New to making money by detailing. Please help me with the set up.

S

SayNoToPistons

New member
I know how to detail fairly well and i'm set up in terms of equipment and supplies. I am now 16 and going into 17 and i've decided to try detailing to make some money and experience. I only have a PC right now but i think i will be able to work with that for now. I plan to start spreading the word via friends, craigslist, car clubs, and local car scenes. What i really need help is the start up plan. I am a highschool student with a limited budget and i have school on weekdays and nightschool on tuesday and thursdays, so that leaves me very little time. Here are some expectations and questions, hopefully i can get some input on this.



Expectations:

- Will do long (4+ hrs) details on the weekends only.

- Simple detailing (no polishing or claying, under 3 hrs) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

- I plan to start off with a low price first because i find it hard to believe that many adults will actually give over 100 dollars for a teenager to clean up their cars when they're in NYC (most people don't exactly care for their cars here).





What i really need help with is the pricing. I want to start off with pricing under 100 dollars for full detail packages unless i'm detailing a FULL SIZED Van/SUV/Truck



Pricing and layouts:

- separate options for washing ext. and int.

- "packages" for detailing which will include i guess a "premium package" which includes wash int/ext, clay, polish, protection, and the whole nine yards.





So i would like some suggestions on pricing. I was hoping to layout the packages like this (a brief idea i came up with):



Interior and/or exterior clean up:



$12 - Wash Exterior (includes wheels and engine bay) + Dry

$30 - Wash Ext. (" " " " ") + Vacuum and wipe down interior + Dry + Ext./Int. Conditioning/Protection (add $5 dollars for leather, will be using separate leather conditioner/protectant)

$40 - Wash Ext (" " " " ") + Vacuum and wipe down interior + Dry + Ext/Int. Cond./Prot. + Int. cleaning/scrubing (add $5 dollars for leather, will be using separate leather conditioner/protectant))



Only interior clean up:

$10 interior vacuum + wipe down

$14 interior vacuum + wipe down + protection (add $5 dollars for leather, will be using separate leather conditioner/protectant)

$22 interior vacuum + wipe down + protection + int. cleaning/scrubing



Paint renewal/protection:



Add $15 for wax/sealant (one step)

Add $12 for claybar

Add $25 for one step polish



All Mid-Full sized SUV/Van/Truck must add $5 to each option











Thats all i can think of right now. I can't get teh calculations right. I also have to do the full detailing packages and i hope to have 2 or 3 packages with different set ups, like Regular ,Silver, Premium :o . please help me look it over and tell me what i should add to it or what i should remove and how i should edit everything. Don't forget the final package set up. I want people to go for the big packages instead of picking a few little options to add up to what they want. The final full packages should be cheaper so it can attract customers. It's hard to explain right now but i think you guys get it, if not then let me know.



Thanks!
 
My thoughts:



Try not to stick yourself to set prices as someone will always try to hold you to it when there car needs a little extra $ to cover the renewal. The prices look a little low to me, but I have been doing this for a few years. Here is a very broad rundown of what i do:



Wash package:



Wash exterior

Clean wheels/wells

Dress trim/wells/tires

Clean glass in + out

Vacuum

Wipe down interior



$30-40 + The vehicle must have previously had a full detail by me.



Wash Wax package (I don't do these anymore, as I limit myself to full details and upkeep washes.)



Wash exterior

Clean wheels/wells

Dress trim/wells/tires

Clean glass in + out

Vacuum

Clean and Dress interior

1 step exterior paint protection on wheels, paint, glass, metals.



$75-100 (typically people who got this had the filthy car and didn't want to spend much)



Full detail:



Wash

Clay

2-3 or more step paint perfection to remove scratches and swirls

Zaino Sealant system on paint, glass, trim, wheels, exhaust, metals.

Engine degreased, dressed, metals polish, and paint shined/protected with Zaino Z8

Interior carpet, upholstery, headliner shampooed, vinyl cleaned and dress, leather cleand and dressed

Wheel wells cleaned, dressed, or resprayed

Wheels polished prior to zaino



$200-300+



** Before every detail I do, I give the customer an estimate for their vehicle figuring about a $40-50/hour rate.



Just some ideas for you.



Greg
 
Thanks. Do you think i should go for more options for the customers though? I was thinking that customers might want to start off with something small like a simple int. and ext. wash?



I know i'm getting lowballed a bit but i'm afraid that I might need something catchy like a low price to start everything off.
 
I would also note that the prices are subject to change for excessively dirty vehicles. I would charge an an extra 20$ for a vehicle that is muddy or just very dirty.
 
Figure out your cost to do business (insurance, accounting, equipment, supplies, gas, etc.) and generate your hourly rate. Set your prices by that rate.



Example:

I need about $50-$60 per hour to comfortably operate my business. My express maintenance detail has a starting price of $80 for a 2 door sports car. To do a "EMD" on a sports car should take me roughly 1 - 1 1/2 hour to do. When you break it all down, I'm making my hourly rate plus a little extra depending on the condition of the car, etc.
 
