Package ideas?

onlycodered

onlycodered

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Hey all,

I'm currently working on getting my detailing side business all planned out. I've done a couple full exterior details (wash, clay, polish, wax) and both my customers were very please but I've recently had a couple people come up to me and ask for just a regular old wash and wax.

Now here's where I'm trying to figure out what the best plan would be for a wash and wax package. My current idea would be to start with the wash, then move to claying, then do the wax. I've also thought about skipping the claying although I would really rather not as I have done that for one person in the past and my sealant pad got very dirty, so I'm not only giving the customer what I would consider to be a sub-par job (I don't want him showing off that kind of work because I don't like skipping clay) but I'm also somewhat ruining my own tools in the process.

As far as pricing goes I've been following a $25 an hour rule to figure out how much I should charge. On average it takes me an hour to wash a car, an hour to clay a car, and an hour to apply the sealant or wax. Knowing this, customers would be paying $25 less for a wash and wax without claying. Once you get over $50 for just a regular DD job you start to lose a lot of interest from people.

I'm just not sure at this point but I'd really much rather stick with the claying in this package. If anyone has any thoughts or experience with this please let me know! Thanks!
 
If you can't pull in at least $25 an hour, IMO you might as well go to work for McDonalds. They have a terrific benefits package, plus there is always room for advancement
 
If you are going to clay a car, and not polish it, you have to be careful of marring from the clay. So a cleaner wax will most likely be needed for any car that is not a lite color. Personally I believe claying is vital to the curing of a wax or sealant. You may also want to try to speed up the time your taking to do things. Everything you said you do in an hour should take no more than 30 minutes each. There are exceptions, but really, you should aim closer to 30 minutes for that stuff. As for price, that depends a lot on your area. See what others in your area are charging. I charge $50 for a wash and wax. That includes clay, cleaner wax and I do the windows inside and out.
 
tw33k2514 said:
If you are going to clay a car, and not polish it, you have to be careful of marring from the clay. So a cleaner wax will most likely be needed for any car that is not a lite color. Personally I believe claying is vital to the curing of a wax or sealant. You may also want to try to speed up the time your taking to do things. Everything you said you do in an hour should take no more than 30 minutes each. There are exceptions, but really, you should aim closer to 30 minutes for that stuff. As for price, that depends a lot on your area. See what others in your area are charging. I charge $50 for a wash and wax. That includes clay, cleaner wax and I do the windows inside and out.
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Actually now that I think about it I'm closer to 45 minutes each for washing and claying and that was on an SUV I last timed myself. I was also forgetting about my setup time when I get to each location. What I really need to get is a foam cannon though. I believe that would speed up the time required for my washes quite a bit.

Also if I do the wash and wax package with the claying I would probably do an AIO polish instead like XMT 360 just to make sure I'm not leaving any marring behind from the clay. I figure something like that should be able to remove any marring.
 
$50 detailers is what gives this business a sour taste in my mouth.

If you charged even just $100 you would only have to do 1/2 the cars you do now to make the same money. Does this make any sense?

Raise your prices for the sake of mankind!
 
Flash Gordon said:
$50 detailers is what gives this business a sour taste in my mouth.

If you charged even just $100 you would only have to do 1/2 the cars you do now to make the same money. Does this make any sense?

Raise your prices for the sake of mankind!
Click to expand...
Good idea. I would much rather do a good thorough job on less cars but make more money for each one. It about evens out at that point. So far all the cars I've done are for friends so that's why my prices are as they are now. I think for the general public I'll probably be doing something along the lines of flat prices based on $30 an hour.

So let's say a wash, clay, two-step correction, and LSP takes me 7 hours. I'd probably charge $200. I'll post up my packages that I've come up with once I've had a chance to go through them with a fine-tooth comb.
 
Flash Gordon said:
$50 detailers is what gives this business a sour taste in my mouth.

If you charged even just $100 you would only have to do 1/2 the cars you do now to make the same money. Does this make any sense?

Raise your prices for the sake of mankind!
Click to expand...

I agree with you to a point, but who is going to pay more than $50 for a simple wash and wax? I just don't see it. Now when it comes to paint correction, and interior I charge a lot more.
 
onlycodered said:
Good idea. I would much rather do a good thorough job on less cars but make more money for each one. It about evens out at that point. So far all the cars I've done are for friends so that's why my prices are as they are now. I think for the general public I'll probably be doing something along the lines of flat prices based on $30 an hour.

So let's say a wash, clay, two-step correction, and LSP takes me 7 hours. I'd probably charge $200. I'll post up my packages that I've come up with once I've had a chance to go through them with a fine-tooth comb.
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$30 an hour is much better. I think you'll find this business much more profitable by going this route instead of a fixed price. I understand the problem of working for freinds. One of mine still owes me $10 for a headlight correction and that was over 2 years ago

If indeed the job takes you 7 hours and you charge $30 an hour, $200 would be a good pricing point. Tell your customer "I spent 7 hours on your car. My rate of course is $30 an hour....Lets just call it $200 even" Ppl like getting deals and I like giving them when I can, but if I don't look out for myself, no one else will :xyxthumbs:

tw33k2514 said:
I agree with you to a point, but who is going to pay more than $50 for a simple wash and wax? I just don't see it. Now when it comes to paint correction, and interior I charge a lot more.
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The question you should ask is who's going to spend $50 on a detail and expect any sort of quality work. Sure, there are ppl out there that will have you working for free if you let them. Your job is to not let them ;)

Jons6.7 said:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...y-dean-tampa-fl-premium-custom-detailing.html

If that does not work (the link) do a search for Elastrofoam and find Gary's review. This maybe what you can do to keep the clay bar effect but really cut down on your time.

I love the XMT 360 as it is a great AOI and fast since you just work it till its gone with no residue.
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Another Garry Dean classic :righton:
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tw33k2514
I agree with you to a point, but who is going to pay more than $50 for a simple wash and wax? I just don't see it. Now when it comes to paint correction, and interior I charge a lot more.

The question you should ask is who's going to spend $50 on a detail and expect any sort of quality work. Sure, there are ppl out there that will have you working for free if you let them. Your job is to not let them
Click to expand...

Since when is a wash & wax considered a detail?
 
Jons6.7 said:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...y-dean-tampa-fl-premium-custom-detailing.html

If that does not work (the link) do a search for Elastrofoam and find Gary's review. This maybe what you can do to keep the clay bar effect but really cut down on your time.

I love the XMT 360 as it is a great AOI and fast since you just work it till its gone with no residue.
Click to expand...
I actually just picked up that kit a couple weeks ago and used it on the last vehicle I did a 2-step correction on. Saved me a lot of time from kneading clay all the time!
 
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