I am thinking of starting a little detailing biz on the side, advice plz...

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TheOzzfather

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Just starting around my neighborhood in the spring through fall months. I am thinking one job a week to start until Brian teaches me more *wink*. Do you guys have any advice for me? I know that there have been posts like this in the past but I really didnt get much from them. What is a good rate for a wash, clay, and polish?? How much time should it take?? Is it appropriate to use their water? Do I spray the whole drive way down when I am done? Thanks guys!!! Any other advice I will gladly take.
 
1) $25-35 is a fair price to wash, vacuum, clean windows inside and out, wipe down dash and console and dress the tires. Double the price for a wax job, add another $20-50 for any needed claying, buffing, polishing, etc.



2) Time? It depends. Somewhere from 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the vehicle and condition.



3) It is better to supply your own water if possible. If you are doing this for friends and neighbors, you'd likely be okay, but if it is people you don't know, bring your own water. Protect Alls Quick and Easy Wash (do a search in the main detailing or university forums) requires only about a gallon of water per vehicle and I am sure you can find gallon jugs to carry the water.



4) I'd only worry about making sure you don't leave any mess behind from your work on the driveway.
 
I NEVER use the customers water. Even if they offer. They are always impressed we have our own water. I will occasionally use their outlet, if they offer, just because the generator is so loud, but thats rare.
 
I use their water because I don't have any other choice. If you are going at this as a 'weekend warrior' like so many of us do, then you pretty much have to use their water. Unless you have a 50 gallon water tank and a presurizer on a truck, of course. ;)



It takes me about 3 hours to do a detail in and out and under the hood and apply a layer of sealant. Sometimes I just use AIO to clean the paint. I charge $20 per layer of SG and $15 per layer of Platinum or Blackfire. Carnuba toppers are also $20 per layer. Sometimes they will bring it to me for just a simple wash and wax. That is a quick job. I charge $35 for just a wash and then the $20 for the wax. Nice and easy. I always do the wheels and tires and engines. Even if its just a basic wash. I figure, what the heck? I'm out there anyway. I might as well. It might get me a good referal.



I like to make $30 per hour when I'm on a job. It just some number I pulled out of my butt a few years ago and have sort of stuck to. I know that I can wash a car in less than an hour so I only charge for that hour and whatever supplies I am using for the whole job. I'm not using very many bulk products so my overhead is a little higher than it should be. That would be my advice to you though. Figure out what you want to make per hour while you are working and then set your prices accordingly. Its a good way to work if you aren't doing it for a living. We can be a little more flexible with our prices. ;)
 
Jngrbrdman said:
I use their water because I don't have any other choice. If you are going at this as a 'weekend warrior' like so many of us do, then you pretty much have to use their water. Unless you have a 50 gallon water tank and a presurizer on a truck, of course. ;)



It takes me about 3 hours to do a detail in and out and under the hood and apply a layer of sealant. Sometimes I just use AIO to clean the paint. I charge $20 per layer of SG and $15 per layer of Platinum or Blackfire. Carnuba toppers are also $20 per layer. Sometimes they will bring it to me for just a simple wash and wax. That is a quick job. I charge $35 for just a wash and then the $20 for the wax. Nice and easy. I always do the wheels and tires and engines. Even if its just a basic wash. I figure, what the heck? I'm out there anyway. I might as well. It might get me a good referal.



I like to make $30 per hour when I'm on a job. It just some number I pulled out of my butt a few years ago and have sort of stuck to. I know that I can wash a car in less than an hour so I only charge for that hour and whatever supplies I am using for the whole job. I'm not using very many bulk products so my overhead is a little higher than it should be. That would be my advice to you though. Figure out what you want to make per hour while you are working and then set your prices accordingly. Its a good way to work if you aren't doing it for a living. We can be a little more flexible with our prices. ;)
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I guess I just cant see people paying that to detail their cars. Are you guys just contracting the high society for your work? In Minnesota our summers are so short that people like to do their own cars a lot. I need an edge to convince them to for over $30-$50 for a wash and wax.
 
03MaximaSE_TE said:
I guess I just cant see people paying that to detail their cars. Are you guys just contracting the high society for your work? In Minnesota our summers are so short that people like to do their own cars a lot. I need an edge to convince them to for over $30-$50 for a wash and wax.
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Really? You know, if you ask any of the professional detailers on this board they will tell you that I'm working for nothing. What I charge $80 bucks for would easily run you in the $200 dollar range at a shop.



I'm not dealing with high end cars. Actually, I avoid them. As a weekend warrior I'm not insured in case I screw something up. These are just people I work with and referals by word of mouth. I've never had someone turn me down becuase I'm too expensive. Most people can see that something like $50 bucks is a really good deal to get their car back in shape. Its the same thing they'd pay $100 for at a detail shop.



