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**Megafast13** · Jul 28, 2009, 06:27 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

Good Luck getting a premium wash done in 1 hour.

You have too many packages, make it more simple.

I only have 3...

**CumminsCrazed** · Jul 28, 2009, 06:43 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

i know, but that way, if someone wants only a int. or ext. done than i dont have to try and guesstimate pricing, where as its there and in place. May not show all in "menu" but will have all if anyone asks.

**Calais** · Jul 28, 2009, 07:45 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

Your time spans seem a bit unrealistic. Either you are misjudging them or you are incredibly more efficient than I.

**Megafast13** · Jul 28, 2009, 07:47 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

Originally posted by Calais View Post

Your time spans seem a bit unrealistic. Either you are misjudging them or you are incredibly more efficient than I.

Yeah, even I'm "megafast" but I don't think I can work that fast and still get the right results.

But he said, those are just examples/estimates. So each detail will probably cost more than that...

**CumminsCrazed** · Jul 29, 2009, 06:12 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

exactly, i used those for ease of calculation and as stated above, only for examples/estimates of time.

Anyone else have thoughts??

**CumminsCrazed** · Jul 30, 2009, 01:33 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

no one?

**Yegster** · Aug 12, 2009, 12:00 AM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

Hi Zach,

Just a neighborhood detailer - my own. The list is a bit dizzying for a lot of people to make out. Even if you had this explained on a wall 30 feet long at a car wash, the customer would have to keep looking back and forth to figure out which option to pick.

I happen to stop by a mobile detailer the other day to see what he charged.

Essentially a car wash was $25, truck $30, and a SUV $30. Two guys working the vehicle under an EZ Up. This is a pretty big outfit from what I could tell - has a bunch of shopping centers he manages.

I know in my neighborhood the washes from the detailers that pop in here are about the same price. I see you have a basic price for an exterior wash only at $37.50, but that price can be $60 with a few more features.

That is a pretty hard sell for something that come close at a full service car wash at around $25. Yes, you may do a better job, but to the average car owner, $60 is pretty scary.

This company does a wash and hand wax for $55, $65 and $75.

Complete interior is $75, $85 and $95.

Complete detail: Int/Ext is $145, $155, and $165

Extreme detail is $200, $225 and $250.

Note that extreme includes basic surface prep, not getting deep into swirls. Does include engine, shampoo, etc.

I guess everyone on the forum has their own idea of what they like to do. I just like to do paint, trim and wheels. I'm not interested in picking Cheerios out of seat tracks - or trying to get out punch stains. That may limit my exposure as to how many cars I get to do, but I stay pretty busy as doing this for something on the side.

I keep my pricing pretty simple. Maybe too low, but no one has even said no - and I get great tips.

$110 Car
$135 mid size SUV
$150 large SUV

Includes clay, UltraCut as needed, Swirl Remover #9 (always) and I like #26 hi tech yellow wax. I buy everything in gallons to keep cost per car way down. Everyone gets Trim Detailer for the black plastic and I use Meguiar's wheel polish (can) or wheel sprays as needed.

I do require everyone to wash their car before it comes to me. We have a great $5.95 hand dry wash near where I live that does a fantastic job! That saves me 30-45 minutes by itself. The neighbors don't mind making the run to the wash site.

Certainly if there are a lot of scuffs to take out, I discuss those with the owner and a surcharge is added - maybe $35. Same with oversprays or really bad contamination. People know when they are guilty about the surface of the paint.

So, a car is about 4 hours and maybe $10 worth of product. About the same $25 per hour you are looking at. This is unskilled labor, so you can't charge too much.....

.....except when you have earned the reputation. Details can be hundreds of dollars with the same cost exposure in product. I should charge more, but they just keep coming back. I love to make paint sparkle and it drives in referrals. Getting paid for it is the icing on the cake!

Good luck with your business and have fun doing it! It is a great way to escape the office or corporate environment, even for a short bit of time.

Hope this helps!

**Bwiser** · Mar 8, 2010, 11:08 AM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

Everyone has trouble trying to match the thoughts in their head on to paper. I believe you are on the right track though. However, a good idea is to take a look at other detailing companies service price sheets and use them as a model when it comes time to build your own customize plan of attack. It really helps you rasp what you are trying to accomplish in the end.

