Starting Local Car Detailing, Need Advice!

[GCant35]

Hey all, I am in school at the moment and since I am all the time getting comments from people about how shiny my car is and how well I take care of it, people are always asking me to clean their cars. So the entrepreneur in me I suppose decided it would be worth making a few extra bucks selling this as a service, as I could certainly use the money right now. My e39 has some things that need fixed on it! Anyway, my main concern is the pricing, I have listed below my prices I plan to charge below, any input (too high, not enough, general advice, etc) would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Basic Services:
Exterior Wash $20.00

• Exterior wash

Exterior Wash + Wax $35.00
• Exterior wash • Wax • Hand dry

Interior Clean $25.00
• Vacuum seats • Vacuum carpets • Glass
• Dashboard cleaning • Vinyl cleaning

Premium Clean $50.00
• Exterior wash • Wax • Hand dry
• Vacuum seats • Vacuum carpets • Glass
• Dashboard cleaning • Vinyl cleaning


Additional Services:
Tire Treatment $10.00
Clay Bar Treatment $10.00
Headlight Restoration $30.00
Premium Buff and Polish $30.00


Thanks for any advice/input on pricing guys!

[carlova789]

Hey all, I am in school at the moment and since I am all the time getting comments from people about how shiny my car is and how well I take care of it, people are always asking me to clean their cars. So the entrepreneur in me I suppose decided it would be worth making a few extra bucks selling this as a service, as I could certainly use the money right now. My e39 has some things that need fixed on it! Anyway, my main concern is the pricing, I have listed below my prices I plan to charge below, any input (too high, not enough, general advice, etc) would be much appreciated. Thank you!

Basic Services:
Exterior Wash $20.00

• Exterior wash

Exterior Wash + Wax $35.00
• Exterior wash • Wax • Hand dry

Interior Clean $25.00
• Vacuum seats • Vacuum carpets • Glass
• Dashboard cleaning • Vinyl cleaning

Premium Clean $50.00
• Exterior wash • Wax • Hand dry
• Vacuum seats • Vacuum carpets • Glass
• Dashboard cleaning • Vinyl cleaning


Additional Services:
Tire Treatment $10.00
Clay Bar Treatment $10.00
Headlight Restoration $30.00
Premium Buff and Polish $30.00


Thanks for any advice/input on pricing guys!

I'm a student and detail on the side as well. Clay bar, buffing, and polish are not an easy task and can easily take up half a day's worth of time. I would definitely up the price for those three things. At least $15/hr. Do some price searching on Autogeek online. $30 for a buff/polish is not worth my time. You can start by charging $75+ for a wash/clay/wax, but eventually you should be charging $100+. For polishing/buffing, are you doing paint corrections?

[arbuckle]

Your prices are low on the polishing. The cost of good pads and polish products add up, not to mention the initial purchase of your buffer.

[Graham E39 528i]

Doing a complete exterior detail is very labor intensive. I started a detail over a week ago and haven't finished masking the plastic/rubber.

The polishing (I hope) is fun. The claying and masking is incredibly boring. I usually resort to beer at some point.....



PS I'd ask for a coupla C notes for what I have already done.

[ProStreetDriver]

I worked at a Toyota dealership as a detailer and you are definitely being too cheap! I think the base service which was a wash was $50. A full car detail was around $165 if I remember correctly.

[BimmerBreaker]

I would consider simplifying your offerings into one to three "packages"

Maybe a basic exterior clean (wash + wax), a basic full car clean (wash + wax + interior), and a complete car clean (everything)

[bigjoe87865]

damn $10 for claying? I hate claying my car which is quite clean and doesnt have much contaminates. Claying a car that has never seen a clay bar is brutal

[RVAE34]

Agreed. Prices are way too low.