How Much Product Are You Actually Using Per Boat?

Bottle Price Is Not Your Chemical Cost

A professional can buy a cheaper gallon and still spend more per boat if the product is used heavily, diluted poorly or requires repeat applications. The useful number is the chemical cost attached to the job.

Start With Cost per Concentrated Ounce

Divide the purchase price by the number of fluid ounces in the container. A $64 gallon contains 128 fl oz, so the concentrate costs $0.50 per fluid ounce before freight, tax or waste.

Then Apply the Working Dilution

Suppose a wash is used at 64:1 water to concentrate. That mixture contains 65 total parts. One gallon of final solution therefore contains about 1.97 fl oz of concentrate. At $0.50 per concentrated ounce, the concentrate portion of that mixed gallon costs about $0.98.

Now Measure What the Boat Actually Consumes

If a crew uses two gallons of that mixed solution, the theoretical chemical cost is about $1.97. If they mix four gallons and dump two at the end of the job, actual consumption is higher. Waste belongs in the number.

Track by Task, Not Just by Bottle

• Wash chemistry
• Degreaser/APC
• Water-spot or specialty cleaner
• Compound
• Polish
• Protection
• Vinyl/interior chemistry
• Disposable applicators where useful

Why This Changes Purchasing

Cost-per-boat makes concentrates easier to compare fairly. A higher-priced concentrate can be the better economic choice when its use rate, working time or productivity reduces total job cost.

Chemical Cost Is Still Only One Part of Job Cost

Labor, pads, towels, equipment wear, travel, water, insurance and overhead can dwarf chemical spend. The purpose of this metric is not to obsess over pennies. It is to know whether chemistry is being used consistently and profitably.

Build the Number Into the Professional Portal

The NNC Pro Chemical Cost Calculator should eventually let a detailer choose a product, package price, dilution and expected mixed volume to estimate chemical cost per job. Real product pricing should populate it only after the Product Master is locked.