I would also recomend stay away from washing motors there are to many electronics and one wrong move and you will pay for it dearly. My details start at 109.95 thats wash 1 step exterior shampoo interior dress all panels windows tires trim blah blah blah thats for a normal sized car... iget 30 for the claybar and if i need more steps than 1 its priced accordingly also higher end cars i start off at 200 for the fact that i am doing more to the car and the client is expecting more
 
Your prices seem on the severe low end, especially if you are going to detail the engine bay and incur the liability that comes along with it.
 
OK this is what i came up with while i was at lunch today.



Wash only packages:



$30-40 (depending on size and condition of vehicle)

Wash and dry exterior

Wash and dry wheels +wheel wells

Wash glass inside and out

Vacuum interior

Wipe down interior

Dress/protect/condition exterior moldings, tires, and wells



Wash and protect (interior and exterior) package:



$55-65 (depending on size and condition of vehicle)

Wash and dry exterior

Wash and dry wheels +wheel wells

Wash glass inside and out

Vacuum interior

Wipe down interior

Dress/protect/condition exterior moldings, tires, and wells

Dress/protect/condition interior (add $5 for leather interiors, separate conditioner for leather)

One-step exterior protection (paint, metals (including wheels), etc)



Premium detail package.



$90-110 (depending on size and condition of vehicle)

Wash and dry exterior

Wash and dry wheels +wheel wells

Claybar

2 or more step paint correction (swirl/scratch removal, polishing, paint cleansing)

Wax/Sealant on paint, glass, metals (including wheels), etc.

Engine bay degreasing, conditioning, renewing, shining, and protection

Shampoo carpets, upholstery, headliner, vinyl, and leather.

Dress/protect/condition interior (add $5 for leather interiors, separate conditioner for leather)

Dress/protect/condition tires, exterior moldings, wheel wells
 
your premium detail seems WAAY on the low side, i mean the paint correction if its 2 step will take you 2 hours minimum.



the premium package will take you about 6-7 hours (maybe longer)



hour for wash and dry exterior +wheels +wells

.5 -1 hour for clay

2 hours for paint correction (thats generous too)

1 hour for protection

1 hour for engine bay

1 hour for shampoo

.5 for dressing/protecting



i would charge bare minimum 150 for that, probably like 200.



I dont know, detailing for profit is nice, but your time is worth something too, dont forget that.



Im working out prices still too, but i think 90-110 is REALLY low.



Hope that helps



Jim
 
 
another qx4 said:
OK this is what i came up with while i was at lunch today.



Wash only packages:



$30-40 (depending on size and condition of vehicle)

Wash and dry exterior

Wash and dry wheels +wheel wells

Wash glass inside and out

Vacuum interior

Wipe down interior

Dress/protect/condition exterior moldings, tires, and wells



Wash and protect (interior and exterior) package:



$55-65 (depending on size and condition of vehicle)

Wash and dry exterior

Wash and dry wheels +wheel wells

Wash glass inside and out

Vacuum interior

Wipe down interior

Dress/protect/condition exterior moldings, tires, and wells

Dress/protect/condition interior (add $5 for leather interiors, separate conditioner for leather)

One-step exterior protection (paint, metals (including wheels), etc)



Premium detail package.



$90-110 (depending on size and condition of vehicle)

Wash and dry exterior

Wash and dry wheels +wheel wells

Claybar

2 or more step paint correction (swirl/scratch removal, polishing, paint cleansing)

Wax/Sealant on paint, glass, metals (including wheels), etc.

Engine bay degreasing, conditioning, renewing, shining, and protection

Shampoo carpets, upholstery, headliner, vinyl, and leather.

Dress/protect/condition interior (add $5 for leather interiors, separate conditioner for leather)

Dress/protect/condition tires, exterior moldings, wheel wells
Click to expand...





great starting point, I think to reach out to new customers, you need to catch them with a LOW pricepoint.
 
If you "catch" customers at a low price than when they come back and its much more money then they arent going to use the service... if you start off with a fair a reasonable price at which you are making money you are much better off
 
Lowballing prices to get business or start a business is a bad way to begin a business. You end up with nothing but lowball clients who expect the world at bargain basement prices.



You need to learn to value your time and to place a fair price on your time. You will NOT get every job you come across but as someone with 25 years or business experience I can tell you that you don't WANT every job you come across.



As a 16 year old you are at a severe disadvantage. You don't have experience to sell...yet. Do family vehicles, friends, whatever and develop a portfolio to show your skills. Then go out and sell yourself at a fair price that will support a business (even if it's parttime on the weekends).



Take the advice of those here that are telling you to stay away from high risk work (engine detailing). Unless you have the appropriate insurance (hint, no insurance company is going to write you a liability policy at your age) you really need to protect yourself and your potential clients by heeding the good advice you're getting here.



Best of luck to you and don't rush yourself on this. Grow into it and you never know where it may take you.
 
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