Sorry for being the millionth person to post it but how are my packages/prices

MaxWax

MaxWax

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I'm 16 and I've been detailing cars for a few weeks, I've built up a solid customer base so I'm making my company an LLC, making a website and just all around making it more of a legitimate business. Here is the package list I made, do you guys think I'm missing anything? How are the prices? Any input, criticism or otherwise would be appreciated. Also, how is the name "Thilen Detailing Services"? TDS auto has a ring to it I think.


Packages

Basic Detai - 1-2.5 hours
Car - $50 (Add clay bar for $25)
Truck - $60 (Add clay bar for $25)
SUV/Van -$75(Add clay bar for $30)
-Wash
-Wax
-interior Vaccuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires


Premium Detail - 2-3 hours
Car - $150
Truck - $175
SUV/Van - $190
-Wash
-Clay
-Wash off clay residue
-Polish
-Finishing Glaze
-Wax
-interior Vaccuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires



Executive Detail - 4-8 hours
Car - $250
Truck - $275
SUV/Van -$300
-Wash
-Clay
-Wash off clay residue
-Swirl Removal
-Finishing Glaze
-Polish
-Wax
-interior Vaccuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires


Package #1
-Basic detail + Clay + 3 weekly maintenance washes

Package #2
-Premium Detail + Clay + 3 weekly maintenance washes

Package #3
-Executive Detail + Clay + 3 weekly maintenance washes


Regards,


Max
 
thilenauto said:
I'm 16 and I've been detailing cars for a few weeks, I've built up a solid customer base so I'm making my company an LLC, making a website and just all around making it more of a legitimate business.

Also, how is the name "Thilen Detailing Services"?

TDS auto has a ring to it I think.
Click to expand...


Nothing wrong with branding your own name, in fact I recommend it. Before making any of your decisions concrete and spending money take a read through these two articles...

How to choose a name for your detailing business


Brand Yourself, Brand your Forum Nickname and Brand your Business Name


:xyxthumbs:
 
See my comments in read and then after the quoted passage...


thilenauto said:
Packages

Basic Detail - 1-2.5 hours
Car - $50 (Add clay bar for $25)
Truck - $60 (Add clay bar for $25)
SUV/Van -$75(Add clay bar for $30)
-Wash
-Wax
-interior Vacuuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires


Premium Detail - 2-3 hours
Car - $150
Truck - $175
SUV/Van - $190
-Wash
-Clay
-Wash off clay residue - Skip this, just wipe the residue off as you work around the car.
-Polish
-Finishing Glaze
-Wax
-interior Vacuuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires

For your price, you're doing too much to the paint, either bring your prices up or just do a single machine polish and then dedicated wax. Don't promise to remove each and every swirl and scratch, that's show car detailing and you're customer base will primarily be daily drivers for this package.


Executive Detail - 4-8 hours
Car - $250
Truck - $275
SUV/Van -$300
-Wash
-Clay
-Wash off clay residue
-Swirl Removal
-Finishing Glaze
-Polish
-Wax
-interior Vacuuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires

Same comment as above...

Max
Click to expand...

If you want to offer a multiple-step paint polishing process make that the package. Everything else would be an add-on. It will take you all day to do a multi-step to most cars, not to mention large vehicles. If you try to do both the inside and the outside you're going to be working for nothing.

The only way to do the above would be to use the Meguiar's Microfiber DA System and that's because it's a two-step approach that delivers very good results.


Remember, most people don't know the difference between a swirl and a squireel...

The difference between a swirl and squirrel

For clarification...

This is a Squirrel
ScottsVetteScratch011.jpg



These are Swirls
CobwebSwirls001.jpg





They mostly want,
  • Clean, clear glass
  • Shiny paint, (shiny swirls)
  • Black tires
  • Clean carpet, clean arm rests
  • Clean smell

Also read this,

A few tips on starting a part-time detailing business



Other than that looks like a great start!


:)
 
Excellent suggestions, as usual, from Mike.
For a 16 year old you sure seem to have your head on right. A lot of good thought went into your plans. I don't have my own business so I can't comment on that part. From a customer point of view I am just a little confused by the listed packages on the top and then the listed packages on the bottom. Maybe call them something else, or I need a better explaination. You are definately on the right track though.
And
:welcome::welcome::welcome:
 
I'd split up exterior and interior work. Like Mike said, correcting paint is a job in itself. Plus splitting them up means more profit.
 
