There’s so much to say that ‘might’ help, but here’s a few basics I hope help you:
Area Preparation & Flow: As you know all the prep to bring the paint to final finish, it’s just as important to have your work environment prepped correctly for the job BEFORE the client arrives. Are all the products within a two step distance? Cart on wheels (with wheel locks and rubberized/foam protected sides and edges) is a great time saver, (I’ve seen a California Detailer on an steep hill, keep his cart on a dog-run-tether to keep from being a rolling disaster, yet keep his products and tools at hand!) Are all the extension cords out, plugged into the tools and ready to use? Are all the pads and products lined up for easy readability and ‘staged’ for step-by-step use? Is the hose unraveled, kink-free, etc?
Are all your hand tools (brushes, sponges, applicators, etc.) also ‘staged’ and easy to access? Have you practiced keeping your hose and extension cords in specific spots (again, ‘staging’) to keep them from being entangled, but also handy.
There are entire businesses that do nothing more than come to you location and find ways to streamline work environments. By studying your work environment and developing a strategy for a ‘two-steps-to-everything’ routine will save a LOT of time.
There’s a lot to be said for belts and harnesses you strap on, but at your young career, best to keep things two steps away from the paint finish and leave them to the “bang-‘em-out� commercial shop employee’s.
Natural Pace: Another thing (which not to sound insulting), is your ‘natural pace’. There are some people who just physically operate at a slower, more methodical pace than others. It’s easy to break these habits by installing a GIGANTIC CLOCK within immediate view and timing yourself between panels. This won’t make you a bad detailer if you’re not one already, instead, it will keep you more focused on time and where it’s being wasted. I’ve owned a few labor/service businesses and I find the GIANT CLOCK thing to be the most successful thing to increasing efficiency of (almost) all employees … including my lazy a$$ too. Chart how long it takes to go through each step: wash, clay, etc. You’d be amazed at your effectiveness after several vehicles.
Planning: The job really starts the day before you get the car. Have everything organized and in place to immediately start working the night before. Once the customer arrives, shake his/her hand, say good-bye and … although it may seem cold and alienating, send him/her on their way! Your clock starts the minute the vehicle arrives. Any time spent chit-chatting is a loss to your profit! Once they come to pick-up the car … THEN TALK! Share with them where they had issues and you made it ‘all-good-again’, talk about general maintenance they could do, and how much better it would be if they showed up again in a month or so for a quick secondary wax/sealant so they don’t have the costs of big details again.
You did say you were just starting … and I congratulate you for recognizing time is an issue. In time, practice and patience you will get better, faster and more efficient.
Hope this helps and I wish you well.
