General Automotive Discussion General automotive discussion and chat. Honda, Toyota, Chevrolet, Ford. It doesn't matter, just talk about it here.

How much should I charge?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #1  
PhAtTysSiVi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: V to da izz A, Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 0
PhAtTysSiVi is an unknown quantity at this point
How much should I charge?

I'm goin to start detailing cars at my house as a side job for some extra cash.
My uncle used to detail cars and before he passed away I used always help him out at his shop.
So I know I can do it right, and I have everything I need but I dont know how much to charge.

Detailing will include....under hood, exterior, interior, wheels and tires, glass, carpet shampoo and wash, waxing and buffing, vacum, vinyl/ wheel/tire dressing....u get the point....completley detailed in and out in every easy or hard to reach spot

I already have 3 people waiting one me.....tomorrow is da first one...97 Toyota Camry

Help me out if u have an idea of how much to charge

Thanx
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #2  
bo0sT's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 450
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas, US
Rep Power: 0
bo0sT is an unknown quantity at this point
I live in a nice area, so there's quite a few full-service detail places.. some of them charge major $$$ for the whole thing. I'd probably just check what the locals charge, and beat that price so you give your customers a reason to go to you instead. Also, think about how long it would take you.. and consider that as well. I own my own business, so i always look at how much equipment costs, time for labor, and competition.. it's hard sometimes.. but what you're doing sounds simple enough, and i have a friend making good money doing it.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #3  
Assasin's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Modesto, California, US
Rep Power: 0
Assasin is an unknown quantity at this point
how long does it take you to do one car?
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #4  
slammed2k2's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 944
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Rep Power: 0
slammed2k2 is an unknown quantity at this point
i do detailing,
but i have weekly customers, i do them every saturday or sunday, I charge them 20 for a car or 25 for an suv, van...(CANADIAN DOLLARS) all i do though is vacuum incl. windows, dash cup holders everything and i wash the outside incl.tires/wheels, windows...

thats where the money is at man, coz i do them everyweek so it takes almost no time, the car hardly gets dirty, it hasnt rained here much this summer so all this cars just get dusty, i just hose them off and dry them with a chamois, but when i do those once in a while cars, u gotta charge a lot coz think about it, some of the cars haven't been cleaned EVER, so think about the mess, don't be scared to charge coz think about what those other shops charge...over 150 easily...

So i say you can charge $75-$100 (US DOLLARS) to do these cars man, its gonna take u awhile in most casess
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #5  
ak's Avatar
ak
Retired Mod
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles (Downey), California, US
Rep Power: 0
ak can only hope to improve
At the most i would pay $150 to have all that done to my car. It sounds pretty tough and time consuming.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #6  
PhAtTysSiVi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: V to da izz A, Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 0
PhAtTysSiVi is an unknown quantity at this point
it is hard work, I'll tell u that. It'll take me about 3.5-4 hours.
Not tryin to brag or anything but I live in my fathers house in a pretty nice area. People around here have $$$$$.
I'm thinkin 100 dollars??????
What do u guys think?
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #7  
Voiceofid's Avatar
End Bringer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,254
Likes: 0
From: Fort Fatima, Florida, US
Rep Power: 0
Voiceofid is an unknown quantity at this point
yeah, detailing around here usually cost from 50-200 dollars, depends on how detailed you want the detailing!
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #8  
ak's Avatar
ak
Retired Mod
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles (Downey), California, US
Rep Power: 0
ak can only hope to improve
$100 definetely sounds worth it! and fair!
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #9  
HCCriminal's Avatar
an0therpin0y
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,260
Likes: 0
From: the kitchen
Rep Power: 0
HCCriminal is an unknown quantity at this point
yeah a $100 bux is fair ..!!
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #10  
Scorpioflo's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, US
Rep Power: 0
Scorpioflo is an unknown quantity at this point
at least 100 bones!!!
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #11  
ak's Avatar
ak
Retired Mod
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles (Downey), California, US
Rep Power: 0
ak can only hope to improve
Quote
[hr]Originally posted by: EvilDave666
never ask your customers what they think it should be, they will haggle you down to the penny[hr]
oooh..i second that.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #12  
Collective's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, Florida, US
Rep Power: 0
Collective is an unknown quantity at this point
Not to be a bummer... but make sure you have sort of "liability insurance". I seen a case of a part time guy getting dragged into court over a paint issue... seems the the guy burnt the paint with his buffer and had "no" insurance and was not incorporated. As you can tell he lost, and was forced to pay to pay to repaint a BMW ! Sure this is a extreme case, but when you act like a business... you better be a business or you pay out of your own pocket.

