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VWGTI · 09-16-09, 06:24

Question.
What do you guys try to make per hour when detailing a car??
Trying to determine the best way to come up with the ideal way to charge a customer.
I usually try and make $20 hr. but not sure if that is enough.

I just finished a BMW 550i...came out great. This was a complete job, inside and out and the car looks new again.

I will have about 9 hours in the car and trying to come up with a fair charge for the work.

Any input would be great.

gmblack3a · 09-16-09, 06:27

Can you list the steps you did in the 9 hours?

zoomzoom mazda5 · 09-16-09, 06:39

$45.00 per hour..........

VWGTI · 09-16-09, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmblack3a

Can you list the steps you did in the 9 hours?

Here are the steps that I did for this car:
Hand wash
Clean Wheels & tires
Clay
Wash again and dry.
Meg 205 with PC
Wipe paint down after completed polishing with water/Alcohol mix
3 Coats of Zaino Z5 & ZFX
Dress tires and hand polish/wax wheels.

Vaccuum interior
Vaccuum truck
Clean carpet and mats
Clean leather seats
Condition leather seats
Windows inside and out

All door jams cleaned and waxed as well.

The exterior took about 6 1/2 hrs and the rest was the interior and final inspection.

cgc · 09-16-09, 07:22

I'm very curious about this as well.
I'm considering trying to ****t doing this on the side (for now, hopefully to move to full time).

If the OP doen't mind me piggy backing his question with:
Do any of you guys feel the economy has impacted your business?

JoshVette · 09-16-09, 07:32

A couple things you need to consider:

Are you doing this as your main means of income?

What is your time worth?

Are the results worth the money? Perceived value?

If you're doing this for a living then you won't be making enough at $20 per hour....

I try to make no less then $60 per hour, but you've got enough experience to charge that with no complaints and leave your clients happy believing what they paid was well worth the money. For paint correction and polishing I charge more though.

It's really all up to you.

Josh

vtec92civic · 09-16-09, 07:54

sounds like you did a pretty decent amount of work. It's also hard to determine a price for you since all areas are different but i'm guessing that was at least a $230+ job because of the quality of work and products used. You did paint correction already even though it might have been a 1 step and you also did interior work as well

bfhammer · 09-16-09, 08:10

I don't have a business in this field but if you do it for $20/hr raw time your effectively making 8 bucks an hour once you subtract materials, taxes, insurance, equipment, and marketing.
I'd advise anyone to incorporate themselves it gives many benefits along with liability protection. Self employed you get screwed on the AMT tax big time. As a corp you pay yourself a minimal salary and only that portion of your income is taxable for payroll, SS, etc while the remaining funds are taxed much lower. Plus as a business virtually everything you buy is a write off including travel. You simply have your corporate meeting with yourself wherever you go. You can also contribute 11,500 a year to a IRA as an S corp.

Separate your services into levels working up to the big 9 hour job. Don't undervalue yourself, people are suspicious of too good of a deal, and don't be afraid to tell them how long each level takes you.

Scottwax · 09-17-09, 04:13

You need to at least double that to make a living detailing, triple it on either coast.

JohnKleven · 09-17-09, 08:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by VWGTI

Here are the steps that I did for this car:
Hand wash
Clean Wheels & tires
Clay
Wash again and dry.
Meg 205 with PC
Wipe paint down after completed polishing with water/Alcohol mix
3 Coats of Zaino Z5 & ZFX
Dress tires and hand polish/wax wheels.

Vaccuum interior
Vaccuum truck
Clean carpet and mats
Clean leather seats
Condition leather seats
Windows inside and out

All door jams cleaned and waxed as well.

The exterior took about 6 1/2 hrs and the rest was the interior and final inspection.

Don't take this personally, but I wouldn't charge too much if you're polishing a car using a PC. Someone who uses a rotary polisher, could charge more per hour and get better results in less time. In the end, they might be able to charge the customer less money for better results since it takes less time. It will be difficult to compete with that.

John

Scottwax · 09-17-09, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnKleven

Don't take this personally, but I wouldn't charge too much if you're polishing a car using a PC. Someone who uses a rotary polisher, could charge more per hour and get better results in less time. In the end, they might be able to charge the customer less money for better results since it takes less time. It will be difficult to compete with that.

John

Good point, I make a bit less per hour for basic, 1 step DA polish details than I do for rotary corrections.

In addition, I think your efforts in polishing will pay off more than layering LSPs.

David Fermani · 09-18-09, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnKleven

Don't take this personally, but I wouldn't charge too much if you're polishing a car using a PC. Someone who uses a rotary polisher, could charge more per hour and get better results in less time. In the end, they might be able to charge the customer less money for better results since it takes less time. It will be difficult to compete with that.

John

I take it you're not a supporter/believer in the many Pros that use a DA for correction?