What is a fair price to charge?

justinschmidt1 · 04-30-08, 07:43

Hey guys,

I was just wondering what you guys thought would be a good price to charge customers.

Im just detailing friends cars on the side with the PC to make some money/ pay off the 300 dollars worth of pads/products and the PC.

I was thinking 100 for a basic wash/polish/wax maybe clay if I feel it needs it.

and 150 for clay, swirl/scratch remover/polish/ wax

an extra 25 for interior if they want the interior done

What do you guys think?

Does this sound too cheap? too steep what?

bryansbestwax · 04-30-08, 08:16

ok on the exterior, too cheap for the interior

toyotaguy · 04-30-08, 09:38

its your time...you are not trying to make money as a business, so just charge what you and they want...

as a business....WAY TOO LOW...as a friend...ok

charlesaferg · 04-30-08, 11:45

Personally, I wouldn't charge them anything.
Bringing into consideration that you just bought your first equipment.

If I was to take my car to a mechanic, I am not going to pay them to learn - that's when I find another mechanic. Let your friends know what you are doing, and they will be cool with it. If you don't know how much to charge, you're running into the line of fire, you'll understand how much as you become more familiar. Also, you'll run into problems if all you've got is $300 worth of products, including only a PC. Many jobs require more, even if it's just a single panel, you're toast.
It's how I learned, and I found that people pay for EXPERIENCE, not experimentation.

You are very smart to have bought a PC first. I applaud you genuinely for that move, as it was a very good call.
I'm not trying to be a bad, mean guy - it's the smart, and right thing to do. Ethical work can only grow. Take some for the team(yourself) to learn and gain experience, and you'll be able to make more in the long run.

Best of luck!

Got_Leather · 04-30-08, 11:57

very true. It's your first few cars and its for friends. Do it for free until you get good and are confident and then sell your service.

toyotaguy · 04-30-08, 12:31

but after two cars he should know how to use the PC...heck after the hood of the first...

when i started out, it was 100 for friends and family...then it became 150...you have to take into consideration the time, the product, and the simple fact they wouldnt get it done elsewhere for as cheap...well except the car wash, but that is a whole different game..

charlesaferg · 04-30-08, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

but after two cars he should know how to use the PC...heck after the hood of the first...

when i started out, it was 100 for friends and family...then it became 150...you have to take into consideration the time, the product, and the simple fact they wouldnt get it done elsewhere for as cheap...well except the car wash, but that is a whole different game..

I agree with regards to products, but I'd say if they are gracious enough to let you use their cars, I wouldn't charge them. Especially since you've only done a few cars.

I really don't want to sound like some stuck up old fart and talk about when I started and how many cars. I'm only 21, and I started just as you did - although quite young.

We're all still learning and seeking new knowledge, but there really is a time to take in the basics, and then start charging for the labor after you gain some experience. You really won't know until you encounter situations that you think, "Oh $h17, I can't fix this, I guess the owner will have to live with it." or worse yet, "Oh $h17, I just burned a hole in this guys paint with my new rotary!"(Hence why you were right on when you made the decision to buy a PC, I couldn't imagine what I would have done to my practice panels and friends cars when I was younger if I used my dad's rotary, roflmao...

Work out a deal with them, and if you get 100, cool dude. Honestly it might actually be enough to just cover the product if you do a bit more work.
Still, I can't imagine how much you could do with only $300 worth, including your polisher. My Metabo rotary cost that much alone, let alone my $30-$50 each bottles of Menzerna.

You can charge whatever they accept, just take it to mind.

dublifecrisis · 04-30-08, 12:49

I've done 3 cars and I'm new to this too. All for friends and charged 120-175 for full "detail".

This included 2 step correction, LSP, wheels/tires, and interior.

Could they get better results looking elsewhere? sure they could for twice as much at least. My first use iver with a PC was with Menzerna IP and a white pad on my neighbors new truck. Week later, I'm going to town on my buddy's Mustang 5.0. It's a fair price for a friend IMO. It's a good deal for them and for you (I think).

KnuckleBuckett · 04-30-08, 12:55

I am running into the same situation. Rarely detailed for $$ before but starting to get interest from friends and neighbors on a pretty regular basis. Last summer too.

I am between $100 and $200. $600 for minivans (that way I don't get any).

justinschmidt1 · 04-30-08, 01:26

well maybe I should have stated that I DO know what im doing.

Ive detailed a **** load of cars with a rotary at work...(detail, car dealerships detail departments are TERRIBLE, I quite) ...i just decided to go with a PC cause it was 100 bucks lol

I know what im doing with the PC and theyre getting Pro results from me.

I guess 150 sounds about right.

charlesaferg · 04-30-08, 04:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinschmidt1

well maybe I should have stated that I DO know what im doing.

Ive detailed a **** load of cars with a rotary at work...(detail, car dealerships detail departments are TERRIBLE, I quite) ...i just decided to go with a PC cause it was 100 bucks lol

I know what im doing with the PC and theyre getting Pro results from me.

I guess 150 sounds about right.

Mmmmhmmm...
I stand by my statement, you'd know if it's enough.

Defensiveness makes your credibility plummet, heh.

bwalker25 · 04-30-08, 04:57

I do my in-laws cars for free and they pay/tip me for the cost of the products I use...typically they pay for new pads/etc. Plus they tell everyone they know that I detail cars and there car always looks good (free quick detail every Tuesday, when they feed me and my wifey)

however my friends pay $100, everyone else is priced when the car is seen; nothing worse than talking to someone on the phone and they say "oh it looks fine" but when you get it under halogens it looks like crap.

in-law/parents - free (free advertising from them and food...can't argue there)
friends - $100 for a 2 step polish and the works
everyone else - priced when seen and based on needs/wants