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speedislife11

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So I've been back and forth deciding how I'm going to set my prices because I'm just starting out and don't want to scare the customers away but I want to make some good money. There are literally 4 big car washes within a 3 miles radius of where I live and their prices range from the cheap $3 dollar to $20. Then of course the detailing which range from $100.00 to $250.00 and up. I live in a nice area but I'm not sure if people will look at a $40 car wash and go running for the hills or say it's a good price? Any advice would be appreciated
 
I am interested as well. I'm in such a tough place right now because I have been giving everyone such good prices but I really want to make more.
 
Are you planning on going to customers home (mobile detailing). Because if you are you can charge more. Customers like the convenience of you coming to them and are willing to pay a little more. If they can get a $100 dollar detail at the car wash they would be willing to pay $125 for the same service at there home. Peoples time is worth money. They can stay home and do what they need to while you do there car. My advice is people are willing to spend $100 on a detail so come up with what you feel comfortable doing for $100. Check out my FB page and website for some ideas. I do my express details all the time. Post some more info about what your trying to do or thinking and I'll see if i can give you some advice.
 
You don't want to scare people away but you also want business. However some people are willing to pay more if you they feel like you can offer a superior service. If you feel like you can offer that service then don't be afraid to throw a number out that is worth your time, just stay consistent with your figures. Also if you throw out $200 for example and they say it's too high then come back at them and ask them what they are comfortable with then ask what services you can take off to get to that price point. I had a guy last week that wanted opti-coat put on. I gave him the quote for that and a full interior. He thought it was too high so I suggested we do just a quick wipedown and not a full interior cleanup. That got us down to a number he was comfortable with and I didn't have to spend time working at a wage per hour I wasn't comfortable with. Hope these examples help.
 
I have been estimating the jobs as the time (in my head it will take me) and try to make at least $30hr. My main issue is the actual time it takes me usually ends up being more.

I have a feeling some of my methods are not as efficient as they should be. Interior mostly takes way longer then I would expect. I just ordered my metrovac and bissell steamer so hopefully this will help me work a little faster.

I am very new at trying to make my own money at this so I am still learning. I used to just work for $12hr on the weekends with one of my friends but he made the real money so it was a little different.
 
Morphiusrt said:
I have been estimating the jobs as the time (in my head it will take me) and try to make at least $30hr. My main issue is the actual time it takes me usually ends up being more.

I have a feeling some of my methods are not as efficient as they should be. Interior mostly takes way longer then I would expect. I just ordered my metrovac and bissell steamer so hopefully this will help me work a little faster.

I am very new at trying to make my own money at this so I am still learning. I used to just work for $12hr on the weekends with one of my friends but he made the real money so it was a little different.
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You should be able to make $30 hr I'm in western mass and I take in $33-35 hr. mini detail $75/2 hrs express detail$100/3 hrs express detail with rug shampoo $140/4 hrs hand wash $35/45 mins and so on. In our area $30-35 is where you want to be
 
Thanks for the responses. Yes I'll be all mobile and I'm just starting out and have some experience but not a professional. I'm in the process of making a website right now and stuck with what packages I'm going to offer but I can wash, wax, polish, interior detail and trying to learn how to do headlight restoration. But I'll be using the customers water and power because I just got back from college and don't have the money to buy all the supplies to start up such as a generator or a water tank. I'm in the process of making a website but I'm stuck on what my packages should be.
 
Do yourself a favor and skip on the water tank and pressure washer. Take a look at the chemical guys Eco pod. I use it and love it. Do onr washes you will save a lot of money on startup. Also a Honda 2000eui generator is nice to have. When I arrive the first thing people do is show me where their hose and outlet are. I never use them but what your proposing will work just make sure you let the customer know you will need to hookup to water and electric.
 
It's only one detail placce around here.....and now me!!!! One of my details on Thursday is coming from the "detailer" who put 3 coats of "polish" on the car less than a month ago. That's why the water laid flat on the hood and the rest of the car in the rain upon inspection today.

My price is the same as the other guy's but my work is definitely superior.

Make yourself known and show the work you do is worth the price.
 
speedislife11 said:
So I've been back and forth deciding how I'm going to set my prices because I'm just starting out and don't want to scare the customers away but I want to make some good money. There are literally 4 big car washes within a 3 miles radius of where I live and their prices range from the cheap $3 dollar to $20. Then of course the detailing which range from $100.00 to $250.00 and up. I live in a nice area but I'm not sure if people will look at a $40 car wash and go running for the hills or say it's a good price? Any advice would be appreciated
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What's the alternative to this dilema? I'd rather run off the cheapo's and retain quality clients ( including referrals) and maintenance customers.

