Pricing for Car Wash.

Real Riders said:
How come you do not have the space to do your own washes? How small is the space?
Click to expand...

Possibly not a size of space issue, but maybe more of issue of what you are allowed to do within that space that is part of a leased property. Some apartment complexes do not allow you to do much of anything to your car in their parking lot. Some are nice enough to provide area for car washing.
 
Mantilgh said:
Possibly not a size of space issue, but maybe more of issue of what you are allowed to do within that space that is part of a leased property. Some apartment complexes do not allow you to do much of anything to your car in their parking lot. Some are nice enough to provide area for car washing.
Click to expand...

And that's where the beauty of rinseless/waterless washes really come though in the clutch. A large majority of us on here can remember back when we 1st found out about these great options for the 1st time.. The possibilities are truly endless. I've "washed" my own car at the gas station in a matter of minutes on several occasions, with just my spray bottle of D114 and 2 microfiber towels. [use common sense and never block access to a gas pump during rush hour].
 
bill110 said:
Wash, clay, cleaner wax, dress all exposed rubber, wipe door jambs and dress the rubber seals, dress all trim, clean and dress tires, wheels, and wells, all exterior glass. For $25 more I will do a light interior detail.
I am mobile so convenience factors into that price.
Click to expand...


GSKR said:
... 65.00 is a bargain for all that work
Click to expand...

Hoytman said:
I could not agree more, that is a great bargain. IF (big if) the detailer is willing to do all of that for that amount and he can make money after cleaning all his towels, mobile/shop, then I'm fine with that, it's a great bargain for the customer.

I can't figure why or even how anyone could, let alone would want, to do all that work for that price.

1. You could charge at least $85 make more money for yourself and still be giving the customer a super-duper deal.

2. You're not helping detailers across the board charging that price for said amount of work.

How long are you working on say, a 4door sedan, or super cab truck/quad cab?
Click to expand...

OK, First I let the customer know that this is really just a very thorough wash, wax, and dressing of the exterior. Clean and shiny is what they are after. They still consider it a "Detail"
I also let them know this is the starting price and after inspecting the vehicle I can give them a better quote. This price is for a mid size sedan. Extra charge for tar removal, heavily soiled, etc. Takes about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
I also try to upsell and point out what else can be accomplished. At this point since I'm just getting started I am trying to get word of mouth clientele.
This last week I did a Dodge ram 4X4. They added an interior vacuum and wipe down. They were selling it and just didnt want it dirty. $200 and took 6 1/2 hours.
 
Maestro Sam said:
My process is fine, along with my detailing. Maybe I might need to examine my price. Let just say I guess my wash is more detailed then your process, hence taking longer. But I agree, I might need to examine my prices.
Click to expand...

Well you will have to adjust something that is for sure. 2 hours for 25$ is 12.5$/hour not counting overhead, product cost, commuting time and cost.

If you do a rinseless wash, you should be able to do most vehicles in about 30 minutes. Wheels are a different story if you want to do a complete job but for something like that I think you should only do a quick wash of the wheel, not a detail. So let's say 45 mins to do the entire car and wheel if you do a rinseless. 25$ would not be so bad. I would try to upsell with a wax. Will take you 30 mins more if you use a spray on sealant but you can charge at least 20$ for it.

I am about to add express washes for the area where I live only. I am not about to drive 30 minutes to make 25$. But for the neibourghood where I can get to in less than 5 minutes, this could be interesting. My plan is to have a basic rinseless wash for 29,99$ and a rinseless wash and wax for 49,99$. I will use Optimum no-rinse and wax for the basic one (so yes technically the car will be waxed even with the basic package) and use Optimum no-rinse and shine plus meguiars D156 for the wash and wax package. I am gonna use the modified Garry Dean method (put 6 microfiber towels in my 5 gallon bucket of rinseless product and toss each towel when dirty). For wheels I will spray megs wheel brightener and rinse with a portable sprayer. Not gonna use any brushes or anything fancy, just a microfiber towel to clean the rims and tires.

This will be challenge for me because I normally spend a lot of time on wheels. On average it's 10 minutes per wheel to clean and about 10 more to seal and dress. So just wiping them clean will make my OCD go crazy for sure ;)
 
I have a friend im working on soon with a gmc suv and im doing the whole thing without correct for 250 dollars. Now that is a discount but is also a fair price. I am in the nyc are and the prices here can get expensive. A multi stage correction can be 950 easy and the guys are doing good work.

I would say what is bad or weird for one is good for another. The guy said oh that seems like alot. Did you explain what goes into that? Did he really think about time and and labor?
 
CarolinasFinestDetailing said:
There are many factors that go into pricing a car wash:

Mobile or shop (Overhead)

Material Cost

Vehicle Size

Process

Time

*****What you actually consider a wash******

For me, a wash is a rinseless wash followed up with Ultima WW+ as I dry (spray wax or Opti Seal for an upsell), wheel faces cleaned, tires scrubbed and dressed, wheel wells cleaned, door jambs wiped down.

FYI....if you`re taking 2 hours to do a wash for $25, you really need to examine your process.
Click to expand...

