How Our Students Are Charging $300-$500 Per Car (And Getting It)

The single biggest revenue killer for new tinters is undercharging. They look at what the cheapest competitor charges, undercut them by $50, and wonder why they're working long hours for mediocre income. Here's a different approach.

Why Being the Cheapest Is the Worst Strategy

When you compete on price, you attract price shoppers — customers who will leave you the second someone cheaper comes along. You work harder for less money, you can't afford quality materials, and you build a reputation as "the cheap option" which is nearly impossible to shake.

Meanwhile, the tinter charging $400-500 per car is doing fewer jobs, making more money, attracting better customers, and building a premium brand. Same trade, completely different business.

Positioning: How to Justify Premium Pricing

• Use quality film and talk about it. Customers don't know film brands, but they understand "premium ceramic film with lifetime warranty" vs. "standard dyed film."
• Professional presentation matters. Clean workspace, branded clothing, professional communication. These signal quality before you touch the car.
• Showcase your work obsessively. Post every single job on social media. Before-and-after content is the most powerful marketing tool you have.
• Collect and display reviews. 50+ five-star Google reviews let you charge more than a competitor with 5 reviews — regardless of skill level.
• Offer a warranty. A lifetime warranty on film costs you almost nothing (film warranties come from the manufacturer) but adds massive perceived value.

How to Handle the Price Conversation

When a customer says "that's more than the other guy," don't panic and don't discount. Instead, ask: "What film are they using? Do they offer a warranty? How many reviews do they have?" Most of the time, the customer realizes the comparison isn't apples to apples.

When and How to Raise Your Prices

If you're consistently booked 1-2 weeks out, your prices are too low. Raise them by $50 and see what happens. If demand stays the same, raise again. Keep going until you find the sweet spot where you're busy but not turning away excessive amounts of work.

Our most successful students raise their prices every 3-6 months as their skills, reviews, and reputation grow. The ones who started at $200/car and are now at $450-$600/car didn't get there overnight — they grew into it.