How many MF towels should I start with?

[LeMarque]

Hey everyone, I just got shop space and am placing a final order and since there`s (I hope) going to be some built in business to start, I`m wondering just how many and `flavors` of MF towels I should order.

My thinking is a couple of packs of Club towels for the interior and general use. But how about drying, polishing/buffing towels?

How many do you folks stock.

[BobbyG]

Interior & Engine Compartment

For this I use cotton or terrycloth towels. Their rugged, absorbent, and do a great job...........plus they`re really cheap. Many towels I use are nothing more then recycled bathroom towels!

Drying

An electric leaf blower and Cobra Guzzlers

Polishing

General purpose Microfiber towels

Waxing & Buffing

Plush Microfiber towels, Cobra 500 or 600 series or comparable product...

Glass

Cobra Waffle Weave glass towels

Quantities:

• Cobra Guzzlers - 12
• Cobra Waffle Weave glass towels - 12
• General purpose - 48
• Buffing - 36

[CH.Detailing]

How many cars do you want to get through before you have to clean them? I would follow Bobby`s advice, as that`s about how many that I have. I generally follow a "burn `em if ya got `em" philosophy while working, and will use a lot more cloths than is probably necessary. I`ll usually do a couple of intensive jobs before its time to wash them.

[Rocket]

I would spend money on good quality towels that will be used on paint. Anything else cheap general purpose towels will do. No need to spend a fortune on towels that will be used on interior and dirty tasks.

I can`t tell you how many towels to purchase but it`s all about how many cars you`ll be doing and how often you want to wash them. I have a ton of towels because I hate doing laundry after each detail, feels like a waste to me

[Concours.John]

Make sure you post your Genral Purpose MF`s and Terry Towels to perishable supplies accounting wise. They really only have a good year worth of use or are disposible if too dirty. You can write them off fully. Your polishing and good ones will last if taken care of. No since in grouping them together and losing a deduction. Take care of your good ones and get a two year unless you can get a one year on them. It will just save you money on exenses to make the good ones last. A deduction doesn`t mean money in your pocket when you have a separated location from home. Going home to work is considered commuting and not deductable. Find ways to pick up supplies etc. to get the 55 cent per mile deduction on the way to or from work.
Just things I overlooked of course check with your tax advisor.

Another thing is as a business when you are not charged tax on a purchase (AG Autopia etc) you still owe use tax to your state on that purchase. It is voluntary but really required figure this into your costs. Any sales tax you pay on products is deductable. Keep track.

[Addicted2Bling]

Starting off I`d get around 20. If you do 3 solid cars a day you can make it by on 10, if you wash them every day. I figure I use around 3 towels on each car, I use 1 towel specificly for windows and when that starts getting dirty I`ll use it for interior, when interior towels become dirty i`ll start using it on rims. Towels I use to wax and polish with are gold, use them on door jambs and it will shine up the jambs just a tad bit

[Old Pirate]

Interior & Engine Compartment

For this I use cotton or terrycloth towels. Their rugged, absorbent, and do a great job...........plus they`re really cheap. Many towels I use are nothing more then recycled bathroom towels!

Drying

An electric leaf blower and Cobra Guzzlers

Polishing

General purpose Microfiber towels

Waxing & Buffing

Plush Microfiber towels, Cobra 500 or 600 series or comparable product...

Glass

Cobra Waffle Weave glass towels

Quantities:

• Cobra Guzzlers - 12
• Cobra Waffle Weave glass towels - 12
• General purpose - 48
• Buffing - 36

Here`s a great start for you by BobbyG.

[tw33k2514]

I am at the point where I have a great set of towels.

Drying - Guzzlers
Polish/wax removal - Sonus Der Wonder Buffing Towel
Waterless - rolled edge
QD/spray wax - rolled edge
Windows- CG waffle weave window towel
Tires/jambs/dirty stuff - Costco towels
Interior - CG Super Towel