$75-100 an hr????

MCWD · 01-16-09, 01:32

So I am here in Clearwater attending the mobiletech expo, and I am having fun learning as much as I can. In meeting a few big wigs, I come across a guy named Mel Craig. Apparently he is a big trainer for Meg's. I said to him that I recently made the switch from packaged prices to hourly rates. He said no way would he do hrly. He said you need to at a minimum pull 75-100 an hour. The only way he does it is by packages. I personally can not see myself detailing a car in 2-3hrs. I just wanted to see what all of you think. People pay me for my attention to detail, and my work ethic. I charge 60 an hour, and of course I would love to make more, but do any of you stick to packages where you are making 75-100 or more even an hour? Do you put a time cap on those services so that you are able to ensure your income at those levels?? I am hoping I start a good thread with this.

ajnavo61490 · 01-16-09, 02:09

the only way i can see people getting paid $75-100/hr is paint correction

toyotaguy · 01-16-09, 03:26

paint correction involving wetsanding and 3-5 steps paint correction get billed by the hour. otherwise, its a package rate for me

finalfinish · 01-16-09, 03:34

Packages for me + I typically have 2-3 hours of correction allocated to each package and I charge per hour if more time is involved. This has been simple and successful for me, and it is easy for customers to understand.

brwill2005 · 01-16-09, 03:59

It seems to me the hourly rates are getting way too unrealistic. Believe me I would love to charge 75-100 an hour, but I think it is just not realistic. Even in one of the wealthiest counties in America (Loudoun), people have trouble paying 40-50 an hour for detailing. This is especially true in the current economic situation. Prices are going down across the board, not up. I was able to raise the prices to most of my maintenance customers 5-10%. Not really an issue to them because they know what type of quality and service I provide. New customers would simply balk at the idea of rates above $50 an hour. Sure there are certain people who may pay that and higher, but they are few and far between. I think the best way to make more is to lower expenses and create efficiencies to get more done in less time; whether this means buying better equipment or hiring some help. This aspect of running a business is often overlooked.

David Fermani · 01-16-09, 05:14

Does every detailer charge $50+/hr for their services.......NO.

Can you charge $50+/hr in certain(many) cities.......YES.

Is it unrealistic.........NO. It's just what the market will bear "for someone how has the ability to sell their services". I personally don't charge by the hour, but I'm able to price out a job with enough knowledge of what it will take to do it based on set customer expectations in advance. I'd much rather charge someone $1000 for a 2 step correction w/interior that could take 12-14 hours instead of XX per/hr. I also know a few people who do quite well charging by the hour too. I guess I'm just use to bidding on jobs where the bottom line is what matters.

I think the biggest thing that's overlooked by detailers is learning how to sell themselves. If you sell yourself, price shouldn't matter.

TH0001 · 01-16-09, 07:04

A) I charge by the hour (in the amount bracket you mentioned).
It works for me because I am (for the most part) a one person show. If I had a 'crew' of detailers, I could charge less (since I would pay way less, take a cut of their man hour charges) ect, but because I want to maintain one man quality (ie not watch over a crew) I have to charge more. My clients understand that. If I could not make a decent wage for the quality of work I do, I would simply higher a crew, teach them to bang out cars in succession, and make money on them.

My principals are simply. One person quality means a higher labor rate (per man hour). I am also paid to take my time and do the job do the highest standard. Obviously this model will not work for everybody.

B) I was at the mobile tech expo today as well, but only stayed for a short while. I did catch Jason Rose seminar and get a chance to shoot the crap with my buddy Joe Fernandez, but that was it.

ebpcivicsi · 01-17-09, 07:00

Here's how to make $99/hr.

Wash and wax for $99.

Wash car, apply wax (we use OCW for cars that already have a "base"), and collect $--most profitable service we offer.

Grouse · 01-17-09, 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Fermani

Does every detailer charge $50+/hr for their services.......NO.

Can you charge $50+/hr in certain(many) cities.......YES.

