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Auto detailing: Can I average the two margin percentages?

Check how the mix of two services changes total contribution margin.

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Auto detailing / detail package economics
Answer

Weight by revenue; a simple average gives the smaller service too much influence. Fixed overhead is excluded.

Try this with your own numbers

Formula and worked example

Combined margin = (total revenue − total variable cost) / total revenue × 100

Example figures
InputExample
Revenue from service A12,000
Variable cost of service A6,000
Revenue from service B8,000
Variable cost of service B6,000
Calculated result40 %

Illustrative example: $20 profit on a $100 sale is a 20% margin; compared with $80 cost, it is a 25% markup.
Illustrative example: $20 profit on a $100 sale is a 20% margin; compared with $80 cost, it is a 25% markup.

Choose reliable inputs

Separate parts, technician time and bay availability for each repair order. For this auto detailing calculation, use repair orders, parts invoices and technician time logs and a consistent definition of one detail package.

  • Consumables: include the portion belonging to this detail package or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
  • Technician hours: include the portion belonging to this detail package or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
  • Bay occupancy: include the portion belonging to this detail package or reporting period, and record where the value came from.

Use the same currency for every money input. Do not mix weekly costs with monthly revenue, or count the same expense in both an itemised cost and allocated overhead.

Can I average the two margin percentages?

Weight by revenue; a simple average gives the smaller service too much influence. Fixed overhead is excluded.

Compare a different assumption

What if this input changes?

If revenue from service a rises by 10%, this example changes by 3.3962 %. This shows the effect of one change; it does not predict what will happen.

Open the calculator, save your baseline, then change the input supported by the least reliable estimate in your records. Compare both scenarios before committing to a price or capacity promise.

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