Hourly Rate for Washing

**NorCalDetailer** · 03-01-2013, 04:30 PM

Im about to get hired by a local repair shop to "detail" their clients cars. By detail the basically mean wash. The shop owner said it would be easier for them to pay me by the hour rather than by car, as some days there may not be much business. He asked me what Id have to make per hour and I told him Id have to get back to him.

My question is what is a fair hourly rate?

Im thinking start the negotiations off at $20/hr. Since I usually charge $100 for a wash, clay, wax, and interior vaccum and shampoo. Which can take up to 5 hrs. So $20/hr

What are your thoughts?

**Ronkh** · 03-01-2013, 04:36 PM

Good luck

**Old Pirate** · 03-01-2013, 06:06 PM

Like Ron said ....Good Luck, you might want to talk to the owner and see where is he going with this because he might be thinking 10 bucks or maybe even less per hour. Hope it turns in your favor in terms of over 20 bucks a hour.

**Ronkh** · 03-01-2013, 07:00 PM

Dave ?

**Old Pirate** · 03-01-2013, 07:17 PM

Too much beer....................Ron

**Tex Star Detail** · 03-01-2013, 07:36 PM

Yea, I don`t know. I`d be cautious. What exactly are they wanting you to do? Just a simple wash/dress tires/spray wheel wells/outside glass? Something like that, if it`s production work would only take 30 minutes or so if you`re too concerned with a little swirls here or there. Are they going to give you volume? More than 1 car a day?

If they only give you one car a day, maybe two at $20 a car, an hour each.......

That`s not worth MY time. to deal with. Driving there, set up, time for the wash, chemical cost (low if using low budget stuff), taxes on it..........

Good luck and keep us posted!

**NorCalDetailer** · 03-01-2013, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Tex Star Detail

Yea, I don`t know. I`d be cautious. What exactly are they wanting you to do? Just a simple wash/dress tires/spray wheel wells/outside glass? Something like that, if it`s production work would only take 30 minutes or so if you`re too concerned with a little swirls here or there. Are they going to give you volume? More than 1 car a day?

If they only give you one car a day, maybe two at $20 a car, an hour each.......

That`s not worth MY time. to deal with. Driving there, set up, time for the wash, chemical cost (low if using low budget stuff), taxes on it..........

Good luck and keep us posted!

They want me to wash, rims, tires, wheel wells, interior and exterior glass, interior vaccuum, and dashboard condition. Takes me between an hour and an hour and a half. They said that they would have plently of cars for me to do which I belive as they are a pretty big repair shop. They also said that if there isnt any more cars during the day that they could use me around the shopdoing various things.

Im not too worried about wasting my time because I detail on the side maybe 2-3 times per week averaging $120/car and the shop wants me there between 10-15hrs a week. So I`d be making a little less but the shop also is right near my house and my supply cost would go down drastically.

Id still keep my actual detailing business but I`d dial it back a bit

**Ronkh** · 03-02-2013, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by NorCalDetailer

They also said that if there isnt any more cars during the day that they could use me around the shopdoing various things.

8.50/hr

**Exec Detail** · 04-26-2013, 04:07 PM

Hey Norcal I am in Roseville too. Executive Mobile Detail is the company name. Give me a shout some time. I had some accounts that just had me do washes too and I run under the expectations that I need to make around $100 an hour to cover my expenses and put a little change in my pocket. I can wash on average 3 cars an hour at a $30-$35 an hour. My suggestion is to not sell yourself short.

Ken