Need to stop with set prices

BlackHawk

BlackHawk

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Recently, ive been thinking. I havent been "detailing" cars for more than id say 4 months, and its only washes. I have done machine polishing on cars, but its only on mine and family members. Back on topic, i charge $30 for a wash and vacuum. I believe i do a damn good job at what i do. Im starting to feel though as if im not giving myself enough credit. This $30 takes me between 1-2 hours depending on the car.

Im coming to a conclusion that i need to stop doing things at set prices. Why should i get paid the same amount of money for one hour as for two? Stupid really. Im probably spending a good 5-7 dollars on every $30 service. Wheel cleaning solutions,soap,water,towels, and most importantly TIME. Also, i recently did a wash,interior cleaning,clay bar and wax on a 2012 jeep for a weak $70. I sooo regret doing that. Interior was very dirty, and the outside while clean, still needed clay baring on a good portion of the car. Not to mention waxing it...Anyways it took over 4 hours. And by then i was pissed. Learned my lesson really.

So, im thinking maybe i should change it to $30 an hour. Problem with that is im not sure the people i know are going to be willing to spend that much. But then again, im so done with spending too much time do the job right. If i need to spend 3 hours to do the job, yet im getting paid as if its going to take say 2 hours, my motivation towards the whole situation just fades. I want to do my work well, and its time i get the $$ i deserve.

For anyone starting off into this stuff, i highly suggest you charge by hour. Set prices will only hurt you and they dont encourage good work imo. A person with a trashed car should not pay the same amount for a wash as a clean one.
 
The only issue with charging by the hour is people may think you're taking advantage of them. Personally I think set prices for a package are better than black and white here's the charge per hour regardless of service type. What is your current technique? I can agree with you increasing price to 40 or so for a wash, 50 with vacuum. Which shouldn't take you more than 1-2 hours tops. Remember getting it perfect for you is a good goal and all, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Then you can always stipulate that heavily soiled cars will be charged extra fees, dirt, food, pet hair, etc...
 
af90 said:
The only issue with charging by the hour is people may think you're taking advantage of them. Personally I think set prices for a package are better than black and white here's the charge per hour regardless of service type. What is your current technique? I can agree with you increasing price to 40 or so for a wash, 50 with vacuum. Which shouldn't take you more than 1-2 hours tops. Remember getting it perfect for you is a good goal and all, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

Then you can always stipulate that heavily soiled cars will be charged extra fees, dirt, food, pet hair, etc...
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I get were you are coming from. I too feel that the customer would think im trying to rip them off. Maybe raising the price is the way to go. Like you said, getting it perfect is my goal, but being underpaid is not. Maybe what i need is a flexible set pricing? Its gotta change one way or the other. I need to buy some quality car wash soap by the gallon, and a wheel clear as well so i can stop buying 16oz bottles that end up costing me more in the long run. It will save me the money i have to end up using to do the job.

Btw thanks for the response, it was much needed to clarify my thoughts a bit, as well giving me a better idea :D appreciate it!
 
Well I think people need to understand more of the business side of detailing if your intentions are to make money. I was taught when I first started that you are not paid for speed, or what products you use but for your knowledge. Then you can come to terms why you charge what you charge.


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I've seen numerous people work around this by placing vehicles into 3 basic size categories and charging accordingly.

cars
trucks/SUVs
minivans

Like you said, this addresses getting paid for 2 hours of work when you're doing a soiled minvan or SUV that takes 3 or more.

As for charging hourly, I think that's what should be done as far as paint correction is concerned, basic washing, claying/waxing I would place into a basic service package at set prices.

Also, get your self some gallons sir! Some products you're probably paying more than twice per oz than you would in a gallon and maybe then some.
 
hmv charges are great. High maintenance vehicle

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I offer 3 packages. Package 1 starts at $150. Package 2 starts at $200 and package 3 starts at $250. Then, inspect the vehicle and let the customer know if there will be any upcharging for excessive filth.

This leaves you room to adjust higher accordingly and still let's the customer know you are giving them an upfront cost.

DO NOT LOWER YOUR PRICES WHEN THEY ASK HOW MUCH AT ANY POINT IN THE QUOTE/DURING THE JOB/AFTER THE JOB. I have had 2 customers already this season ask, after giving them the price multiple times prior to the detail, what the cost was after the detail. People do this in hopes that you won't stand your ground and charge them the full rate.
 
Phathooddetail said:
Well I think people need to understand more of the business side of detailing if your intentions are to make money. I was taught when I first started that you are not paid for speed, or what products you use but for your knowledge. Then you can come to terms why you charge what you charge.


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Thing is though i just do this kinda stuff on my free time really. I feel like if i charge to little, i may end up rushing the job, which i dont want to do. Hence, the increasing of the prices thats supposed to change. If i know my time is going to be worth the money, ill be more than happy to do my best.

You gotta keep in mind though im only 17. Its hard trying to convince certain people to trusting you when you are this young. Even though i know for a fact they'd be well impressed with my work. But, to each is own, and i dont need to deal with people who are going to complain about pricing. I know what my work is worth and if they dont see it that way i have NO letting them go.
 
95oRANGEcRUSH said:
I offer 3 packages. Package 1 starts at $150. Package 2 starts at $200 and package 3 starts at $250. Then, inspect the vehicle and let the customer know if there will be any upcharging for excessive filth.

This leaves you room to adjust higher accordingly and still let's the customer know you are giving them an upfront cost.

