2 weeks notice-going full time now.

T

tssdetailing

New member
no more weekends and late nights after work. I've handed in my two weeks notice to the day-job boss and plan to be fruitful with my detailing endevours.



My question to you guys, do you think I should cut my prices at all? Click for ts|s service page. I initially went in with what I thought were higher prices so that the few details i'd do each week would result in good payback. Now that I NEED to count on this for daily work, i'm concidering knocking things down a few bucks to entice more sales. Does this alienate what people who have done work with me before will think? Does this make me look like I'm a fledgeling buisness man? Or does it come off as spring/summer special pricing? (I had planned to launch it as a 10% cut across all pricing stating they are sale prices).
 
I think you're prices are just right, I would not change them at all...



...except for one, IMO the concourse treatment, needs to come up to at least $55 per hour to match your wetsanding service.



I can tell you from experience after you spend a week working on a car you're not going to want to make $600 bucks, that's not worth it, it needs to be more like 4 figures otherwise you're making a little better then $100 per day.



People will try to talk you down and those are the ones you don't want to detail for so let them go and be proud of your work.



If they do try to talk you down just let them know you can cut out the interior or whatever but don't compromise your pricing.



When I first started doing this full time I only made $20,000 the first year and then I raised my prices to match the quality of work I perform, needless to say I actually got busier and doubled my income the following year. Now I can do fewer cars and still make as much money and more then before.



Josh
 
I'm baffled by your Stage 1's. You do a two step paint decontamination and a wax with plastic/rubber/vinyl treatment and shampoo carpets for $160? I guess i'd have to know what details are in your two-step decontamination, but that seems low with a carpet shampoo.



Then again it varies by region...



Either way, congrats on full time detailing! It's hard work but (most of the time) it's rewarding to see the end result.
 
Mindflux said:
I'm baffled by your Stage 1's. You do a two step paint decontamination and a wax with plastic/rubber/vinyl treatment and shampoo carpets for $160? I guess i'd have to know what details are in your two-step decontamination, but that seems low with a carpet shampoo.



Then again it varies by region...



Either way, congrats on full time detailing! It's hard work but (most of the time) it's rewarding to see the end result.
Click to expand...



lol, great if i'm confusing detailers i can only wonder how my customers feel! I kid, I kid! NO, it's a 2 step wash + clay. So I'll wash the car once, clay it, then wash it again, then wax. Most of the time, i luck on on interiors where only the floor mats are soiled-for that I have the brush attachement on the Flex. Anything else i use a spot treatment too.





Thanks for the good feedback so far guys! I was worried that I'd have to sacrifice
 
I too think your prices are more than fair. Two things I would add/chage...



1. Incorporate more services (interior only, wash & wax, maybe even wash only for those weeks you're not busy and need that to get some $$ rolling in). I think wash at $60 might be a bit high but including a wash & wax at $60-80 might be a good in between service.



2. Combine the Concours treatment and wet sanding services and do it at $55/hr. I'd call it Concours and then mention in the description that wetsanding will be done if necessary after you have inspected the paint with the client. This way you don't have to raise the price on just the Concours and people will understand why it's at $55/hr and not $30.



Best of luck! I might be going the same route pretty damn soon here.
 
jsut making sure: is everyone looking at this with the eyes of the customer, not the expectations of a detailer. When I do that, i still think i'm high.
 
tssdetailing said:
jsut making sure: is everyone looking at this with the eyes of the customer, not the expectations of a detailer. When I do that, i still think i'm high.
Click to expand...



I'm looking from the customer's point of view. Your stage 1 is basically wash & wax, clay, and interior. My Basic Exterior Detail (wash, clay, wax) starts at $100 and interior is $25-50 usually (no shampoo) so compared to my prices you're right on. I would just add a note that extremely filthy interiors will cost more. I've seen even corner wash places charge a good $100-150 for interior only when it needs a thorough cleaning for a couple hours. Just something to think about it.