Here where you said to either do less to the paint or charge more, did you mean skip the clay or cut out the glaze?

Premium Detail - 2-3 hours
Car - $150
Truck - $175
SUV/Van - $190
-Wash
-Clay
-Wash off clay residue - Skip this, just wipe the residue off as you work around the car.
-Polish
-Finishing Glaze
-Wax
-interior Vacuuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires

For your price, you're doing too much to the paint, either bring your prices up or just do a single machine polish and then dedicated wax. Don't promise to remove each and every swirl and scratch, that's show car detailing and you're customer base will primarily be daily drivers for this package.

Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely glad to get tips from the best in the business!
 
Also, I have a friend who is a graphic designer and is working on a logo for the company. He suggested that I send him a few logos that I like, right now I'm trying to find some to send him, do you guys have any logos that I could use as inspiration for my own?
 
thilenauto said:
Here where you said to either do less to the paint or charge more, did you mean skip the clay or cut out the glaze?

Premium Detail - 2-3 hours
Car - $150
Truck - $175
SUV/Van - $190
-Wash
-Clay
-Wash off clay residue - Skip this, just wipe the residue off as you work around the car.
-Polish
-Finishing Glaze
-Wax
-interior Vacuuming
-Dress Interior
-Dress Tires

For your price, you're doing too much to the paint, either bring your prices up or just do a single machine polish and then dedicated wax. Don't promise to remove each and every swirl and scratch, that's show car detailing and you're customer base will primarily be daily drivers for this package.

Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely glad to get tips from the best in the business!
Click to expand...

It sounds like Mike was saying to not wash after claying. Just make sure to wipe the panel as you clay so you dont need to wash.

And I think he means to take out the glaze and the interior. Use those as add-ons to maximize profit and save you some time!
 
I re-did this one. Removed interior stuff and added it as an additional plus added a couple things, such as packages for Joe Shmo who doesn't know the difference between a swirl and a squirrel:dblthumb2:

Anyway, here it is:

Packages


Wash & Wax - 1- 2 1/2 hours
-Wash using two bucket method, apply carnauba wax & dress tires
-Car: $50
-Truck: $60
-SUV/Van: $75

Premium Detail - 3-4 hours
-Wash using two bucket method, clay bar to remove surface contaminants from paint, polish paint to a new car shine, apply carnauba wax
-Wash, Clay bar, polish, wax
-Car: $150
-Truck: $175
-SUV/Van - $190

Show Car Package - 5-8 hours Does this seem exorbitant? I’m not at the point where I can do interior “detailing” since I don’t have a hot water extractor etc, all I can do is vacuum and dress the interior.
-Wash using two bucket method, clay bar to remove surface contaminants from paint, strip any remaining wax, polish the paint to a new car shine, apply a finishing glaze, seal the paint, apply a carnauba wax.
-Wash
-Clay
-Strip any remaining wax
-Polish
-Apply finishing glaze
-Apply paint sealant
-Apply wax

-Car - $250
-Truck - $275
-SUV/Van - $300

-Add interior express detailing to any package for $10
-Vacuum Interior
-Dress Interior
-Clean inside of windows







Or build your own package:

Wash & Wax +

__ Clay Bar - $25

__ Swirl Removal - $50

__ Strip old wax - $30

__ Wheel detail - $30 I just pulled this off the top of my head, what would you guys charge?

__ Headlight Restoration - $40

If you guys can think of anything else I could or should add I’d greatly appreciate it.

4 Week Car Maintenance Programs

-Program 1: Car - $99 | Truck - $125 | SUV/Van - $140
-Week 1 -Wash using two bucket method, apply carnauba wax & dress tires
-Week 2 -Wash using two bucket method, dress tires, express detail interior
-Week 3 - Wash using two bucket method, dress tires
-Week 4 - Wash using two bucket method, dress tires

-Program 2: Car - $220 | Truck - $240 | SUV/Van - $280
-Week 1 -Wash using two bucket method, clay bar to remove surface contaminants from paint, polish paint to a new car shine, apply carnauba wax
-Week 2 - Wash using two bucket method, dress tires, express detail interior
-Week 3 - Wash using two bucket method, dress tires, express detail interior
-Week 4 - Wash using two bucket method, apply carnauba wax & dress tires

-Program 3: Car - $299 | Truck - $249 | SUV/Van - $349
-Week 1 -Wash using two bucket method, clay bar to remove surface contaminants from paint, strip any remaining wax, polish the paint to a new car shine, apply a finishing glaze, seal the paint, apply a carnauba wax.
-Week 2 - Wash using two bucket method, dress tires, express detail interior
-Week 3 - Wash using two bucket method, dress tires, express detail interior
-Week 4 - Wash using two bucket method, apply carnauba wax & dress tires
 
Get more expierenced before taking this plunge. How can you have a detailing company and not offer interior cleaning?