Good luck, wish you the best !
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #13  
johnride's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: lebanon, Ohio, US
Rep Power: 0
johnride is an unknown quantity at this point
$100 is a fair price.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #14  
ak's Avatar
ak
Retired Mod
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 7,230
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles (Downey), California, US
Rep Power: 0
ak can only hope to improve
besides, you're gonna get at least $10 tip [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #15  
PhAtTysSiVi's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: V to da izz A, Other, ZEBRA
Rep Power: 0
PhAtTysSiVi is an unknown quantity at this point
a $100 it is!
thanx for the input
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #16  
Numinous001's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Amherst, New York, US
Rep Power: 0
Numinous001 is an unknown quantity at this point
Tell them $120. If they don't seem to keen on the idea start asking them questions about what kind of car they have etc and then change your price to $100 and make it sound like your doing them a favor, people always fall for that stuff... Oh yea sometimes people charge more for black cars because it's harder to to the exterior work and get it to look as good as lighter cars.
-Numinous
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #17  
2k2civicballer's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 0
From: midland, mi, Michigan, US
Rep Power: 0
2k2civicballer is an unknown quantity at this point
A hundred bucks sounds fair to you guys, but good luck finding many people to pay someone doing sidejob a hundred bucks....id say 25$ bucks...

But if you can get that kinda money outta people go for it! and send me some...my address is....lol
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #18  
Toad's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 606
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Tech, Virginia, US
Rep Power: 0
Toad is an unknown quantity at this point
100 for normal.. 200 if its a really rich community
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #19  
DcatStylee's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: inside a lampshade, Georgia, US
Rep Power: 0
DcatStylee is an unknown quantity at this point
Normal Car - $100
Black Car - $150
Normal Suv - $125
Black Suv - $175
When it comes to trucks, you just be the judge, and find a price somewhere between cars and suvs. I would price this high, if I were you, because you'll soon realize how costly chemicals are. Think about it:
Step 1: Degreaser, Brush, Soap, washmit, water, and a soft towel or shammy.
Step 2: Vinyl/leather cleaner/dresssing, window cleaner, vacuum, stain remover/shampooer, and an extractor.
Step 3: Wax removing compound (something like a solvent), Claybar, Waxing compound, Cutting compound, De-swirling compound, and an Orbital buffer (the killer).
Step 4: Armorall.
Step 5: Car polish and a detailing cloth.

You'll come to find that you're not getting all of the money that you charge your customers. The detail shop I work at charges upwards of $250 for just a normal car.
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #20  
Mbow's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Rep Power: 0
Mbow is an unknown quantity at this point
I would pm civicdude as he does it for a living...
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2002
  #21  
neoretromax's Avatar
Registered!!
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 994
Likes: 0
From: marysville
Rep Power: 0
neoretromax is an unknown quantity at this point
when i detail a car it usually takes me 8 hrs by myself and that is everything you can think of. nothing gets missed. i usually charge upwards of 100 bucks but no more than 150. so if it takes you 4 hrs, id say 100 bucks is too much to be charging. id go 80.
Reply
Old Aug 6, 2002
  #22  
Dagooseisloose's Avatar
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 972
Likes: 0
From: Commack, New York, US
Rep Power: 0
Dagooseisloose is an unknown quantity at this point
I would charge 100 bucks but if someone brings you a higher end car like a porsche or jag charge em a little more.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
bolt-on-bandito
Electrical
32
Jan 15, 2020 03:25 PM
haloway13
Electrical, Wiring, and In Car Entertainment
1
Nov 6, 2015 10:43 AM
Skunkone
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
12
Sep 24, 2015 04:38 PM
JMKendrick
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
4
Sep 16, 2015 06:17 PM
h4ldol
8th & 9th Generation Civic 2006 - 2015
6
Sep 10, 2015 12:25 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:40 PM.