How much do you charge?

[Kevzaz]

Well. Today, I saw my boss driving her Cadillac (its an SRX, a smaller version of the Escalade.). Very nice car, but very very dirty. I talked to her about how her car needs a cleaning and that I do a pretty nice job detailing cars. She said that she will pay me to do hers. But how much should I actually charge her? I would include washing, clay baring, waxing, tire shine, along with sweeping the inside and cleaning the interior. How much would you charge? This would be like an all day event.

[Kamikaze]

I don't know what the going rate is, but I'd probaby say something like $20-$25/hr + supplies.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Kevzaz »Well. Today, I saw my boss driving her Cadillac (its an SRX, a smaller version of the Escalade.). Very nice car, but very very dirty. I talked to her about how her car needs a cleaning and that I do a pretty nice job detailing cars. *cough* brown nose *cough* lol

[Raivis]

^^^^ fully agree!!! lolbut i would call around and get estimates then cut the price by like 30%-40%

[NibCrom]

Tell her you will clean her SRX if she gives you a raise.

[northvibe]

doesnt whelan do this? see what he charges then under cut him hahah jk

[Whelan]

I wouldn't do my bosses car, that's kinda odd personally.If your gonna do a FULL job, an SRX is not a small car. I would easily charge $200-250 for an interior/exterior job. But it depends on the paint condition. If it only needs two steps of polish and wax on the paint, then $200. If you gotta do some heavy swirl removing and or scratch removal. Then your definitely in the $250 range. Wanna impress? Then pop the hood and spray some Meg's #40 on the engine cover and hoses to clean it out.Your also talking about detailing, which involves a lot more than a wash and wax. You need door jambs, glass cleaning, headlamp/taillamp clearing, wheel polish, wheel well cleaning, tire dressing. And that's just the outside.Like I said the SRX is not a small car by anymeans. And it's a luxury car which means it has tougher paint like an Audi or BMW. That means it will require more effort to remove and defects and swirls in the paint. Your looking at about a 5-6 hour job to complete.

[Kevzaz]

Ya, I was thinking about 80-100 dollars. I wouldn't exactly call anyone in my area for a price estimate concerning the fact that most car detailers probably wouldn't put as much effort as I do, and probably don't even know what a clay bar is. I will get a better look at her car next time I see it to see how the paint is.

[ToolGuy]

I charge $100 for everything, a full detail inside and out, steamclean the interior, all but the engine. I do not do engines because of the chance for a check engine light coming on. I do/did house calls too; about 6 hours for one vehicle. My prices are adjusted from $100 on down to what the person wants done. More $$ for trucks, vans or if the paint needed something extra the owner wanted me to do.Compare rates to what shops charge around you and keep in mind they have the overhead and employees to pay, you would not so you cannot charge what they do.

[AKLGT]

$100-$150 would be a fair price imo and a good price too. Especially for the size of the vehicle.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »I charge $100 for everything, a full detail inside and out, steamclean the interior, all but the engine. I do not do engines because of the chance for a check engine light coming on. I do/did house calls too; about 6 hours for one vehicle. My prices are adjusted from $100 on down to what the person wants done. More $$ for trucks, vans or if the paint needed something extra the owner wanted me to do.Compare rates to what shops charge around you and keep in mind they have the overhead and employees to pay, you would not so you cannot charge what they do. I wish you lived near me!

[Merzbow]

I detailed cars last year for fun because I love doing it and it gives me a chance to drive some nice cars. I've done a few Mercedes, Vibes, Crossfires, Lexus's and then your average cars and trucks. I like to do it so I normally charged like $80 for a car and around $100 for a truck/SUV.I've done both the Mercedes and Lexus that the pharmacist I work for owns and it wasn't weird. I picked them up from work which is 35 minutes from my house, drove them to my house and then dropped them back off when finished.I do interior, wheels, exterior clay bar, wax, and polish. Would usually take somewhere between 4-5 hours by hand on most cars and trucks. I want to start doing it again because I am VERY broke and bored, I just keep forgetting to make flyers.I agree with Hope, $100-$150 would be good range depending on how good you are. If you get upwards of $150 for a private job like these, you are pushing it. Most people look privately to get a cheaper price, otherwise they may as well go get it professionally done you know? $200+ would not be a good amount to charge unless you had a whole slew of expensive waxes and compounds like Zymöl or something, and you were spending like 6+ hours on more exotic/luxurious cars.