A-train said:
You don't want to scare people away but you also want business. However some people are willing to pay more if you they feel like you can offer a superior service. If you feel like you can offer that service then don't be afraid to throw a number out that is worth your time, just stay consistent with your figures. Also if you throw out $200 for example and they say it's too high then come back at them and ask them what they are comfortable with then ask what services you can take off to get to that price point. I had a guy last week that wanted opti-coat put on. I gave him the quote for that and a full interior. He thought it was too high so I suggested we do just a quick wipedown and not a full interior cleanup. That got us down to a number he was comfortable with and I didn't have to spend time working at a wage per hour I wasn't comfortable with. Hope these examples help.
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Sage advice indeed!
Shawn T. said:
It's only one detail placce around here.....and now me!!!! One of my details on Thursday is coming from the "detailer" who put 3 coats of "polish" on the car less than a month ago. That's why the water laid flat on the hood and the rest of the car in the rain upon inspection today.

My price is the same as the other guy's but my work is definitely superior.

Make yourself known and show the work you do is worth the price.
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Truly spoken hand.

I price myself above my mobile competitors with the end goal of putting a lock on certain areas that I detail in.
You can't please everybody, but you can win over converts. Pricing, product, and knowledge are critical.

I stay motivated by browsing Craigslist and seeing the detailer ads selling detailing vehicles and trailers, if you stay abreast of the competition and their web pages/sites, you can predict the one's that may fail by the way they raise and lower their prices.


Client lists takes time. If you're only in it for the short haul (summer job), then you are also competing against the clock ( calendar).
 
speedislife11 said:
So I've been back and forth deciding how I'm going to set my prices because I'm just starting out and don't want to scare the customers away but I want to make some good money. There are literally 4 big car washes within a 3 miles radius of where I live and their prices range from the cheap $3 dollar to $20. Then of course the detailing which range from $100.00 to $250.00 and up. I live in a nice area but I'm not sure if people will look at a $40 car wash and go running for the hills or say it's a good price? Any advice would be appreciated
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You wont scare the cheap customers away, they almost certainly wouldn't be interested in the first place.

The middle ground and above is where you might be able to take customers from the other businesses around you. It's not a case of scaring people away but in some ways "scaring" them towards you.

There are many ways that your website can highlight the real and unknown issues with a cheap car wash.

If you keep your explanations in simple and easy to understand, potential customers will be more aware of the benefits of a proper wash and detail and understand why it costs a little more.
 
speedislife11 said:
Thanks for the responses. Yes I'll be all mobile and I'm just starting out and have some experience but not a professional. I'm in the process of making a website right now and stuck with what packages I'm going to offer but I can wash, wax, polish, interior detail and trying to learn how to do headlight restoration. But I'll be using the customers water and power because I just got back from college and don't have the money to buy all the supplies to start up such as a generator or a water tank. I'm in the process of making a website but I'm stuck on what my packages should be.
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For headlight restoration we charge $20-40 for "commercial" restorations with a 1 year warranty. "Consumer restorations are 30-60 with a 2 year warranty. Detail "like new" restorations are 40-80 with a 3 year warranty. This is on the west coast.

For mobile you could probably charge more. Rates are set to derive a wage of about 50-80/hour.

ray6
 
Shawn T. said:
It's only one detail placce around here.....and now me!!!! One of my details on Thursday is coming from the "detailer" who put 3 coats of "polish" on the car less than a month ago. That's why the water laid flat on the hood and the rest of the car in the rain upon inspection today.

My price is the same as the other guy's but my work is definitely superior.

Make yourself known and show the work you do is worth the price.
Click to expand...

You might consider raising your prices slightly. Most customers will think you do a better job because you charge more.

ray6
 
One thing you do need to realize is that the customer's time is worth money, but so is yours. You are providing a quality service to your customers. Detailing a vehicle takes a lot of work and time and you need to price out how much your time is worth as well. I also sell on the value of my detailing services...don't be afraid to turn down an offer (this is one the hardest things to do)

For example, I have friends and family that ask me to detail their cars (usually full paint correction) and when I throw out a price they often ask me why I couldn't do it for cheaper (or sometimes FREE). I do tell them that if they don't think my work and time is worth the money then we are wasting each others time. More times than not, people are just trying to see how low they can get you before they agree. I would say that I've only lost 3-4 jobs by taking this aggressive approach (these 3-4 only come out to 5% of my total business AT THE MOST)

Having a car detailed IS a luxury, not a commodity. Don't sell yourself short...if you are providing a quality, value-added service, then position yourself that way. It will be what separates you from the competition.

