What a drive costs you
A mobile detailer's hour costs the same on the highway as in the driveway: wage and burden, van, equipment and overhead, about $49 on typical solo numbers. Add fuel and wear at around $0.68 a mile.
| Job | Round trip | Time cost | Mileage | Drive cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Near: 10 minutes each way | 20 min, 8 mi | $16.47 | $5.44 | $21.91 |
| Far: 35 minutes each way | 70 min, 40 mi | $57.66 | $27.20 | $84.86 |
Same package, same price, $63 of difference in cost. At a 35% margin that is almost $97 of price the far customer is not paying.
Start from what the menu already covers
A menu price built with the menu method already includes an average drive, say 0.6 hours and 20 miles round trip. The travel fee only needs to cover the extra.
A three-zone example
| Zone | Round trip up to | Travel fee |
|---|---|---|
| 1: home area | 0.6 hr, 20 mi | Free |
| 2: nearby towns | 1.0 hr, 35 mi | +$50 |
| 3: edge of service area | 1.5 hr, 55 mi | +$115 |
Zone 2: 0.4 extra hours × $49.42 plus 15 extra miles × $0.68 is $30, divided by 0.60 is $50. Zone 3: 0.9 hours and 35 miles is $68, divided by 0.60 is $115. Beyond Zone 3, decline or require a minimum order.
Better than a fee: stack the day
The cheapest drive is the one you share. Two jobs on the same street split one trip. Offer a discount for neighbors booked the same day and send Zone 3 customers a list of days you are already in their area. The free mobile detailing pricing calculator shows profit per door-to-door hour, so you can see what a far job really earns.
