Rates?

[Mirrored_Images]

So how much per hour does everyone charge? I personally try for $40 per hour. I know there are variables such as location and what not.

[Bob]

So how much per hour does everyone charge? I personally try for $40 per hour. I know there are variables such as location and what not.

In this area it seems everyone would rather just go to the local drive through car wash to get their "detailing" done for $45.00. Our prices are low I think and I think they will go up for 2005.

[wifehatescar]

I try to get $30/hr, it's usually 20-30/hr though.

[tdekany]

So how much per hour does everyone charge? I personally try for $40 per hour. I know there are variables such as location and what not.

Me too. (In Fairfax Virginia)

[Mirrored_Images]

hello tdekany! welcome to the site.

[SanAntonioMobileWash]

I average about $75.00 per hour and shooting for more.

[Bob]

I average about $75.00 per hour and shooting for more.
Not bad at all! By the looks of your site you get soem high end customers as well.

[Mirrored_Images]

*sigh* I wish I could SEE some of the cars you detailed around here let alone detail one...

[PhaRO]

Hourly rate is one of those things in this industry that is hard to pin down. I figure my hourly rate at about $25-30 from the time I walk out my door till I get home. Seems pretty consistent from month to month, year to year. Now my packages are based on a higher rate per hour. On washes I'm running $25-30 an hour. On my details (express maintenence mainly) $60 an hour is my goal but I probably average a little under that. As I've built a more or less fixed group of clients, I do 80-90% washes now. Used to do a lot more details but as I added more and more weekly / biweekly customers, I didn't have room to take on new business.

[Bob]

Anyone raise or lower their prices for 2006? I think mine will stay the say since I think I only detailed a few cars for money last year.

[wifehatescar]

I think mine will stay the say since I think I only detailed a few cars for money last year.
ditto

[SanAntonioMobileWash]

I raised my prices for cars by $5 and everything else bigger by $10 and I still can't keep up with demand for my services. My hourly rate now is averaging between $85 to $95 an hour.

http://samobilecarwash.com/images/ShowLetter2.jpg

[The_ViCE]

I charge either a fixed or hourly rate. I charge 30-40pr Hour depending on the area. But normally i charge 150 to fully detail the exterior of a coupe & about 250$ for a SUV like a hummer. BUt it all depends. :mrgreen:

[Dan]

I charge either a fixed or hourly rate. I charge 30-40pr Hour depending on the area. But normally i charge 150 to fully detail the exterior of a coupe & about 250$ for a SUV like a hummer. BUt it all depends. :mrgreen:

That's damn good...professionals who do it day in and day out many times charge just as much!

[jdoria]

I see the rates you want to charge, but pro's need to divide the total annual gross by 2000. (50 weeks per year @ 40h per week) Its just a starting point.

Example:

$250,000 total annual gross divided by 2000 = $125 per hour.

Take expenses out and you have your net. $50,000 annual expenses (50,000 / 2000 = $25.00 per hour)

Total Gross = $125.00
Total Expense = $25.00

Total Net hourly = $100.00 per hour. (pre-tax)

Now figure out your rates again and see how you are doing. Some will be higher, others lower.

[Pete]

jdoria, that is a good way to help folks focus on their rate and what it may mean over the course of a year.

Hourly rate is a great point...then consistently booking and working those hours is what puts food on the table. Doing the washes and smaller jobs sure fills the gaps between complete details. PhaRO and some people I know personally live by the detail wash, rather than the complete job.

Either way, I hope '07 is a good year for all of us who do this as a side venture or full time.