Detailing Side Business - $20 Hour to Much to Charge?

**SR77** · 03-30-2004, 08:47 PM

I am planning on doing some detailing on weekends as a second job for extra cash this summer. I have done my car many times and other family members cars before, but never have really done detailing as a job for customers. My plan was to do detailing out of my garage and making up a list of services on a flyer to pass around that the customer can pick from and choose what they want done to their vehicle. I was gonna charge $20 an hour and total cost of each detail would depend on what services the customer wants done to determine the amount of time it will take. I will be using my PC with mainly Meguiars products. So my main question is, for someone that does not have a great deal of experience of detailing as a job, would $20 hr. be too high or is that a good price? I don`t want to lose customers by asking to much or not get anyone to begin with.

Any other helpful infomation for someone starting a side business detailing? thanks for all the help

**Animosity** · 03-30-2004, 08:52 PM

Where do you live? I have begun to think that detailing is only profitable in southern cities and what not. No one in ohio wants to pay for detailing jobs if the weathers always crappy.

**Kleanride** · 03-31-2004, 07:41 AM

When I was in college, my roommate and I started a snow removal business (commercial buildings and residential) and we would quote jobs one of two ways...hourly or by the job. We would quote hourly if we weren`t sure how long it would take, but then we would put a cap on it....for example, we would say $20 an hour, but if it takes us 4 hours, we will only charge for 3 (the whole time we knew it was only going to take 3 hours at the most).

When I first read your post I was thinking $20 hour seems kinda cheap, but a full detail can easily take 5 hours or more, so it seems like you are on track.

**scottabir** · 03-31-2004, 08:34 AM

I agree with Mr. DeSteno here, $100 for a full detail I think is fair, as long as your comfortable charging that amount and you think your quality work is worth that amount, go for it. I am sure plenty of people will jump on $100 for a full detail.

**Kleanride** · 03-31-2004, 01:31 PM

WOW! Mr. De Steno!?!? I like it! Usually when I hear someone say that, I think they are talking to or about my dad! ha!

SR77, Have you checked with local detail shops to see what they charge?

**noxen** · 03-31-2004, 06:04 PM

100 is kind of cheap, just make sure they know what theyre getting

**thinksnow** · 03-31-2004, 06:17 PM

Many folks like a flat rate for a routine detail (as compared to a 10-40 hour restoration). I would continue detailing for fun the next few times, but this time while watching the clock. From start to finish, imagine that the car you are working on is a client`s car that you will not see again for a while. This should give you an idea of the rate you can charge assuming you wish to make an average of $20-$25 per hour.

**SR77** · 03-31-2004, 07:19 PM

thanks for the replys. I will have to call around to some local shops to see how much they charge. I just wanted to here from some people on here what they charge, seems to be a good amount of people on here that do it as a job or 2nd job. I figured it would be better to charge by the hour cause it is easier not to get screwed by a job that takes longer then planned. Plus I was planing on making a flyer ad that listed all my services and the customer can then choose what services they want done on the car and then i can tell them an estimated time on how long it should take for those servies after i look at the car and about how much it will cost. Just seems easiler hourly rather then by the job, but thats why I posted this, to here people opnions on here that already detail for money. Thanks for the help and would love to here more tips on starting a side detailing business.

**GoodnClean** · 03-31-2004, 07:52 PM

I charge 150 for a full detail here and I`m way low. Low to the point where I think it may drive customers away, I`m going to raise it to at least $75. It all depends on your market, call some local mobile detailing companies and see what they charge and charge the same amount.

**NEW AGAIN** · 03-31-2004, 09:33 PM

ANY ONE IN THE DETAILING BUSINESS THERE GOLD IS TO MAKE AT LEAST $30.00 TO $40.00 AN HOUR

**Jesstzn** · 03-31-2004, 10:46 PM

The local shop here charges $125 for wash/wax/ engine steam clean, dress/ carpet,seat shampoo. and all the work is at best mediocure. They would not touch my car .. its an owner and a bunch of $8 hour kids. Its like an assembly line and to the 3 times a year washer the cars look good sitting after they are done.

One of the owners has a 69 R/T charger that he takes to car shows and its embarassing .. looks like it was washed with a barn broom.

$20 an hour for a quality job is prolly right on. It is hard work.

**Logik** · 03-31-2004, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by newagain

ANY ONE IN THE DETAILING BUSINESS THERE GOLD IS TO MAKE AT LEAST $30.00 TO $40.00 AN HOUR

First you have to get a grasp of the english langage though.

Just kidding.

**thinksnow** · 04-01-2004, 07:04 AM

Reminds me of emails I get with "Re: Your Mort!%gage REFInance" or "IT was Go0d to me8t you" in the subject line.

Originally posted by newagain

ANY ONE IN THE DETAILING BUSINESS THERE GOLD IS TO MAKE AT LEAST $30.00 TO $40.00 AN HOUR

**togwt** · 04-01-2004, 07:56 AM

thinksnow, good advice.

Material costs, over head cost + $20-25 ph = profit (hopefully)

See article DavidB Better Car Care on starting a detailing business.