getting paid

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bethanyb

New member
Hey there, my husband just started doing detail for a guy who owns a shop. I feel like he is getting ripped off so i hope you can help. They call him an "independent contractor". he has a business licence, pays the guy garrage rent, buys all of his own chemicals and supplies, does all the and only makes 50% of the detail (between 50-75$ per car). It just seems like he is puting out an awful lot for the work he does. I just wanted some oppinions. Are we getting ripped or is this the going rate?
 
Seems like he is putting a lot into it to only get out 50% of each detail, but then again I am not in his situation. If I were, I would probably be on the lookout for something better for myself. Maybe he could look at doing it outside of the guy's shop (maybe mobile).
 
What r u charging per car? and how u doing a day?
you should always set your price so you are making 70% profit IE: you charge $100 - $30 for supplies,labor and rent your profit should be $70
 
If it's a 50/50 deal the other guy should be splitting all expenses 50/50, Your husband is losing money by paying rent and purchasing supplies and THEN splitting the money, if anything he should split 50/50 after deducting his expenses rent, chemicals and supplies...etc

Independent Contractor is used by small businesses to avoid paying Workmen Comp Insurance, and other benefits,they will issue a 1099 Misc at the end of the year for independent contractors.
 
When I had my shop I used to pay the guys $50.00 a car for used car clean-ups and they where considered independent contractors. I supplied a tools,materials and the shop and that was 10 years ago. Sooo I would say he's getting used.:(
 
I am bethanyb's husband, first off thanks for the replies. This is how it is for me. Every car I do I get 50%, the lowest car detail is $150, highest I have done so far is $225. They take 50% off of that instantly, so I get $75 to $110 roughly per car I detail. Usually takes me 8-10 hours to do a full detail on the car inside and out. At the end of the month they take out $100 for rent and $50 for chemicals. So basicaly they seem to be making more money from me working there then I do. I was just curious if this was how it normaly works or if they are screwing me. And if I am getting screwed what do you guys think would be a good percentage to get to make this a good deal.
 
your getting screwed bad... i worked for a custom paint/ restoration shop and i made 75% of all the details i did... i purchased my own tools/ materials and just used thier shop/customer base so a 200 dollar detail id make 150 and theyd make 50 for letting me use thier space

*edit* i dont do this anymore as i this was a couple years ago around 2003-2005 when i was in high school now im a police officer and just do it on my days off for friends family any old clients i had from that shop your best bet would probably be to go mobile
 
I'd say that you need to start looking for a new arrangement very quickly. If you were only paying the $150 for rent and chemicals, that would be one thing. For them to take 50% of every detail is rediculous.
 
Welcome to DC!

I'll add my 2 cents if I may.

The going rate for detailers pay in this area of Indiana, that I have experienced, is between $7.50 - $15.00 an hour. The difference being between experience and responsibilities. Dealerships seem to be on the lower end of the scale. I am not aware of any shops that require their employees to pay rent or supplies fees. However, IMO your situation does seem to be a very reasonable amount for both. If you were to start your own business at a different location your overhead would be much greater. Perhaps you could re-negotiate your wages as you gain experience and business.

Hope this helps.
Dave
 
Visual Fury said:
I am bethanyb's husband, first off thanks for the replies. This is how it is for me. Every car I do I get 50%, the lowest car detail is $150, highest I have done so far is $225. They take 50% off of that instantly, so I get $75 to $110 roughly per car I detail. Usually takes me 8-10 hours to do a full detail on the car inside and out. At the end of the month they take out $100 for rent and $50 for chemicals. So basicaly they seem to be making more money from me working there then I do. I was just curious if this was how it normaly works or if they are screwing me. And if I am getting screwed what do you guys think would be a good percentage to get to make this a good deal.
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Don't worry so much about what he's making. You have to look at what your making. $75.00 for 8 hours of work is horrible. That's roughly $9. an hour.:eek:

First of all a $150.00 detail shouldn't take you any longer than 4 hours tops. I charge $50. per hour so I would spend 3 hours for $150.00.

He is providing a place to work and I'm assuming he provides the customers as well. That has value especially if your not good at drumming up business.

You still need to be making a minimum of $30. per hour to make it worth your time to do this. Otherwise your better off going to work for a dealership. I have seen guys make $20. per hour and get benefits as an employee.
 
What part of the country are you in?

What is the minuinm wage?

How many cars are you getting a day?