People that know how to do their own cars aren't your customers. Its the people who are too busy to do their own cars and would rather just have someone else do it. That's why mobile detailers exist. We have the know how and the products that they don't have. Maybe they know how to do it but would rather just have someone who is familiar with the job and can do it faster. Who knows? Trust me on that price though. I'm working for peanuts. Working for less than that wouldn't hardly be worth charging for. If you go too low then people don't trust you that you know what you are doing. I've tried doing it for less before. It just doesn't work out as well. Find a fair price and people pay it. Don't gouge them and don't cheat yourself and you'll be fine.
 
Jngrbrdman said:
Really? You know, if you ask any of the professional detailers on this board they will tell you that I'm working for nothing. What I charge $80 bucks for would easily run you in the $200 dollar range at a shop.



I'm not dealing with high end cars. Actually, I avoid them. As a weekend warrior I'm not insured in case I screw something up. These are just people I work with and referals by word of mouth. I've never had someone turn me down becuase I'm too expensive. Most people can see that something like $50 bucks is a really good deal to get their car back in shape. Its the same thing they'd pay $100 for at a detail shop.



People that know how to do their own cars aren't your customers. Its the people who are too busy to do their own cars and would rather just have someone else do it. That's why mobile detailers exist. We have the know how and the products that they don't have. Maybe they know how to do it but would rather just have someone who is familiar with the job and can do it faster. Who knows? Trust me on that price though. I'm working for peanuts. Working for less than that wouldn't hardly be worth charging for. If you go too low then people don't trust you that you know what you are doing. I've tried doing it for less before. It just doesn't work out as well. Find a fair price and people pay it. Don't gouge them and don't cheat yourself and you'll be fine.
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Yeah its funny how that works. My GF and I were watching some weddign show a few weeks back and they were talking about how people buy for price and not for quality. They had one of those things that the bride wears on her head that was of high quality but was a reasonable price. It sat on the shelf for months. Just out of chance the owner jacked the price up by almost $100 dollars. A lady that came in and looked at it two weeks before ended up buying it because she thought it was a better quality because of the price not knowing that it was the same darn one.



Well what I am thinking and this is very very early on is wash, dry, engine touchup, tires, interior, vaccumm for $40 - $60. If they want it waxed another $15-$20. If they wanted it clayed then waxed $45 bucks. If they want it clayed and Zainoed 2 coats $55-$85. Again, very early concept prices. And the Zaino would only be available on weekends because of my full time job, unless I can make more money on this lol. Plus since I have gotten back from vacation I have not had time to chat with Brian aka NYD about some things. But yeah, I am rambling and I have to go get the GF some x-mas gifts. Thanks for taking the time to chat with me about this adventure!:xyxthumbs :bow
 
I was in the same dilemma as you last year. Now, I do about 3 cars a month (my primary job is too busy) and I charge $120 for cars, $150 for trucks for a full detail. Wash is $25, etc. etc. Some people balked, but others did it, and then they were so impressed with the results that they referred their friends. I actually had to turn down a few, as I didn't know the people well enough. As Jngr says, I am a weekend warrior, so I don't do really fancy cars, and I don't do it for complete strangers without a solid referral. I can't afford a lawsuit. I try to make $40/hour (that's CDN$). Most of my friends are telling me that I still work too cheap.



Ask around, you'll see that Jngr is correct. People are charge $200+ for a full detail, and their work is not anywhere near as good as yours.
 
I've never had a problem using customer's water. The biggest thing if you are going to do this is to have a hose! You would be surprised how many people don't have hoses. You'd also be surprised how people like to store their hose in some difficult to use storage thing or just have their hose all tangled up. I don't even mess with them. I just pull out my hose on a cheap plastic reel I stole out of someone's trash... He, it works!



I'll be doing the tailer, water tank, pressure water, reclaim system thing pretty soon. I want to be able to go to office buildings and do a lot of cars.
 
03MaximaSE_TE said:
Just starting around my neighborhood in the spring through fall months. I am thinking one job a week to start until Brian teaches me more *wink*.
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Yes, Grasshopper.. I teach you know.

wax on circle, wax off circle.....

sand the floor...... circle......

paint the fence, up.... down.... up..... down



very good grasshopper.

dont forget....PUFF, PUFF, PASS.



hehe, sometimes i make myself laugh.



anyway back to your topic

handwash: 20.00, if i go mobile same price, but i use customers water.

exterior detail: 55.00 & up

interior detail: 55 & up

complete detail = engine 110.00 & up
 
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