I do think you need to more cleanly explain the differences between stage 1 2 3 because I can't really tell the diff with 2 and 3 especially, other than engine detail... is it one more polishing step?
 
lecchilo said:
I've seen even corner wash places charge a good $100-150 for interior only when it needs a thorough cleaning for a couple hours. Just something to think about it.
Click to expand...



He does have some clause on the page about extra dirty stuff costing more. (Mobile Car Detailing in Cincinnati, Covington, Florence, Hamilton from ts|s)



lecchio said:
I do think you need to more cleanly explain the differences between stage 1 2 3 because I can't really tell the diff with 2 and 3 especially, other than engine detail... is it one more polishing step?
Click to expand...



I agree, more words to help differentiate the packages.
 
Congrats Jaison! I know you will see me again. I have had other ask but when I told them you where in Cincy that was the end of that. Are going to consider travel within a reasonable radius?
 
rdorman said:
Congrats Jaison! I know you will see me again. I have had other ask but when I told them you where in Cincy that was the end of that. Are going to consider travel within a reasonable radius?
Click to expand...



Thank you, Rick! Anything is worth traveling for if the client is willing to foot the expense.
 
tssdetailing said:
Thank you, Rick! Anything is worth traveling for if the client is willing to foot the expense.
Click to expand...



Just FYI I charge $0.50/mi outside of my typical radius. :) You could consider that.



So if I work in a 30 mile radius and a client is 40/mi out I charge them an addl $10 bucks extra. (10 miles each direction out of my way).



It's a small fee and most clients don't balk if you do the work they expect.
 
tssdetailing said:
ts|s services 2.0



all right, i re-worded a lot, and revisited the titles to the specified services-giving the page a bit more attitude and touch of my own personality
Click to expand...



Looks a lot better. I'm just concerned that people won't really justify a whole $100 bill for just an engine detail... I don't know what success you've had with that specific service (stage 3) but from an outsider's point of view $100 is a lot for an engine detail.
 
Mindflux said:
Just FYI I charge $0.50/mi outside of my typical radius. :) You could consider that.



So if I work in a 30 mile radius and a client is 40/mi out I charge them an addl $10 bucks extra. (10 miles each direction out of my way).



It's a small fee and most clients don't balk if you do the work they expect.
Click to expand...



I charge the same mileage, but only charge one way. Although I have a client set up an appointment with me that lives 150 miles away and I may be rethinking that policy in the future.



$100 is a lot for an engine detail...
 
lecchilo said:
Looks a lot better. I'm just concerned that people won't really justify a whole $100 bill for just an engine detail... I don't know what success you've had with that specific service (stage 3) but from an outsider's point of view $100 is a lot for an engine detail.
Click to expand...



the engine detail is only a $40 upcharge on the stage 3. The stage 2 does NOT include the interior.



the engine detail alone is $100, and i do a more thorough job for that singled out service such as lift up the car, get under the block, and K member, anything infront of the firewall really. I've had lot of gear heads who want their muscle car blinged up ask for that. As for Stage 3 it just depends on who wants to shell out the green for a serious detail.
 
Mindflux said:
Just FYI I charge $0.50/mi outside of my typical radius. :) You could consider that.



So if I work in a 30 mile radius and a client is 40/mi out I charge them an addl $10 bucks extra. (10 miles each direction out of my way).



It's a small fee and most clients don't balk if you do the work they expect.
Click to expand...



Considering $10 for 10 miles...Rick is about 70 miles outside of my "local" area...you do the math.



I honestly don't charge milage. I live in the southern most tip of the city limits-kind of a dumb move on my part, so I don't really charge extra for the people who live 30/40 miles north of me.
 
This is a HUGE step.... I applaud you taking the leap!



Quesion: I would imagine winters are very cold and snowy correct? Are you busy enough during this season to sustain your lifestyle?



Just curious...



Best of luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top