quick poll about detailing

[UTexplorer51]

i have been entertaining the idea of opening my own detail shop. everything would be by appointment only. my question is how much would you pay for an all out wax and detail job for your explorer or any other car?

the job would include:

-wash
-interior detail and shampoo
-exterior detail
-surface prep (fine cut paint cleaner)
-polish (Show Car Glaze)
-protectant (High-Tech Yellow #26)
-Final Inspection to seal it all off

all products used will be Meguiar's Professional and all cleaner's and waxes will be applied by buffer but removed by hand. I am staying away from cleaning the engine bay because it is too much of a liability. You can check out the products at www.meguiars.com

let me know what your opinions are and what you think is fair to charge. take into consideration that I have done this for a while and have been trained professionally. other shops that I have visited have shown shady work and poor-quality products and have charged anywhere from $75 to $150.

thank you

Brian

 

[Robb]

I usually pay about $150 for my details and have been very impressed with them. That price includes engine steam cleaning and detailing. I'm not sure what to tell you man, sorry. Without the engine, for a really good job, I may fork out 115-125.

Robb

 

[jimbo74]

i detail mine by throwing soap on it the normal wash is just spraying all the mud of with a pressure washer

 

[rvitek]

About $100 - $150

The best thing to do is estimate all prices. Are you really going to charge $100 for a Porsche 911 detail? Are you really going to charge $100 for a truck that just finished mudding in the swamp? I think a basic wash and interior job is about $20 down the road, with the full job going for about $150 (not sure about engine cleaning).

I own my own small business and I have liability insurance to cover me in the event of an accident with a piece I sell. It only runs about $400/year or so for a 1 million dollar policy. So, if you're going to do this, do it right - get a business license, and get insurance. Then, clean those engines!

My final thought, about Meguiar's products, I've never used them because they've always been rated very low over at Consumer Reports. You may want to ask some of the local shops what they use, and then go with that. I'm a Zymol man myself, and I've never had a better finish on my truck since I started using it!

Hope this helps Brian!

Ry.

 

[MONMIX]

Listen to Rvitek , contact an attorney who specialises in business. CYA. Liability insurance is pracicaly mandatory , espicially when you are working with what is to most people their second biggest investment of their lives. Do it all legal , not on the side , not under the table. CYA. I also own my own business and all my personal assetets are protected. You shoud do the same.

 

[drmoore71]

the detail shop where i used to work charged $235 for cars, $255 for trucks and suv's and $275 for vans. boats and rv's were charged by the foot. this is a shop that has a well established clientele, and has been around for about 15 years. we also used exclusively meguiars polishes and waxes. good stuff. you may be saying that those prices are high, but i can tell you quite honestly, the work was well worth the high price.

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Go to http://www.autopia-carport.com. They know everything about detailing and there're quite a few professional detailers there. Good luck!!!

 

[UTexplorer51]

thanks for the input, i really appreciate it. "The Elegant Touch" project is on its way. i already have several customers lined up who are anxious and ready to go. i am calling my family's attorney this week and see what he says.

thanks again fellas,

brian

 

[MONMIX]

25% discount for members of this forum right ?

 

[MOUSIN]

Rvitek is right on the money. I know people that have gotten creamed trying to do this on the side. Accidents happen so you have to be ready. People will also try to hustle you, again you have to be ready.

Personally, I do my own detailing. It kind of relaxes me. The exception is my engine cleaning, and my annual wax clear coat thing, for that I pay a professional. I usually pay between $75 - $150 for the waxing. The shop I use kinda pre-estimates their price, I kinda like that. They look the car over first, tell ya what ya need, then give you a price. They too are appt only for the big jobs, I like that, I know just how long I'm gonna be without my car.

Here are few things that I like about the place that waxes my car:

--Free drinks while you wait
--They have three waiting areas with AC (one with ESPN, one with regular TV, the other looks out into the shop)
--Free drop off and pickup if your bill is/was $150 or more
--The shop is clean and the emps wear uniforms (The place looks very professional, makes you feel that your car is in good hands).
--There are certificates all over the walls. Training here, training there.
--Even though I don't recog some of them, all of the prods are in bottles with names on them. So, you should be fine with Meguires
--There's always a Caddy, Lexus, or Benz in there. Hell if they can detail one of those, they can certainly do my X.
--They preview the car from bumper to bumper with me before they start. THIS WILL SAVE YOUR A**!!!!! DUDE YOU GOTTA DO THIS WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS!!! THIS WAY THAY CAN'T COME BACK AND BLAME YOU FOR CRAP THAT WAS ALREADY THERE!

Good luck to you. If you do it right, you'll make a tone of loot!!! I'm with the other posters, I'd increase your price range, maybe $75 to $300. I'd even add a clause that vehicals with excessive finish damage or interior dirt may be more. They key will be pre-estimates.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[UTexplorer51]

thanks a bunch for the advice. i have made a lot of beer money the past couple weeks. working at autozone and just talking to people is bringing in most of my customers. if i see them looking lost in the wash and wax aisle, i come to their rescue. the store that i work at is in a high income neighborhood, so i get people with more money than sense. most of the jobs have just been a wash, interior, and then a wax. ive been getting about 80 to 100 depending on the vehicle. i do a visual on the car before i agree to work on it. that way they cant say the i messed something up.

thanks again fellas

brian

and yes there is a discount if you are a member of the forum.