Minimum price charged

Dave C 5

Dave C 5

Member
I was wondering about minimum price for a paint job - a lot of assumptions I know but I’m curious. A mid size car- standard color paint - a few door dings and scratches- nothing removed just taped off - door jambs painted. Minor orange peel or maybe some cut and buff but just starting with 1200 or 1500. What do you think ? 6 grand ? Just did one and charged 5,000 ( convertible)- took 40 hours, after material I made almost $100/hour. Sounds like a lot but isn’t there a minimum price ? You don’t mow a yard for $5 if it takes 10 minutes- there’s a minimum ! Curious what you all think.... oh - painted in my garage so no business over head- just talking side jobs

and I’m guessing $500 charged for color change- under hood/ trunk ?
 
Last edited:
In our shop, we live and die by our flat rate databases as far as late model vehicles go, but on anything regarded as "classic" or "restoration," it's all time and materials here also. I don't do enough completes to be able to ballpark them off the top of my head, I do know they all come out very differently depending on what they are and how much damage there is. For guys that aspire to do this trade as a money making deal, I would strongly suggest investing in some kind of estimating solution. Web-Est is about $120/month.
 
I do charge by the hour on big jobs - but a re-paint that takes 40 hours x $60/hr (includes material)= $2400. Material on that small car came to $1000 . So I spent 2 weeks in my garage for $1400. That’s roughly $30+/hr which is good money but it Doesn’t seem worth it considering it’s my “free” time which takes away from family ect. I’m not complaining- don’t get me wrong, it just seems to me a minimum is fair. If a plumber charges $50/hr and comes to your house to fix something that takes 10 minutes, you’ll be charged that $50/hr labor, just like a mechanic or electrician That’s why I wondered about a minimum.
 
Last edited:
Dave C 5 said:
I do charge by the hour on big jobs - but a re-paint that takes 40 hours x $60/hr (includes material)= $2400. Material on that small car came to $1000 . So I spent 2 weeks in my garage for $1400 . Doesn’t seem worth it . That’s why I wondered about a minimum.
Click to expand...
Time plus materials. So $3400 instead of $2400. Gotta watch it giving a set price but you (unlike me:rolleyes:) seem to be able to price stuff high enough to do well. If you have Customers that will pay that, that's awesome. I've had (customers) jobs where I would have killed to make $700 per week on it.:mad: I've pretty much made up my mind that I can't do work like that for people here locally and be able to make a decent living.
 
Last edited:
Maybe I'm too lazy, but I wouldn't work as a painter for 30$ per hour.the amount of edu(redoing and repainting at your own experience), knowledge of material that is up for sale now, having a spray booth that is somehow legal, all the supplies, all the tools. I would say 50$ is minimum. And again, there is no point to go lowest you can, cause maaco will still beat you on price with painting whole car for 800$ bc/cc
 
If you just made $100/hr, then you know there's a market for that. Be the quality guy not the cheap guy. If you go cheap, you'll get 2001 Malibu's coming in. You want the BMW,Jags and Rovers.
 
I don't do work for other people
But a customer I was talking to last week has a massive garage at the house
And charges 125 an hour plus materials.
Book solid for three years, and he said there are plenty of shops around him they can take their cars too.
He does spot work to full restros but only on sport type cars.
 
I am the guy who has learned a few good lessons on charging "too much", I am not going to price a job just to get it. I have better things to do with my time besides save somebody else a dollar or two, I give a set price on most jobs and they can take it or leave it.
 
Thanks everyone. THe local jobber where I get my supplies does work on the side - bodyman for 30 years. He told me just a scuff and shoot, tape everything off, remove nothing and factory orange peel- he charges $6,000- on everything else it’s by the hour and that is $50/ hr labor and $35/hr material = $85/hr...that’s why I asked about a minimum price just for a re-paint ( no bodywork involved)
 
A good deal is when both the customer and you are happy in the end. If you are experienced, do outstanding work, and pay attention to detail, customers who seek that will find you, and pay your rate which should be a premium. Remember as you grow older, some day you will not be able to do this work, but you will still have bills to pay. Your hourly rates should reflect this, along with all the other overhead costs that previous posts here have stated.

I learned 20 years ago as an electrician doing "moon light" side work that there was an endless line of customers when I charged $20/hr. I was run ragged with little to show. After a pep talk from a mature experienced friend, I upped my rate to $65/hr and periodically increased it to align with inflation. I had half as many customers but was still just as busy, but now made $$, which after 15 years paid for the tool & shop i'm in now. Best advise I was ever given.
 
I've been in business nearly 30 years. I learned a lot of lessons the hard way. The one thing, I always did quality work. I was never the cheapest. Someone is always willing to do LESS for CHEAPER. But are they even qualified or experienced to do BETTER than you. I really don't have a large ego and this statement sounds arrogant and I don't like it but I can't figure out another way to says it. There is no one in my market that can produce the results that this shop can. And that comes at a bit of a premium. I'm getting older, I'm in my 50's. There aren't that many cars left in me. I'm not going to waste my time and talent on doing a substandard paint job for 1000 bucks on someones hunting truck. That's what maaco is for.
 
Does anyone have maaco experience as a worker? What's their business model? I don't get it. Even with 15$hrs workers they will not get profit.sedan size car costs 395$, just called them. I understand that it's a one stage but still... As I count, that will be just material for me. Plus working hours, plus licenses, shop lease, booth, bills and franchise bill. Just how?
 
serjik911 said:
Does anyone have maaco experience as a worker? What's their business model? I don't get it. Even with 15$hrs workers they will not get profit.sedan size car costs 395$, just called them. I understand that it's a one stage but still... As I count, that will be just material for me. Plus working hours, plus licenses, shop lease, booth, bills and franchise bill. Just how?
Click to expand...
I had an employee move and went to work for maaco. I asked him and he tokd me he was limited to one quart of synthetic enamel for the "special". Car gets washed with a scotchbrite and straight into the booth. He noted that the "special" is for same color only because they don't put enought paint on it ti cover. Just enough to shine it uo for a while. It's about 30 bucks in materials.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top