DO NOT LOWER YOUR PRICES WHEN THEY ASK HOW MUCH AT ANY POINT IN THE QUOTE/DURING THE JOB/AFTER THE JOB. I have had 2 customers already this season ask, after giving them the price multiple times prior to the detail, what the cost was after the detail. People do this in hopes that you won't stand your ground and charge them the full rate.
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Good points there. Especially the last one! Never occurred to me but its something ill remember :)
 
BlackHawk said:
Thing is though i just do this kinda stuff on my free time really. I feel like if i charge to little, i may end up rushing the job, which i dont want to do. Hence, the increasing of the prices thats supposed to change. If i know my time is going to be worth the money, ill be more than happy to do my best.

You gotta keep in mind though im only 17. Its hard trying to convince certain people to trusting you when you are this young. Even though i know for a fact they'd be well impressed with my work. But, to each is own, and i dont need to deal with people who are going to complain about pricing. I know what my work is worth and if they dont see it that way i have NO letting them go.
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Let people judge, but just be able to prove them wrong. You do this by showing before and afters, explaining the products you use, why it's better than going to a swirl machine car wash. Doing things not expected (like door jambs, gas caps, wheel barrels, etc...) You can justify your cost to those hesitant.
 
I'm glad to finally see I'm not the only one getting prices like this for details.

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Theres always customers that try to bargain, so if they insist on a certain price, I take off tasks off my list with their approval ofcourse. I also remind them that I charge a certain fee depending on how long it would take to do certain tasks. I would like to detail everyones cars but if they keep on lowballing me then I shake their hands, thank them for looking into my business and wish them the best of luck elsewhere.
 
Let the quality in your work set the standard in your pricing. I myself am not cheap or even close to the cheapest in my area. I'm actually number 2 for most expensive.

If your work is good then in all honesty it don't matter what or how much you charge (within reason) because people always want the best and are willing to pay for the best results. Any business minded or well anyone with a brain would understand that good work and low prices just don't cut it. If they did then more people will be in business. It's the fact that you need to stay afloat and are able to keep providing quality service at such a rate to be able to STAY IN BUSINESS.

People will pay, That's not an issue. The issue is assuring them that they are getting their moneys worth and your doing everything correctly and not doing damage to vehicles. Once you get enough people to pay your price, The word will spread about your work and you wont have to worry about trying to nickel and dime to make ends meat.

Be firm on your pricing but more importantly be honest with what you feel the jobs worth. If you know how long something takes you than you can kinda estimate how long certain jobs are going to take. Set your goal for say (20-25/hr for minor work) and say 30-50/hr on correction work (as an example) and estimate how long its going to take after assessing a vehicle to give a proper bid for services performed.

Remember one thing, Stay confident and assure your customers you get what you pay for in this market and that everything your doing is with proper technique and with the latest and greatest in the detailing industry to ensure a job well done.
 
I went with my parents when they took their car to get a car wash at a quick car wash.

When the car was ready I pointed out a light scuff to the guy. He told me "We don't detail here" he then wiped it off.

I felt like telling him "well I won't tip you here"

(Not for lack of work but for his attitude)

I just said oh ok, tipped him and went on with my day like it never happened.

When people I know have asked me how much I charge I said $200 for cars, the they are like "dang...!"

I am starting to realize not everybody wants a show car lol, and the weird thing for me is. I have start learning how to do quick details lol

My competition is a local quick car wash, where the car was is $5.99 for a hand wash.

But ehh I don't care let them have a bunch of swirls on there car.

It sounds like you are coming up BlackHawk, can't advise you on the business side, but keep learning.
 
All my prices say start at except washes and wax jobs it by size car. I don't make my money off them I make all my money off paint correction and interior work.
 
Interior seems something that I am going to have to truly learn. Ugh... I hate doing interior work, even quick washes, I love paint correction however.
 
Set pricing works great for me but my clients know exactly what they are going to get and exactly what they are NOT going to get with their chosen package. I also have tons of heavy duty equipment so I can completely power through even nasty vehicles. I would love to charge hourly but my market would just not allow.

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Yes. I agree have packages. I do wash, package 1, package 2, package 3. I always say "starting at this much $" Because it's gonna take you a lot longer to do filthy SUV then a Mini Cooper. I time myself on my cell phone for each step and right it down. My wife has the family hauler minivan so that's a lot of paint compared to my little beater focus. So you have to gauge on condition size of the vehicle how many different things you have to do, chrome, convertible and all the other stuff.
 
It´s is confused for some client´s, The way I started working is this way.

I named my shop, CUSTOM. Since you can choose the type of service you want. it sounds crazy.

We offer from Basic Exterior Hand Car Wash, Wash & Vacuum, then We start adding the service´s like Pre-clean with steam all the Plastic & Interior Vinyl, then Protected.

Of course the Carpet & Seat´s shampoo with the Portable extractor.
extras will be, Ceiling cleaning & Set of seat belts

If for some reason We need to Pull a seat out, or even the carpet. Extra $$$$ is a Must!!!! at least a good $50.00dls, $70.00dls

We work like this at the shop, We have the regular coustomer´s that come for the express service. 10mn, 15mn the most for waiting
He have a 2 gun station High pressure washer, follow by a Foamer Tank, and the help for better drying the Sidekick hand blower.

We have Prices from $15dls, $30dls on the basic wash.
$120.00dls, $150.00, $170.00dls for the Interior Medium Detail

$150.00,$200.00,$270.00dls for the Exterior Detail

We charged by How we see the Car´s condition, By Hour, never work like this, Employee´s will work slower!!!! at least in my experience here with them!!!!
 
Since you mostly do wash & vac do you REALLY think those same people will now pay you double or triple for the same thing they paid 30 bucks for last month? Raise your prices a bit and learn to work more efficiently. If a simple wash & vac takes more than two hours then you are your worst enemy. Work smart and draw the line on what you do for the money involved. Buy chemicals in larger quantities so your per ounce cost drops.
 
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