Service Pricing

2

215Detailing

New member
One day while doing a customers car, a Lady passed by w/ child, child read my sign that stated SPECIAL: Wash & Wax $25.00 Car Only No interior work,Mother said that was sill to HIGH, I laughed. So how much would you charge is my question? I hand wash/dry car and use foam gun, clean outside glass, clean wheel well,wheels and tires and dress tires and then wax. Most people charge $25.00 just to wash.
 
I do what you are talking about for $80. The lowest grade wax they get is over 40% pure carnuba though. That, snowfoam, 2BM, Autobahn wheel wax, and the promis of Ph neutral, and silicone free products sells it for me. I seem to have no issues with it. If $25 is too much for them recommend the car wash and be sure to tell them of the risks. Understand that places like Pizza Hut survive amongst 4 and 5 star Italian Restaurants in every city, state, and country. Just worry about your demographic.
 
Honestly, $25 is far too cheap...People will compare you with the local drive through car wash that offers a 'wash and wax' for $14.99.



I charge more for a hand wash than you're charging for a wash and wax.
 
Thanks Autobesession & Sudz and that's just listed as an attention grabber SPECIAL for the First Car,I usually start a wash & Wax at $35.00 and up

and I have low overhead since I work from my home (ISO Shop) and building my skill level (Started as a hobby), I guess most assume no shop no training or real skill level and want hack rates,lol, and I have seen the work of most shops in a 10 mile radius, and most customers I have say I put those shops to shame and I only do this part time, I believe my work is sufficent, I have return customers and have some Luxury Clientele (Pic of my website as well as Myspae)
 
I believe it , Most of the places by me and run and run by people who can't speak english and little by little they leave them and come to me. The bad thing is this damn rain it won't stop
 
hope you are using a spray wax or even aqua wax...at $25 bucks, you should be done in about 30-40 min...washing takes me 45-1hr, waxing is another 50 bucks and takes about 20 min...that makes up for the tedious wash time! wash and wax = 75-100 bucks and takes 1 hr-1.5 hours
 
I have pretty much determined that 35% of the people calling are kicking tires. And, if I am on my game, I can turn 75% of those into customers.



It's all about your abilities to sell!!



Andy
 
When I set up at a property to do washes en mass I charge $60 for an basic wash with basic int. and wax.



Takes a little over a hour per car. These type places I just use a spray wax.
 
Yea, that is way to low, and I would think even someone who knows nothing about detailing would appreciate the work that go's into what you've described, even if it's just a wash and wax. I don't even like to just wax a car, and in many cases, I won't even do it without the client getting the clay bar too. Most of the people who call for a wash & wax, at least the ones who call me, have to many contaminants in their paint to wax without claying, and I don't want to just seal in the contaminants, so it's usually pretty easy for me to upsell them to the clay bar. Like GotWax said, you need to sell yourself and why your better than the person up the street, and explain your process. One day when you hone in your skills and build up a clientele you can laugh(not out loud) at anybody who doesn't want to spend less than $200. If I do get a wash and wax i'll always do a very small section with the clay bar and have them come out and feel the difference, and almost always they pay the extra money. Got a little off topic, but hope this helps.
 
toyotaguy said:
hope you are using a spray wax or even aqua wax...at $25 bucks, you should be done in about 30-40 min...washing takes me 45-1hr, waxing is another 50 bucks and takes about 20 min...that makes up for the tedious wash time! wash and wax = 75-100 bucks and takes 1 hr-1.5 hours
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x2 on what Toyotaguy said. I am just a teenager and have already built up quite a nice clientele. My entire clientele are customers that found out about me by word-of-mouth. That being said, I have a Honda CRV tomorrow morning, just a wash, wax, interior for $100. Its a very well priced detail in my area.



OP, what you need to do is study your demographics, and find out what they are willing to pay for what service. Don't be afraid to charge what you think the work is worth. $25 for 1-2hrs of work is crazy, even as a special. I started out going cheap. But then soon realized that customers didn't mind paying $50-$100 just for a wash and vacuum.
 
What are your expenses? What is your level of experience? That price may be fair to you if you do not have any expenses or experience. IMO, someone who just started detailing and has no noteworthy expenses has no right to charge someone $40-50 an hour. I am not saying this is the case with you, however, lots of people simply assume they can charge x amount because that is what others charge.
 
brwill2005 said:
What are your expenses? What is your level of experience? That price may be fair to you if you do not have any expenses or experience. IMO, someone who just started detailing and has no noteworthy expenses has no right to charge someone $40-50 an hour. I am not saying this is the case with you, however, lots of people simply assume they can charge x amount because that is what others charge.
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yea what brad said! i don't think it could be said better
 
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