[Kevzaz]

Ok. So I finally got down to the final price of 100. I will be doing a wash, clay bar, polish, wax. Along with the tires and the wheels. Interior including the glass, and carpets. But what should I use to shampoo the carpets? (Whelan, this is your call)

[ToolGuy]

The only real good way to clean carpets is with a steam cleaner. I detailed cars for many years and tried a lot of products. You can always scrub them buy hand with spry on foam stuff but again the steam cleaner is the best way to go. Use Spot Shot on the stubborn stains. It has never failed me.

[AKLGT]

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »I detailed cars last year for fun because I love doing it and it gives me a chance to drive some nice cars. I've done a few Mercedes, Vibes, Crossfires, Lexus's and then your average cars and trucks. I like to do it so I normally charged like $80 for a car and around $100 for a truck/SUV.I've done both the Mercedes and Lexus that the pharmacist I work for owns and it wasn't weird. I picked them up from work which is 35 minutes from my house, drove them to my house and then dropped them back off when finished.I do interior, wheels, exterior clay bar, wax, and polish. Would usually take somewhere between 4-5 hours by hand on most cars and trucks. I want to start doing it again because I am VERY broke and bored, I just keep forgetting to make flyers.I agree with Hope, $100-$150 would be good range depending on how good you are. If you get upwards of $150 for a private job like these, you are pushing it. Most people look privately to get a cheaper price, otherwise they may as well go get it professionally done you know? $200+ would not be a good amount to charge unless you had a whole slew of expensive waxes and compounds like Zymöl or something, and you were spending like 6+ hours on more exotic/luxurious cars.Yep, I would gladly pay $100 for a good hand wash, wax, claybar and decent interior detail (wipe down and leather conditioner). I wish someone up here would do it for me because the LGT needs it badly.

[Kevzaz]

What kind of jobs can people like us get? Would we be better of going on our own and finding our own business?

[Merzbow]

If there are any Oreck vacuum stores around your area, they have this fabric cleaner in a green spray can that foams on contact, that stuff is AMAZING! I use that on cars when I do the carpets and seats for stains. Less than $10 a can too I believe.

[Whelan]

I just can't settle on the 80-100 thing. For 6 hours of work that is $16 an hour. I personally feel my efforts and time are worth more than that.

[ToolGuy]

Most places around me charge $150-$175 for the average detail. So my $100 is well worth it and in line for most. I am not a professional therefore I cannot get paid like one. My own cars spoke for themselves and essentially were my marketing tools though. The more you do the faster you become and you use good products you know how to use and that also cuts time down.Many of my customers were not rich but cared about their vehicles. It was the large amount of repeats that I got and then I knew I was providing a good price for all. You have to look at the condition of the vehicle too. One that is washed and vac-ed by the owner periodically you know will not take you as long and you could give that person a few bucks off. Pig Pen vehicles of course are another story! My steam cleaner was given to me and needed a few parts, and one of my buffers was given to me. So my equipment was not an expense for me. I still have all the equipment to this day. I used to detail out of my parents house but when I got too many customers I hoked up with a body shop and got even more! Paid my way through college too.

[Whelan]

I'm actually plannin on renting a steamer to do the interior of my car this summer really well.

[Kevzaz]

I apparently need a steam cleaner along with a buffer. I definitely need the buffer first. Because I can probably clean the carpet with my pressure washer (the carpet that comes out). Then I have some fabric clean to get the real carpet. But I definitely need a buffer, but they are so expensive.

[Whelan]

Meguiar's G100 Dual Action Orbital PolisherI think they upgraded it to the G115 or something now, it's about $150, 5 adjustable speeds. 6" backing plate, I love it!If you wanna get the other version it is actually a Port Cable 7430 or something like that. The only difference is the Meg's comes with a lifetime warranty.

[kunkstyle]

Quote, originally posted by Kevzaz »IBecause I can probably clean the carpet with my pressure washer (the carpet that comes out). Make sure they're fully dry before putting them back in. A buddy of mine had a bad case of mildew in his car from that...Quote, originally posted by Whelan »I'm actually plannin on renting a steamer to do the interior of my car this summer really well. Costco had a decent one for a pretty good price. Not too sure if they still do. Definately worth it. I steam clean the vibe once a year (which reminds me, I'm overdue...).

[Merzbow]

I have two buffers. You can get a decent one for under $60. To be honest, I haven't used either of them yet and I've had them over a year. I prefer to do it by hand.

[ToolGuy]

I use my buffers for scratch removal and then after the car is done I go over the entire car to buff it to a shine and get any wax I missed such as inbetween panels.

[Kevzaz]

Blahhh. Damn me and my non-willingness to spend money on stuff.