Your tone sounds rude. OP never asked you how you wash your cars.
 
Bill1234 said:
I have a friend im working on soon with a gmc suv and im doing the whole thing without correct for 250 dollars. Now that is a discount but is also a fair price. I am in the nyc are and the prices here can get expensive. A multi stage correction can be 950 easy and the guys are doing good work.

I would say what is bad or weird for one is good for another. The guy said oh that seems like alot. Did you explain what goes into that? Did he really think about time and and labor?
Click to expand...

For 250$ what will you be doing?
 
Calendyr said:
Well you will have to adjust something that is for sure. 2 hours for 25$ is 12.5$/hour not counting overhead, product cost, commuting time and cost.

If you do a rinseless wash, you should be able to do most vehicles in about 30 minutes. Wheels are a different story if you want to do a complete job but for something like that I think you should only do a quick wash of the wheel, not a detail. So let's say 45 mins to do the entire car and wheel if you do a rinseless. 25$ would not be so bad. I would try to upsell with a wax. Will take you 30 mins more if you use a spray on sealant but you can charge at least 20$ for it.

I am about to add express washes for the area where I live only. I am not about to drive 30 minutes to make 25$. But for the neibourghood where I can get to in less than 5 minutes, this could be interesting. My plan is to have a basic rinseless wash for 29,99$ and a rinseless wash and wax for 49,99$. I will use Optimum no-rinse and wax for the basic one (so yes technically the car will be waxed even with the basic package) and use Optimum no-rinse and shine plus meguiars D156 for the wash and wax package. I am gonna use the modified Garry Dean method (put 6 microfiber towels in my 5 gallon bucket of rinseless product and toss each towel when dirty). For wheels I will spray megs wheel brightener and rinse with a portable sprayer. Not gonna use any brushes or anything fancy, just a microfiber towel to clean the rims and tires.

This will be challenge for me because I normally spend a lot of time on wheels. On average it's 10 minutes per wheel to clean and about 10 more to seal and dress. So just wiping them clean will make my OCD go crazy for sure ;)
Click to expand...

So this is what I have been looking at as I too spend a lot of time on rims and have thought of doing a spray on and then portable sprayer to rinse, with that said what sprayer are u using or thinking of using?
 
Jomax said:
For 250$ what will you be doing?
Click to expand...

Engine bay cleaning
Wheel clean and decon,
foam gun soak
wash
decontaminate paint with iron remover
clay
seal paint with collinite or sealent


Interior
vacuum,
wipedown all parts
clean leather seats and dress them
dress all plastics
clean and dress all trim

wipe down windows
 
Bill1234 said:
Engine bay cleaning
Wheel clean and decon,
foam gun soak
wash
decontaminate paint with iron remover
clay
seal paint with collinite or sealent


Interior
vacuum,
wipedown all parts
clean leather seats and dress them
dress all plastics
clean and dress all trim

wipe down windows
Click to expand...

How long, on average, does this take?
 
Cruzscarwash said:
So this is what I have been looking at as I too spend a lot of time on rims and have thought of doing a spray on and then portable sprayer to rinse, with that said what sprayer are u using or thinking of using?
Click to expand...

I have a pump sprayer that holds 2 gallons of water (if memory serves). It's the kind of sprayer you would use to spray plants and whatnot. Got it at home depot for about 30$ last year and never used it. I have several smaller sprayers with 1 and 2 litters bottles that I find more convenient to use. But for cleaning acid off of wheels, I will want to use a lot of water, so the larger size is better. I just watched Garry Dean do a wheel in about 5 minutes. His technique is nice if you are limited on water and don't have a hose or pressure washer. He sprays the whole wheel and tire with his cleaner, uses wheel woollies to scrub a little bit (he has a bucket with water for his tools), then uses a microfiber towel to dry the wheel and remove the dirt and residue. He uses his own product but I am confident ONR would work almost as well. Especially if I use wheel brightener to melt the dirt first. Not sure I would want to use a water bucket, so I would have to experiment with and without it.
 
Do you have any video footage to view of how you are setup and how your process goes?
 
The more I read the more I agree withDavid Meerman Scott. Basically, he states you need to create customer profiles of each type of person that is your customer. An example would be soccer mom. Doesn't care about hardcore details just wants the kid hauler cleaned and is interested in getting the interior de-stickied.
I haven't done my customer profiles myself yet but I plan to. His books a good read but I'm a little nerdy so worst case scenario you can scan chapters to get smart on business marketing. "The New Rules of Marketing & PR".
What concerns me most, is the end of the day profit. When you dip into quantity and low cost washes you are increasing wear and tear on you and your equipment... Plus gas if your mobile, which is a whole other conversation. I wholeheartedly agree most are looking for a quick clean but I think at some point maintenance costs for equipment and vehicle will bankrupt a mobile business. The brick and mortar, I think, are better suited for the inexpensive washes, my opinion of course.
There has to be a middle ground, I would guess each area we operate in is completely different. What 25 gets you in west Tennessee may not even get a door wiped off in New York.
Wish I knew the answer because this topic is literally what I think I lack at most.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top