I am opening a shop tuesday and now I am second guessing myself now.December is probably the worst month,but the shop is on the main street and the rent is only $900 a month which includes elctricty.It has two bays and a lift.MY plan is to get machanics who do moonlighting work and charge 25% of each job.I plan on doing mostly dealer and whole sale details.I also plan on doing hand washs at $25.00.In the back of my shop is a super stop & shop and it has a drive through car wash with a blower.I have aguy who can drive the vehicles over to it. prep it,spray the wheels lower panel scrub ect,run it through and bring it back.wipe it down spray wax it ,vac,windows and quick console wipe.The car wash is $5.00 so I would make $20.00 PER car.
Need Some Advice
- Thread starter Tom C
- Start date
jaybs02
New member
What are you looking for advice on???
What happens if someone notices that you brought their car to the tunnel wash while you were charging them for a "hand wash". If an upset employee or even the tunnel wash itself saying something will lead to destroying your reputation or maybe even a lawsuit real fast.
Even the moonlighting mechanics could prove to be a liability.
"J"
What happens if someone notices that you brought their car to the tunnel wash while you were charging them for a "hand wash". If an upset employee or even the tunnel wash itself saying something will lead to destroying your reputation or maybe even a lawsuit real fast.
Even the moonlighting mechanics could prove to be a liability.
"J"
I nomally charge dealers $100.00 for cars and $125 for trucks but to get them in the door soon due to x mass and no one is spending money'so I thought for dec. only charging $65.00/$75.00 do you think this will work ?I'm not in the best of areas and there are two other shops in a five mile ratios.My overhead is low enough and I think I could make it through the winter until I pull in retail.I also am wondering if I should do one free detail ?I am really good at what I do and have done alot of work for Barret Jakson and I am hoping once they see my work I'll get more and close the compition down.The area is hispanic and black.
tmacsad
Take Luck!
Tom C. I detail on the weekends, and I'm in pursuit of going pro just as yourself. I too am finding it a tad bit slow due to the holiday season that is upon us. I have thought about discounting my services also for a winter special. Kick the ideal around on the D.C. form and decided not to. Reason being, if you offer potential clientele a discount on your services they may very well remember your work, but not as much as they will remember what YOU charged them for the work you done. Needless to say no winter specials from T-Mac. I also do not believe in doing free work (just my opinion). As detailers our time is very precious. You could put 4-5 hrs into a free detail leaving your prospect :drool: but that doesn't mean that he, she, them, they will use you again in the future:wall. Making all that time and energy unproductive
assout: Again this just the way I feel about a free detail. (The details I do for free are for my wife, mother, and mother-N-law. Which all the above can throw down in the kitchen
.)So a guess those aren't classified as free details ether. Hope this helps you out. :bigups
Poorboy
Founder Poorboy's World
Tom C. I detail on the weekends, and I'm in pursuit of going pro just as yourself. I too am finding it a tad bit slow due to the holiday season that is upon us. I have thought about discounting my services also for a winter special. Kick the ideal around on the D.C. form and decided not to. Reason being, if you offer potential clientele a discount on your services they may very well remember your work, but not as much as they will remember what YOU charged them for the work you done. Needless to say no winter specials from T-Mac. I also do not believe in doing free work (just my opinion). As detailers our time is very precious. You could put 4-5 hrs into a free detail leaving your prospect :drool: but that doesn't mean that he, she, them, they will use you again in the future:wall. Making all that time and energy unproductive
(The details I do for free are for my wife, mother, and mother-N-law. Which all the above can throw down in the kitchen
So a guess those aren't classified as free details ether. Hope this helps you out. :bigups
Good for you T-Mac ..giving away your services will never get you more work or money...maybe a bonus offer of a free engine detail with every detail or a free carpet shampoo would be better.
First lesson of Economics 101 ..there's no such thing as a free lunch
tmacsad
Take Luck!
First lesson of Economics 101 ..there's no such thing as a free lunch
Tell that to the soccer moms with their rollin cafeteria's
:notme:You do make valid points,but last year my 2 year old drowned in my pool and have been out of work and I haven't had money coming in and we are hurting financially.I have to make this venture work I do have alot of knowlege inthe business. I have been doing this for 15 years I am taking abig risk at this time of year.There is no jobs where i am at in R.I. and I have positive mind set and have no other choice but to make this work
vwgtivw
Don't diss the FAST!!
I believe in the T-Mac school of business.Once you give something away for free or a discount people will always expect it from you.
distrbd
all in the details
Good for you T-Mac ..giving away your services will never get you more work
First lesson of Economics 101 ..there's no such thing as a free lunch
Steve,that sums it all up,that's why when you talk everybody listens.
Poorboy
Founder Poorboy's World
Sorry to hear of your loss and yes, the Northeast is a tough place to run a detailing business in the winter.
If you have the two car bay then do your own washes efficiently and don't involve a tunnel wash as your reputation will be the hardest thing to recover if something should go wrong in the moving of the cars between places or if the car wash makes a mistake and damages the cars.
With your experience, I'm sure you can use it to build a successful business
tmacsad
Take Luck!
Steve-O is my HERO!:excited:
Along with Steve I am sorry to hear about the lost of your child.
Big Leegr
Swirls?!?! NNOOOOOOO!!!!!
Just a thought-Why not offer gift certificates for Christmas? If you don't think people will go for buying a full detail, go with free "add ons" with purchase of a detail-engine cleaning, shampoo, "All-in-One" power polish/wax upgrade with purchase of a basic wax... stuff like that. People aren't wanting to get their cars detailed only to have them splashed with slush and stuff 2 minutes after leaving. By offering gift certificates for future details, you might get some money coming in now. (But then don't forget the time that you won't get paid for when they come later. )
)
jaybs02
New member
Tom,
My condolences to you and your family on your loss.
"J"
My condolences to you and your family on your loss.
"J"
I also just read the post about pizza delivery and offering the owner a free detail and maintain it every week if he puts a flyer on every box.I think a mini detail might work and $5.00 off on a wash.Gift certificates I used in my last detailing adventure',but did't sell too many.the area I'm in is lower class,but if you travel in two different directions aprox.2 or 3 min. and you're in upper and middle class neiborhoods.I'm surrouned by drug dealers with their cars and chrome rims which I'll assume would prefer to have their cars hand washed.
tmacsad
Take Luck!
Tom C. I had some door hangers made up late in the detail season. (Search for door hanger thread) I've had some good success with them. You could make some of these up and take them to the mid to upper class areas of town. They are no hassle as well.. just walk up place hanger on door and move on to the next house. Door hanger are not expensive to get mad up ether. Hope this helps