[MrPolished&Waxed]

for $50 i think your time might be better spent/invested somewhere else as far as your detailing business goes.

at 8hrs of work thats $6.25/hr

[MrPolished&Waxed]

Originally Posted by shiny

Don't forget that for someone who doesn't really understand what 'detailing' is, $50 is a lot for a car wash.

+1 well said

[matrix_808]

Originally Posted by MrPolished&Waxed

for $50 i think your time might be better spent/invested somewhere else as far as your detailing business goes.

at 8hrs of work thats $6.25/hr

Where did you get 8 hours? it was $50 for a wash and wax. Took about 1.5 hours.

Also this is not my profession, just a weekend thing like some on here.

[PERFECTION]

I am always turning down work. After 18 years of doing detailing and only detailing I have stop takeing everything thats thrown my way. I know for my that this is not an option and money is money to them but in Jacksonville, FL. There is many shops that do lower grade work than mine and I refer people to them on a daily basis. If after I tell you my process and all of the extra miles I am going to spend on your car you still want to only want pay me two hundred dollars than you are not worthy of my service.

[MrPolished&Waxed]

Originally Posted by 911Fanatic

If you are just getting started, my advice is to take whatever this client is willing to spend but go to town on his car. Give it back when you would be happy to say you did the job. For you, its only time you are investing and when he shows anyone his car they will ALL be blown away. Your goal should be to make every car look incredible, even if you put in more time than you are paid for. Eventually, your reputation will spread to the clients who will pay you for your time.

if you were to follow his advice, im assuming it would take around 8 hrs and at that it would only be the 6.25/hr

there is nothing wrong with this advice but in my opinion, my time would be better spent advertising for more jobs or handing out cards etc.

[MWAUTOPRO]

It is usually a good idea to turn away "odor removal" if they are asking for a 100% grantee and they are not willing to pay for their car to be stripped down to metal (milk and cat pee almost always win). I also would turn away mass paint touch up jobs and 100% defect removal on repaints.

The trick is to only take jobs in where both parties (you and your customer) come out ahead, then no one ever looses.

[911Fanatic]

[quote=matrix_808;74941]

Originally Posted by 911Fanatic

Ya thats where im getting at. I want to start off with a decent reputation, not one that "looks" like i turned out bad work.

Unfortunately my customer only wanted to pay $50, for just a basic wash and wax. How much extra would you do? i wasnt willing to throw in claying and a buffing all for $50. Maybe i should just do a full detail on one panel and make it stand out so hes forced to fix the rest

First off, are you doing this as a job or part time bcause only charging $50 for a wash and wax is nuts. Here is what I would do for a package like that. Keep in mind this package is only available to my clients that get detailings 2-3x a year so the vehicles are not in bad condition.

• clean all jambs
• handwash and dry exterior
• detail tires, wheels and inner fenders
• apply appropriate wax or sealant
• interior vacuum, wipe and windows
• dress tires

total time - approx 3 hours $125 - $150

If you want to do this on a professional basis, then the first thing you need to do is seriously reevaluate your pricing structure. If you are like Carlos and do this for fun, then charge what you will. But if you ever intend on doing this full time, you need to charge enough to be profitable. Even if you work out of your house, charge like you have a shop. That way when you go full time and have to pay rent somewhere, your pricing will already take that into account and your clients won't be looking at your "new" pricing going WTF? If your business is built on cheap pricing, you will always work on s$%t. Charge people for the time it takes to do the job properly! Happiness is never having to say you're sorry. If a clients questions my pricing, my response is that I am not here to save them money. My job is to make their car look as good as possible. Period. And yes, I have polished the crap out of one panel on a clients car to prove my point. Hope this helps.

[matrix_808]

Thanks you all for your replies. Yes i do this part time, I am like Carlos i do this for fun and money just to pay for my addiction. I have NO plans of doing it as a profession as i personally feel that might take away from my passion. At the moment i only charge roughly $20 an hour, granted it is cheap but i enjoy getting jobs at the price i charge as it makes both me and the other person happy.

[911Fanatic]

Originally Posted by matrix_808

Thanks you all for your replies. Yes i do this part time, I am like Carlos i do this for fun and money just to pay for my addiction. I have NO plans of doing it as a profession as i personally feel that might take away from my passion. At the moment i only charge roughly $20 an hour, granted it is cheap but i enjoy getting jobs at the price i charge as it makes both me and the other person happy.

Then as long as you are happy with the results and the customer leaves happy, thats all that matters. I still think you should bump your rates up a bit. Even if you are only doing it as a hobby, you shouldn't be working for free.

[P1et]

[quote=911Fanatic;74966]

Originally Posted by matrix_808

First off, are you doing this as a job or part time bcause only charging $50 for a wash and wax is nuts. Here is what I would do for a package like that. Keep in mind this package is only available to my clients that get detailings 2-3x a year so the vehicles are not in bad condition.

• clean all jambs
• handwash and dry exterior
• detail tires, wheels and inner fenders
• apply appropriate wax or sealant
• interior vacuum, wipe and windows
• dress tires

total time - approx 3 hours $125 - $150

If you want to do this on a professional basis, then the first thing you need to do is seriously reevaluate your pricing structure. If you are like Carlos and do this for fun, then charge what you will. But if you ever intend on doing this full time, you need to charge enough to be profitable. Even if you work out of your house, charge like you have a shop. That way when you go full time and have to pay rent somewhere, your pricing will already take that into account and your clients won't be looking at your "new" pricing going WTF? If your business is built on cheap pricing, you will always work on s$%t. Charge people for the time it takes to do the job properly! Happiness is never having to say you're sorry. If a clients questions my pricing, my response is that I am not here to save them money. My job is to make their car look as good as possible. Period. And yes, I have polished the crap out of one panel on a clients car to prove my point. Hope this helps.

I charge the exact same for a wash 'n Zaino. Thanks for confirming the pricing.