Here are some thoughts ........

[Jose Fernandez]

I am not sure where I got this. I found it on the web years ago. I think it is great advice -

Here are some thoughts that will help a "newbee" to the industry and for those of you in the business who never thought of these things when starting your detail business.

GET READY - Make sure you are mentally, emotionallyn and financially ready to begin this new venture.

a. Spend 5 hours every week on research
b. Get out of personal debt
c. Start saying "no" more and create boundaries that work for you.
d. Create balance in your life
e. Be honest about your strengths, weaknesses, top 5 values, needs and wants.
f. Begin to bring family members into your plans
g. Fix any errors that exist in your credit report
h. Choose your niche and make sure there is a need for it.

GET ORGANIZED - Any new business will go more smoothly if you know right from the start what you have to offer, who you want to offer it to, and how your want your business organized. From support to legal advice, starting your own business is never something you can do by yourself.

a. Budget your income to include at least several thousand dollars of start up expenses.
b. Read a few books on business startups and marketing
c. Prepare a business plan and an ideal client profile
d. Decide on the type of business structure that is going to be best for you..
e. Develop a customer service policy and stick to it always
f. Creat an Operations Manual for the business
g. Plan for your location/trailer supplies; equipment; chemicals and startup fees.
h. Build a reserve of assistance, potential employees, and outside professionals who can help you.
i. Identify licenses or other regulatory approvals you will need
j. Create a Center of Influence - all of the people who are really supportive of your endeavor.
k. Decide on health, home, car, income, liability, risk, disability and loss of pay insurance. Did not know there were so many types to consider?
l. Bone up on taxes, accounting; banking; billing; cash flow and loans.

CREATE A MARKETING PLAN

A new detail business often does not have a huge budget for marketing. A plan can and will help you save money and this list will help you get started.

a. Price your services
b. Market to your ideal customer profile
c. Create a marketing program with your integrity in mind. Do the things you enjoy first.
d. Develop print media, that is, business cards; stationary; forms, ads and even a newsletter
e. Find people with complimentary businesses and form strategic alliances with them.
f. Decide if a website will help you and be a part of your plan
g. Practice describing the benefits of your service in 30 seconds and in 2 minutes.
h. Join local networking and on line groups
i. Read through two marketing boosk and your phone book for marketing ideas that will work for you.
j. Brand your detail business. Choose a logo and colors to use on all your marketing tools.
k. Re-evaluate your plan every three months and adjust where and when necessary.

This is brief, but it will force you to think about what "really" has to be done when starting a detail business. If you follow through with these kinds of things you should be successful.

[Troy@Protekt]

This is some good info. I wish I had followed this business plan when I had started my detailing business.

It would have saved me a lot of hard times.

Troy

[CalgaryDetail]

That is some great advice. Thanks for posting that. I cant stress how important a plan is. I never had one (i dont do many clients cars) i know when i start doing morei will write one.... i reallyneed to get on that

Thanks for posting

[dr_detail]

Joe, good to have ya back!!