What is the most $ you have made on a detail?

My biggest payout was $1200.00, It wasn't exactly a customer. I purchased a used car that needed some tlc. I did a complete detail inside and out and resold it the next day with a 1200.00 profit.
 
I'm pretty sure many would not prefer to discuss what their income is. I may be all tingly inside and want to tell everyone what I scored on a detail, but I also have 2 ex wives, 1 being a, well, this is family site so nevermind.

Good score though, I too have bought and flipped some cars after doing my magic on them. It's a risky business though.
 
I didn't really think of that, Sorry. I dont want to make anyone uncomfortable. I was just asking what one instance and not what your making a year.. Bad question...
 
Not a bad question at all. I was just stating that many probably wouldn't care to discuss that. I mean, I'm sure there are, but stating my opinion, I wouldn't. Anymore at least. I'm actually waiting to see some replies. LOL

No need to apologize

I will say that I told a lady over the phone that an interior detail on her excursion would be about $100. Mind you, this was years ago. When I got there, I was disgusted. I told her I would de-trash it for $100 Ended up tripling the estimate. She said do it and if it came out good, she would pay me my 2nd estimate. hahahaha. Did it, got paid, and no tip. Not my largest payout by far

I will tell you my largest tip though was $65, from a most unlikely customer. Never judge a book by its cover.
 
I have made from 50-220, most of my details today are around 120. I'll be raising my details with packages up to 260, no more 50 60 80's.

It's those customers that see you busting your ass, and say wow this guy is working hard, because they have work or worked doing labor "they realize". Others have so much, They just don't even realize how much goes into this. Again not everyone is the same but just some things that I have noticed.
 
The most I ever made was $750 on a boat. It was a huge freaking boat and it took 12 hours of detailing to finish it. I had one other person detailing the interior while I worked on the exterior, so in reality it was probably 17 to 20 hours of work between the two of us. That was the last boat I did because the profit margin just wasn't there for me. I would rather detail three cars and not break my neck or go blind doing it and make the same amount of money. Boats are a ton of work...

The most I've made recently on just a car is $350 for an H2. There is a lot of real estate in paint one of those suckers. It is similar to detailing a boat, now that I think about it... That is why I don't detail those anymore either. lol In the past two years I've probably added more vehicles to my "Can't touch this" list than anything else. Some cars just aren't worth it when you are a hobbiest detailer. If it was my living that I was making while detailing, then I probably wouldn't be as picky, but as long as it is my free time I'm spending, I'll reject a few cars here and there if the benefit just isn't there.
 
i charged $200.00 for a black navigator and got a $100.00 tip he liked it so much ..ive charged $250 for a nast suburban ..
 
I make any where from 200 to 350 depending on the job. I did a race car some years back and the guy paid me 500, he had a lot of money
 
on a full detail inside/out polish and wax got me $170.00 but i think i will be fixing my prices for next summer now that i will be adding to my repetoir of materials

i would really like to find a job where i can do a full exterior polish where time is not an issue for which i could just charge my hourly rate however long it takes to get the car perfect ...

however there are cars i do in 7 hours i could easily spend double that on and do a 2 day job instead of one but theres no way ppl would pay me to have the car two days unless it is someone close to the family or something ..
 
krtoflas said:
My biggest payout was $1200.00, It wasn't exactly a customer. I purchased a used car that needed some tlc. I did a complete detail inside and out and resold it the next day with a 1200.00 profit.
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i would really like to do this sometime if i can ever afford to flip a car and actually have it end up being worthwhile .

i mean u gotta figure most cheapo cars u would need to spend a full 2 days labor to clean to get fully spotless and shiny, not to mention all of any road certification costs should it not be certified to be road driven like we have in canada called a "safety/etest for emissions" .

would be a fun thing to try once even if i could make an extra $500-$1000.00 would be well worth the time i believe .
 
I recently did a full detail on a 1939 Bentley and charged $275.00. In North Carolina thats pretty good money, i have a mobile service with one full time employee so we have to stay busy. Most people in my area choose mini details that we charge anywhere from $75.00 to $125.00



MORRISONS MOBILE DETAILING
 
I got $1000 for this one. 60 hours worth of work though. I wish I could land alot more of them.
Freightliner1.jpg
 
mrclean81 said:
I got $1000 for this one. 60 hours worth of work though. I wish I could land alot more of them.
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Not trying to ding you or the like, but that is only ~16.66/hr. I'd figure doing a big rig like that would be such a niche market that you could charge more?
 
Did an odor removal job "smokers car" $100.00 for 40 min job...


And that was 1 month ago and still no smell in that car........
 
kb2ehj said:
Not trying to ding you or the like, but that is only ~16.66/hr. I'd figure doing a big rig like that would be such a niche market that you could charge more?
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I under quoted it. I wasn't counting on 10 hours for the wheels and trim, 15 for the interior, or the heavy oxidation of the paint. It was for a dealership and if you shoot for the moon they will call someone else. Plus it was winter and I was happy to have the work.
 
njcarting1 said:
Did an odor removal job "smokers car" $100.00 for 40 min job...


And that was 1 month ago and still no smell in that car........
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Hey njcarting1 what did you use for removing the smoke odor? I have an Ozone Machine I use for our house and I know that works, but it is delicate and expensive and takes a long time to run in the vehicle to make it work. Does the Meguiars ODOR ELIMINATOR both Pro and Comsumer work? I have a lady who says she dumped a gal. of windshield fluid in her trunk and now it smells like a dead rat! Weird that it would smell that bad.
thanks
 
MirandaDetailin said:
Hey njcarting1 what did you use for removing the smoke odor? I have an Ozone Machine I use for our house and I know that works, but it is delicate and expensive and takes a long time to run in the vehicle to make it work. Does the Meguiars ODOR ELIMINATOR both Pro and Comsumer work? I have a lady who says she dumped a gal. of windshield fluid in her trunk and now it smells like a dead rat! Weird that it would smell that bad.
thanks
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Personally I like to use OdoBan -- I pick it up in gallon jugs at Sam's Club.

I once used it on a vehicle where the owner spilled a jug of coyote urine (no, I'm not kidding) on their back seat. Worked like a charm!
 
Re: odor removal... quoting from an earlier response. Just a little lazy today.

Mr. Clean said:
Zeolite. It will come pre-packaged in sizes appropriate for different size applications (closet, room, etc.) Reusable and "rechargeable" by placing them in the sun. Quite a bit less messy than charcoal. Speaking of charcoal, there is another granular product available via some janiortial supplies distributors.

As mentioned above:
  • OdoBan (available at some Sam's Clubs and W@lm@rts) in gallon concentrate and 24 oz. RTU sizes.
additionally:
  • PB's Air Fresheners have a biocide
  • X-O seems to be a little tougher to source OTC, but it is also an effective product and also comes as X-O Plus which includes a general purpose cleaner.

The key is to locate the source of the malodor and remove it.
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