Is it unrealistic.........NO. It's just what the market will bear "for someone how has the ability to sell their services". I personally don't charge by the hour, but I'm able to price out a job with enough knowledge of what it will take to do it based on set customer expectations in advance. I'd much rather charge someone $1000 for a 2 step correction w/interior that could take 12-14 hours instead of XX per/hr. I also know a few people who do quite well charging by the hour too. I guess I'm just use to bidding on jobs where the bottom line is what matters.

I think the biggest thing that's overlooked by detailers is learning how to sell themselves. If you sell yourself, price shouldn't matter.

yep

Quote:

A) I charge by the hour (in the amount bracket you mentioned).
It works for me because I am (for the most part) a one person show. If I had a 'crew' of detailers, I could charge less (since I would pay way less, take a cut of their man hour charges) ect, but because I want to maintain one man quality (ie not watch over a crew) I have to charge more. My clients understand that. If I could not make a decent wage for the quality of work I do, I would simply higher a crew, teach them to bang out cars in succession, and make money on them.

My principals are simply. One person quality means a higher labor rate (per man hour). I am also paid to take my time and do the job do the highest standard. Obviously this model will not work for everybody.

same here, My schedule is full, my time is valuable. I'm looking for solid 8-10 hour days. I d does not make sense for me to drive from one car to the next. That is lost money and time.

Lumadar · 01-17-09, 08:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebpcivicsi

Here's how to make $99/hr.

Wash and wax for $99.

Wash car, apply wax (we use OCW for cars that already have a "base"), and collect $--most profitable service we offer.

A wash alone takes me an hour on most cars, sometimes more if they are filthy or particularly large. Then for me to wax with a normal wax (Not OCW) would be at least another 30 minutes. Being the OCD kind of guy I am, I would also need to do all of the windows inside and out, and the wheels and tires if a basic wash and wax package.

I would have to charge for 3 hours of labor at least for a basic wash and wax, and I don't think anyone is going to pay $300 for that

Anyone willing to pay $300 for a basic wash and wax will likely want a correction too!

mshu7 · 01-17-09, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lumadar

A wash alone takes me an hour on most cars, sometimes more if they are filthy or particularly large. Then for me to wax with a normal wax (Not OCW) would be at least another 30 minutes. Being the OCD kind of guy I am, I would also need to do all of the windows inside and out, and the wheels and tires if a basic wash and wax package.

I would have to charge for 3 hours of labor at least for a basic wash and wax, and I don't think anyone is going to pay $300 for that

Anyone willing to pay $300 for a basic wash and wax will likely want a correction too!

I get what you are saying, but playing devil's advocate....maybe you should look at your process and see if there are areas where you can become more efficient. This doesn't mean lower your quality, just become more efficient. Yes, I could spend 3 hours on a W&W, but because I have a business to run, I'm going to make sure I am working efficiently to complete it in a timely fashion. I don't see a 1-hr. W&W being all that difficult, at least with the use of OCW.

Honestly, I find that I end up making more money per hour with my W&W type packages vs. complete details. Although, maybe that means I need to look at my complete detail pricing or my effeciency for the larger packages.

Generally, I try to get at least $40/hr.

toyotaguy · 01-17-09, 09:23

I 100% of the time make more money on the W&W details than the correction details, unless its an hourly deal. Reason behind this is because I always try to get the paint 90% or better when I know it will be only 75% based on the two step, but I want to make it a 3 step. Its stupid and my fault, but I dont think its a bad thing, especially when I only have the one car for the day, not multiple cars.

best way to make 100/hr and I have done it on multiple occasions - HIRE OUT SOME HELP! when you charge $50/man hour, you are basically charging $100 per hour and if you figure the job will take 6 man hours and you pay the help much less than $50/hr because:
1 - YOU own the business
2 - its your name on the bottom line
3 - you bought the chemicals and supplies
4 - you got the business from the client

Now if your hired help gets you the job, then I would kick him down a couple extra bucks because if it werent for him, you wouldnt have made the money...kind of like the $20 referral bonus most have.

But I generally shoot for 50/hr, if it take me longer oh well, its always over $40/hr unless I am doing car washes, then its only about $25-30/hr, which isnt bad, but isnt enough here in so cal