Anyone near Dayton? - Page 3

WCD · 04-25-07, 04:44

I may be up there playing golf soon..saw an add for $50 with cart and practice balls. I am getting the clubs out...used to be a 4.5 hdp years ago.

You should visit the sba.gov site. It's a great resource for business start-ups. It has outlines of business plans, marketing ideas, advertising, finding your market, etc.

Make sure you WRITE down your plan. This is what most do not do and then they faulter after a short while. Know exactly what it costs you to work on a car-including insurance, fuel, marketing expenses, product cost, taxes, etc. So many, including me at one time, think that $40 per hour is $40 per hour. They might be spending $25 per hour and are back to making $25 per hour after expenses. Sadly, they don't realize this until it is too late.

We should meet for lunch sometime. I am working on a detail shop business at the moment.

Rob

Whitethunder46 · 04-25-07, 08:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCD

I may be up there playing golf soon..saw an add for $50 with cart and practice balls. I am getting the clubs out...used to be a 4.5 hdp years ago.

You should visit the sba.gov site. It's a great resource for business start-ups. It has outlines of business plans, marketing ideas, advertising, finding your market, etc.

Make sure you WRITE down your plan. This is what most do not do and then they faulter after a short while. Know exactly what it costs you to work on a car-including insurance, fuel, marketing expenses, product cost, taxes, etc. So many, including me at one time, think that $40 per hour is $40 per hour. They might be spending $25 per hour and are back to making $25 per hour after expenses. Sadly, they don't realize this until it is too late.

We should meet for lunch sometime. I am working on a detail shop business at the moment.

Rob

The deal at Beavercreek is actually $55 on Sat. and Sun. before 2. Includes cart, range balls, bottle water, and a lunch off our menu (you have to get the burger, it's huge). I think after 2 it's $39 and after 6 it's $20.
Weekdays: $39; after 2 - $30, after 6 - $20.
All rates include cart. about 99% of the players ride. It's an extremely difficult course to walk.
Let me know when you are coming sometime, I'll get you a discount, I believe it's $20 or $25 anytime anyday w/ cart. I've been there for 6 years now so I know everythhing inside and out, haha.

I'll check out the website.

Here's mine: Hart's Auto Detailing - We Come to You!. I have my prices list and such on there as well. They may seem a little low, but I am just starting and getting my name out there. Also, this is Dayton, OH, majority people here are not going to pay $300 for a detail of a car. Sure maybe one of other week from Oakwood, but I'll get 2-4 per week at $150 once I get my name out.

Hopefully things start to really take off in the next few months and I really get a solid customer base and appointments by July. I really like being Mobile, I think customer's really enjoy this and don't have to worry about the hassle of dropping a car off or waiting. Right now though, I have to use the customer's water and electricity. I would love to be able to get a trailer and have it painted or professionally done with my logo, name, info, etc. on it. Have a nice looking black truck done a similar way pulling it. This is my vision and goal one day. But, of course, the main objective is to be able to make a reasonable profit. I think I'm at a great time and opportunity right now to start this thing up. I don't have a family and kids, so I don't need to stress out about having to make 40-60K dollars a year. I have quite a few years to build the business up and I know I will make it, and go over that, one day. I'm very particulate about what I do. My biggest challenge I think right now is trying to get the first few customers, that's why referrals are so important. I'm really depending on a lot of first few customers coming from the golf course. They all know my work ethic and know I work hard and do well. Hopefully they will then spread the word.

As of now, I also do not have insurance, nor plan on getting it unless things really take off. I thought I read somewhere that someone could get it for around $100 a month from State Farm for being mobile. That seems very reasonable but is going to take a lot of looking into and research.

I'm going to PM you a could questions that I don't wish to post on here.

ternati2000 · 06-21-07, 03:45

New to Autopia! Referred by the Benzworld site. I live in Beavercreek. I am looking for some detail options for my Benz. Would love to meet up and talk. Beavercreek would be a great place for detailing. Let me know.

Michael.

Also, in response to the property and safety of Salem - I would take a second look. There is a planned revitalization of the three historic neighborhoods that Salem runs thru. Gov't money will be available to redo the property and the values will undoubtedly rise. I work at Good Sam Hospital and the housing is beautiful. It is a matter of the ghetto element that I assume your friend was speaking to. It really depends where on Salem. Closer to Downtown would be ideal. Oh and CHEAP!

WCD · 06-24-07, 09:40

Thanks!

I believe it's about 5 blocks from the 75, not way up on Salem. The city will fix a rate at 3% on the loan.

Correct, the area is under "revital" satus and I've spoken with community leaders and the city- very helpful and cooperative.

However, my aunt, who manages an industrial lighting company in Cleveland, checked it out and advised me against it. Mainly, because I'm moving back to CA. in 7 weeks.

I tried to find a legitiment detail shop/detailer that wanted to move in there and I would finance the deal- color scheme, equipment, etc. I did not get one response.

I'm not done with Dayton- we are looking at other residential investments. The prices are at a 10-year low and as you said, they will come up.

I have a few guys in CA. that I can work with, but none wish to move from the beach! However, where I am, prices are around 1.5 mil. and up for anything commercial.

If you have time, we should meet for coffee up there as I like to get many different opinions as possible. I'd glady trade some MF towels for your time.

Rob Regan

colonel · 07-31-07, 12:14

Are you still looking at places around Dayton? I am just East of Dayton in Xenia. There are a lot of empty commercial buildings available around this city. I have not found a single detailer in this area that I would use. (I am kind of picky?)
Xenia is not that far from Dayton and the costs, I think, would be a lot less.

WCD · 08-05-07, 10:31

Colonel,

Thanks for the ideas. I am back in southern CA.

I will travel to Dayton next summer unless my RE agent finds something before then in the residential area- apt. complex stuff.

I am still going to work on a brand and so on and we'll see. The location on Salem did not work out due to lack of area from street to the tunnels/bays. If I lived there, it would be an express exterior with coffee kiosk at the exit- Boston Stoker! I would be onsite each day and that is the key for me.

Thanks, Rob