Starting a detailing business...

[hXc drummer23]

I know there is a lot of pros out there. My friend and I are working on getting a business started. We are working out of his dad's body shop. Do yall have any tips on getting a business started?

[JonP]

There is so much to cover about this topic, but here is a link that will explain most of it. I highly recommend that you except cash and or credit cards only. Accepting checks will eventually cost you unless it is someone you trust. There are some who have no problem writing a bad check.

[baseballlover1]

Calculate your overhead first and then calculate how much you can make if you detail the same volume of customers and if you come out on top (hopefully well on top), then go for it.

You cant just expect people to come to you. The people who get there cars detailed already have a place or person they are loyal to (or that is what i seem to have figured out). you may be better then all the guys in my local area but that doesnt mean your going to get all the business.

[todd@bsaw]

http://autopia.org/forum/search.php?searchid=2064359

And many more that are not so easily titled...
Sorry but I'm all tipped out at the moment.

[calgarydetail]

read read anad read some more... i spend 1-3 hours a day reseraching adverting methods, new products.tech. I find info on my demograpic ect.. read and learn as much as you can


and do it the legal way, get a licnece. Dont be a hack, do it right, right from the beggiing


how you do anything is how you do everything...

[baseballlover1]

Yea, i agree. You HAVE to be willing to commit to this. You have to spend A LOT of time on researching. For example, just today i have been on the computer reading and looking at old threads and other detailing forums for about 4 hours.

[jayjacque]

My business is not detailing persay, though people often think that's what I do. I do automotive reconditioning which includes interior repair, re-dye and sometimes cleaning, exterior graphics, moldings, windshield repair and a few miscellaneous learned tricks to make a buck. I've started this business in 4 different locations, 3 of those times successfully. So I can at least advise with a few good poiinters for starting these types of businesses.

1. As has already been alluded to...do the research. Make sure your approach and location and services offered matches where you're thinking of opening business. Make sure there is not a flooded market there. That's where I went wrong the one time mine was not successful.
2. Be as prepared as you can be before you start, meaning you've got a reasonable amount of start-up equipment and stock of supplies, business cards, dependable vehicle, etc. Try to think of everything you will need, from extension cords to invoice books to all the types of cleaners and polishes and cloths to tools big and small, buffer, compressor, etc. And have them as organized as possible with the most commonly used things the most accessible.
3. Definitely do the business license (will have to do the name search to make sure that name is not already taken in your area, state, etc.) So then you can open a business bank account.
4. Do enough research to set your prices right. Usually correct pricing is based on A. The competitor's prices and B. What you need to clear a comfortable profit, taking into consideration mucho overhead (always more than you first think it is). If you feel your work is far superior to the competition's and you can therefore charge more, then you may need to come across more organized and professional in order to justify the higher price. Many in these trades did not start out charging more, not until their quality of experience and accumulation of accounts put them in demand to justify charging higher prices. (I'm sure there are exceptions to that). If you set your prices right around where the competition's is or just slightly below, you give yourself a better chance of gaining new accounts and later down the line you can raise your prices just like every other company and service does eventually.
5. As has already been stated, the business will not come to you. Whatever your approach, the main thing is to get out and make yourself and your services available. That does more for sales in these types of businesses than almost anything else.
6. Think bigger than you are. Don't talk to prospective accounts as if you are just a couple of guys out trying to see if they can detail a few cars for money to pay their bills. No, now you will be a legitimate business just as legitimate as General Electric or Microsoft or Chevron. Get used to terminology that represents yourself as a professional company offering services for clients with the need to schedule appointments and pick up their car at a certain time, be charged the applicable taxes, etc, etc.

[1 Clean WS6]

As simply as I can put it...

Have a well thought out business plan as well passion, patience and persistance.

Without any of the four above "p's"...you will fail.

[calgarydetail]

Originally Posted by baseballlover1

Yea, i agree. You HAVE to be willing to commit to this. You have to spend A LOT of time on researching. For example, just today i have been on the computer reading and looking at old threads and other detailing forums for about 4 hours.

forums are a great place but there only a start.....

read about taxes, what you can and cannot write off
read about advertising, marketing, and othe rbusiness books.

This is a business, alot of people treat it as a hobyy, but its more then that... treat it like oyu would aby other business venture

[General Lee]

6 P's........prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

[bigluelok]

this is way off topic but General Lee can you please remove my wife from you avatar j/p

[General Lee]

Originally Posted by bigluelok

this is way off topic but General Lee can you please remove my wife from you avatar j/p

Oh no can do my man! She's with me now