Pricing

J

Joseph Rogers

New member
Joined
Apr 23, 2014
Messages
59
Reaction score
0
Not new to business, but am new to THIS business...I'm really having trouble seeing doing just a full wash, clay, Iron-X, and paint correction for less than 4 figures.

Is this unreasonable, to some of you guys who have been doing this awhile?
 
If that package includes a professional paint coating, then 4 figures is not unreasonable for a proper cleaning, decon, one step correction, coating installation, and misc. other details (exhaust polishing, clean glass, dress tires and trim, etc etc).

You have to judge the prices on your local market though, so there is a lot of variance in pricing among professionals depending on what their market can support (although sometimes that is just because people are afraid to ask for more money).

Do some research, find out of there is demand to support your pricing, and go for it. If you find that you are booked solid with your initial price point, then start raising them!
 
Wow, I want to live where you live. I struggle to get $120 for a 1-step AIO on and interior. I make between $20-30 per hour on those jobs. To get to 1k I'd need to work over 30 hours on one car. Even at $50/hr your looking at 20 hours so your clientele must have money to burn.
 
Definitely not unreasonable. Although it's been hard to come by here locally. From my experience, car enthusiasts will pay the price while the common population are content with basic washes.
 
I went hourly on my stuff a while ago, and can guess how long it takes for the customer. That helps them set a budget, and you can control your income better.

I usually say...this service takes probably 3-4 hours at $60-75 per, and if they say they only want to spend "XX", I can work within that budget (not everything gets the same level of clean.)

FWIW, I recently did a full correction on a 28' sailboat that cost the customer $1600, and that was with some free hours on my part.
 
I think that depends on your area. We wouldn't be able to charge hourly, which right now is set around $30. It would chase customers away here
 
Great article! Subscribed..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
If you are new to THIS business why would anyone pay you top dollar?
 
I am about to do a 2013 Black Suburban I quoted him 225 for exterior and interior and that's not any paint correction. It was so dirty on the exterior I don't know what the paint really looks like except I know that he bought it new and it's black. He can afford it he owns a Bank lol. My plan is wash, clay & wax. Interior is wipe down vac and use 303 aerospace on surfaces. KISS Keep it simple simon.
 
rustytruck said:
If you are new to THIS business why would anyone pay you top dollar?
Click to expand...

Because they're already paying me top dollar to clean their carpet, tile and grout, and upholstery. I have a knack for making folks feel comfortable, and it makes sales pretty easy.

**Disclaimer:

My personal charm does not translate over the Interwebs. You may not like me, nor the questions I pose. I'm ok with that. Face to face, though, people LIKE me.
 
Joseph Rogers said:
Not new to business, but am new to THIS business...I'm really having trouble seeing doing just a full wash, clay, Iron-X, and paint correction for less than 4 figures.

Is this unreasonable, to some of you guys who have been doing this awhile?
Click to expand...

really depends on how much time you take and what you mean by paint correction.

For a full on show car prep (only paint) with a complete 3000 wet sand, buff, polish, seal, then yeah, 4 figures seems very reasonable.

But if whatever market you're in allows a 4 figure price on a basic paint correction, then go for it

Sounds like you still take a long time doing details and haven't been doing it for a while. Which makes it seems like 4 figures is reasonable for the time/effort put in
 
Kengo123 said:
I think that depends on your area. We wouldn't be able to charge hourly, which right now is set around $30. It would chase customers away here
Click to expand...

i get the impression setting your own hourly rate, whatever it ends up at, just simplifies the process alot for client and producer...
 
In my area its hard to get the reasonable price for service because the area is saturated with so called "detailing" businesses. Some customers don't even realize their cars are not decon before waxing, etc for these places. I just tell them what I can offer in their price range and if they don't like it I offer an other options for less money. Not many people in my area want corrections.
 
thebamboo23 said:
really depends on how much time you take and what you mean by paint correction.

For a full on show car prep (only paint) with a complete 3000 wet sand, buff, polish, seal, then yeah, 4 figures seems very reasonable.

But if whatever market you're in allows a 4 figure price on a basic paint correction, then go for it

Sounds like you still take a long time doing details and haven't been doing it for a while. Which makes it seems like 4 figures is reasonable for the time/effort put in
Click to expand...

Actually, I've not done ANY detailing, professionally, yet. Just studying the process and trying to determine how to make it work.

You're differentiating between show car prep and basic paint correction. Break that down for me?
 
Aha, okay. A show car prep is getting the paint absolutely perfect. Wet sand, compound, polish, sometimes jeweling, and coat of wax/sealant. Which is also not including wheels, chrome, etc.. A basic paint correction is a 1-step where it removes light swirls and scratches and not going for perfection

I know some guys who can finish a full interior cleaning and 1 step polish on a full size sedan in 5 hours. Others guys might take 9 hours
 
Joseph Rogers said:
Not new to business, but am new to THIS business...I'm really having trouble seeing doing just a full wash, clay, Iron-X, and paint correction for less than 4 figures.

Is this unreasonable, to some of you guys who have been doing this awhile?
Click to expand...


Are you having trouble seeing it because your time is worth more to you or some other reason?

Serious question.
 
Not unreasonable at all. Quite a few of my services are in the $600-$900 range. Couple that with interior work and your into four figures. Larger vehicles can easily break the four figure mark on the exterior alone.

Paint correction is expensive. Plain and simple. You can't try to make it for everybody. Anybody that says otherwise is going out of business.
 
statusdetailing said:
Paint correction is expensive. Plain and simple. You can't try to make it for everybody. Anybody that says otherwise is going out of business.
Click to expand...

quoted for truth :dblthumb2:

... but customers will expect an experienced, and knowledgeable professional for those prices. For someone who is openly admitting they are brand new to this business, you should build some credibility and trust in the market before expecting top dollar for your work.
 
davisautodetail said:
I went hourly on my stuff a while ago, and can guess how long it takes for the customer. That helps them set a budget, and you can control your income better.

I usually say...this service takes probably 3-4 hours at $60-75 per, and if they say they only want to spend "XX", I can work within that budget (not everything gets the same level of clean.)

FWIW, I recently did a full correction on a 28' sailboat that cost the customer $1600, and that was with some free hours on my part.
Click to expand...


How do you decide what gets perfectly clean and what doesn't with clients on a budget?

I have had a few customers with pretty low budgets with situations where they have neglected every aspect of car care and I tell them I can't do the job at all for less than 3-5x their budget.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top