mobile detailers

M

mixxer

New member
For all you mobile detailers in colder climates -- How do you guys stay busy when its 40 and below everyday durring those couple of harsh winter months?
 
I have a plug in heater I can use in a client's garage that I bring if it's a correction detail, if it's just a wash and spray wax I use ONR.



Good luck,

Steve
 
You can get by on certain situations, but for the most part, it is very difficult running a mobile operation in the colder climates during the winter....even with using ONR.



The one factor you have to take into consideration also, is that most people (unfortunately) don't care about having there vehicles detailed, let alone washed, during the winter.



There are several options to deal with it, like making enough money through the year so that you can shut down during the winter similar to lawn care companies, paving companies, etc., or you could also provide add-on services that are not affected by the weather so that you can still operate during the winter months.



For mobile detailers in cold climates, I highly recommend you put alot of emphasis in your business plan about operating during this time of year.
 
ajbarnes said:
You can get by on certain situations, but for the most part, it is very difficult running a mobile operation in the colder climates during the winter....even with using ONR.



The one factor you have to take into consideration also, is that most people (unfortunately) don't care about having there vehicles detailed, let alone washed, during the winter.



There are several options to deal with it, like making enough money through the year so that you can shut down during the winter similar to lawn care companies, paving companies, etc., or you could also provide add-on services that are not affected by the weather so that you can still operate during the winter months.



For mobile detailers in cold climates, I highly recommend you put alot of emphasis in your business plan about operating during this time of year.
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This is very correct. For me, my regular customers (bi-weekly wash and vacuums) keep me fairly busy. It definitely slows in the winter months though, especially with snow and very cold temperatures.
 
During the spring and summer months sign as many people up for a "VIP" package that you can. basically they pay up front for a years worth of service. This has prove to be absoultly critical in the tanning buisiness to get them through the summer months. Detailing is the same. Do revolving charge to a credit card if you have the ability. Say for example. they sign up for 2 full details and 10 wash wax and vacs. for a $1000 for the year either up front or $200 a month for 10 months on a revolving charge. Alot of higher end customers will jump at this. I'm trying to work out all the details for a good set up on this for my shop this year.
 
Usually the weather is good enough here most of the winter that I have all the business I can handle. If it turns to crap for a few weeks, I am seriously going to travel to Phoenix, I have a bunch of friends on another message board that have been hounding me for a few years to come out there for a few weeks.



Maybe if you live up north, there might be enough demand that you head south for a few weeks and ply your trade there. :nixweiss
 
Im just part time now 1 or 2 details a week, im trying to build enough of a client list to go full time in a couple of years.Im just trying to prepare the best i can for dec,jan ,feb and march. thanks for all your replies so far keepem coming!
 
I live about west of Indianapolis, so winter time is definitely an issue. In fact, the next two days aren't even supposed to reach 20*F.



I started full-time with my business last September. I knew going into the winter months I would need to figure out a way to keep detailing. Long story short, I found a garage to work out of about a mile away from my house. With the help of a couple heaters, I'm able to work inside, out of the elements. Since I can't be mobile, I offer pick-up & delivery w/in 10 miles of the shop.



With that said, I'm barely breaking even with the shop (The rent is dirt cheap so I couldn't pass it up). Part of the problem is that I just haven't been around long enough so people don't know about me. I have a nice sign on the side of the building and it's located at a busy intersection so I'm at least visible. Even though I'm really not making any money with the garage right now, it's giving me exposure which I'm hoping will help come spring time along with next winter. I figure some exposure is better than no exposure.



In the future, I'd love to be able to offer other add-on services to make up for the slow times. Although, I really need to concentrate on detailing for now.
 
In my opinion when winter comes, less customers turn up.



If you have enough customers to keep yourself busy during winter then i would just hire casual stuff during the peak periods over summer. Though it would be hard to get a skilled employee to only work for 6 months of the year.



If you dont have enough customers to keep you busy during winter then get a part time job or something and then do full time during the peak periods. Then again it may be hard to find a part time job that only offers you work during winter.
 
TTWAGN said:
In my opinion when winter comes, less customers turn up.
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Not here, as long as the weather is good. The only thing that slows me down are the sometimes late starts due to below freezing weather first thing in the morning and early sunsets.
 
mshu7 said:
Since I can't be mobile, I offer pick-up & delivery w/in 10 miles of the shop.
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are there technically any insurance-related issues in doing something like this? i mean, does someone's basic insurance they have for their own vehicle cover them in a situation like this? would you technically need to have some sort of business insurance? just curious...
 
twentyone said:
are there technically any insurance-related issues in doing something like this? i mean, does someone's basic insurance they have for their own vehicle cover them in a situation like this? would you technically need to have some sort of business insurance? just curious...
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Its usually called "garage keepers" coverage. Your own auto insurance won't cover it because you're driving someone else's vehicle. Its considered a business insurance, but you can get by with just the garage keepers. Contact your auto insurance company and ask about it. I made sure I was covered for the entire amount of the most expensive vehicle you plan to detail or transport, just in case.

My coverage was about 1300/yr, so just over 100 bucks a month, which is just 1 detailed car. So basically for a detail a month, you have the peace of mind knowing that you're insured.
 
Down in central Texas, we don't get the long winters. It gets cold here, but not all the time. We get days in the 20-30* range from time to time, but I just suck it up and do it. M taking off won't put food on the table.

It takes a little longer, and I hate it the whole way through, but I manage. Just wear warmer clothes, hand warmers, etc.....

Also, when doing the interior, I will run the heater in the car every once and a while.
 
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