Your price list is a train wreck. Strip old wax $30??? Paint Correction $50??? 2 hour details??? 5 hour Show Car details??? :deep sigh:

I do appreciate your go getum attitude though. Keep that part ;)
 
I don't own a detailing company. But my wife owns her own Spa. I can tell you that her menu is not as extensive. She has three basic packages, then everything else is al-a-carte.
Offering to many options will give the customer to much to consider. KEEP IT SIMPLE!
That is just my two cents.
I admire your Get up and make it happen attitude!! The entrepreurial spirit is alive and well in you!!
 
That's why I was asking for advice with the price list, I've done all these things but I've never priced these sevices. I'd hardly say it's a train wreck because my time estimations and a couple prices were slightly off. Plus, I didn't say I don't offer interior cleaning, I said I wasn't comfortable claiming to offer interior "detailing" because I don't have a $700 hot water extractor.
 
thilenauto said:
That's why I was asking for advice with the price list, I've done all these things but I've never priced these sevices. I'd hardly say it's a train wreck because my time estimations and a couple prices were slightly off. Plus, I didn't say I don't offer interior cleaning, I said I wasn't comfortable claiming to offer interior "detailing" because I don't have a $700 hot water extractor.
Click to expand...

You don't need a $700 extractor to perform uphoulstery cleaning (seats,carpets, headliner cleaning/shampooing) A shop vac, chemicals, brushes, towels and elbow grease will get you started

Charge by the hour and you won't need all these packages and the chance of overcharging your customer, or even worse, short changing yourself

Good luck in your endeavor


Flash
 
Flash Gordon said:
Your price list is a train wreck. Strip old wax $30??? Paint Correction $50??? 2 hour details??? 5 hour Show Car details??? :deep sigh:
Click to expand...

Do you have any reccomendations on what to use for the interior? I had thought about charging by the hour but I think customers prefer fixed prices. And when I said strip old wax I meant applying Wolfgang polish enhancer, that removed wax but since I didn't think most people would know what that was I just put "strip wax." Do you have suggestions for better prices for this stuff?

Regards
 
In terms of pricing, have you researched other detailers in your area? Check your local craigslist, do a google search. Find out what others are charging. Even call to get a quote for your "vehicle."

Your pricing is going to depend on your audience and what the market will bear. And as for packages, I would take the advice of sserdlihc KISS (Keep it simple simon) 3-4 basic packages. A wash and wax, Single step, Double Step, Complete or something of that nature.

You can include different things for interior in the different levels. The basic wash and wax could include a vacuum, windows, and wipedown. If you don't promise stain removal, it won't be expected. You can also look into the Bissel Little Green Machine or something of that nature. It is small, fairly cheap, and will let you shampoo with decent results.

So take some time to look at the local competition and even others on this site. I have found many websites from people on this site to start formulating my own ideas for packages and processes.

Take some time and do some looking around, you could be surprised at what you find!

Keep the enthusiasm. I wish I would have discovered this hobby at 16 so I could be well into a part-time business right now instead of just starting to get the ball rolling.

And don't forget to check on insurance, any business license, etc before getting rolling :D
 
thilenauto said:
Wash, Wax & Interior - 3-5 hours
-Wash using two bucket method, , doorjams, clay, apply carnauba wax & dress tires and clean interior
-Cars: $95
-Trucks: $115
-SUV/Vans: $135

Add this:

* Polishing, overspray removal and excessive interior filth will be an additional charge. Please call for more info...
Click to expand...


This is your new menu ^ :)

thilenauto said:
Do you have any reccomendations on what to use for the interior? I had thought about charging by the hour but I think customers prefer fixed prices. And when I said strip old wax I meant applying Wolfgang polish enhancer, that removed wax but since I didn't think most people would know what that was I just put "strip wax." Do you have suggestions for better prices for this stuff?

Regards
Click to expand...

Do you have a shop-vac and carpet brushes?
 
I don't have a shop vac or brushes yet but I'm planning on getting some. Thanks for the help with the pricing!
 
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