Detailing shop questions

A

atldeville

New member
I want to start mobile because of the cost of finding a cheap permanent spot. if i DO find something somewhat afffordable, (permanent space) how long should it take for me to make a profit if i concentrate mainly on express washes and minor detailing? i know this is a broad general question, but i dont wanna get into high end detailing just yet because i am new. the price range im looking is around $1000 a month for the space rental. ( it can be done where im from), and i plan to charge around $35 for express wash, $50 for express wash and interior detail. these figures are approximate. my water cost will be very marginal due to the technique im gonna be using. i live in a large metropolitan area.
 
Atldeville

I linked you to a very good thread about this subject in the other mobile thread you started.


How much experience do you have in detailing in general?
 
I think its a tough question to answer with out knowing the demographics of your area, how many cars you can do per day etc. What is involved in your express wash? How long does it take?
 
Beemerboy said:
Atldeville

I linked you to a very good thread about this subject in the other mobile thread you started.


How much experience do you have in detailing in general?
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i have worked for a dealership doing cars. mainly new and late model used cars. the typical bay work: rinse, wash, dry, interior detail included vacuum, windows, door jams. clean and wash tires. occassional engine clean. no major detailing or waxing, just the basics. now, to make it my business grow faster, im open to more complete detailing, dont wanna go with any clay bar or rotary buffing at this time, just a good detail and wash.

there are quite a bit of homes in the area and businesses. off a major highway. not frontage but on a side street. i dont know of any other in this particular area. 1,000 rent plus electric, marginal water use. $35-$50 a car. i would have to do 75-100 cars a month to make this anywhere near profitable. can this be done? it would require about 4-5 cars a day on a 5 day schedule.
 
i wouldn't call it detailing then if you don't want to clay and buff.. i would market it more as a wash n wax.. and i wouldn't lead anyone on saying you are giving them a complete detail if you don't plan on breaking out a clay bar and removing the contaminants from the paint and doing paint correction on the cars..
 
Gus-Gus said:
i wouldn't call it detailing then if you don't want to clay and buff.. i would market it more as a wash n wax.. and i wouldn't lead anyone on saying you are giving them a complete detail if you don't plan on breaking out a clay bar and removing the contaminants from the paint and doing paint correction on the cars..
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good point, now, is it a simple process to use a clay bar to remove contaminants?? is it done AFTER a wash and dry????
 
yes its simple todo.. just make sure the car is in the shade and the paint is cool.. you can do it after a wash and rinse.. i dont dry the car after a wash and then use lube with the water on the car already. there are a ton of articles on this forum about claying just use the search button
 
atldeville said:
good point, now, is it a simple process to use a clay bar to remove contaminants?? is it done AFTER a wash and dry????
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I really hate to rain on a parade....... BUT.................

If you don't know when/how to clay, may I suggest you put off your new found profession till you get better educated. :idea

Buying $700 worth of stuff and doing a wash and wax doesn't make you a detailer. :surrender

Mebbe save your money and spend it coming to something like detailing weekend or detailfest. Learn then do.

You do a lousy job and you'll watch your customer base dissappear fast, and you'll wonder why.

The only other viable option is to increase your prices and stay at a Holiday Inn Express the night before each "detail"
 
Ronkh said:
I really hate to rain on a parade....... BUT.................

If you don't know when/how to clay, may I suggest you put off your new found profession till you get better educated. :idea

Buying $700 worth of stuff and doing a wash and wax doesn't make you a detailer. :surrender

Mebbe save your money and spend it coming to something like detailing weekend or detailfest. Learn then do.

You do a lousy job and you'll watch your customer base dissappear fast, and you'll wonder why.

The only other viable option is to increase your prices and stay at a Holiday Inn Express the night before each "detail"
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did you READ my initial post??? this is what i said, and i quote:

"but i dont wanna get into high end detailing just yet because i am new" where im from, a claybar would be considered high end work.
 
atldeville said:
did you READ my initial post??? this is what i said, and i quote:

"but i dont wanna get into high end detailing just yet because i am new" where im from, a claybar would be considered high end work.
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Yes I did read your post. Did you read mine?

Claying does not mean "High end". It means quality/caring. So would actually learning a trade instead of "Hey I can wash and wax a car, so I'ma gonna be a detailer."

As far as where you're from is concerned I don't think it really matters unless you just want to buy a pressure washer and offer car washes. But I'm not sure how well you're gonna do cuz the local jr. high school cheerleading team will beat ya out on quality and quantity.

Do you care about doing a quality job or just doing a driveway was. If all you want to do is a driveway wash, go get a hose, bucket and a jug of dawn and stand on your sidewalk. Should save you about $680.00 plus shipping. Oh yeah, dont forget the shamwow. :wall
 
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atldeville said:
. i would have to do 75-100 cars a month to make this anywhere near profitable. can this be done? it would require about 4-5 cars a day on a 5 day schedule.
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I don't think it can be done...There are not enough people out there looking for that type of "cleaning" You need to do 4-5 a day to pay off the rent, I would bet only 4-5 a month would be looking for an express detailing. There really isn't a market for it, the people that get express details are usually just once in awhile customers who don't care about their cars, but when it gets out of control they throw the $30 to get it washed and vacuumed. I don't think you will be able to get enough business doing that kind of work to pay rent on a shop. Maybe if you were doing full corrections it would be another story, there are a lot of people looking for them..
 
Ronkh said:
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HayleySummer004.jpg
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The king is 100% RIGHT, Why would anyone wanna pay you $35-$50 bucks just to do what goes on every sat for a donation?? You gotta wait save and just learn how to do correction work period. Its not a hard thing to master just takes a little time lots of practice and some patients.:bow

I would rather spend the $5 bucks and watch some queen wash and dry my car than a guy for $35 anyday...:rofl:rofl:dnaughty:dnaughty:crazy2::cheers::hmmm::passout::howdy

At $35-$50 you should go the cheapest route possible, and paint a piece of plywood with a brush in red paint and say, "will wash for food"...
 
To the OP, Most successful business owners started with a vision and determination. If you can afford to fail go for it, If you can't afford to fail, read some more, ask more questions and consider "all" of your options. It would make sense to have some detailing experience to call your service detailing. The wash and wax guy who calls himself a detailer makes it tough on those of us who are really doing true detailing but it is America and you have the right to jump on that wagon if you so choose.

If you have the possible clientele and think you can succeed give it a shot but be prepared to change your offerings if it doesn't work out as visioned. A lot of folks said to me that I couldn't make it as a detailer just starting out with a few hundred dollars and a dream. Well guess what....they were wrong. They were wrong because I was willing to keep working at it regardless of what they said. But I had to learn what would and what wouldn't sell and go against some of what I had hoped for.

There will be people along the way that say you can't do what you want to do. If they have been through trial and failure, maybe they just weren't willing to go the extra mile when it seemed doomed to continue. You can't afford to be discouraged but it is probably wise to listen and ask why does someone thinks you can't do something. Just listening to these folks has helped me to find a better way of doing things.

Good luck in whatever you do and remember , if you quit because a few people gave you a rough time of it and said you couldn't do it....well I guess you won't succeed if you quit.
 
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