take you a minimum of 2 hours and likely 3 hours unless you're really fast and have an "Interior System" for doing good fast work on interiors.
So the total time for one large Ford Transit Van to wash and dry the outside and then clean and wipe down the inside is 6 hours. I'd round this to 7 hours to be safe.
A good average for general detailing is $80.00 per hour. So figure 6 hours at $80.00 per hour and you're at $480.00 or round this to $495.00 for just one of the Transit Vans.
Tell him if you do 2 vans you'll give him a break, say $450.00 per van. Then get in get the job done and get out. If you do them both in one day you'll make $900.00
If he doesn't like the price then learn the lesson I share here,
The learned skill of turning detailing work down by Mike Phillips
Don't go after "Price Shoppers" they will dump you as soon as someone cheaper comes along. If that van is not washed CAREFULLY it's going to look like crap and then fixing it will cost a lot more money.
If you're just starting out, you'll find people will take advantage of you and try to get you to detail huge projects like these Ford Transit fans, or motorhomes or boats and they won't want to pay fair prices.
The only way you can tackle HUGE projects like these is to earn a great reputation and then stick to your prices and when people don't want to pay turn them down and go aver easier work.
Hope that helps...
Anytime I get questions via e-mail, a PM or a FB message I prefer to invest my typing time where
A: It's easier for me to share links, pictures and videos.
B: More people can read and thus benefit from the information. (no just one set of eyeballs)
The reality is, most people that contact me found me via an article I've written or a reply I've written on this forum. The thing is, instead of figuring out that the whole reason they are contacting me is because they found me via an article or answer I wrote on the forum that they to should bring their question to the forum because not only will that help them.... but it will help a future "them". If I answer everything in a private e-mail or other touch point, no one would find and contact me. It's a cycle or pattern that repeats as long as everything is shared in the public domain.
The above is kind of wordy but re-read it slowly and it will make sense.
So I get an e-mail asking,
Hey mike
Big fan! I have a question im just starting out doing mobile detailing. A friend of mine wants me to do a basic exterior wash and interior vacuum and wipe down on his company vehicles. They are 2 of the big ford transits and one small. How much would you charge for that?
Sent from my iPhone
-Michael
Great question Michael.
Figure out how many hours it's going to take you to do just one of these large Ford Transit Vans.
To just wash and dry the outside is going to take you a minimum of 2 hours and probably close to 3 hours unless you really have a "Washing System" for vehicles like these that enable you to work and break-neck speed. (that's what I do).
To vacuum and wipe down the inside is going to take you a minimum of 2 hours and likely 3 hours unless you're really fast and have an "Interior System" for doing good fast work on interiors.
So the total time for one large Ford Transit Van to wash and dry the outside and then clean and wipe down the inside is 6 hours. I'd round this to 7 hours to be safe.
A good average for general detailing is $80.00 per hour. So figure 6 hours at $80.00 per hour and you're at $480.00 or round this to $495.00 for just one of the Transit Vans.
Tell him if you do 2 vans you'll give him a break, say $450.00 per van. Then get in get the job done and get out. If you do them both in one day you'll make $900.00
If he doesn't like the price then learn the lesson I share here,
The learned skill of turning detailing work down by Mike Phillips
Don't go after "Price Shoppers" they will dump you as soon as someone cheaper comes along. If that van is not washed CAREFULLY it's going to look like crap and then fixing it will cost a lot more money.
If you're just starting out, you'll find people will take advantage of you and try to get you to detail huge projects like these Ford Transit fans, or motorhomes or boats and they won't want to pay fair prices.
The only way you can tackle HUGE projects like these is to earn a great reputation and then stick to your prices and when people don't want to pay turn them down and go aver easier work.
Hope that helps...