From the sounds of it at 8 hours a full detail you are only walking away with $90 a day on the average...and paying taxes on that at the end of the year with a 1099....

I hate to say this but you are working for nothing to speak of....you could go mobile or work from your home if you have a garage and do better than that in a heart beat...chemicals and start-up costs, shop vac, electrical chords, towels, etc are not that much.

I see some great advice from the other members here ...I would do some soul searching if it where me.
 
I live in Oregon, the minimum wage here is $7.80 an hour. Here is the normal order for detailing a car I do from prep to finish. I wash the exterior and clean the engine, that usually take about an hour to an hour and a half. Then I have to remove tar, any overspray, paint the wheel wells, clay, sometimes cut and buff, and wax, all that takes from 2 to 3 hours, then I have to shampoo the carpets clean the seats and all the plastics and depending on the car that takes 3 to 4 hours. The shop I am in is considered the best in town with the highest standard for cleaning. So I have to be VERY thorough. I can get a reasonably clean car done in 6 hours, but I rarely get cars that are not really trashed. The owner and his wife take the easier cars.
 
I forgot the other question, about how many cars I get. We detail most of the cars for all the big car dealerships. We only do 9-10 cars for the everyday Joe each week. I can usually do 4-5 cars a week if I dont get the big trashed SUV. :)
 
umm...yeah...you need to find you a new employment situation. That is definately not working out that great from what you are saying. Even on your BEST week, you would only be making ~$500 BEFORE taxes. That's not so hot...
 
Troy@DetailCity said:
Don't worry so much about what he's making. You have to look at what your making. $75.00 for 8 hours of work is horrible. That's roughly $9. an hour.:eek:

First of all a $150.00 detail shouldn't take you any longer than 4 hours tops. I charge $50. per hour so I would spend 3 hours for $150.00.

He is providing a place to work and I'm assuming he provides the customers as well. That has value especially if your not good at drumming up business.

You still need to be making a minimum of $30. per hour to make it worth your time to do this. Otherwise your better off going to work for a dealership. I have seen guys make $20. per hour and get benefits as an employee.
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Troy has a lot of good info here for you. You will have to learn to cut a few corners and pick up the pace. To work in your situation, you need to do at least 2 cars per day. Your arrangement is very similar to many hair cutters, they use some space and the facilities, and the owner supplies most of the customers. Getting customers at the beginning is not as easy as it looks, ask TexasTB, but after you have built a reputation, then it would be time to take your customers and either go mobile or find another shop. Having a shop and paying rent, utilities , taxes, etc and answering the phone is a lot of overhead when starting out. It may seem a like you are not making a lot, but it sounds like you have steady work, and if $225 is your top billing amount in your area, then your arrangement is not great but fair:)
 
Another approach could very well be to become an employee. Arrange to be paid an hourly rate and let him handle ALL the over head. There is a happy medium somewhere in this situation. Then you could detail on the side at home or go mobile....

A rip off is only a rip off if you learn nothing from it. As your skills and experience increase so will your pockets...

I'm big on agreements rip-off or not if you agree to it then you are bound by it. It must have been a good deal at some point, otherwise he would have never agreed to it in the first place.
 
I would not work for less than $125 a day if I had to pay my own benefits and taxes. If you are a beginner then you should be at about $10-11 an hour, if you are expeirianced and fast then I would say $15 would be doable. If you could get to the point that you could knockout two $75 in a ten hour day that would be good pay. 8 hours seems a little long for a $150 detail IMO How are the other guys in the shop doing, maybe you are doing too good of a job and you need to start blowing through these cars a little quicker.
 
It appears to me that you are paying them for the privelege of working there.

If you supply everything what is the $50 "chemicals" charge for? Sounds like you're paying part of the water bill.

The 50/50 split bothers me the most. Who decides the price of the detail, you or them? Perhaps renegotiating the percentage more in your favor would work.

Side Note:

It's easy to say "I charge this" or "I wouldn't work for that amount" but different areas of the country dictate different fees. In Austin I based all work on $40 per hour and turned down those that wanted to haggle. Where I live now that dog don't hunt.....$25 per hour is it with a few exceptions. There's just too much cheap labor here. Do they do a professional job? No, of course not but understand that here a wash & wax IS considered a detail and it's about $45 FOR A SUBURBAN!!!!!!

In short I think they are getting to you but not knowing your situation makes suggestions difficult at best.
 
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