Mobile detailing charges...

I

imported_Ivan Rajic

New member
I'm curious to see how the pros on there, whether those with fixed locations that do some mobile work or mobile detailers, charge for mobile detailing... Is there a distance radius which a certain charge applies? How did you come up with that charge? Etc.
 
I try very hard to stay close by, however, in certain situations I may travel up to an hour or so. I do usually ad a fuel/travel charge in those situations; typically $20 or $25 extra.
 
The few times I've went out on a mobile trip I added an extra $25 for the gas to get there. I don't think it's unreasonable. But I'm fairly new to this mobile thing really. Such a pain compared to having the customers bring the cars to me LOL
 
Mine is figured in to my estimate if given over the phone. If it's going to go beyond my normal say 30 mile radius, I inform the customer that it will be an increase in price. I've driven 4 hrs for a detail though without any objection.
 
I'm mobile and I really don't charge extra inside 10 miles, but I never get those since I don't live in the wealthy end of town so I basically charge an extra $10 for 15 miles out and $15-$20 for anything beyond that depending on the distance.



I drive regularly to Houston which is 4 hours away and charge an extra $45 per car and must have at least 5 cars lined up for it to pay off.



No matter what or how far just make sure you are making it worth your while.



Josh
 
^Josh.. that's the reason behind this thread... I'm curious how/why you charge what you charge, not necessarily what the charge is... for example, I don't do many details far enough to charge much, but when I do I charge an hourly fee plus a fee for loading/unloading all the supplies. Hourly fee considers wear and tear on the car, gas, my time, etc. All my current clients think it's more than a fair amount but I have considered lowering it to possibly attract more clients who would want to pay for the detail but want someone closer because of the fee.
 
In my area there are mobile detailers that do it for $30 with engine and some fixed car washes for $100 without engine. Makes me wonder how they make it on $30 per detail: gas,supplies,generators,and labor.
 
I'm not sure what you're charging for the travel so I can't really say if it's too much or not, but I wouldn't lower it if people aren't complaining.



I charge for distance what I do with gas price as the main consideration..... also the government gives you back some for travel in your taxes so that is another factor to consider.



Basically I base my travel expense on how much it costs me per mile to run the truck out there. I'm not very picky about my gas expense, but I try to be reasonable and fair about it.



Just for example:

Figure if it takes me a quarter tank to run to the clients home and back and stop at the bank and possibly for lunch that could take at least a 1/4 tank and whatever it costs me for that is about what I charge maybe even a little less.



Josh













lecchilo said:
^Josh.. that's the reason behind this thread... I'm curious how/why you charge what you charge, not necessarily what the charge is... for example, I don't do many details far enough to charge much, but when I do I charge an hourly fee plus a fee for loading/unloading all the supplies. Hourly fee considers wear and tear on the car, gas, my time, etc. All my current clients think it's more than a fair amount but I have considered lowering it to possibly attract more clients who would want to pay for the detail but want someone closer because of the fee.
Click to expand...
 
.25 cents a mile is my standard travelling rate, no matter what the distance. And all my jobs are based on the vehicle itself, the condition, and the services required. I DO NOT give estimates over the phone. I learned that lesson the hard way when a lady told me 'its not too bad' and I quoted 2 hours worth of work (@ 60 per hour) and it ended up being 7 hours! Had to honor my word, but it was the last time! Now I visit the customer and do an in-person consultation, maybe do a small test section on the hood or door with my cyclo and then the job is booked. I cant seem to come up with a better way to handle it. All of my jobs are figured around my 60 per hour. So all i do is figure out the time it will require me (with my employee who makes 12.50 an hour).
 
I've tried to include any travel charges in my pricing, within 30 miles there's no extra fee if only to make it simpler for both parties. Any further and I require a certain amount of work to be done relative to distance- either multiple vehicles, rv services, paint correction, etc. Prevents me from spending as much time driving as I would working.
 
Outside of my 15 mile radius. I charge the allowable IRS mileage of 50.5 cents per mile. For all jobs that require flights and hotels, etc. I charge cost plus 10%.



Andy
 
JoshVette said:
Is that both ways though? or just one way?



Figure 20 miles one way to the clients house is at least 40 miles total.
Click to expand...

roundtrip...its an extra 20 bucks to get to LA and back for me, so I charge one of my clients that amount
 
hahaha jake I got saw that too...lol



yeah, if you are more than 20 miles from the surf, then I have to charge you more because its going to take me longer to get back to the surf...lol as it sits right now, I am only two blocks...so anything more than that, well...lol
 
For people charging clients for their mileage, I wonder if there would be a conflict if you are expensing mileage on your taxes too? I'd assume it would be double dipping right? Don't know? It would be like charging a fee that you are deducting off your taxes?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top