I'm going to end this post by saying that I do come from a sales background (and it is my day job), so I don't have a problem selling on VALUE and not on price. If done correctly, price will be the last thing you talk about and will only be talked about so they know how much to write on the check ;)
 
Going to throw something else in here as well. You ARE a small business owner and ALL small business owners are in sales! Whether or not you think of it that way, you are a salesperson selling your business and services. I always recommend to anyone who owns a small business to read a book or watch a video on basic sales techniques. They can go a long way in growing your business.
 
speedislife11 said:
So I've been back and forth deciding how I'm going to set my prices because I'm just starting out and don't want to scare the customers away but I want to make some good money. There are literally 4 big car washes within a 3 miles radius of where I live and their prices range from the cheap $3 dollar to $20. Then of course the detailing which range from $100.00 to $250.00 and up. I live in a nice area but I'm not sure if people will look at a $40 car wash and go running for the hills or say it's a good price? Any advice would be appreciated
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Posts before me: all wonderful advice.

The only thing I wanted to add is that in my experience when you price your services too cheap you get all the scummy jobs that the other detailers probably would turn down.

I try to price my services out to gross about $30/HR. That seems to work pretty well for me and leaves room for restocking supplies, paying employees, gas, website, marketing, etc.
 
Wow I really appreciate all the responses. I just talked to a detailer about my age that details around my area and he said from experience he charges $25 for cars and $30 for trucks so I'm gunna go with that since he's talked to customers around here.
 
speedislife11 said:
Wow I really appreciate all the responses. I just talked to a detailer about my age that details around my area and he said from experience he charges $25 for cars and $30 for trucks so I'm gunna go with that since he's talked to customers around here.
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IMO, it's not that great of an idea to base your rate off of someone elses rate. There are a lot of things to consider. How much is this other detailer making profit? Does it line up with your business plan? Does he do the same services and use the same products as you? How does your work stack up against his? ect, ect... Before you know it, you will be working for 10 bucks an hour when you really break down the dollars and cents.
 
Well he started detailing in highschool and has gotten alot of high end customers in a different area now so I won't have a problem competing with him but he was telling me since we have like 4 car washes literally within 2 miles of each other then to it'd be best to not go to high on my prices. However my sister works in downtown atlanta at a high end salon and said she was going to give my business cards out when I'm ready but I'm about 35 min out so I'll have to accumulate for the mileage. But what do ya'll think about this set up and I'm open to any suggestions.

Package 1 $25 cars $35 trucks- wash (2 bucket system), Dry, clean door jams and wheels, vacuum interior

Package 2 $55 cars $65 trucks-Same as above but also includes interior detail (wipe down plastic pieces, dashboard all that), carpet clean as well, tire dressing

Package 3 $100 cars $110 trucks-Same as package 1 but includes clay bar and wax

All prices depend on how dirty the cars it and tires dressing can be charged $5 on package 1 and 3.

This is a rough draft and like I said any suggestions would be appreciated!
 
speedislife11 said:
Well he started detailing in highschool and has gotten alot of high end customers in a different area now so I won't have a problem competing with him but he was telling me since we have like 4 car washes literally within 2 miles of each other then to it'd be best to not go to high on my prices. However my sister works in downtown atlanta at a high end salon and said she was going to give my business cards out when I'm ready but I'm about 35 min out so I'll have to accumulate for the mileage. But what do ya'll think about this set up and I'm open to any suggestions.

Package 1 $25 cars $35 trucks- wash (2 bucket system), Dry, clean door jams and wheels, vacuum interior

Package 2 $55 cars $65 trucks-Same as above but also includes interior detail (wipe down plastic pieces, dashboard all that), carpet clean as well, tire dressing

Package 3 $100 cars $110 trucks-Same as package 1 but includes clay bar and wax

All prices depend on how dirty the cars it and tires dressing can be charged $5 on package 1 and 3.

This is a rough draft and like I said any suggestions would be appreciated!
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Seems like a good start for building business. Why not jump up the price 10 or 15 bucks on package 1 and include a "quick wax" with a spray wax?
 
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