What to charge?

[LoneRangers15]

I have about 10 people that want me to change their oil for them. Most are people that go to Jiffy Lube and a few go to the dealer. How much should I charge them for an oil change and grease all of the zerks? I have asked other people this and the price they say is $20. I feel that this is a little expensive. I will be using a Supertech filter (about $2 or they can save $1 and bring their own filter) and Supertech oil ( $0.84 a quart or they can save $2 and bring their own oil). I would greatly appreciate feedback (negative or positive, I'm think skinned).

[Riley1123d]

Oil is 84 cents a quart, filter is about $2.. Now you see how much money mechanics make off oil changes. $20 is a fair price i'd say, thats about how much it is when I get an oil change, give or take

[99GrandAMSE]

... depending on WHO the people are (i.e.: family members, friends, etc), I would just have them get their own oil and filter then I would change it for nothing provided they help or at least stand there while I do it ... to me, I like the idea of helping people out and conversations with people while performing such mindless tasks ... again, this is just me but if you really want to charge, I would not bother dealing with getting involved with buying the oil and filter as I would just have the owners get their own and then charge them a nominal $5 or $10 for the labour ... enjoy!! :)

[gagt98driver]

Yeah, that's what I would do. Have your "customers" buy their own oil and filter and then charge a nomial fee for doing the oil change. I don't think some of your customers would be too happy having the SuperTech oil put in their vehicles. I know I wouldn't. The ST filter is fine, since its made by Champion Labs but when Havoline oil is $1.17 at WalMart you may as well go with a "known" oil manufacturer/blender. IIRC Warren Oil is who currently makes the SuperTech oil, but the exact quality of the additive package is unknown and the exact base stock (which is probably a GroupI) is also unknown. Whereas Havoline is a mixture of GroupII and GroupII+ basestocks with a known quality additive package.

[rixGAphx]

If you're going to make a regular 'business' of this, you should include the cost and time of disposal of old oil/filter in your fee.

Just my $.02
-Rick

[LoneRangers15]

This is for people I know that have approached me. They wouldn't know the first thing about changing oil. If they were my friends or family I would show them how to do it. According to Indiana law, the filter can be drained and thrown out with the regular trash. The oil can be returned to ANY retail store that sells oil. As for the ST oil, I would use that and provide them with the option of bringing their own oil. I would tell them what I was using upfront and give them the option. IMHO for a regular use vehicle, I don't have a problem with ST. It has a SL rating and I would guess that it is produced by a major oil company and bottled under a different name. As for the filter, it is the probably best one on the market under $5.

[rixGAphx]

Originally posted by LoneRangers15
...According to Indiana law, the filter can be drained and thrown out with the regular trash.
I'll bet that's for regular DIY folks doing their own cars.
I doubt the good taxpayers of Indiana want to accept a sh!tload of oil filters from a business like Jiffy Lube.
In terms of volume, when you become a business it's a significant step above the average homeowner with one or two filters every 6 months.

The oil can be returned to ANY retail store that sells oil.
Agreed; they accept the used oil as a part of THEIR overhead relative to the sale of new oil.
Hell, they may even sell it for a profit, as an ingredient in road-making asphalt.
But, it still takes some of your time and effort to deliver it.

All I'm saying is that to run a profitable business (which is the only reason to operate a business), then you have to account for all your costs and labor.
20 customers per month =~100 qts of used oil requiring disposal.
= 50 qts/12.5 gals for two trips.
*assume* 40 minutes (2/3 hr) at $15/hr for each trip = equals $10 of YOUR labor to dispose of the used oil from 10 customers.
=$1 per customer disposal cost.

Sincerely, I wish you the best of luck with your enterprise.
-Rick