Best of Luck!

**CumminsCrazed** · Mar 26, 2010, 06:43 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

Price List Updated from before - Please tell me how this sounds, ive removed the $25/hr charge i was going to use for myself and just stated price packages only. One thing i need to do, is figure out how much more to charge for SUVs/Trucks if i should charge anything more.

Ok guys....here's somewhat a compilation of packages/pricing for when i start my detailing business. This is NOT set in stone yet, merely what I've been thinking in my head.

Here's the packages and pricing for each package

SUVs, Vans and Trucks subject to higher price due to size and time to complete

Premium Wash (int. and ext. cleaning)

Hand washed using 2 buckets with grit guards
Hand dried with premium microfiber drying towels
All ext. plastics cleaned and dressed
Wheels, wells and tires cleaned and dressed
All glass cleaned inside and out
Interior vacuumed
Interior components dusted

$40

Premium Detail (int. and ext.)

All above INCLUDING:
Premium wax by hand
Interior carpets and upholstery cleaned and de-stained with machine
Interior components cleaned and dressed
all exterior metals cleaned and polished (if applicable to the metal)

$100

Ultimate Premium Detail (int. and ext.)

All of the above two INCLUDING:
Premium machine compounding (remove paint defects)
Premium machine polishing (remove secondary defects and bring out shine)
Premium machine waxing (protect nearly perfect paint surface)
Engine cleaned and dressed
Trunk/hatch vacuumed
Trunk/hatch carpets cleaned and de-stained
All interior carpets and upholstery sprayed with stain resistant
Interior deodorized
All exterior lights cleaned and restored to original clarity

$200

Exterior Wash Only

All wash steps apply minus all interior steps

$25

Exterior Detail Only

All ext. detail steps apply

$75

Exterior Ultimate Premium Detail Only

All ext. ultimate premium steps apply

$125

Interior Cleaning Only

All Interior Cleaning steps only

$20

Interior Detail Only

All interior Detail steps Only

$30

Interior Ultimate Premium Detail Only

All Interior Ultimate Premium Detail steps Only

$50

Now, that's about all i can think of for right now, HOWEVER, id like to know from you guys, the pros, if these prices would fly for the average person looking for a good detail or not.

**Tuck91** · Mar 26, 2010, 07:03 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

I think you need to include claying in your "Premium Detail int and ext" package. In order for your choice of wax or paint sealant to bond to the paint the finish needs to be clayed. Waxing dirty paint makes application/removal a pain as well.

I also think you should add an AIO cleaner wax step, that is apply a cleaner wax such as M20, M66, or D151 with your PC or G110. A cleaner wax will have some effect on removing swirls and scratches but will do a better job of making the vehicle look clean and shiny and not dirty and oxidized looking.

I detail a lot of daily drivers and work purpose vehicles and you cannot really offer show car quality correction work to their owners because its next to impossible to keep a daily driver or a work truck defect free and that specific target audience is definitly not going to want to pay for it.

**CumminsCrazed** · Mar 26, 2010, 10:20 PM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

yeah., i tried to add claying in there but it was past my 5 min edit time so i couldnt.

Also, for the AIO cleaner wax step, where should i put that in at, premium or ultimate premium.

Also how do my prices sound, do they sound cheap, steep or about right for what id be doing.

**CumminsCrazed** · Mar 28, 2010, 08:22 AM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

anyone else please?

**kimchiyuk** · Mar 28, 2010, 10:48 AM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

I think your prices sound fair, this also depends on location. I still think your "list" would be a bit confusing, possibly overwhelming to the average consumer. To me, it just seems to jump around too much with all the different options. I think most people either want interior only, exterior only or a full detail(inside/outside). I understand you are offering different levels of cleaning/correction, but as TUCK had mentioned, if most of your business is daily drivers, then consider an AIO at leave it at that just to simplify things. Plus an AIO will save you loads of time(and add money in your pocket) instead of multiple steps.

**Tuck91** · Mar 28, 2010, 11:30 AM

Re: Thoughts on packages/prices for my detailing buisness!

If you ever detail something really big like a boat or a commercial F-series vehicle then you would have to raise your prices.

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